Latest News & Events
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
· As we draw into the dark, cold winter months , the church will be closed at 5pm .
· Christmas cards available after each Sunday mass: £5 for pack of 6 assorted, profits will support the parish
Please note!
The building fund account is set up and ready to go. Please support the Parish in this much needed work on our beautiful church.
Here is the link to our give a little page for the building fund: https://givealittle.co/c/4BXf8amZWDpfo1wjXybhd9
Or use the QR code:
Taizé Adoration - Sacred Heart Church
Mary sustains our journey toward Christmas. She teaches us how to live Advent in expectation of the Lord: waiting for him, who will visit us all on the feast, but also, each one, in our own hearts. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for him!
— Cf. Pope Francis, Angelus, 8th December 2013
Please join us on Wednesday 4 December at 7.00pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Advent Retreat - St Rita's Honiton
Sisters of Mary Morning Advent Retreat
The Sisters of Mary Morning Star will be holding an Advent retreat this year for young women from the 13th-15th December.
It is a wonderful opportunity to get away to a quiet place and spend time with Jesus, to prepare for Christmas. There will be times of study in theology, a formation for how to do lectio divina, and time to explore the beautiful surroundings in Lynton. All the details are on the poster, please pass the info on to anyone that you think may be interested.
Safeguarding News
‘Lament and Light’ ecumenical service for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence
Monday 25th November
An ecumenical service will be held on Monday 25th November at 3pm, at St Mary’s Church in Plympton (Market Road, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 1QW). The service is being held to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (25th November – 10th December), which is a campaign for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Fr Mark Skelton and Rev Lizzi Green will lead the service. Refreshments will be available afterwards.
Caritas News
Caritas are hosting an hour long Zoom online session on Tuesday 3rd December at 11.30am for dementia awareness and how we can be welcoming and accommodating to those who are living with this disease. This may be useful to eucharistic ministers, Deacons, parish volunteers etc, the PPC and Clergy but not the wider public. We would be grateful if you could forward this invitation to those who you feel may benefit. The Zoom link for the session is Caritas Plymouth is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
https://prcdtr-org-uk.zoom.us/j/82590571902?pwd=MaWf5N5xaifaz9wR93zV7ebLl07uJ7.1
Also, please could you add this to your digital newsletters:
Caritas November Newsletter
Click https://tinyurl.com/4b9chyn9 to read the latest news about upcoming events and love in action around the diocese in the November Caritas newsletter.
Catholic Exeter Family All Saints Party
‘A fun time was had by all the families who came to our All Saints party. There were games, crafts, food singing, prayers, a holy pumpkin raffle and lots of children dressed up as saints. See you next year!’
St Nicholas School News
We currently have vacancies for
1:1 Teaching Assistants 8.30 - 3.15 Monday to Friday (starting from £12.45 per hour)
Mealtime Assistants 11.30 - 1.15 Monday to Friday (starting from £12.26 per hour)
Nursery Practitioner (with Level 3 qualification) 8am - 4pm Monday - Friday (starting from £12.45 per hour)
After School Club Assistant (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) (Starting from £12.26 per hour)
If you want to find our more about these jobs please contact Mrs Brocksom (vacancies@stncs.uk)
This term is always an exciting one for the children at St Nicholas. Not only is it the run up to Christmas but we also look forward to celebrating St Nicholas day on the 6th December, preparing for nativities, Christmas jumper day and also taking part in a Reindeer Run to raise funds for Hospiscare.
If any parishioners would be interested in coming in each week to read with children or are interested in Teaching Assistant job vacancies at the school please contact head@stncs.uk for more information.
Wonderful News - Well Done St Nicks!
We have been informed that we are one of only 50 schools in the country that the Department for Education will be investing in significantly to improve the quality of the environments used to deliver teaching and learning. This is absolutely fantastic for the school and we are delighted to be one of them. This will involve a rapid rollout of decarbonisation initiatives to improve lighting, heating, solar energy and ventilation systems to name but a few. We are very excited about this huge investment in the school.
We had a spotty clothes day at St Nicholas school last week raising money for Children in Need. Even Alfie the school dog joined the fun!
Well done to three lucky St Nicholas Catholic Primary School pupils who won a holy pumpkin in our recent raffle. The raffle, in aid of the Catholic Children’s Society, raised £37.40.
Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Walsingham 2025
TO CELEBRATE the Jubilee Year of 2025, you are invited to join the Legion of Mary's weekend Pilgrimage to Walsingham in the summer. Three nights: from Friday 11th to 13th July (returning Monday 14th). Dinner, B & B from £74/night (may change). Reserve your place(s) by 15th November as early booking is essential. For details and a booking form, call Adrian Wardle on 01752 830113 or e-mail arwardle@talk21.com There are also copies of the forms at the back of Sacred Heart Church.
Embracing a New Chapter in my Life: Julian Pinto
As I prepare to embark on a transformative journey at Allen Hall in London, I find myself filled with anticipation, excitement, and a deep sense of purpose. Allen Hall represents not just a place of learning, but moreover a community where faith, service, and one’s sense of vocation come together to shape the future servant-leaders of our Church.
From Exeter to Valladolid: Sam Mapletoft
My period of preliminary discernment on the Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) came to an end in July and, at the time of writing, I am now preparing for the next stage of my discernment and formation, participating in the propaedeutic programme offered at the Royal English College of St Alban in Valladolid
Safeguarding News
Monday 25th November – ‘Lament and Light’ ecumenical service for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence
An ecumenical service will be held on Monday 25th November at 2pm, at St Mary’s Church in Plympton (Market Road, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 1QW). The service is being held to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (25th November – 10th December), which is a campaign for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Fr Mark Skelton and Rev Lizzi Green will lead the service. Refreshments will be available afterwards.
Safeguarding Sunday - 17th November
On Sunday 17th November we will join other churches across the UK to highlight the importance of protecting children, young people and adults at risk. Safeguarding Sunday is also an opportunity to celebrate those who work behind the scenes to make our church a safer place for all. The theme for this year is ‘Let’s talk about it’. It is a time to have open and honest conversations about what we have got wrong and what we are getting right. It is also an opportunity to talk about how we can work together to prevent abuse and create a world where every child and adult can feel and be safe.
Compassionate God, our refuge and strength,
defender of the weak, the weary, and the oppressed,
we come to you with humble and thankful hearts.
As your children, you call us to be like you,
to speak up for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
Help us as we strive to be a place of safety for all,
May we listen to those who are hurting, learn from Jesus’ example,
and love one another as you first loved us.
Amen.
First Aid Training
Hello to the GIFT Teams,
Blessed Sacrament Parish have arranged a day of first aid training open to those in ministry and in the wider service of our parishes.
The details are below.
Details
Emergency First Aid at Work RQF Level 3-January 2025
Date of course: 11/01/2025
Start time: 10.00 Finish: 17.00
Venue: St Richard Reynolds Rooms.
Lunch will be provided.
There’ll be a multiple choice exam at the end.
Get in Touch
Hong Kong Community News
On 20 September our Hong Kong community celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart church, a talk in the lower room and a mass at a parishioner’s home after home blessing on Saturday morning with Fr Lui. This was a very special day of fellowship for our Hong Kong community.
Baptism Preparation Courses 2025
Are you expecting a baby and/or wish to have your child baptised? We look forward to supporting you in preparation for this important sacrament and welcoming you and your family int the community of the Church. Courses are over two consecutive Saturday mornings from 10:15-12:15 delivered via zoom.
Forthcoming Dates: 15 & 22 February 2025 Godparents are especially welcome to attend the course as the role of Godparents is explored. Click on this link at the end of this article to register. If you have any problem accessing this, contact Coral in the parish office at Exeter-sacredheart@prcdtr.org.uk or 01392 642389 To register for the February Course click here:
Have You Heard About 'Forming In Faith'?
Join us as we continue to journey through the Word on Fire series ‘Priest, Prophet King’. Discover Jesus as the Anointed One: the ultimate priest, prophet and king foreshadowed throughout Scripture. All our welcome to our next fortnightly meeting on Monday, 4th November from 10:30-12:00 in the Sacred Heart Lower Room. Please note there will be no session on Monday 18th November. December sessions will be on Monday 2nd and 16th December.
St Nicholas School News
On Friday 18th October, St Nicholas pupil prayed the rosary for peace and unity in the world through the Million Children Rosary Rally sponsored by the ‘Aid for the Church in Need.’ Steve Riedlinger from the ANC joined us. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
We are at the end of a busy half term and ready for a half term break. We will finish with a Neon Disco, organised by our PTA, to raise funds for the development of our outdoor spaces. There is a definite buzz in the air in anticipation of this event!
