NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

The Parish Lenten Sessions continue on Wednesday. The theme, based on the theme of the Jubilee Year is: “We Dare to Hope” The topic of the third session will be: The Prayer of Hope. The session will remind us that hope and prayer are inseparable. Prayer is always an act of hope in God, an act of desire for God and of trust in Him. We exercise hope in prayer, as we come to God in our poverty of heart.  Why not come along to reflect on the theme of Hope during this Jubilee Year when we are called to be: Pilgrims of Hope?

Please view our current newsletter HERE

The Lenten Station Mass for our Deanery will take place on Wednesday, April 9th at 7pm at St. Helen's Church, Barry. It would be nice to have a good number of parishioners in attendance at this Mass as part of our Lenten observance, so please put it in your diaries now.

This year, Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope, with the theme of “hope does not disappoint” and a call to Catholics worldwide to become “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee Year officially started on Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and will continue until the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026. On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis invited pilgrims to the Vatican to walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s and the other Holy Doors throughout Rome and the world. In the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia the Holy Doors are at St. David’s Cathedral, Cardiff, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, the statue of Our Lady of Penrhys, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan, the Shrine of Divine Mercy at Sacred Heart, Morriston, the Churches of St. Francis Xavier, Hereford, St. Francis Xavier and St. David Lewis, Usk, Our Lady and St. Illtyd, Llantwit Major, the Welsh Martyrs, Aberystwyth, the chapel of St. Non’s Retreat Centre in St. David’s; and the Abbey Churches of St. Michael and All Angels, Belmont and Our Lady and St. Samson, Caldey Island.  On a visit to the Holy Door(s) you are invited to undertake a pious act including participating devoutly in Holy Mass or at a celebration of the Word of God; the Liturgy of the Hours (Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer); the Stations of the Cross or the Rosary along with the other requirements for an Indulgence - https://rcadc.org/jubilee-home/the-jubilee-indulgence/ Preparations for the 2025 Year of Jubilee began in Advent 2023, which marked the start of a year of prayer. The Bishops’ Conference have produced resources for the preparatory year of prayer, focusing on the Our Father, as well as resources about Jubilee in the Catholic Church. View the resources from the Catholic Bishops Conference here View the resources from our own Archdiocese here Jubilee Year Calendar (Cardiff-Menevia)

A Day of Reconciliation will be held at Belmont Abbey on Saturday March 15th . Led by Dom Alexander Kenyon, the Prior of Belmont. The day will run from 10am – 3.15pm and will include spiritual talks, confessions and Mass. The cost is £40 per person including lunch. For further information please contact Andrew Grant at andrewgrantDL@gmail.com

Many thanks for the very generous response to the appeal in the newsletter two weeks ago for hats and gloves for the people who use the night shelter. They were very well received by the recipients. More are always welcome. In addition, it has become clear that many of those at the shelter are in need of other items including sleeping bags, haversacks, boxer shorts, socks and jackets. If you are able to help by donating any of these items, please drop them at the back of the Church.

Apologies to all those who make use of the Hearing Loop at St. Teilo’s. The current loop has degraded in at least five places. The degradation is so bad that we have followed the professional recommendation and are replacing the whole cable around  the Church. Sadly, this means that the Hearing Loop will not be operational until the work is complete.

The next Parish Bingo Night will take place on Friday, March 14th , 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Chip shop supper is optional, to be ordered on the night. Bingo £7; proceeds to the Reaching Out project. All are welcome to come along.

On this feast of St David, the patron of Wales, I send my warmest greetings to you all. This day is an opportunity for us to reflect on the life and witness of Dewi Sant, a man of profound faith, humility, and service, whose legacy continues to shape the spiritual and cultural heritage of our nation. St David’s famous words, “Gwnewch y pethau bychain – Do the little things,” remind us that holiness is found not just in grand gestures but in the small, daily acts of kindness, generosity, and faithfulness that draw us closer to God and to one another. His life was one of simplicity and devotion, yet his influence spread far beyond the monastic communities he founded. His example calls us to live with integrity, to care for our neighbours, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel. Today, as we celebrate the rich history and traditions of Wales, we also look forward with hope. St David’s message is one of unity and service, urging us to build communities where the dignity of every person is cherished, where faith is lived with joy, and where the values of compassion and justice shape our common life. May this St David’s Day renew in us all a spirit of faith and commitment to the common good. May his prayers guide and strengthen those who serve in public life, and may we, like him, seek always to follow Christ in all we do. With every blessing and the assurance of my prayers for you and your families. Yours devotedly,