Archbishop's letter September 2024

Webmaster • September 15, 2024

Archbishop Mark Announces the Creation of the United Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia


Archbishop Mark O’Toole has shared the joyful news of the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, a decision promulgated by Pope Francis on 12th September, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. The announcement, to be read in churches across the region on the weekend of 14th-15th September, marks a significant milestone for the Catholic community in South Wales and Herefordshire.

Archbishop Mark expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his support, reflecting on the swift decision as a sign of confidence from the Holy See. The decision follows a series of Open Listening Sessions held across both dioceses earlier this year, during which clergy and laity engaged in discussions about the proposed unification.


In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Mark highlighted the role of the Virgin Mary as the first missionary disciple, reminding the faithful of her example in embracing Christ’s mission. He encouraged the community to continue walking together on the path of the Gospel, deepening their relationship with Jesus through acts of service, inspired by Mary’s life.



Here is a copy of the Pastoral Letter:


Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia for the weekend of 14/15th September


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,


“Ave Maria – Hail Mary!” The greeting of the Angel Gabriel to our Blessed Lady is of course the beginning of a precious prayer for all of us. Across South Wales and Herefordshire, we have further cause to rejoice in this heavenly greeting as this past Thursday, the 12th September, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the Holy Father promulgated the creation of our united ‘Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia’.


We know that following the heavenly visit, Mary becomes the first Missionary Disciple, running quickly to visit and greet her cousin Elisabeth with great joy. In the joy of her own faith, she wanted to be close to and assist her elderly cousin, who at an advanced age was herself to give birth to an unexpected child. Mary manifests the combination of faith and good works that St James speaks of in today’s second reading. She proves her faith to us by her good works.


We know, too, that Mary was there on the Way of the Cross, accompanying her Son in His Passion and death, receiving her dead Son into her loving arms with the deep love of a mother who had known the joy of cradling Him as a young baby. Mary knows the sorrowful as well as the joyful mysteries of human life. As the first of the disciples, Mary teaches all of us to fulfil that invitation of the Lord in today’s Gospel: “To be my disciple you must take up your cross and follow me”. Mary knew and lived this from the inside.


This is why it is a joy for us to have received the decision of the Holy Father to create our united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis for making this decision and for his inspiring leadership in encouraging us to ‘go outwards’ in mission. We received this decision more quickly than anticipated. I believe this is a sign of the confidence that the Holy See has in the process that we have undertaken to date. I want to thank all of you – lay faithful, religious, deacons and priests – for your engagement, support and encouragement. It has helped all of us become more, at local level, what the Holy Father is inviting of all the Church – to be a synodal Church for mission.


We are invited to make that more real in the months and years ahead. We are called to continue to walk together the path of the Gospel, in open dialogue and faith, seeking to look at how we can, like Mary, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and at the same time, bear witness to Him through our good works.


Providentially, too, this decision on the creation of our new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, comes as the whole Church prepares for the Jubilee Year, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Mary was the first Pilgrim of Hope for she received Jesus with absolute openness and she immediately brought Him, in Hope, to those around her. She can help each of us grow in our relationship with, and love for Jesus. She can give us the courage to present Her Son anew to all those whom we know and encounter, who do not know His love. Like Mary, let us have a heart for those who do not know Jesus. In drawing closer to Him ourselves, may we have the hope and the courage that Mary had, to go out to those in our world who so desperately need the love of her Son in their lives. To her, in great joy and hope, we pray:

“Ave Maria – Hail Mary,
With joy, you received the greeting and message of the Angel. You ran quickly as a pilgrim of hope to your cousin to share with her the Good News of Salvation.


We ask you now, to be close to us all in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Teach us to be like you, to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and to welcome Him more deeply into our lives. Help us to accept and surrender to the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of our life, knowing that your maternal love is with us and that you show us how to follow your Son.


Give us the courage to be Pilgrims of Hope for our world today, always announcing the Good News of your Son. With you, may we raise up the lowly, feed the starving, welcome the stranger, comfort the dying, be merciful to all, so that one day we will join with you and with all your sons and daughters in an eternal loving gaze upon the face of your Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

May God Bless each of you, your families and loved ones. Pray for me.



