The Chrism Mass, at which the Oils for the Church's Sacraments throughout the year are blessed, and at which the priests of the Archdiocese renew their promises, is celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Greenhill, Swansea in Cardiff on Tuesday at 11.30am. The Chrism Mass is the central occasion of the Archdiocesan Year and is a great celebration of the life of the Archdiocese. Once people have been to the Chrism Mass, it tends to become a pivotal part of their practice of the faith. So, if you have not been before, why not go along and try it for yourself? The Chrism Mass will be the Parish Mass on Tuesday. There will be no Mass at St. Teilo’s. If you are unable to go to Swansea, you can access the live-stream of the Mass here: https://www.meneviacathedral.org/livestream-mass/
As the UK Parliament considers a crucial and controversial piece of legislation – the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – Archbishop Mark has issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics, and all people of goodwill, to speak up. The bill seeks to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults, a move the Catholic Church opposes both on moral and practical grounds. In his letter, Archbishop Mark reminds us that “every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing God-given dignity.” This foundational belief underpins the Church’s principled objection to assisted suicide, and he warns that the bill “elevates… the autonomy of the individual above every other consideration.” But the Archbishop’s message is not just one of moral principle. He expresses deep concern about the way in which the bill has been handled in Parliament. He points out that this complex and far-reaching piece of legislation has not been subject to the usual thorough scrutiny: “It is a private member’s bill… published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it.” Furthermore, the committee that examined the bill heard evidence for only three days, and not all voices were included in the discussion. Archbishop Mark also highlights the potential consequences of this legislation, questioning whether adequate safeguards exist to protect the vulnerable, and whether the National Health Service is prepared for such a shift in medical practice. He asks pointedly: “What will protect the vulnerable from coercion or from feeling a burden on their families?… Would this mean, in effect, the establishment of a national death service?” Instead of pursuing assisted suicide, the Archbishop calls for a renewed commitment to palliative care: “What is needed is first-class compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives… a good society would prioritise the care for the elderly, the vulnerable and the weak.” The letter ends with a heartfelt plea to the faithful: even if you’ve written to your MP before, now is the time to do so again. “This is a deeply flawed bill with untold unintended consequences,” he warns. “Every MP and government has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book.” Drawing inspiration from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the Archbishop concludes with encouragement: “We, too, have many struggles… So we too, press on with this struggle too, so important in our times.” Now is the time to speak out – in defence of life, in solidarity with the vulnerable, and in faithfulness to the Gospel.
St. Mary of the Angels’ Parish is organising a trip to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper Cardigan on Wednesday, May 14th and have invited parishioners of St. Teilo’s with Our Lady of Lourdes along to join them. A coach will depart on the day at 8.40am from St Teilo’s and depart Cardigan at approximately 5pm, arriving back in Cardiff about 7.30pm. There will be a Mass at noon and the afternoon will be free. If anybody is interested, please add your name to the list at the back of the Church. A deposit of £10 per person will be required and the overall cost is £20 per person.
The Safeguarding Department have released the 2024 Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia Safeguarding Report. In this year’s report, they highlight key actions taken, including: * The establishment of a dedicated victim-survivor support post * A major reduction in DBS backlogs * The development of policies to promote best practices Looking ahead, the report outlines plans for: * Enhanced safeguarding audits * Improved training for clergy, staff, and volunteers * Stronger collaboration with statutory agencies Click the link below to read the report:
The Cistercian Nuns at Holy Cross Abbey, Whitland, who produce the hosts we use for Mass are hosting two ‘Come and See’ weekends during this Jubilee Year. The weekends will focus on the theme: ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the sisters are inviting single Catholic Women aged between 25 and 45 who are discerning a vocation, to experience our monastic life. The weekends take place from Friday, May 30th to Monday, June 2nd and from Friday, August 8 th to Monday, August 11th. Any enquiries and registration, please email the Sisters at comeandseehca@gmail.com
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)
All parishioners are warmly invited to the monthly Torchlight Procession for Peace which will take place this month at Our Lady of Peace Church, Newbridge at 7:00pm on Thursday 20th March . The event, arranged by Fr. Kevin Payne and the Parish of Our Lady of Peace, includes prayers for Peace. Canon Brian Gray, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, will be the guest preacher at the Torchlight Procession this month. There will be light refreshments after the procession.
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.
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,
