NEWSLETTER

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Sunday 27th May, 2025

Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear sisters and brothers
As today is the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of Our Lady, tomorrow is the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.  This day was instituted by the late Pope Francis five years ago as a way of honouring the unique vocation of grandparents and of upholding the respect and dignity of the older members of society.  The elderly have a huge contribution to make through the wisdom of their experience, gained over many years.  Within the Church community, too, Pope Francis astutely recognised that, in the modern world, it is often the elderly, and grandparents in particular, who are the guardians of the treasury of the faith and pass it on to the younger generations.  Therefore, their essential place and role within our communities should be appropriately recognised and honoured, including by means of this annual day.  This being the Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Leo’s Message, which is attached to the Newsletter, focuses on how the elderly are themselves signs of hope and witnesses of blessedness. Importantly, the Holy Father invites us to recognise that the elderly are not just passive recipients of pastoral care but also witnesses of hope who are active protagonists in the life of the Church.  As a parish, therefore, we honour the elderly and grandparents within our community in a special way this weekend, and I invite everyone to honour their grandparents tomorrow, whether living or dead, in some meaningful way.  Likewise, we acknowledge with joy the wisdom, beauty and energy that the older members of our parish bring to our community.  There is a Catholic Grandparents Association, which seeks to assist grandparents in the passing on of the faith.  For more information, go to: https://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/.
Welcome to the Catholic Grandparents Association Grandparents have no agenda; they simply want the best for their grandchildren. They want them to be good, decent human beings, to know the difference between right and wrong, able to make good moral decisions and, if they go astray along the way, to be able to find their way back to a loving, forgiving, non-judgemental God. Grandparents’ vital …
www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org
As a child, I was taught that every time of prayer should contain “ACTS“, ie Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication, and I have found this to be an easy acronym to remember over the years and a useful summary to keep my prayer appropriately grounded and rounded. One of the themes arising out of this Sunday’s Mass readings is that of prayer as supplication or as “intercessory prayer” as it is also often called.  I suspect that much of our personal prayer is taken up with prayer of intercession, praying for people and situations, both personal and global, and this is not surprising, especially given the many pressing issues that impact on our own lives and on those around us. Indeed, even within our Sunday Mass, we have the Prayer of the Faithful (sometimes called the Bidding Prayers or the Universal Prayer), in which we are invited to pray for the needs of the Church and the world.  However, just as the Prayer of the Faithful takes place within the context of the Mass, which is one big act of thanksgiving (ie the Eucharist, from  the Greek verb “eucharistein” meaning to give thanks), and which also contains moments of confession and adoration, so too it is important for a healthy personal prayer life that our prayers of intercession be surrounded and supported by prayers of heartfelt thanksgiving, moments of honest confession and times of wonder-filled adoration. Not only does this place our intercessory prayer in the right spiritual context, but it also enables us to find that persistence and perseverance that the First Reading and the Gospel highlight as essential elements of the prayer of intercession or supplication. Finally, of course, all Christian prayer is patterned upon the Lord’s Prayer, which includes that most fundamental of all prayers of intercession “Thy will be done“.
Along with the Newsletter this week, I attach:
  • the weekly guide to a prayerful reading of the Sunday Gospel, from Monika Manser
  • the latest number of Inspire, from Deacon Peter
  • Pope Leo’s Message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
  • the latest Newsletter from the Lighthouse Cafe and Bookshop in Tiverton.
A gentle reminder, too, to all those who have yet to return their completed Census Forms.  It is really important that you do so, so that the parish can continue to hold your personal details and, amongst other things, communicate with you.  There are additional forms available at church for those who still need to take one.
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick at this time, especially Joe Xavier, Norah Wissing and Dave Westwick, and those who have died recently, especially Vicky Jones.
May God bless you all with whatever grace you need at this time.
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

In 2021, Pope Francis instituted a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to be held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. This day helps us to remember that the elderly are a gift, and we have a duty to ensure that they are looked after well in their final years.  The Holy Father has chosen the theme of the Fifth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly: “Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (Sir 14:2). In this Jubilee year, this Day is intended to be an opportunity to reflect on how the presence of grandparents and the elderly can become a sign of hope in every family and church community. Pope Leo’s Message for this Day is attached.

Updating the Parish Database

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, it is necessary for us to ensure that the data the parish holds on our parishioners is up to date. We therefore need to ask each person/family to fill out a new census form at regular intervals. It has been some years since the parish database was last updated, so new census forms are available over the next few weekends. Many of you have already returned your forms. Could those who have yet to return theirs please do so as soon as possible. There are additional forms available for those who still need to take one. If you know of anyone who does not attend church regularly, but who would still like to be included on the database, please take a form for them to complete and return.

30 Minutes of Quiet Prayer with St Ignatius

You are invited to a half-hour of silent prayer in honour of St Ignatius of Loyola this Thursday, 31 July, at 12.30pm. This is to celebrate his feast day and to recognise the power of silent prayer, especially Ignatius’ contribution to spiritual accompaniment and living out our faith in daily life.

