Sacred Heart Exeter
Latest News & Events
Prisons Week Talk
In this jubilee year, you are warmly invited to a talk Deacon Brian will be giving on Wednesday 15th October at 7pm in the Lower Room, exploring the biblical concept of "jubilee", its link to debt cancelation, and how jubilee was fulfilled in Jesus. Pope Francis declared 2025 a jubilee year of hope, especially for the marginalised, including our brothers and sisters in prison. Brian will reflect on prison ministry, and consider how we can all respond in our daily lives to God's great gift of jubilee. Tea and coffee provided.
Our Four Seminarians Start a New Year
At the start of this new academic year, we would like to wish our four seminarians, Julian Pinto, Hugo Lomax, Sam Mapletoft And Juan Ginés, a blessed year ahead. Julian and Sam are at Alan Hall, Juan is at Valladolid and Hugo will be with us at Sacred Heart. As a parish, we are very proud of you and will keep you in our prayers.
Catholic Women's League
The next meeting of the Catholic Women's League will be on Tuesday 23rd September at 2pm in the Lower Room at Sacred Heart Church South Street. This meeting after the summer break is to plan for the future.
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The Catholic Women's League (CWL) is an international organization for Catholic women, founded in England in 1906 by Margaret Fletcher. It functions as a registered charity, promoting charitable works at parish, diocesan, and international levels, and fostering a supportive fellowship among its members. The CWL engages in various activities, including fundraising, supporting parish life, visiting house-bound friends, and participating in social events, outings, and pilgrimages, all while encouraging spiritual growth and service to God and community.
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These ladies play a very important role in the function of our parishes in Exeter. New members would be very welcome.
Is your Marriage Hurting?
Holidays periods can be very stressful for marriages and couples often suffer in silence
Marriage support - Does your relationship need some TLC? Need help with deeper issues?
Next programme starts 17th October www.retrouvaille.org.uk Tel: +44 7887 296 983
Holy Cross, Topsham, takes part in
"Say it with Flowers"
This was not a competition but a celebration of the theme: ‘Say it With Flowers’.
Holy Cross' entry was based on Pope Leo’s Coat of Arms and another floral display based on his chosen name as Pope. All placed on a papal flag. The exhibition ran from Thursday 17th July to Saturday 19th July.
The Lily represents the fleur de lys and echoes the heritage of Leo XIV and together with the blue background honours the Virgin Mary. The heart being pierced by the arrow (in my flower arrangement a shoot of lavender) as a follower of
St Augustine. The bible and the Pope’s motto: IN ILLO UNO UNUM, which means: In the one we are One
“The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
As part of the display they had words about the death of Pope Francis and the conclave which saw Pope Leo XIV elected as our new Pope. Also an explanation in detail of the Pope’s coat of arms plus a blank prepared sheet with a coat of arms for children to take away and develop their own (blank coat of arms sheet Courtesy of English Heritage).
The second arrangement was to show in flowers significant elements of Pope Leo XIV’s heraldry. Also information boards displayed to explain these elements and his motto.​
PLEASE NOTE!!
CAFOD and CARITAS have their own pages under the 'More' tab
Seminarian News
DEACONS RUN THE RACE TO THE END!!!!
Both Brian and Kelvin completed the 13.1 Mile Great West Run in under 3 hours on Sunday 25 May. Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Every penny you give helps us support impoverished Kenyan students achieve a high school education, thereby giving them a chance in life.
To donate, click here, or scan the QR code below.
Sacred Heart Repository
We are now back displaying on Sundays a few repository items for sale; currently we have rosaries, bracelets, Statues, Confirmation and First Holy Communion cards, and new items every week. Depending on the support we receive, this will grow into something a bit bigger! Please contact Coral at the Parish Office if you would like to see more any day.
01392 642389
GIFT Sacrament Families News
GIFT: Did You Know?
