First Holy Communions 2024 and a Baptism!

This Sunday at the 10.00am Mass 16 children will be making their First Holy Communion. Do please keep them and their families in your prayers in a special way. The Mass at St Boniface will begin later than usual at 12noon and will include the baptism of baby Gabriel Hird.

Day for Life

The annual Day for Life is celebrated this Sunday. The theme this year is The Lord is my Shepherd – Compassion and Hope at the End of Life. A debate on end-of-life issues has been in the headlines in recent months with calls for assisted suicide being expressed, especially by celebrities, a view that opposes the Catholic view that life is a gift and that we are called to care for others at the end of their lives. Day for Life is marked on the same day by the three Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The Bishops hope that parishes will be able to prepare to promote the Catholic view of life as a gift and the importance of care at the end of life by reading the resource produced this year containing the Message from the three Lead Bishops and from a hospital chaplain, together with some prayers. There will be a retiring collection to support the Church’s work in promoting the culture of life.

Coffee Mornings and a Musical Afternoon Tea

Please put the dates for these regular events to raise funds for the internal fixtures of the rebuilt St James into your diaries:

• Thursday 27 June, 10.00am-12noon, Christine and Babs, 51 Rackenford Road, Tiverton, EX16 5AF.

• Wednesday 24 July, 10.00am-12noon, Monika and David, Holmelea, 7 Blundells Avenue, Tiverton, EX16 4DL.

• Saturday 10 August, 10.00am-12noon, Margaret and Sarah, Stylehurst, Ashley, Tiverton, EX16 5PA.

Diocese of Plymouth Summer Camps 2024

Applications are now being taken for places at the Plymouth Diocese Catechetical Summer Camps at Grangehurst, Buckfast Abbey. Three: Junior Camp (Years 3-6, 4-8 August), Senior Camp (Years 7-10, 28 July-2 August) and St Petroc’s Camp (Years 11-12, 31 July-2 August). Summer Camps are a great opportunity to meet other young people in the Diocese and to get to know each other through games, quiz nights, treasure hunts, days out and much more! For further information, see the leaflet in church, contact summercamps@prcdtr.org.uk, or speak to Siobhan Gilroy or Canon Kristian.

A Journey into Faith – Levi Roach

Following an invitation from the Parish Pastoral Council, Levi Roach, who was baptised here at St. James at the Easter Vigil, will be talking to the parish about his journey to conversion on Wednesday 26 June from 7.00-9.00 pm in the parish hall.  Please come and join us to learn all about his remarkable and touching story.

Diocesan Youth Event – Segway Olympics and Obstacle Course

The Segway Olympics and Obstacle Course, for young people aged 10 – 16, will take place on 29 June at Devon Activity Centre. During the day, they will have the chance to explore the Scripture verse 2 Tim 1:7, whilst facing the challenges of the Segway Olympics and the wet obstacle course. A recommended contribution is £20 per person or £15 for multiple siblings and those on low income. For more detailed information and to book follow: https://forms.office.com/e/C7E07CArSj or contact Saskia at youth@prcdtr.org.uk.

General Election 2024

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) is encouraging all Catholics to #RegisterToVote before 23.59pm on 18 June 2024 in preparation for the General Election. CSAN have launched a number of resources to help Catholics inform their conscience and navigate the political landscape at this time. Go to www.csan.org.uk/general-election-2024 for more details.

200 Club

Congratulations to Joe Xavier who won the £30 prize and to Pat Kennedy who won the £20 prize in the June draw. The 200 Club is an ongoing fund raiser for the Parish and new members can join for as little as £1 a month. Please speak to either Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.

Volunteering for the Catholic Children’s Society

The Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) is looking for volunteers to join their small children’s charity in the role of Parish Volunteer to help promote the valuable work they do throughout the Diocese.  The long-term goal is to have a representative in every parish.  You can choose the level of involvement you have as a Parish Volunteer, depending on the amount of time you have and how confident you feel. If you would like to consider becoming a Parish Volunteer for the Catholic Children’s Society, please contact Vicki Dunstone, the Fundraiser & Communications Officer for CCSP, on 01364 645420 or email vicki.dunstone@ccsplymouth.org.uk. A copy of the Parish Volunteer Information Pack is attached to the Newsletter.

Diocesan Vacancies

The Diocese is recruiting for two posts: (1) Parish Secretary for St James and St Boniface, Mid Devon – 16 hours per week, Tuesday-Friday, based at The Presbytery, 40 Old Road, Tiverton – to manage the administrative and secretarial support to ensure the smooth running of the parish and to enable the parish priest to carry out his diocesan responsibilities. Closing date 1 July 2024; and (2) Bookkeeper Exeter – homebased in Exeter/Torbay with regular travelling across Devon. 17.5 hours per week, flexible working days and hours between Monday and Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm – with responsibilities that range from entering monthly receipts/payments onto an online accounting system to training non-financial team members. Closing date 24 June 2024. For more information about both roles and to obtain a full job description, please visit the careers page on the Diocese of Plymouth website. To apply, please send your application form and covering letter to recruitment@prcdtr.org.uk.