If you would like to find out more about joining our school from Nursery to Yr 6 please contact admissions@stncs.uk.
We are also holding open days in November for prospective September 2025 Reception entry. These are on the 12th and 13th at 9.30 and the 14th at 6pm. Please contact admissions@stncs.uk for a booking form.
News from Valladolid
In a solemn celebration of St Teresa of Avila, Sam Mapletoft, a seminarian from Sacred Heart here in Exeter, alongside 25 other seminarians from different nations signed the Liber Alumnorum and so joined a list of students of the Royal English College, Valladolid, dating back to 1589. The College has been training priests for centuries, and today Sam joined the great list of students that includes 23 martyrs.
As well as signing the Liber Alumnorum, Sam was also enrolled in the Confraternity of Our Lady Vulnerata, and bestowed with a medal to show his devotion to Our Lady, the Wounded One. Please keep Sam, all those at Valladolid, and all of our diocesan seminarians in your prayers.
In other news, Sam had his first visitor from Sacred Heart. He and Maria met up in Segovia, which is a stunning little town near Valladolid. Sam says he was very happy to see her.
Can you help The Catholic Children's Society?
The Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) are looking for new members to join their 50:50 club – Helping Hands.
Half of the money raised by subscriptions each month is retained by CCSP and the other half is returned to members as prize money. For example, if we had £200 in subscriptions each month, £100 would be used to help a child in need and the other half would be distributed as prize money eg £50 for 1st prize, £30 for 2nd and £20 for 3rd.
It costs £12 a year for one entry into all 12 monthly draws and you can enter each draw more than once so £24 for 2 numbers, £36 for three and so on.
Please call our office on 01364 645420 or email vicki.dunstone@ccsplymouth.org.uk to request an application form.
"Thank you" from CAFOD
Thank you for giving to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day appeal this Harvest season. Your donation in our parish collection or online and your prayers are helping to provide hope in the midst of many crises around the world. As well as responding to emergencies, your support helps provide a future to young people like Daniel in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with support like training, so they can carve their way to a better future. We are standing in solidarity with those facing incredible hardships, as part of one global family. Learn more at cafod.org.uk/harvest ”
Our national parish team will be sending out thank you certificates when your donation from the collection is received – if possible, please can you arrange to place the certificate on your parish noticeboard to thank the generosity of your parishioners.
Please find below some guidance you might like to pass on to your parish secretary or finance team which provides information that might be useful for sending in your Harvest Fast Day collection.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support for our sister and brothers around the world through CAFOD’s work. It’s inspirational to think of the bridge of hope we form within our Caritas partners around the world for communities in crisis.
Yours in Christ and with deep gratitude. Simon Giarchi
Assisted Suicide Bill
Kim Leadbeater MP is introducing a bill to introduce assisted suicide, which will be voted on by MPs on the 29 November. We know that assisted suicide laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor, disabled and marginalised. This is the biggest threat to the vulnerable in a decade, and we need a huge effort to lobby MPs. Please contact your MP by visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk
Assisted Suicide Bill Resources
The CBCEW website has been updated with a raft of resources for people to be informed regarding the assisted suicide legislation that is currently working its way through Parliament. This link will take you to the relevant page on the website: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/
IMPORTANT HOLY CROSS -TOPSHAM NEWS
A change will take place to Mass times from Sunday 20 October, from now on mass will be at 11.15 a.m.
Support for Pensioners on Low Incomes
An estimated 880,000 low-income pensioner households eligible for pension credit currently fail to claim it and a deadline is approaching. The government says it is worth an average of £3,900 a year, but it is also a gateway to other financial support such as winter fuel payments. If you know a pensioner on a on low income, please encourage them to check if they could be eligible for pension credit. This can be done online through www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator or people can get advice via phone on weekdays - 0800 99 1234.
There is a leaflet with more details and advice at the back of the Church or you can get a copy by emailing caritas@prcdtr.org.uk or calling 01364 645421.
SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) Urgent Notice
A Bill to allow assisted suicide will be laid before parliament this month. If passed, it would cause a complete change in the way society deals with terminally and chronically ill people. People must be treated as equal in value and dignity and not as lives ‘not worth living’. Assisted Suicide would place pressure on vulnerable people. Most palliative care doctors denounce these measures. Palliative Care is the Cinderella of the NHS and will remain so if assisted suicide is introduced. Please write to your MP as soon as possible. More information can be obtained from the SPUC website https://www.spuc.org.uk/assistedsuicideuk. This will give you information on what to include in your letter and invites you to enter your postcode which will bring up your MP and allow you to write an email which they will send. Alternatively, you can write a letter by hand and send it to your MP at: The House of Commons, Westminster, London,SW1A 0AA Get a disabled person’s perspective on assisted suicide by watching Liz Carr’s BBC Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_xF4dvS-U&ab_channel=thev%27joiners Further info: Christine Hudson 07742320717
WHAT ARE OUR SEMINARIANS UP TO?
I have been in contact with both Sam and Julian and they assure me that they are settling in well. They will both be serving at the installation of Bishop Philip on 9 November and hope to visit us at mass on that weekend. Sam has sent me a few photo of Valladolid, he says it is a beautiful building which is steeped in history. He assures us that the wine in Spain is very drinkable!!
Both Sam and Julian send their best wishes and ask for our continued prayer.
OUR STORY: OUR MISSION
Do you want to discover your true purpose, meaning and identity in your life with Christ? Are you aware of the part you are called to play in salvation history? In response to Pope Francis’ call to be “Pilgrims of Hope” for this forthcoming Jubilee year, Fr. David Marsden will lead us though this inspirational day. Come to Schiller Hall, Buckfast Abbey on Saturday 2nd November 10am (tea/coffee) 10.30-3pm.( Mass at 12noon). To reserve a place contact:
How to get 1 million children to pray the Rosary for peace?
Through this initiative, ACN is also participating in the “Symphony of Prayers” campaign, which Pope Francis called for on the occasion of the 2024 Year of Prayer – and which also paves the way for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
A catholic charity is hoping to exceed last year’s milestone of more than a million children joining a campaign to pray the Rosary for peace in the world’s conflict zones. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is holding its “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative for the 19th year in the row on 18th October.
Last year the target of a million children praying the Rosary for peace was reached for the first time – and the charity wants to see even more young people taking part in 2024. ACN (UK) National Director Caroline Hull said that the charity is “hoping to surpass last year’s record of 1,039,628 children praying the Rosary for peace around the world”. She added: “We would like to invite all our friends and benefactors here in the UK and beyond to encourage all the children they know to join this powerful initiative inspired by Our Lady of Fatima.”
This year’s motto – “Pray the Rosary and there will be peace” – places at the centre of the campaign the request made by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. Through this initiative, ACN is also participating in the “Symphony of Prayers” campaign, which Pope Francis called for on the occasion of the 2024 Year of Prayer – and which also paves the way for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
In a statement, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, ACN (International) President, and Father Anton Lässer, ACN (International) Ecclesiastical Assistant, wrote that everyone should “apply strength and imagination, so that in as many places as possible prayer meetings can take place… “Go to children’s groups, schools, prayer groups, radio and television, digital platforms, social media… and win over your own children and grandchildren for the prayer of the Rosary.”
The “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign has taken place every year on 18th October since first being organised in Caracas, Venezuela in 2005. There is free material – including colouring pictures for children and more information about the campaign – available online for those looking to help encourage their parishes, schools, children’s groups and families to join the initiative. For more details and to sign up to join the campaign, please visit
SVP NEWS
Recruitment
Thanks to a poster display and personal appeals at our three churches, we have been fortunate to have recruited four new full members to our Conference this year. This has been such a blessing and has been such a boost to our small team.
Visits
This year the members have continued with their face to face visits to beneficiaries at home, in care homes and in hospital. Over the past seven months we made 386 contacts with beneficiaries, with 600 hours spent visiting or offering regular telephone support to those who prefer this means of keeping in touch.
Practical Help
This year we were able to offer and fund a short term break for one particularly troubled beneficiary who was able to spend a few days recuperating in seaside accommodation in a nearby town. We were able to support with travel, accommodation and meals for the short break. This was very well received and proved to be of benefit to the individual’s mental and physical wellbeing.
We spent 71 hours of practical help in people’s homes, including fixing broken blinds, rehanging wardrobe doors, delivering food supplies and offering transport to foodbanks, hospitals etc.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Last year’s pilot project in collaboration with Refugee Support Devon proved so successful that we agreed to support the Bus Tickets project for a further six months. This has allowed twenty families weekly bus travel to a community kitchen in town where at ten cooking stations they have been able to prepare meals for their families and take them back to the migrant hotel out of town. This has helped reduce the incidence of child malnutrition that had been raised as a concern.
