PARISH NEWSLETTER

The confirmandi are undertaking preparation for their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, July 7th . Please keep the candidates in your prayers as they experience in a new way, the coming of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The confirmandi’s names are Amelia, Anne, Bianca, Charles, Daniela, Frank, Gabe, Joshua, Laurie, Madalena and Tommy.

This year, a group from the Archdiocese will be taking part in the Cardiff Bay 10k and raising money for the Priest Training Fund. The event will be taking place on May 19th – Pentecost Sunday and the group is taking the collective name: ‘Follow the Flame’. Liam Kelly, from our parish, has agreed to be part of this group and he, and any other volunteers, will be asking you for sponsorship in the next few weeks. If you are interested in taking part in ‘Follow the Flame’, please let Canon know.

Today as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, there will be a second collection for the Archdiocesan Priest Training Fund. In addition to your prayers for vocations, we ask you to support the Priest Training Fund for which there will be a second collection at all Masses this weekend. The Archdiocese invests around £189,000 on the formation of each seminarian over a period of seven years.  Every donation to support this work makes a difference. We have one seminarian who is to be ordained a priest later this year and another who is beginning formation in September. Those who pay tax can gift-aid their donation to the Priests’ Training Fund by completing the information on the envelopes provided. Alternatively, you can donate online at www.rcadc.org/priesttraining-fund or send a cheque to Priests’ Training Fund, Archbishop’s House, 41/43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HD.

The children of the parish are continuing their preparation for First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 12th. 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 Bernardo, Elisha, Elliot, Felicity, Hanna, Katie, Luca, Marcus, Matilda, Osian, Raffaela, Rhys and Ruby-Rose.

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. Many, many, thanks! There are so many people who worked behind the scenes to make the ceremonies a fitting occasion, those who prepared, cleaned and decorated the Sanctuary as well as those who were more visible including the altar servers, readers, musicians and welcomers who made the celebrations possible. A big thank you to you all!  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.

At the Easter Vigil, we welcomed Samuel MacDonald into the Church through Baptism. We pray that he may be enriched by his new life as a Christian and a member of our parish community. We pray too, that all of us will be renewed in our Baptismal Faith in this Holy Season. We had a wonderful gathering in the Parish Hall after the Easter Vigil, here are some photos of the event:

Next Sunday, April 7th , at 10am will see the Enrolment Mass for those who are beginning their preparation for Confirmation on Sunday, July 7th. Please keep all those preparing for Confirmation in your prayers.

The liturgy at Mass, especially at weekends cannot be celebrated without the work and commitment of a small group of volunteers who undertake the role of welcomers and readers. The short list of volunteers for these roles is in need of new volunteers, so that the duties can be shared more widely. If you would be able to assist as a welcomer or reader at any of the weekend Masses, please email: whitchurch@rcadc.org or speak to one of the welcomers or readers who will be able to give your name to the rota coordinators.

St. Joseph’s, New Zealand Road is having a Lenten Retreat led by Deacon Christian Mahoney on Saturday, March 16th after the 9.15 am Mass until 12 noon. It will include a talk; a short break for refreshments; Adoration and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).  All are welcome!