The Ascension of the Lord

Sixth week of Easter (cycle B)

We now use the Mass of St Bernadette.
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Following the fantastic experiences that were had at the 2010 Pope state visit to the UK and the World Youth Day 2011 event in Madrid, the 2012 CYMFed Flame congress in 2012 at Wembley Arena sounded appealing and gave me and many others from my local area another chance to experience a celebration of the Catholic faith amongst young people

‘The dance of the Porcupines’ 

On arrival, we were welcomed first by Fr Philip and ‘the team’ with coffee and hot cross buns, and then by Sarah, a member of the Society of Mary and Martha at Sheldon.  

The theme of the day was ‘The Dance of the Porcupines’ -  ‘Community and Communion.’  There is a basic human need for community – the sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves, summed up in Genesis 2v18 ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’  The Hebrew term ‘Shalom’ – meaning peace – describes a connectedness between us which God envisages for us.  But how do we achieve this?

What do you get if you combine 15 Mary’s, 5 Joseph’s, a host of Angels...and a Christmas pudding? You get an interactive, Christmas Eve Crib service at Holy Ghost Church, Exmouth, that’s what!

Ok, so the Christmas pudding was an anachronism to say the least, but the event heralded a successful new direction for the traditional blessing of the Crib, held every year in the Parish to mark the start of the Christmas celebrations.

Day of Reflection – The Coming of the Lord

Parishioners from Holy Ghost Exmouth spent a quiet day of reflection at Sheldon on Tuesday 13th December during the busy lead up to Christmas. They were warmly welcomed to by a member of the community of The Society of Mary and Martha before being guided by Fr Philip gently through the day.

On the evening of Saturday 19th November I was invited to witness an event in the little known area of Exmouth called Bethlehem (aka The Church Hall in the grounds of The Holy Ghost Church).

Members of the Catholic and non Catholic community were attending a "Winter Warmer" to raise funds for the Church's heating costs BUT the theme of the evening was "THE NATIVITY".

The Union of Catholic Mothers together with "Bernadette's
Knit and Natter Group" have been busy knitting and crocheting for the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoe Box appeal,

Well over 980 squares were knitted and then edged and crocheted together to make blankets for children in orphanages, along with some crocheted blankets they produced forty one blankets.

Five Exmouth parishioners attended the lively Southwest Catholic Charismatic Renewal conference in the delightful surroundings of Brunel Manor over the weekend 11th-13th November in the great company of enthusiastic Christians, mostly Catholic but open to all. There was lively worship with hymns and songs old and new, and prayer ministry was available for whoever wished for prayer and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Although no priest was available to say Mass for us at the Conference, transport was very efficiently arranged to take us to St Mary’s Torquay on the Sunday morning.

For memories of the pilgimage to Rome,
go to the photo gallery

11 young people & their parents arrived at Grangehurst, Buckfast Abbey, the weekend of 16th October for a retreat as part of their preparation for Confirmation –and what a weekend we had!

The theme of the weekend was ‘Fire & Water’ and the group explored elements of their own Baptism and looked towards Confirmation. The Holy Spirit was certainly present in the variety of activities for parents and the Confirmandi, which ranged from an interview with Brother Christopher about life at the Abbey, to an awareness walk, to the making of a chasuble for Bishop Christopher to wear at the Confirmation on the 5th May