Category Archives: Living

Truro Men’s Buckfast Retreat

Some retreatants with Fr Abbot David and Bro Prior Daniel  The annual Truro Men’s Retreat at Buckfast Abbey was finally held last weekend at the start of Advent. Although in its twelfth year, the 2020 Retreat was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was only able to take place this year for a limitedContinue reading “Truro Men’s Buckfast Retreat”

Our Lady of The Portal’s Cornwall Christmas Boxes

Parishioners have put together £300 to make up Christmas Boxes, each containing Christmas Dinner for a family of four! Grateful thanks to Tony Barber for actually getting and collating the contents, and putting the boxes together. Readers have also left a further 2 full Christmas Boxes with us, in addition to any that people mayContinue reading “Our Lady of The Portal’s Cornwall Christmas Boxes”

Truro’s Big Sing! the first carol service

The above photo shows Cornwall Junior Choir with the Methodist Chapel Choir in the background, at this year’s Big Sing Last Friday, the popular traditional “Truro Big Christmas Sing” was the very first carol service of the year in Truro Cathedral.  Turnout was significantly less than organisers Christian Aid had hoped, with Covid and inclementContinue reading “Truro’s Big Sing! the first carol service”

Synod: a short overview

With Truro and no doubt other parishes around the county gearing up to start local consultations, we thought that readers might like to be reminded that the why’s and wherefore’s of the synod are contained in the Vatican’s Preparatory Document, which you can find on the official Synod website and also in our Synod resourcesContinue reading “Synod: a short overview”

“Behind the Global Synod”

Tuesday 16 November, 7pm Austen Ivereigh will deliver a talk entitled “Behind the global synod: why Pope Francis wants you to speak boldly and listen carefully.” on Tuesday 16th November at 7.00 pm. The talk, with discussion, is a free Plymouth Diocesan online event to which all are invited, in preparation for our participation inContinue reading ““Behind the Global Synod””

“For a Synodal Church”: Synod’s diocesan phase extended

The Vatican’s Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops announced on 29 October that the duration of the first (Diocesan) phase of the recently launched Synod “For a Synodal Church” has been extended. This is “in order to provide a greater opportunity for the people of God to have an authentic experience of listening andContinue reading ““For a Synodal Church”: Synod’s diocesan phase extended”

A Decisive Time for the Church

from Tony Barber Pope Francis has set us on a two year synodal journey, culminating in the final Bishops’ synod in October 2023.  Before then we, the whole church including the laity, are invited to participate in that journey. Bishop Mark in his inaugural address in the Cathedral on 17th October was careful to pointContinue reading “A Decisive Time for the Church”

Looking inward & outward

from F “One way of seeing synodality as an ongoing process could be considering the parish, or even diocese having both inward and outward facing dimensions.  One facet is for our own sanctification.  It involves the liturgies, sacraments, witness to each other, prayer, study accompanying our own sick and housebound, etc. Then if we areContinue reading “Looking inward & outward”

A Precious Place, revisited

At last week’s Synod briefing the Vicar General Fr John Deeny echoed Bishop Mark’s pastoral message that A Precious Place continues to be “a key point of reference” for us.  Fr John spoke of A Precious Place as an ongoing journey, and explained that the synodal process dovetails with the Diocesan initiative, each feeding intoContinue reading “A Precious Place, revisited”