Did you know that GIFT welcomed over 45 parents, 45 primary aged children and 20 youth to their February session, served by a cross parish team of over 20 parishioners? Families, we’d love you to join us; register using the link below. Parishioners we’d love you to help us; get in touch if you could offer one Saturday morning a month to join the catechist teams or volunteer to serve refreshments to our families.
GIFT tots
Our next session will be on Friday 13th June in the Richard Reynolds Centre, Blessed Sacrament.
If you and your little ones would like to join us please register using this link: Gift Tots Link
GIFT families and youth
GIFT is for primary and secondary aged families and supports them to live and grow as Catholics. It enables parents to prepare their children to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Our next GIFT on the 7th June will be on pilgrimage to the St Boniface Shrine, Crediton. Join us at 10:00 to journey around the St Boniface Trail, Crediton at your own pace. The trail ends at the St Boniface Shrine, located in the St Boniface Catholic Church, where we will gather at 12:15 for GIFT Mass with Fr Jonathan. All are welcome. Information will be sent via email. If you aren’t registered with GIFT to receive our emails, get in touch with Maria who will ensure you have all the information needed for a smooth and enjoyable family pilgrimage. Exeter-pastoral-assistant@prcdtr.org.uk
Register for GIFT using the links below: GIFT Sessions
Register for GIFT Youth: GIFT Youth
GIFT youth: Sacrament of Confirmation
Growing in faith, attending GIFT Youth sessions and participating in Sunday Mass are all key elements of a deepening faith. If you are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, please get in touch with the parish office.
News from Valladolid
March & April
Sam is still enjoying his time at Valladolid. In between his lessons he find time to explore the parts of Spain around him.
He has been enjoying the many religious processions taking place at this time of the year.
January & February 2025
"My time of formation is going very well, and it is flying by. In January, I enjoyed a placement in the diocese, where I was based in Weymouth. I was able to visit Exeter for a day, but only briefly. It was lovely to be back in the diocese for a few weeks, and I felt at home once again. Shortly after, I returned to Valladolid, where we have had a busy couple of weeks. We have spent time studying death, and how to care for the dying, but also a lot of work on our human formation with a visiting psychologist. I was therefore very grateful for a little break, and I enjoyed a few nights in Toledo. It is a stunning city on the Tagus river, with great views, a beautiful cathedral, a historic castle, and most importantly good food (the zipline was an added bonus). It was just the break I needed. I am remembering you all in my prayers, please keep me in yours as I return now to Valladolid to restart studies again on Monday."
Sam keeps in contact with us on a regular basis. He wishes all of the parishioners a very blessed Easter, and asks us to continue to carry him in our prayers.
November & December 2024
I have been getting on well in Valladolid. Seminary life is busy, with a lot of studies to be done, and a very strong prayer life. We are very lucky to be in such a beautiful country, and that we can have some time off to explore. The other weekend, I enjoyed a few nights in Bilbao, exploring the arts and culture of the vibrant city, and going back to the sea which I miss so much in landlocked Valladolid. The sunset over the Bay of Biscay one night was particularly stunning. (Sunset).
We were also very lucky to be joined for the First Sunday of Advent by Bishop Mark Davies, who led a retreat on priestly spirituality and the spirituality of St Jean Vianney. After the two days of silent prayer and talks, we travelled as a college to Avila, to celebrate Mass together at the convent of St Teresa. It is a beautiful city (church and view)
Overall things are going well, and I am looking forward to being back in the Diocese of Plymouth over January. The parish remains very much in my thoughts and prayers"
September & October 2024
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.
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SPUC
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is holding its annual Pro-life Prayer Chain by the Blue Bridge on the A385 Ashburton Road, Totnes from 11.00am to 12.00noon on Saturday 26th April. Please come and join us. We stand and pray in silence holding placards towards oncoming traffic. It is a powerful witness that we are against the killing of unborn babies. Please make this a priority and come along for as long as you wish, to show your support. Thank you.
