As the Church has now begun the period of Novemdiales, the traditional nine days of mourning for a Pope, we will celebrate a Parish Requiem Mass as a memorial to Pope Francis on Thursday 1st May at 10am – this will be on the Memoria of St. Joseph the Worker, a saint to whom Pope Francis had great devotion as indicated by the year of St. Jospeh which Pope Francis instituted in 2021.
Good Friday – Walk of Witness Churches Together in Whitchurch enjoyed this year's Good Friday Walk of Witness following the Way of the Cross. There were around 70 attending from all the churches in Whitchurch: St. Teilo’s Church. Ebeneser at Whitchurch Community Centre Whitchurch Methodist Church St. Mary’s Church Bethel Baptist Church Ararat Baptist Church
With the Holy Father's Funeral on Saturday morning at 9am the visitation of Sr Mary Vianney has been cancelled. (View message above) On Saturday, April 26th , Sr. Maria Vianney OLM will visit St. David’s Cathedral from the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow. The Sanctuary is the convent where St. Faustina resided and wrote the diary of her visions of the Merciful Jesus. Sr. Maria Vianney will spend the day talking about the message of Divine Mercy and helping to lead us in prayer on the run up to Divine Mercy Sunday the following day. A tentative schedule for the day is as follows: 10:00—Mass 10:45—Perpetual Adoration begins (includes input from Sr. Maria Vianney) 10:45-12:00—Sacrament of Reconciliation 12:00-12:45—Lunch Break 12:45—Presentation by Sr. Maria Vianney followed by Adoration 15:00—Hour of Mercy 16:30-17:15—Sacrament of Reconciliation 17:30—Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday
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Dear brothers, Happy Easter! Despite his illness of these past months, we were all saddened to hear the news yesterday of the death of Pope Francis. He was an extraordinary witness to the Risen Lord and we pray now that the Lord quickly receive him into the kingdom. I will be celebrating a “Mass of the Resurrection – Remembering Pope Francis” in St David’s Cathedral, Cardiff at 6.30pm tomorrow evening (Wednesday). Please come to concelebrate if you can and encourage our people to come too. There will also be a Vigil of Prayer on Thursday Evening at 6pm in St David’s Cathedral to which we have invited ecumenical, inter-faith and civic dignitaries. Do come to that, too, if you are able, and encourage people to attend, if they can. With my thanks and with my prayers and best wishes. Yours devotedly,
PLEASE NOTE THE TIME OF THE VIGIL IS 8.30PM AND NOT 7PM AS STATED IN THE PREVIOUS MASS LEAFLETS We gather at 8.30pm on Saturday night for the Easter Vigil at St. Teilo’s. According to a most ancient tradition, this night is "one of vigil for the Lord," and the Vigil celebrated during it. Commemorating that Holy Night when the Lord rose from the dead, is regarded as the "mother of all Masses." For on this night, the Church keeps vigil, waiting for the Resurrection of the Lord, and celebrates the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Please make every effort to attend the Vigil, the highpoint of the Christian Year and the central mystery of our faith.
Day of Fasting and Abstinence Good Friday is a day of penance observed by the whole Church. It is a day of fasting and abstinence when everyone over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 are expected to abstain from meat and reduce their consumption of food. Good Friday – Walk of Witness This year, Churches Together in Whitchurch will be undertaking a Good Friday Walk of Witness following the Way of the Cross. There will be a short reading, hymn and reflection at each of the churches. 9:30am – The walk will begin at St. Teilo’s Church. Why not join Canon John and the clergy and members of Churches Together in Whitchurch at the start of the walk? 9:50am – Ebeneser at Whitchurch Community Centre 10:20am – Whitchurch Methodist Church 10:50am – St. Mary’s Church 11:20am – Bethel Baptist Church 11:50am – Ararat Baptist Church; following the reflection, hot cross buns and drinks will be served
The Chrism Mass, at which the Oils for the Church's Sacraments throughout the year are blessed, and at which the priests of the Archdiocese renew their promises, is celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Greenhill, Swansea in Cardiff on Tuesday at 11.30am. The Chrism Mass is the central occasion of the Archdiocesan Year and is a great celebration of the life of the Archdiocese. Once people have been to the Chrism Mass, it tends to become a pivotal part of their practice of the faith. So, if you have not been before, why not go along and try it for yourself? The Chrism Mass will be the Parish Mass on Tuesday. There will be no Mass at St. Teilo’s. If you are unable to go to Swansea, you can access the live-stream of the Mass here: https://www.meneviacathedral.org/livestream-mass/
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Mass of the Lord’s Supper With the celebration of Mass on the evening of Holy Thursday, the Church begins the Easter Triduum. This Mass recalls the Last Supper at which the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, showing His love for those who were His own in the world, gave His Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine, offering them to His Father. He gave them to the Apostles so that they might partake of them. He commanded them and their successors in the priesthood to perpetuate this offering. Mass is celebrated at 7pm at St. Teilo’s. Collection at Mass The Collection for Lenten Arms will be taken during Mass on Maundy Thursday evening. The Lenten Alms this year will go towards Mary’s Meals UK and HCPT. Watching at the Altar of Repose After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, watching at the Altar of Repose takes place until 10pm. You are welcome to come along to spend time before the Lord on this night when Jesus said to the disciples: ‘Could you not watch one hour with Me?’ So, what about you?
