Christmas Octave
Webmaster • December 19, 2025
The joy that fills the Church at the birth of Jesus is celebrated throughout the Christmas season. The Church, as a continuation of the Christmas Feast, celebrates the Octave of Christmas, that is, the eight days between Christmas and New Year’s Day as a special celebration, with each day celebrated with prayer based on the Angels’ message to the Shepherds, the Gloria.
Unlike our society, which seems to see December 25th as the end of the Christmas season, for us, December 25th is the beginning of Christmastime. These days between Christmas and New Year see many people taking leave, which is a great opportunity to spend more time with the Lord and come to a Christmas Octave Mass. During this week, we will celebrate the feasts of St. Stephen on the 26th , St. John the Apostle on the 27th and the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph next Sunday. This all culminates in the celebration of Mary, the Mother of God, on New Year’s Day.
Clothes donations for the SVP – next Weekend The Parish St. Vincent De Paul (SVP) Conference undertakes a monthly collection of clothing for the SVP Charity Shop. Clean, good quality clothing, books and toys are welcome. Donations may be left outside the confessionals at the rear of St. Teilo’s next weekend, August 9th , and on the weekend of the Second Sunday of each month. Please ensure that donations are brought to the Church only on the specified Sundays, as we do not want the Church to become cluttered during the week Thank you from the parish SVP.
The Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers and the Maryvale Institute run an annual 6-month course for adult Altar Servers, exploring the history of liturgy, the sacraments, scripture, communication, leadership and people skills and the theology of service. There are no pre-requisite education requirements, and it is delivered online in 1-hour monthly evening sessions, with an optional one day in-person session at Oscott College, Birmingham at the end of the course. The deadline for registration for the next cohort is 15th September 2026. For more information see the Guild of St Stephen website - https://www.guildofststephen.org/certificate or email Deacon Paul Briers on certificate@guildofststephen.org
The Archdiocese will be taking a group of young adults to Seoul for the next World Youth Day in 2027. Young adults who would like to join are invited to attend the online information webinar on Sunday, August 2nd at 7pm. To register please click this link: https://tinyurl.com/Cardiffmenevia-Seoul27
This month’s craft session takes place in the Parish Hall at St. Teilo’s next Saturday, August 8th from 10.30am – 12.30pm . The session is suitable for absolute beginners to experts. This month we will continue to focus on Junk Journals. The session is free. Hope to see you there! Any enquiries please contact simplycraft@btinternet.com or speak to Erica.
This year’s pilgrimage takes place on Sunday, August 23rd . All are welcome to attend the whole or part of the day’s events: 9.15a.m. Mass at St Mary’s Church, Monmouth 10.15 a.m. Monmouth to Welsh Newton Pilgrims set off to walk to Welsh Newton from St. Mary’s Church, Monmouth after the 9.15 a.m. Mass. Everybody is welcome. Please bring a packed lunch. 3.00 p.m. Welsh Newton We meet for Rosary, Readings and Prayers at St. John Kemble’s Grave in the Churchyard at Welsh Newton. 4.15 p.m. Monmouth Benediction follows in St. Mary’s Church, Monmouth For further information please contact Mary Walsh on 07907 616578
We will have coffee and tea in the St. Pope John Paul II Chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes after the Mass on Wednesday. If you are at Mass on that day, please stay behind and spend some time socialising and sharing with our fellow parishioners.
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.
Adoration and Exposition – Friday There will be Adoration and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 10.30am to 11.30am at St. Teilo’s on Friday. Why not come along to spend time in silent prayer and Adoration before the Lord?
Mass on Thursday will be at the later time of 11.00am. This will be the Funeral Mass for Gordon Blakey. All are welcome to attend and pray for the repose of the soul of Gordon, a long standing parishioner whose beloved wife Stella predeceased him nine months ago.
Rest in Peace Please pray for those who have died recently, especially Yvonne Butcher; Gordon Blakey; Trisha Murphy, the sister of John Steele; Roger Goode, a long term parishioner of St. Teilo’s with Our Lady of Lourdes, Roger has lived more recently near his daughter in Miskin, many parishioners will remember Roger’s brother John, who for many years was the Master of Ceremonies and Senior Altar Server at St. Teilo’s under Canon Creed. Gordon’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Teilo’s at 11am on Thursday, August 6th followed by a private interment at Northern Cemetery. Yvonne’s Funeral Service will take place at St. Teilo’s at 10am on Wednesday, August 12th followed by interment at Wenallt Chapel, Thornhill at 11.30am. Please also pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Mgr. Gerald Chidgey, Canon John O’Flaherty, Father John Dermody, Father Joseph Brunton, Father Francis Scalpell, William Stephens, George Fowler, Peter Thomas, Florence Willicome, Elizabeth Tennent, Joshua Allen, Bosco O’Callaghan, Jack Corless, Anthony O’Shea, Rosa Mannerings, Anthony Furnham, Josephine Azzopardi, Ethel Carey, Martha Rees, Gisela Boston, Maureen Fuller, Harold Hourahane, Kathleen Downing, Elizabeth Davies, Raphael Evans, Mary O’Neil, Gwendoline Beck, Joan Lawson, Mary Morris, Amelia (Rosa) Haigh, June Elswood, Katherine Savage, Maud Barber, Francis Elswood, Mary Mays and David Minto.