Parish of St. Teilo's with Our Lady of Lourdes - Embracing the Future: Our Needs to 2020

On Sunday 7th October 2007, Archbishop Peter Smith announced the launch of a five-

year fund-raising campaign, entitled ‘Embracing the Future: Our Needs to 2020’. In

planning it, the Archdiocese looked at its principal needs over the next fifteen years

and identified three major Campaign goals:

First Goal - Clergy Welfare Fund

The first goal is to build a large fund to provide for the future support of our sick and

retired clergy. A recent increase in the level of support provided to sick and retired

priests, combined with an increasing number of priests retiring, means that the current

annual assessment on parishes to fund these costs will be insufficient. The goal is to

build a fund of about £5 million to meet these future needs.

Second Goal - Pastoral Strategy Support

The second goal is to build a fund to support the Archdiocese's Pastoral Strategy.

Parishes are being re-organised to ensure continuing pastoral leadership and care and

new patterns of ministry are being developed. Many parishes are, or will be served, by

pastoral teams of priests, permanent deacons and religious sisters, supported by more

lay ministries. The Archdiocese will need more professional resources to ensure

effective implementation of these changes. The goal is to build a fund of about £2

million to meet these ongoing costs.

Third Goal - Renovation of St. David's Cathedral

Funds must be raised to complete the renovation and refurbishment of St. David's

Cathedral. The Cathedral, destroyed by bombs and fire during World War II and rebuilt

in the 1950's, has undergone little improvement since that time. Improvements must

now be made to the Cathedral's heating, toilet facilities and disabled access, to meet

today's health and safety standards, to enhance the celebration of the liturgy in the

Cathedral and to permit it to be used to host ecumenical events. While some public

grants and outside donations are expected, the goal is to build a fund of about £2

million to cover the majority of the costs.

This Campaign is unlike any ever held before in this Archdiocese. Although one-time

donations will be gratefully accepted, the Campaign asks that people consider pledging

a monthly or quarterly donation over the next five years and/or leaving a legacy. The

Archdiocese is hoping for a high level of participation, which is more important to the

Campaign's success than the amount of any individual pledge.

The Campaign is being conducted largely through the parishes, supported by a very

small team at Archbishop's House and Campaign Leaders in each parish. However,

contributions are welcome from anyone at any time.

You can also visit the Archdiocese's website for up-to-date information about the

campaign, or to download the campaign brochure in English or Welsh or to obtain a

pledge card in English or Welsh. The website will be updated regularly with information

about the progress of the campaign.

Updates will also be provided from time-to-time in the Parish newsletter.