Yours devotedly,

Archbishop Mark O‘Toole’s Pastoral Letter January 2026

By Webmaster • January 26, 2026
‘Heart speaks to Heart’ – being a missionary and synodal diocese  – A Pastoral Message to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia Archbishop Mark has published a pastoral letter calling the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia to become a missionary and synodal diocese, built on a foundation of prayer and four key pillars: youth and vocations, evangelising zeal, formation in faith, and loving service of those in need. This letter, titled ‘Heart speaks to heart’, takes its inspiration from St John Henry Newman’s motto and challenges Catholics across south and mid Wales and Herefordshire to encounter Christ more deeply and share that encounter with others. The Archbishop poses direct questions throughout: Are our parishes places that make disciples? Do we really believe Jesus is with us, or do we live as practical atheists? Do our initiatives reach beyond the circle of friends we already have? The letter will be broken into six pieces for study during Lent or Eastertide, with reflection questions for use in parishes, schools and communities across the archdiocese. Read the full message here (download)

First Holy Communion 2026

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
The children of the parish have begun their preparation for First Holy Communion which they will make on Sunday, May 10th. Please keep these young people in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time.  The children’s names are Clara, Finn, Luca, Mafalda, Max, Oliver and Rodrigo.

Deanery Prayer for Vocations

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
As part of his remit as Vocations Director, Fr. Matt Roche-Saunders has established Deanery Prayer for Vocations with Adoration and Mass on the first Fridays of the month. In February St. David’s (Cardiff) Deanery, is the host deanery. Parishioners from throughout the deanery are invited to an hour of adoration from 6pm-7pm followed by Mass at 7 pm. This first such event in our deanery is taking place at St. Teilo’s on Friday, February 5th . All are welcome to come along for all, or part of the time on this evening.

Funeral Service for Pauline Canning

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
The Funeral Service for Mrs. Pauline Canning will take place at St. Teilo’s at 10am on Thursday. Mrs. Canning lived in Caldy Road and will be known to many of the parishioners who live in Llandaff North.

Funeral Mass of Paul Curtis

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
The Funeral Mass for Paul Curtis will take place at midday on Tuesday at St. Teilo’s. Paul grew up in St. Teilo’s Parish and his sister Jill leads the Parish Music Group and is our Parish Safeguarding Officer. Please consider coming along to the funeral Mass to pray for the repose of his soul. Fr. Allan Davies-Hale, a close friend of the family, will be celebrating the Funeral Mass.

Day of Fasting – Monday, January 26th

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
As announced in last weekend’s message from the Bishops of Wales, Monday, January 26th is to be observed as a day of fasting, to be in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable to the proposed Assisted Suicide Bill, and that those intent upon passing it, may undergo a change of heart. Please mark this day of fasting, as appropriate in your stage and circumstances of life.

Sunday of the Word of God

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
On the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time the Church throughout the world celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God. The theme for this year’s celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God is taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians: “The word of Christ dwells among you” (Colossians 3:16). St. Paul does not ask that the Word be merely listened to or studied; he wants it to dwell, that is, to take up stable residence, to shape our thoughts, guide our desires, and make credible the witness of the disciples. The Word of Christ remains a sure criterion that unifies and renders fruitful the life of the Christian community. Today we have an invitation addressed to the whole Church to place the Gospel once more at the centre, since every true renewal is born from docile listening to the Word. To welcome it means allowing ourselves to be accompanied by the One who does not deceive, because He gives life and hope. To be inhabited by the Word ultimately means permitting Christ to speak even today through our lives, so that every person may recognise His presence, which continues to illuminate the journey of history.  Every Christian and every community must rediscover the primacy of the Word of God. Its sincere and profound listening is an essential path through which human beings encounter God. When space is given to the Word, each person discovers that the Word of God dwells in the heart like a seed that, in due time, sprouts and bears fruit. Indeed, all of us are invited to nourish ourselves with the daily bread of the Word and, afterwards, to proclaim it to our brothers and sisters, for proclamation flows from the abundance of the heart, according to the Gospel saying: “from the fulness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45). (Guidance for the Sunday of the Word of God from Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation.)

RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults The Parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme takes place on Wednesday. The sessions run in the Parish Hall at St. Teilo’s on Wednesday evenings at 6pm.

Mass on Thursday

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
The Parish Mass on Thursday will be at the earlier time of 9am at St. Teilo’s. This is to enable the celebration of the Funeral of Mrs. Pauline Canning.

St. Teilo’s Friends of Divine Mercy Prayer Group

By Webmaster • January 23, 2026
St. Teilo’s Friends of Divine Mercy Prayer Group meets on Saturday, January 31st at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to come along to pray for the parish and the intentions of the parishioners.