Archbishop Mark O‘Toole’s Pastoral Letter January 2026
Webmaster • January 26, 2026
‘Heart speaks to Heart’ – being a missionary and synodal diocese
– A Pastoral Message to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia
Archbishop Mark has published a pastoral letter calling the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia to become a missionary and synodal diocese, built on a foundation of prayer and four key pillars: youth and vocations, evangelising zeal, formation in faith, and loving service of those in need.
This letter, titled ‘Heart speaks to heart’, takes its inspiration from St John Henry Newman’s motto and challenges Catholics across south and mid Wales and Herefordshire to encounter Christ more deeply and share that encounter with others. The Archbishop poses direct questions throughout: Are our parishes places that make disciples? Do we really believe Jesus is with us, or do we live as practical atheists? Do our initiatives reach beyond the circle of friends we already have?
The letter will be broken into six pieces for study during Lent or Eastertide, with reflection questions for use in parishes, schools and communities across the archdiocese.
The children of the parish have begun their preparation for First Holy Communion which they will make on Sunday, May 10th. 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 Clara, Finn, Luca, Mafalda, Max, Oliver and Rodrigo.
As part of his remit as Vocations Director, Fr. Matt Roche-Saunders has established Deanery Prayer for Vocations with Adoration and Mass on the first Fridays of the month. In February St. David’s (Cardiff) Deanery, is the host deanery. Parishioners from throughout the deanery are invited to an hour of adoration from 6pm-7pm followed by Mass at 7 pm. This first such event in our deanery is taking place at St. Teilo’s on Friday, February 5th . All are welcome to come along for all, or part of the time on this evening.
The Funeral Service for Mrs. Pauline Canning will take place at St. Teilo’s at 10am on Thursday. Mrs. Canning lived in Caldy Road and will be known to many of the parishioners who live in Llandaff North.
The Funeral Mass for Paul Curtis will take place at midday on Tuesday at St. Teilo’s. Paul grew up in St. Teilo’s Parish and his sister Jill leads the Parish Music Group and is our Parish Safeguarding Officer. Please consider coming along to the funeral Mass to pray for the repose of his soul. Fr. Allan Davies-Hale, a close friend of the family, will be celebrating the Funeral Mass.
As announced in last weekend’s message from the Bishops of Wales, Monday, January 26th is to be observed as a day of fasting, to be in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable to the proposed Assisted Suicide Bill, and that those intent upon passing it, may undergo a change of heart. Please mark this day of fasting, as appropriate in your stage and circumstances of life.
On the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time the Church throughout the world celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God. The theme for this year’s celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God is taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians: “The word of Christ dwells among you” (Colossians 3:16). St. Paul does not ask that the Word be merely listened to or studied; he wants it to dwell, that is, to take up stable residence, to shape our thoughts, guide our desires, and make credible the witness of the disciples. The Word of Christ remains a sure criterion that unifies and renders fruitful the life of the Christian community. Today we have an invitation addressed to the whole Church to place the Gospel once more at the centre, since every true renewal is born from docile listening to the Word. To welcome it means allowing ourselves to be accompanied by the One who does not deceive, because He gives life and hope. To be inhabited by the Word ultimately means permitting Christ to speak even today through our lives, so that every person may recognise His presence, which continues to illuminate the journey of history. Every Christian and every community must rediscover the primacy of the Word of God. Its sincere and profound listening is an essential path through which human beings encounter God. When space is given to the Word, each person discovers that the Word of God dwells in the heart like a seed that, in due time, sprouts and bears fruit. Indeed, all of us are invited to nourish ourselves with the daily bread of the Word and, afterwards, to proclaim it to our brothers and sisters, for proclamation flows from the abundance of the heart, according to the Gospel saying: “from the fulness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45). (Guidance for the Sunday of the Word of God from Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation.)
RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults The Parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme takes place on Wednesday. The sessions run in the Parish Hall at St. Teilo’s on Wednesday evenings at 6pm.
The Parish Mass on Thursday will be at the earlier time of 9am at St. Teilo’s. This is to enable the celebration of the Funeral of Mrs. Pauline Canning.
St. Teilo’s Friends of Divine Mercy Prayer Group meets on Saturday, January 31st at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to come along to pray for the parish and the intentions of the parishioners.
The Parish Rosary Prayer Group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 2.00pm in Ty Mair, 19 Heol y Waun CF14 1LB at the junction of Heol Gabriel and College Road. The group members have intercessory prayer, read and discuss the following Sunday's Gospel, pray the Rosary, pray the 3 o'clock prayer and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and have a cuppa! The next meeting takes place on Thursday, January 29th . All are welcome to attend.