Archbishop's letter September 2024

Webmaster • September 15, 2024

Archbishop Mark Announces the Creation of the United Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia


Archbishop Mark O’Toole has shared the joyful news of the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, a decision promulgated by Pope Francis on 12th September, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. The announcement, to be read in churches across the region on the weekend of 14th-15th September, marks a significant milestone for the Catholic community in South Wales and Herefordshire.

Archbishop Mark expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his support, reflecting on the swift decision as a sign of confidence from the Holy See. The decision follows a series of Open Listening Sessions held across both dioceses earlier this year, during which clergy and laity engaged in discussions about the proposed unification.


In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Mark highlighted the role of the Virgin Mary as the first missionary disciple, reminding the faithful of her example in embracing Christ’s mission. He encouraged the community to continue walking together on the path of the Gospel, deepening their relationship with Jesus through acts of service, inspired by Mary’s life.



Here is a copy of the Pastoral Letter:


Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia for the weekend of 14/15th September


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,


“Ave Maria – Hail Mary!” The greeting of the Angel Gabriel to our Blessed Lady is of course the beginning of a precious prayer for all of us. Across South Wales and Herefordshire, we have further cause to rejoice in this heavenly greeting as this past Thursday, the 12th September, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the Holy Father promulgated the creation of our united ‘Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia’.


We know that following the heavenly visit, Mary becomes the first Missionary Disciple, running quickly to visit and greet her cousin Elisabeth with great joy. In the joy of her own faith, she wanted to be close to and assist her elderly cousin, who at an advanced age was herself to give birth to an unexpected child. Mary manifests the combination of faith and good works that St James speaks of in today’s second reading. She proves her faith to us by her good works.


We know, too, that Mary was there on the Way of the Cross, accompanying her Son in His Passion and death, receiving her dead Son into her loving arms with the deep love of a mother who had known the joy of cradling Him as a young baby. Mary knows the sorrowful as well as the joyful mysteries of human life. As the first of the disciples, Mary teaches all of us to fulfil that invitation of the Lord in today’s Gospel: “To be my disciple you must take up your cross and follow me”. Mary knew and lived this from the inside.


This is why it is a joy for us to have received the decision of the Holy Father to create our united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis for making this decision and for his inspiring leadership in encouraging us to ‘go outwards’ in mission. We received this decision more quickly than anticipated. I believe this is a sign of the confidence that the Holy See has in the process that we have undertaken to date. I want to thank all of you – lay faithful, religious, deacons and priests – for your engagement, support and encouragement. It has helped all of us become more, at local level, what the Holy Father is inviting of all the Church – to be a synodal Church for mission.


We are invited to make that more real in the months and years ahead. We are called to continue to walk together the path of the Gospel, in open dialogue and faith, seeking to look at how we can, like Mary, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and at the same time, bear witness to Him through our good works.


Providentially, too, this decision on the creation of our new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, comes as the whole Church prepares for the Jubilee Year, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Mary was the first Pilgrim of Hope for she received Jesus with absolute openness and she immediately brought Him, in Hope, to those around her. She can help each of us grow in our relationship with, and love for Jesus. She can give us the courage to present Her Son anew to all those whom we know and encounter, who do not know His love. Like Mary, let us have a heart for those who do not know Jesus. In drawing closer to Him ourselves, may we have the hope and the courage that Mary had, to go out to those in our world who so desperately need the love of her Son in their lives. To her, in great joy and hope, we pray:

“Ave Maria – Hail Mary,
With joy, you received the greeting and message of the Angel. You ran quickly as a pilgrim of hope to your cousin to share with her the Good News of Salvation.


We ask you now, to be close to us all in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Teach us to be like you, to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and to welcome Him more deeply into our lives. Help us to accept and surrender to the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of our life, knowing that your maternal love is with us and that you show us how to follow your Son.


Give us the courage to be Pilgrims of Hope for our world today, always announcing the Good News of your Son. With you, may we raise up the lowly, feed the starving, welcome the stranger, comfort the dying, be merciful to all, so that one day we will join with you and with all your sons and daughters in an eternal loving gaze upon the face of your Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

May God Bless each of you, your families and loved ones. Pray for me.



