Praying for the General Assembly of the Synod

Webmaster • September 29, 2023

The Church began the process of preparing for the Synod on Synodality in October 2021. The parish of St. Teilo’s with Our Lady of Lourdes, along with parishes and dioceses across the world, contributed to the discernment on the themes of communion, participation and mission. The parish discernment, along with that of other parishes in the Archdiocese, was collated and synthesised before being submitted to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The Bishops’ Conference, informed by diocesan representatives from across England and Wales, agreed a National Synthesis which has subsequently been discussed and used to inform the European Continental Stage of the process. This week, on Wednesday October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis, the first General Assembly of the Synod process begins.


In a letter addressed to bishops and eparchs from all over the world, Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod, invites all the Catholic faithful from around the world to prayerfully participate in the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that will open in the Vatican on October 4 th . Cardinal Grech, reminds everyone that the Synodal Assembly is above all a spiritual event, of prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit who is the true protagonist of the event. The full text of the letter (in multiple languages) can be read here:


https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/news/2023-09-14_preghiera/Lettera-ai-Vescovi---IT-ENES-PT-FR.pdf


We will pray for the Synod’s intentions at Mass each day during the duration of the General Assembly. Please add an intention for the Synod Assembly meeting and all gathered in Rome in the next few weeks to your own prayers. 

By Webmaster March 6, 2026
We would like to give the children we support through the Reaching Out project an Easter egg again this year. We are asking for small/medium sized eggs to be donated in the next couple of weeks. If you are able to donate, please leave the Easter eggs at the back of both churches, preferably by 15th March , but no later than 22nd March .
By Webmaster March 6, 2026
Rest in Peace Please pray for the repose of the souls of Thomas Joseph Denham-Jones, husband of Esther; Keith Burleton, a faithful and committed member of the parish; Paddy Barry, a long standing and well-respected member of our community; Yvonne McNiff, the mother of our parishioner Jayne Bolan; Derek Phillips, the brother in law of Pauline Williams; Catherine Langdon, the sister of Collette Hall; Christina Lucas, cousin of Jill Curtis, and Margaret Bright, an active member of the community at Our Lady of Lourdes for many years, who has lived more recently in Caerphilly, all of whom have died recently. Mrs. Bright’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Helen’s, Caerphilly at 11am on Monday, March 9th , Mrs. Langdon’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Peter’s Church, Roath at 10am on Tuesday, March 10th; Mr. Burleton’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Teilo’s at 10am on Wednesday, March 11 th; Mr. Denham-Jones’ Funeral Mass will take place at St. Teilo’s at 11am on Friday, March 20th; and Mr. Barry’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Teilo’s at 11am on Tuesday, March 24th . Details of Mr. Denham-Jones’ funeral will be announced when available.  Please also pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Father Joseph Geraghy, Father Brendan Mc.Namee, Father Evan Hope, Father Michael Lewis, Lilian Morgan, Philip Walsh, Carole Bricknell, August Purnell, Eleonard Pesticcio, Gertrude Bond, Mary Gullidge, Elizabeth Loveless, Gordon Thomas, Laura Hyde, Honora Campbell, Sylvia Viggers, Mildred Belt, Julia Hardy, Eileen Ikin, Gertrude Howells, Bert Thomas, Florence De Costa, Honora Donovan, Eileen Crockett, Bridget Lewis, Phillip O’Neill, Peter Kirby and Mary McLeod.
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
The Parish Lenten Sessions continue on Wednesday at 7pm in St. Teilo’s Hall. The sessions will run during the weeks of Lent. The theme this year, based on the recent Pastoral Letter by Archbishop Mark, is the Foundation and Four Pillars of the Archdiocesan Vision.
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
Baptism Preparation Course The next Baptism Preparation Course takes place at St. Brigid’s Church on Saturday, March 21st and completes on Saturday, March 28th at 4pm. 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 Cath Wieser on c.wieser@btinternet.com .
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
Mel Hopkins, a parishioner at St. Teilo’s, well known to many in his roles as Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Welcomer and Baptism Catechist, is raising funds for Velindre Cancer Care by walking to the highest peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Granada region of Spain in June. Mel has a just giving page which is https://www.justgiving.com/page/mel-hopkins-1 . He will be grateful for any support, however large or small.
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta offer an open invitation to a day of recollection at Belmont Abbey on Saturday, March 7th from 10am to 4pm. The day will be led by Rev Dom Alexander Kenyon, the Prior of Belmont. Please contact Andrew Grant for further information at andrewgrant2026@btinternet.com or 07976 982742
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
On Thursday this week, the skulls of the Cardiff Martyrs, St. Philip Evans and St. John Lloyd will be visiting St. David’s Cathedral for prayer and veneration from 10:00am - 4:00pm. The times of events are as follows: 10:00am – Relics arrive at the cathedral 11:00am – Holy Mass 1:30pm – Prayer service with members of the Senedd and the International Prayer Breakfast (all are welcome to join in this prayer) 4:00pm – Relics depart  One of the archivists from Stonyhurst will be present all day with relics on display for private prayer and veneration. All are welcome to attend the Cathedral on this day to honour our local Martyr Saints.
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
Anyone interested in helping to do the Flower arrangements at St. Teilo’s Church is asked to contact Gail Gerrard on 07765581206 or speak to Canon John. A regular arranger has recently had to drop out due to ill-health, so we really need someone to take on this role, the more the merrier. You would be part of a rota with at least three others, so would do the flowers at most, once every 4 weeks. The cost of the flowers can be reclaimed from the parish.
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
While the young people are preparing for First Holy Communion it has become apparent that a number of Mass attendees who were baptised as children but for various reasons missed making their First Holy Communion. It doesn’t matter if you are a teenager or of a more mature age, if you didn’t make your First Communion you are welcome to join the preparation sessions which will begin after Easter. If you are interested in taking part in these sessions please speak to Canon John or email whitchurch@cardiff-menevia.org
By Webmaster February 27, 2026
As the Solemnity of St. David, Patron of Wales would normally fall on the Second Sunday of Lent this year, and the celebration of the Sundays of Lent takes precedence over all other celebrations. St. David’s Day is transferred to the following day i.e. Monday, March 2nd . There will be Mass at St. Teilo’s to celebrate St. David’s Day at 10am in English and at 6pm in Welsh. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi – Yr Offeren yn Gymraeg Why not come along to celebrate St. David's Day at Mass in Welsh? Mass will be celebrated by Fr. John Patrick Thomas at St. Teilo’s on Monday, March 2nd at 6pm. Bilingual booklets will be provided. Croeso cynnes i bawb!