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.
The children of the parish will be making their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 10th at the 10am Mass. 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. Please also pray for Rudy, from our parish, who will be making his First Communion with his class at Christ the King.
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
The annual Welsh National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan, led by Rt. Rev. Peter Brignall – Bishop of Wrexham, takes place on Sunday, May 17th from 1.30pm to 5.45pm. The event begins at 1.30pm with confessions, at 2.30pm the Rosary Procession takes place. At 3.00pm The Celebration of Mass and at 5.15pm Benediction & Blessing of the Sick. For further information, please contact Canon Pius Augustine by email at cardigan@cardiffmenevia.org or by phone on 01239 612615
On Saturday, May 30th there will be a Pilgrimage for young people in Years 8 to 13 to Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan - The Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady. There will be transport available. If you are interested in attending and want to book a place please email: youth@cardiffmenevia.org or ring 029 2037 9490.
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
Congratulations to Canon John on his appointment as Provost of the Chapter of Canons Archbishop Mark, having consulted with the Cathedral Chapter, has invited Canon John to become the new Provost of the Chapter of Canons, replacing Canon John Kelly who has reached the age of 75. Please pray for Canon John as he takes on this new responsibility in addition to his existing roles in the Parish and Archdiocese. Canon will be ‘sworn in’ as Provost at an event in June (date to be confirmed), when three priests of the Archdiocese will be installed as Canons to replace the three Canons who have recently reached 75. The Canons-Elect are Fr. Michael Doyle, Fr. Tim McGrath and Fr. Cyril Thadathil. Please also keep these priests in your prayers.
The Parish Rosary Prayer Group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 2.00pm in Ty Mair, 19 Heol y Waun CF14 1LB at the junction of Heol Gabriel and College Road. The group members have intercessory prayer, read and discuss the following Sunday's Gospel, pray the Rosary, pray the 3 o'clock prayer and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and have a cuppa! The next meeting takes place on this Thursday, April 30th . All are welcome to attend.
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.
Heddiw bydd y gymuned Gymraeg yn dathlu Offeren yn Gymraeg am 4.30pm. Today, we welcome the Welsh language community who will be celebrating Mass in Welsh at 4.30pm. Croeso!