Yours devotedly,


By Webmaster October 3, 2025
Clothes donations for the SVP The Parish St. Vincent De Paul (SVP) Conference undertakes a monthly collection of clothing for the SVP Charity Shop. Clean, good quality clothing, books and toys are welcome. Donations may be left outside the confessionals at the rear of St. Teilo’s next weekend, October 12th , and on the weekend of the Second Sunday of each month. Please ensure that donations are brought to the Church only on the specified Sundays, as we do not want the Church to become cluttered during the week. – Thank you from the parish SVP.
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The Parish Knit and Natter group will meet in St. Teilo’s Hall on Thursday 9th October at 10.30am. All are welcome to come along and join in the knitting or the nattering or both!
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Coffee and tea will be served in the Parish Hall at St. Teilo’s after the 10am Mass this weekend. Why not come along and meet up with our fellow parishioners? All are welcome.
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The next social event as part of this centenary year will be “A Pie, A Pint and A Song Night” on Friday, October 10th from 7.30pm to 10.30pm at Rhiwbina Recreation Club. Tickets, priced at £5.00 will be available after mass on September 21st and 28th and October 5th. Tickets will include a pie (steak, chicken & mushroom vegan and gluten-free options available). The event will comprise of 30 minute intervals of songs followed by 30 minutes of time to chat. While performers are live, we ask that those attending to respectfully listen or if appropriate to sing along. If anyone would like to sing a song or recite a poem and for enquiries regarding this event, please contact John Steele on 07491677528. Due to spaces available song/poem slots will be on a first come first served basis.
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• Are you someone without a formal religion who wants to be baptised in the Catholic faith? • Are you a Christian from another faith tradition who would like to be received into the Catholic Church? • Are you an interested inquirer who wants to find out more about the Catholic Faith? • Are you an adult who has missed out on the Sacrament of Confirmation? If any of the above applies to you, you are most welcome to join the Parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme which will run in the Parish Hall at St. Teilo’s on Wednesday evenings at 6pm beginning on Wednesday, October 15th . Please come along and discover more – attendance does not commit you to completing the programme but is designed to allow you to reflect on God’s call for you. (The Parish Hall is accessed from the back of the Church building, between the Church and the Priest’s House.)
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Canon John is a member of the interview panel for the Archdiocesan Selection Panel for those who are exploring a vocation to the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese. The panel is meeting from 9am until 1pm on Saturday 11th October , so there will be no morning Mass or confessions that day.
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As part of our Parish's ongoing fitness activities, the Walk and Talk group is organising a wellbeing stroll around the reservoirs on the afternoon of Monday, October 13th . All who want to come along are asked to meet in the car park at 12.45 pm. There is 90 mins free parking. Depending on interest (and weather), this afternoon walk could become part of our regular pattern in addition to the Wednesday evening walk. Transport can be provided if required. If you need transport, please contact Carole on 07747562847.
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St. Teilo’s Friends of Divine Mercy Prayer Group meets on Saturday, October 11th at 2.30pm in the Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to come along to pray for the parish and the intentions of the parishioners.
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Last Friday was CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day. There will be a retiring collection at all Masses this weekend for CAFOD. CAFOD is part of Caritas, the global Catholic aid network that brings love, hope and practical help to our neighbours experiencing poverty. More than ever in this Jubilee year, we can join together with this worldwide Church network and offer our support and prayers where they are needed most. As we look at the world around us, it can be easy to doubt that we can make any difference, but today’s Gospel reassures us. Jesus tells the apostles that with just the smallest amount of faith, they could uproot a tree and move it into the sea. Let us place our faith in the Lord, then, and trust that with God’s help, we can work together with our neighbours towards a better world. A basket will be at the back of the Church for you to donate to CAFOD. You can also donate to CAFOD using a debit or credit card at the Electronic Donation Station at the back of St. Teilo’s or online at https://donate.mydona.com/st-teilo-our-lady-of-lourdes
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Liam Kelly, one of our parishioners, along with two others is undertaking an Ultra Run of 100 Kilometres (62 Miles) on October 11th to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Maureen Lewis a 90+ year old parishioner of St. Peter’s has been a lifetime supporter of the Association and has asked the three runners to support her on her final fundraising event for the Association. If you would like to sponsor Liam on the run please follow the link to the Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/page/maureenlewis - or donate in cash by signing the sponsor form at the back of the church.