DIOCESAN NEWS ARTICLES

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,

Archbishop Mark has written a special Holy Year Prayer, which he calls ‘Jubilee Prayers to Our Lady of Hope’. Prayer Cards with the prayer and the Jubilee year logo are available at the back of both Churches. You are welcome to take them home to use in your own prayer and to take them and deliver them to any Catholic friends who are housebound or who no longer come to Church, that they may be part of the prayer for this Holy Year.

Ddydd Sadwrn, Mawrth 1af, bydd yr Archesgobaeth yn dathlu Gŵyl ein Nawddsant Cenedlaethol yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi yng Nghaerdydd am 12 o’r gloch, canol dydd. Dewch i ddathlu Dydd Gŵyl ein Nawddsant yn Gymraeg. Bydd llyfrynnau dwyieithog ar gael. Bydd y Tad John Patrick Thomas, y Caplan newydd i Brifysgol Caerdydd ac i Dŷ Nazareth, yn dathlu’r Offeren. On Saturday, March 1st, the Archdiocese will celebrate the Feast of our National Patron Saint at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff at 12 o'clock, midday. Come and celebrate our Patron Saint's Day in Welsh. Bilingual booklets will be available.  Father John Patrick Thomas, the new Chaplain to Cardiff University and to Nazareth House, will celebrate the Mass.

We are looking to start a group for young Catholic adults who want to support each other in deepening their Faith and spirituality, and to provide an environment for friendship within the Catholic Community in Cardiff. Our first event is on Sunday, March 2nd with Adoration at St David’s Cathedral at 3pm, followed by a social. For more information Contact Lizzie: emcrudge@gmail.com