NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Baptism Preparation Course The next Baptism Preparation Course takes place at St. Teilo’s Parish Hall on Monday, May 11th and completes on Monday, May 18th at 7pm. Both sessions will last around an hour. All those who wish to have their child baptised need to attend the course before the Baptism. For further information and to book a place, please contact Cathy and Mel on catherinehopkins45@gmail.com

Thursday 14th May is the great solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven. It is a Holyday of Obligation on which all Catholics are expected to attend Mass.  Ascension Day Masses will be at 10am at St. Teilo’s and at 6pm at Our Lady of Lourdes on Thursday. The Mass readings and prayers for the Solemnity of the Ascension are on page 272 of the Parish Mass Book.

Each Tuesday evening, the parish has an hour of silent Adoration at St. Teilo’s from 7pm to 8pm. The primary intention for the period of Adoration is vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Feel free to come for all or part of the hour to pray for the Church in its need for faithful ministers to continue the Mission of Jesus.

The Annual Torchlight Procession in Honour of Our Lady takes place at Belmont Abbey at 9pm on Wednesday 6th May . The preacher will be Fr. John George OSB. There will be recitation of the Holy Rosary and hymns around the Abbey Gardens. Hot and Cold Refreshments will be available to purchase in the Chapterhouse from 6.00pm

The National Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse takes place every year on the Fifth Tuesday of Easter. In 2026, the day is marked on Tuesday, May 5th . Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). The theme for this year’s Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse looks at the scourge of domestic abuse which causes pain and fear that prevent its victims from living the life Jesus came to bring. Immediately before the much-loved part of this verse from the Gospel of John, we hear Jesus’s words: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” This is how abuse feels to those who experience it – their dignity and value as a unique child of God is stripped away and destroyed. The physical danger domestic abuse presents to life is clear. A woman is murdered by a partner or ex-partner every five days in the UK. Between three and 10 women die by suicide each week due to domestic abuse. Abusers can also perpetrate spiritual and coercive abuse, disrupting their victims’ relationships with God and the Church. This can lead victims – adults and children – to feel guilt and shame that push them away from the support that the Church has to offer. At its best, the Church can – and should – be a safe haven where support is available for victims and survivors so that they can live life without fear and begin to experience the life in abundance Jesus came to bring. This hope is what we pray for this year.

Archbishop Mark has written a pastoral letter, inviting all unmarried men who feel God may be calling them to the priesthood to take a first step in discernment. He invites every unmarried man who is open to this call to join him for Evening Prayer at St David's Cathedral, Cardiff, on Sunday, May 31st at 3:30pm , followed by an opportunity to meet with the Archbishop and others exploring the same vocation. To register your interest, please email: vocations@cardiffmenevia.org

This weekend is Good Shepherd Sunday, the day of the Annual Collection for the Archdiocesan Priests’ Training Fund. There will be a second collection at all Masses this weekend for the Priests’ Training Fund, you are also able to donate using debit or credit card at the Electronic Donation Station at the back of St. Teilo’s or at this address –  https://donate.mydona.com/st-teilo-our-lady-of-lourdes

Canon John would like to thank all those who did so much to make the Holy Week and Easter celebrations a great occasion celebrating our faith. He is especially grateful for the generous Easter Offerings which he received and the many, many birthday cards and gifts he received. Canon has asked for a special thank you to go to the social group who organised the lovely Parish party to mark his birthday. Enormous thanks to everyone! ( View photos here ) Canon John would also like to thank all the parishioners who came along to take part in the celebrations. May the blessing and joy of Easter be with us all through the rest of this blessed season.

Following his recent visit to St. Teilo’s, Fr. Matthew Roche-Saunders, Vocations Director for the Archdiocese, has asked Canon John if he would host, in the parish, a gentleman discerning a vocation to the priesthood. The discerner’s name is Craig Aitken and after a period from the New Year until now in Our Lady’s Parish, Cwmbran he is arriving in our Parish this weekend. This time is to support him in discerning God’s call for him. Please pray for Craig and all those others currently discerning their vocations in the Archdiocese.