Archbishop's Newsletter December 2024

The Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Team invites all parishioners in the Archdiocese to a Saturday with praise and worship, Mass and small group sharing at Jubilee shrines across the Archdiocese. Each day runs from 10 am to 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch. The dates and venues are as follows: • Saturday June 28th – Belmont Abbey, Hereford HR2 9RZ • Saturday July 5th – St. Non’s Retreat, near Haverfordwest SA62 6BN

The Knit and Natter group have recently produced 13 Angel blankets which will be donated to the local Neonatal Unit. These handmade blankets have been especially made to honour and cradle the tiniest of lives, those born too soon or have passed away before or shortly after birth. These blankets provide safety, warmth, dignity and comfort during a profoundly tender moment - This is an ongoing Reaching Out Project

Please note that Mass on Saturday 28th June will be at the earlier time of 9am to enable Canon, as Dean, to attend the Deanery Children’s Liturgy Training Session

On Tuesday, we celebrate the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Tuesday’s feast honours St. John as the forerunner of Christ. John’s birth, announced by the angel and greeted with acclaim and promise, parallels that of Jesus. An angelic annunciation prepares the way, as the Angel Gabriel visits Zechariah to tell him that his wife Elizabeth is with child. The doubting father finds himself unable to speak, until the scene described in today’s Gospel. There, Zechariah confirms in writing that the new-born child will be called John. Zechariah’s tongue is loosed and he begins to praise God, causing fear and marvelling among all who hear the story. On this feast, six months before the birth of Jesus, we prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord anew in our life, as Zechariah and Elizabeth welcomed their son John.

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Corpus Christi. This beautiful Solemnity gives the whole Church on earth the opportunity to praise God for the blessing of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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, June 26th . All are welcome to attend.

We will have coffee and tea in the St. Pope John Paul II Chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes after the 10.00am Mass on Wednesday 25th June . If you are at Mass on that day, please stay behind and spend some time socialising and sharing with our fellow parishioners.

Each Tuesday evening, the parish has an hour of silent Adoration at St. Teilo’s from 7pm to 8pm. The primary intention for the period of Adoration is vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Feel free to come for all or part of the hour to pray for the Church in its need for faithful ministers to continue the Mission of Jesus.

The Pilgrimage of Hope is a national walking pilgrimage for England and Wales with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St. Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday, September 13th, the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is an initiative of the Hearts in Search of God project. The Ways start at the Catholic cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross. The routes use established hiking routes and are off road as much as possible. A small group of 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, with up to 20 day pilgrims joining for day stages. It is now possible for pilgrims to register for day stages. For details see this link: https://www.pilgrimways.org.uk/become-a-pilgrim-for-a-day