Mad Hatters’ Tea Party

A Coffee Morning and Mad Hatters’ Tea Party in aid of the St James’ Building Fund will take place at Stylehurst, Ashley, Tiverton, EX16 5PA, next Saturday 2 August, 10.00am-12noon. Children are welcome. So, it’s time to be making your Mad Hatters’ Hat! Prizes for the best Lady’s Hat, Gent’s Hat and Child’s Hat!

Diocesan Newsletter

Here is the link to the Diocesan July Newsletter with news and views from around the Diocese of Plymouth: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-B8279C3D887A1C132540EF23F30FEDED.

July Caritas Newsletter

Click to read the latest edition of the Caritas Diocese of Plymouth Newsletter, with news of love in action and events. https://tinyurl.com/ys728x94.

SVP Skittles Evening

The annual SVP Skittles Evening will be held at the Racehorse Pub in Wellbrook Street, Tiverton, on Friday 22 August from 7.00pm. The cost will be £10 a person, inclusive of a buffet supper. Please let Simon Coombs (07761 420703), Shelagh Eastwood, Sheelagh Bourdon, Margaret Found or Maggie Pulford know by 15 August if you will be taking part, as numbers for food need to be given by that date.

New Directors for Plymouth CAST

Plymouth CAST is a Catholic multi-academy trust of 34 schools and 1 nursery, spanning the Diocese of Plymouth. Its mission is to be a community of outstanding schools in which pupils flourish in safe, happy, and stimulating environments and leave with the knowledge and skills, personal qualities, and aspirations, to make the world a better place, inspired by the Gospel. Plymouth CAST is looking to expand its Board of Directors. It is particularly interested in hearing from you if you have skills and current or recent experience of education at primary or secondary level, particularly within a multi-academy trust. Please contact the Clerk to the Trust Board for further information, Mrs Leah Paiano: lpaiano@plymouthcast.org.uk

June Parish Giving

Loose: £1197.82 Contactless: £560.00 Standing Orders: £3222.50

Unbound: Freedom in Christ Prayer Conference

Negative thoughts, repetitive sins and unhealthy relationships? Destructive habits, idols, and false identities? Resentments and bitter wounds that never seem to heal? What if you could reach out and touch God’s love and never be the same? The Unbound: Freedom in Christ Conference will take place on 20/21 September in St Boniface RC College, Plymouth. Unbound is a non-confrontational freedom and inner healing ministry which helps people worldwide reclaim their true identity in Christ. Author and co-founder Matt Lozano will be speaking live from the USA. There will be Mass, Confessions, Adoration, trained ministry teams and praise and worship. Tickets £40 via the link: https://givealittle.co/c/5dBfepB2Akl3YpEkxi3Qr1. Booking is essential as tickets will not be available at the door. Over 18’s only. For more details 01752 701660 or 07940 453607.

Jubilee Day for Catechists

In this Jubilee year, this day is for all catechists and those interested in becoming catechists. Speakers include Dr Pat McGovern and the LIFT Team from our parish in Truro and Deacon Tim van Kroonenburg. It will take place at the Buckfast Abey Conference Centre on Saturday 27 September, 10.00am – 4.00pm. To register, please email plymouth-crownhill@prcdtr.org.uk.

SVP National Raffle

Members of the SVP will be selling the Society’s summer raffle tickets over the coming weeks. They cost £1 a ticket in books of 5. 1st prize is £5000, 2nd is £1000 and 15 additional prizes of £100. The Parish SVP group will receive 50% of the ticket sales to support its work, so please be generous. 

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 27th July – Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

  • Saturday 26 July – St Joachim and St Anne, Parents of the BVM

    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm Zofia Zielinska (birthday ints)

    Sunday 27 July – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am

    Monday 28 July – Weekday

    • Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall

    Tuesday 29 July – St Martha, St Mary and St Lazarus

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • Monthly Lunch, 12noon-2.00pm, in St Andrew’s Hall

    Wednesday 30 July – St Germanus of Auxerre, Bishop

    • Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)

    Thursday 31 July – St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • 30 Minutes of Silent Prayer, 12.30pm, in St Andrew’s
    • Tough Times Support Group, 7.00pm, at 12 Lapwing Close, Cullompton, EX15 1UX

    Friday 1 August – St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor

    • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
    • Holy Mass at 12noon
    • Holy Rosary at 12.30pm

    Saturday 2 August – Weekday

    • Mad Hatters’ Tea Party and Coffee Morning, 10.00am-12noon, at Stylehurst, Ashley, Tiverton, EX16 5PA
    • Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 3 August – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am

Lectio Divina – Luke 11:1-13 – Lord, Teach us to prayLectio Divina – Luke 12:13-21 – The Rich Fool