Exeter WAYmakers Update
Exeter WAYmakers would like to thank everyone who has so generously supported our community sponsorship group over the last four years, through donations, our various fundraising activities and with prayers. Without your generosity, encouragement and practical support we would not have been able to welcome a family to Exeter and support them in settling here and developing a new life.
The family arrived a year ago and has been so appreciative of the support received. They have made great strides in learning English and two of them have found work, an incredibly impressive feat given what they have been through. Your generosity has enabled us to secure suitable accommodation, kit it out with more than just the necessities and give the family a stable base from which to start again. The outstanding support of our lead sponsor, Caritas Plymouth, has also facilitated this, as well as working with us to provide ongoing help.
It has been both a pleasure and a huge privilege to walk together with this family on their journey of settlement and our team has committed to do so for another year.
As yet, Exeter WAYmakers has not decided whether to support a second family at the end of our current commitment. We will keep you posted!
Please pass on our thanks to your friends and family who have generously supported Exeter WAYmakers but may not see this newsletter. Thank you and may God bless you.
Retrouvaille For Marriage Help
Out of 21 couples who joined the Retrouvaille programme in February, two couples have turned away from divorce, and others now found hope to restore their marriages. Your bulletin announcements, referrals and prayers made this possible.
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MARRIAGE HELP - Retrouvaille helps couples find hope and healing for their marriage.
Next date: 20-22 June www.retrouvaille.org.uk Tel: 0788 7296983
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Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
For Immediate Release
1 April 2025
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Pastoral Letter on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
5/6 April 2025
Fifth Sunday of Lent
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I wish to speak with you today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I have made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.
The passage of the Bill through Parliament will lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.
There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended. What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a 'national death service'?
In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.
It is sad reflection on Parliament's priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.
I am sure that you will share these concerns. It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.
Every MP, and government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. So I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.
In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of 'pressing on' and 'striving' for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, 'Christ Jesus has made me his own'.
We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.
May God bless you all.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Diocesan Prayer Group
An online group has been sharing Morning Prayer and Night Prayer, Monday to Fridays, for the last two years. We simply pray the Divine Office together (over about twelve minutes) - 'for the sake of the Church and the world'. People dip in, as they can (no apologies needed when we can't). There is no obligation to read, just join us in prayer. For more information contact <deborah.vankroonenburg@prcdtr.org.uk
Catholic Marriage Care in Devon and Cornwall
Catholic Marriage Care is a national charity, with over 80 years’ experience of working with couples as they navigate the marriage journey, both in preparation for their marriage and during the various challenges that occur during a long relationship.
All our work in the Devon and Cornwall region is online, with group ‘Preparing Together Anywhere’ courses, ‘Foccus’ which is an individual preparation course, and our counselling service for couples of any faith or none.
To find out more or to access any of our services, please visit our website: www.marriagecare.org
A Message from St Vincent De Paul—Exeter
Our SVP team requires help from any care sector employers –Sponsorship.
The SVP team are aware that a person within our community needs to transfer their certificate of sponsorship from a Care provider in the north of England to here in Exeter where the family resides. The current hours of sponsorship are 20 hours per week and the SVP team are trying to facilitate a new position within a care residential setting that could take on this person's sponsorship. Once the hours are transferred, the person is willing to work more hours per week. If there are any care providers in our parishes that would like to chat informally to an SVP team member about the sponsorship, please contact one of us at the address below. Peter, on pschranz5@gmail.com or Imelda on imelda.wightman@gmail.com
Candle Event Sacred Heart
On Sunday afternoon our beautiful church was lit up by our new lighting and candles for a special candle lighting and Carols service. Passers by were invited into the church to light a candle and take part in the Carol singing.
Second Collections for 2025
Below is a list of second collections for 2025. There will be no other second collections apart from ones directly relating to the parish e.g. flowers for easter and Christmas.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
​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
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Or use the QR code:
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!’
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
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:
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/
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!!
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Both Sam and Julian send their best wishes and ask for our continued prayer.
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.
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