Chatter Café
Thanks to a small group of volunteers as well as a cohort of SVP members, the Chatter Café continues to provide a warm, safe space for vulnerable individuals to spend a few hours a week in supportive conversation and companionship. We have five regular individuals whom we support as well as a transient population of drop-ins who are also made welcome. Our team are gaining experience and insight into the lives of many desperately lonely and less fortunate people within our city and we are so fortunate to have the continued support of our parish priest and his team in order to enable this project to continue. We intend to open our doors as a Warm Space this year as we have on previous occasions.
Please keep our small Conference in your prayers.
Peter Schranz, President.
Time to say Goodbye
On Sunday 8th September we bid a fond farewell to Fr Albert. The afternoon was very well attended and refreshments were a plenty. Fr Albert was able to chat and catch up with the people he had come to know and love over the past three years.
We know that he will be an amazing Parish Priest and we wish God's grace and blessing in Teignmouth. Thank you to everyone that made this a success.
News from the University Chaplaincy
If you are going to be studying at the University of Exeter this year, we would like to invite you to come to our Catholic Chaplaincy, located at Boniface House, Glenthorne road, between Moberly and Birks Grange Village halls of residence. You can find more details and directions here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/chaplaincy/catholic/
We have a very lively and faith-filled community. Exeter Catholic Society meets weekly at the Catholic Chaplaincy for a range of activities throughout the year, from various socials to talks and society trips, in a friendly environment where students can grow in faith while having fun and making new friends. Masses at our Catholic Chaplaincy are celebrated during term time on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. (followed by a free lunch), Tuesdays at 12 p.m. (followed by a free lunch) and Thursdays at 5 p.m.
For further information on Exeter Catholic Society and the events at the Catholic Chaplaincy, please go to our Facebook page at @ExeterUniCatholicSociety or get in touch with the Chaplaincy Assistant, Dr Maria Giannone, at m.g.giannone@exeter.ac.uk. We look forward to meeting you!
St Nick's News
A few weeks into the new year and we are back in the swing and planning for the year. The Yr 3 and 4 children are already booked in to sleep with the sharks at the aquarium and we are keeping our fingers crossed that our Yr 5 children will be able to Parliament in January.
if you would like to find out more about joining our school from Nursery to Yr 6 please contact admissions@stncs.uk.
We are also holding open days in November for prospective September 2025 Reception entry. These are on the 12th and 13th at 9.30 and the 14th at 6pm. Please contact admissions@stncs.uk for a booking form.
The Safeguarding Office - Support for Victims of Abuse
The Safeguarding Office provides advice and support to all victims of abuse, regardless of whether this is something that is happening currently or that happened in the past. We work with anyone who has been abused, both those who were abused within the church, as well as those who have been abused in other settings. We are here to help you whether you were a child or adult when the abuse took place. We are not here to blame, judge or make excuses for the abuser, we are here to help all those who have experienced abuse or are still in an abusive situation, in any way we can.
The Safeguarding Office can provide you with support, advice, and signposting to relevant organisations. Our dedicated team of safeguarding professionals work closely with other agencies both locally and nationally including the Police, Probation, Social Services, and to standards that are set out by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.
Please contact us for a confidential conversation. You can call us on 01364 645430 (Monday to Friday from 9:00am – 4:30pm) or e-mail us on safeguarding@prcdtr.org.uk
Links to other important pages
You are invited to a Synodal Day
‘LISTENING WITH THE HEART’.
Buckfast Conference Centre
Saturday October 26th 2024
A day exploring ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ which is one of the fruits to have emerged out of the current synodal journey.
The day will be facilitated by Sarah Adams who is Director of Adult Education and Evangelisation for Clifton Diocese.
Sarah has been involved in the synodal journey at both diocesan and national levels and will take us through both the methodology and practise of Conversations in the Spirit and how we might apply it in a variety of settings.
TIMETABLE FOR THE DAY
10.00am Arrivals and refreshments.
10.30am Conversations in the Spirit. What? Where? How?
12.30pm Lunch.
1.15pm More Conversations in the Spirit.
3.15pm Departures.
If you would like to attend, please control and click on the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/PXVianxApk
For more information, email Fr Paul Keys at: synod@prcdtr.org.uk
