Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Χριστός Ανέστη (Christos Anesti) – Christ is risen!

Αληθώς Ανέστη  (Alithos Anesti) – He is risen indeed!

To this day, Eastern Christians continue to use the ancient greeting of Easter. To the acclamation: Christ is risen!, the joyful reply is given: He is risen indeed. In more recent years, the Christians of the West have recovered this ancient tradition as a practice which emphasises the importance and centrality of the resurrection of Christ for us as individuals and as a Christian community, and for the whole world. The resurrection is the foundation and the source of our hope of new life; Christ has conquered the powers of darkness, sin and death. The Light of Christ is unquenchable and eternal!

“Walk with me” Easter Booklets

Please take with you this weekend copies of the “Walk with me” for the Easter Season. These are free and are offered as helps to prayer and reflection on each day of Eastertide. There are also booklets and calendars available for our children.

Good Friday Collection for the Holy Places

Due to the urgent needs of Christians in the Holy Land, the traditional Good Friday retiring collection for the Holy Places will take place at the end of Masses too this Easter weekend.

Winners of the Simnel Cake and of the Easter Bunny

The winner of the Simnel Cake, made by Monika Manser, was Fr Paul. Much deserved! No one guessed the correct name of the Easter Bunny, which was “Hermie”, so it fell to Canon Kristian to decide who would receive this gift. Elijah, the youngest parishioner present at the draw, was the lucky recipient! Thanks to all who bought tickets and guessed names.

First Confession and Reconciliation

An important stage in the preparation of our children for First Holy Communion this year takes place next Saturday, 26 April at 10.00am, when they will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation for the first time. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Parish Youth Club

Next Saturday, from 11.00am-12.30pm, our parish Youth Group meets in St Boniface’s Hall, Cullompton. Come along and enjoy some fun with other young people of the parish and have some delicious cake!

The Friends of St James and St Boniface

The next meeting of the Friends of St James and St Boniface will take place next Saturday in St Andrew’s Church Hall at 9.00am. The Friends are a group of parishioners which promotes fundraising events in the parish, as well as other social events. This group is open to ALL parishioners, so please come along and take part if you have an interest in supporting and promoting the social and/or fundraising side of parish life.

Parish Pilgrimage of Hope

The parish Laudato Si’ Group is organising a pilgrimage to the birthplace of St Boniface in Crediton, which is one of the designated Places of Pilgrimage in our diocese for the Holy Year of Jubilee. This Pilgrimage of Hope, which will consist of four stages, will take place on Tuesday 24 June. Please see the attached poster and more information will follow.

“Rise to Our Cause” Catholic Children’s Society Event

This year’s ‘Rise to Our Cause’ event is being held at St Cuthbert Mayne in Launceston on Thursday 29 May 2025.  St Cuthbert Mayne Church is a sacred site of pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year, and pilgrims can get their pilgrim passport stamped, and venerate the relic of St Cuthbert Mayne. The event will start with Mass at 12.30pm, followed by a two-course hot lunch kindly prepared by the parish.  After lunch, the Guest Speaker this year will be Phil McCarthy, the Hearts in Search of God project lead, who will describe his own walking pilgrimages to Rome and Istanbul and reflect on what it means to be a pilgrim of hope in this Jubilee year.  To read more about Phil and the work he does promoting the Cornish pilgrimage, visit www.pilgrimways.org.uk.

Tickets cost £15 and can be ordered by emailing vicki.dunstone@ccsplymouth.org.uk, calling the CCSP office on 01364 645420 and by visiting the parish office at St Cuthbert Mayne. All proceeds will go towards helping vulnerable children and families living in our Diocese.  There will also be a raffle on the day to help raise money for CCSP to enable it to continue helping families of all faiths and none living throughout Devon, Cornwall and parts of Dorset. 

Heatree Residential Youth Event

The Heatree residential is open to young people aged 10-12. It is a great chance for young people to meet others from parishes across the Diocese. During the weekend there will be an exploration of John 14:23, together with trying things like high ropes and raft making, games around the campfire and other activities. Cost is £90 per person. To book or for further information please contact Saskia at youth@prcdtr.org.uk. A poster about this event is attached to the Newsletter.

Jubilee Year Mass for Marriage

The Mass to celebrate marriage in the Jubilee Year will take place at 12noon on Saturday 31 May 2025 at our Cathedral of St Mary and St Boniface in Plymouth. Marriage enriches us all, so all are welcome. For further information or to let Deborah van Kroonenburg know your anniversaries or intentions, or, if you are marrying this year, when your wedding will take place, email deborah.vankroonenburg@prcdtr.org.uk.