NEWSLETTER

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C)

World Communications Day

Sunday 1st June, 2025

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters
With the arrival of the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we are entering into the final week of Eastertide, which will culminate with the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost next weekend.  One of the refrains of the readings for the Solemnity of
the Ascension this last Thursday was that the message of the new life offered through the Resurrection of Christ should be proclaimed to the “ends of the earth”.  The call to be witnesses to the message of new life in Christ is at the core of the lives of everyone of Christ’s disciples and so the willingness to communicate this message both through our words and by our actions is central to the identity of each of us.  We are called to be “communicators” – and effective ones at that!  We don’t need any special training or knowledge for this; we are just called to be faithful, open and honest about the impact that the Holy Spirit has had and continues to have on our own lives.  We communicate most effectively when we speak from our own lived experience of the faith.  Also, as the old adage reminds us:  actions speak louder than words.  That is, it is often what we do – or choose not to do – that speaks volumes to other, rather than anything we might say or not say.
It is not surprising, then, that this Sunday is designated as the World Day of Social Communications by the Church.  In the globalised village that is our world today, the ability to communicate through the media is immediate, even to the other side of the world.  Moreover, the omnipresence of the various means of social communication, often directly into the hand of the individual by means of the mobile phone, has become both a blessing and a curse in modern times.  Whilst it has, on the one hand, enabled an unprecedented level of communication never before possible between human beings from every nation and culture, on the other hand, being constantly “plugged in” to this information overload can, paradoxically, make us less attentive to what we hear and, with little time to reflect and discern on what we read or hear, to be able to distinguish what is reality from what is not. These are challenges for the way the Church communicates her message too in the modern era.  Attached to the Newsletter today, there is the Message of Pope Francis, written at the start of the year before his death, for this World Day for Social Communication.  In this Message, entitled: “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your heart“, the late Pope Francis gives a beautiful reflection on the importance of speaking from the heart as the basis for effective communication, on communication as a vehicle of hope and on the role of communication in bringing people to journey together.  Due to the significance of the Church’s involvement in social communications at national level, there is a retiring collection to support that ministry for those who are able to contribute.
The weekly guide to a more reflective, personal reading of the Sunday Gospel, offered by Monika Manser, is attached to the Newsletter as usual.  Last week, I forgot to attach the May Newsletter from CHAT, so I have included that also with this week’s documents.
May God bless you all, especially our youngsters who are in the midst of exams at this time, and do keep sending up your prayers for those in our community who are sick and frail.
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 Social Communications

This Sunday is the World Day for Social Communications. The theme for this year’s World Day, chosen by the late Pope Francis, is ‘Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts’. A copy of Pope Francis’ Message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications is attached to the Newsletter. There will be a retiring collection to support the communications work of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Prayer Card for Pope Leo XIV

A prayer card for Pope Leo is available for everyone at Mass this weekend.

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 will be issued next weekend and parishioners are asked to complete them and return to back to church as soon as possible. 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. For families consisting of more than three persons, please remember to take an additional sheet so that all family members can be included.

Light a Candle at the National Shrine of St Boniface
As we approach the Feast of St Boniface this Thursday, 5 June, the Jubilee Year presents a special opportunity to reflect, celebrate and come together in faith. Lighting a candle at the National Shrine is a meaningful way to participate. It symbolizes prayer, devotion and our connection with Our Lord.  To take part, please visit the Shrine parish website: https://catholicchurchcrediton.org/index.php/support-us/light-a-candle , make a donation (£2 suggested), and email crediton@prcdtr.org.uk to let them know. Candles will be lit upon request:  Wednesdays before 4.00pm Mass and Sundays before 9.30am Mass. Thank you for your support for the Shrine.

CHAT Quiz Night
You are invited to join CHAT for a fun evening of quizzing at St Paul’s Church, Tiverton, next Saturday 7 June. The doors will open at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £12.00, and this includes a Ploughman’s. A bar will also be available on the evening. Quiz Teams can consist of up to 8 people (but these can be allocated on the night if necessary). Tickets for the evening can be purchased at www.tickettailor.com/events/churcheshousingactionteamchat/1649562.

Volunteer for Stella Maris Needed

Stella Maris (formerly called Apostleship of the Sea) is seeking one volunteer from our parish to help with Sea Sunday (which falls on 12/13 July this year) in our parish. This is the day when the Church comes together to pray for seafarers, fishers and their families, and takes a second collection to support the work of Stella Maris. The volunteer will read out the appeal (which Stella Maris will provide) at the end of Masses that weekend. If you can kindly do this, please contact roland.hayes@stellamarismail.org or call 07887 893763.
All parishioners are warmly invited to an online webinar being run by Stella Maris on Thursday 19 June from 7.30 to 9.00pm. You will hear about the work that Stella Maris has been doing with seafarers and fishers over the past year or so, including the use of the funds kindly donated on Sea Sunday last year. Please sign up at: www.stellamaris.org.uk/thankyouwebinar

St John’s School Jubilee Pilgrimage
St John’s School Jubilee Pilgrimage will take place thiis Friday 6 June, leaving school at around 11.30am for the short walk to The Rec, where there will be a short time of prayer together and lunch eaten before returning to school for the next stage. Whilst the younger children will remain in school, the KS2 children will walk to St Andrew’s Church, stopping at points along the way for prayers, aiming to reach St Andrew’s for a Service of the Word at 2.30pm. Parishioners are very welcome to join the children for any part of the day.

Coffee Morning and Tabletop Sale
Next Saturday 7 June, 10.00am-12noon, in St Andrew’s Hall, the Friends of St James and St Boniface will be hosting a Coffee Morning and Tabletop Sale. Tea, coffee and delicious cakes will be served, and there will be
a parish table with goods for sale. Any good quality or new donations would be very welcome by this Sunday. If you would like to book your own table to sell anything you choose, these are available for £10; small £5 tables are available for Under 16s. These must be pre-booked by this Sunday with payment on the day. Ring 07522 338897. Please come and support us as we raise funds for the interior church refurbishment of the rebuilt St James.

Trekking for Life Charity
Deacon Nick Johnson, a permanent deacon in St Mary’s Parish, Poole, is committed to walking the 100km Via Francigena into Rome in September this year in favour of Life Charity.  He would be grateful for any support that you could give. His JustGiving page can be found here.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday1st June – Seventh Sunday of Easter

  • Saturday 31 May – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    • Holy Baptism of Louise Boddy at 12.30pm
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 1 June – Seventh Sunday of Easter

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface)
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am Barbara Gorlo (birthday ints)

    Monday 2 June – Easter Weekday after Ascension

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

    Tuesday 3 June – St Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am

    Wednesday 4 June – Easter Weekday after Ascension

    • Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)

    Thursday 5 June – Solemnity of St Boniface, Bishop, Martyr and Missionary, Patron of the Diocese

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am

    Friday 6 June – Easter Weekday after Ascension

    • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.30am
    • Holy Mass at 12noon
    • Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm
    • SVP Meeting at 12.45pm in St Andrew’s

    Saturday 7 June – Easter Weekday after Ascension

    • First Communion Preparation, 10.00am in St John’s School Hall
    • Tabletop Sale and Coffee Morning, 10.00am-12noon, St Andrew’s Hall
    • Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Laudato Si’ Group at 4.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 8 June – Pentecost Sunday

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