PARISH NEWS ARTICLES

The second edition of our monthly diocesan newsletter has just been published, bringing you all the highlights from a busy and joyful summer across the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. What’s Inside This Month This August edition captures the breadth of Catholic life in our archdiocese, from milestone moments in priestly ministry to vibrant community celebrations: Celebrating Vocations : Read about two special occasions fifty years apart – the ordination of Fr Illtyd Williams at Cardiff Oratory and Canon Michael Flook’s Golden Jubilee of ordination in Swansea. Both events remind us of the enduring call to serve God and His people. Faith in Action : Discover how our communities came together for the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Walk from Llandaff to Cardiff city centre and the powerful witness of this year’s Corpus Christi Procession through Cardiff streets. Parish Life : Learn about the blessing of a new maritime window at the Cornerstone and the completion of St Illtyd’s Church restoration project, plus insights into children’s liturgy and the significance of the Nicene Creed. Looking Ahead : Find details of upcoming events including pilgrimages to Penrhys and Monmouth, the March for Life, and various parish celebrations and courses.  The newsletter also includes clergy moves taking effect in September and resources from the wider Church, including podcasts and new publications.

 Canon John welcomes visitors from Brentwood Diocese to Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardiff

On Sunday 20th July we welcomed Archbishop Mark to the parish to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with the parish candidates. A wonderful celebration, some photos of the event are below. Please keep our newly confirmed in your prayers as they experience the coming of the Holy Spirit in their lives in a new way

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, August 10th , 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.

At the beginning of September, Fr. Artur Kozik, who has served the Polish Catholic Community in Cardiff and area for four years, comes to the end of his term of office. Fr. Artur is well known to the community at Our Lady of Lourdes and will be missed by many. Fr. Tomasz Kocjan, who until now has served the London Polish Parish, will become the new Parish Priest for the Polish Catholic Mission in Cardiff, from the weekend of September 7th .

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

The work of our parish is expanding and volunteer numbers increasing. In upcoming weeks, as a parish community we will be looking to ensure safeguarding processes and policies are up to date and robust as we continue to nurture a positive and proactive culture of protecting the young, the vulnerable and all volunteers within St. Teilo’s and Our Lady of Lourdes. If anyone has any issues they wish to raise regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact Jill on 07813 322179 or gildersleve@ntlworld.com Thank you.

As we all know, in the space of just one week at the end of June, MPs voted to decriminalise abortion up to birth and to legalise assisted suicide. These recent events have been a result of determined efforts by activists eager to expand the culture of death. Sadly, the pro-life movement simply do not have enough people active in the range of pro-life activities to contend successfully in the struggle for pro-life values. However, SPUC are as determined as ever to defeat abortion and assisted suicide and believe this can be done by mobilising adequate pro-life support. SPUC therefore urgently need to build up the critical mass of people necessary to effect real and lasting protection for unborn children and vulnerable people at the end of life.  To Join the Fightback all parishioners are encouraged to complete an expression of an interest in SPUCs work, by completing a postcard at the back of the Church today. The postcards will be collected from the back of the Church and send to SPUC at no cost to you.

The Archdiocese has launched a new monthly email newsletter, bringing together the latest news, events, and features from across the Diocese and beyond. This month’s edition includes:  ~ An update from the first Archdiocesan Pastoral Council meeting ~ Guidance and support on tackling modern slavery and human trafficking ~ Reflections on the Youth Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi ~ … and much more! To subscribe, visit: https://rcadc.org/new-diocesan-newsletter-launches-on-friday-sign-up-today/

The Confirmandi continue preparation for their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, July 20th . Please keep the candidates in your prayers as they experience the coming of the Holy Spirit in their lives in a new way.

Thank you to everyone who has generously donated to the Missio and Mill Hill Missionaries through your Red Box or directly, this first half of the year. If your Red Box has not yet been collected or you wish to have it emptied, please contact Peter Jones on 07594693054. The Summer edition of the Mission Today magazine is available at the back of the Church. At St. Teilo’s there are still a number of Red Boxes unclaimed. If you are missing your box, please take a look. For further information about Missio and Mill Hill Missionaries and how to donate, please visit https://missio.org.uk/redbox/

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

St. David’s (Cardiff) Deanery is running a training session devoted to children’s liturgy on Saturday, June 28th from 10am to 12noon at St. Philip Evans Church Hall. It offers those already involved in running groups an opportunity to share experiences and resources as well as providing valuable help and support for anyone thinking of setting up a new group.  Further details can be found on the Archdiocese’s website https://rcadc.org/childrens-liturgyworking-together-to-make-it-a-success/

The Archdiocese is establishing a Volunteer Support Team to provide practical and emotional assistance to parishes during times of crisis or difficulty. We are seeking empathetic individuals with strong listening skills who can help create a compassionate and supportive environment for priests and parish communities in need. Interested in finding out more? Call the safeguarding team on 029 2037 9480 or email safeguarding@rcadc.org

Thank you to everyone who supported our Centenary Tea Dance last Sunday. It was a true and wonderful collaborative celebration of our ‘two church’ community. Thank you to all the hard-working helpers and providers of the delicious cakes and sandwiches and of course to our fabulous Mary. Special mention for John ‘the Jive’ Gallagher.  A great time was had by all.

The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. In England and Wales, the Day for Life is celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year. This year it falls on June 15th , next Sunday. A retiring collection will take place to support the Bishops of England and Wales’ Day for Life Fund. More details here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/day-for-life-fund/ This year’s theme is Hope does not Disappoint: Finding meaning in Suffering. It is inspired by Romans 5:5-6. St. Paul invites us to see that Christian hope is not just naïve optimism but, rather, an unshakeable trust in the power and presence of God who is with us always. This hope can endure the darkness of human suffering and even see beyond it. Suffering touches every person at some point in their lives. It is often associated with illness, grief, and loss. It is not only caused by physical pain but includes emotional suffering as well as ‘soul pain’, such as depression and despair. Christians are not immune to this mystery and we often struggle to know how best to respond to it, and where we can find hope.

Madeleine and Rhod wish to thank everyone who contributed to making the celebration of their 50 years of marriage so very memorable. Thank you to Canon John for a very special Mass, to John Steele and the other musicians for providing beautiful music and to the many altar servers. Also thank you to Gail and the team for the beautiful floral displays. Very special thanks must go to the Refreshments Team for organising a beautiful cake and fizz upstairs after Mass. It was great to see the many parishioners who came up to the Hall and to see them mingling with our family and other friends. We were thrilled with it all. Thank you!

During Lent, the Parish Lenten sessions focussed on the theme of the Jubilee Year - “We Dare to Hope”. For those who weren’t able to take part in these sessions, the ‘We Dare To Hope’ booklets, developed by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and with a forward by Archbishop Mark, are available for all parishioners to take home and keep as a prayer and reflection aid. The booklet is on the theme of Christian Hope. The relationship between the virtue of hope, our lives and the source of all hope, Jesus, is explored. Wisdom from the saints is offered for the spiritual growth of readers. Quoting St. Claude de la Colombière the book reflects: “My God, I believe most firmly that You watch over all who hope in You, and that we can want for nothing when we rely upon You in all things”. The booklets are provided to the parish for free.

Mary Prendergast writes: " Heartfelt thanks to all who organised the ‘Coffee Morning’ with its delicious cake to mark my ‘Milestone Birthday’ in the Parish Hall. Thanks also to Gail and the team for their amazing floral displays and to the altar servers. His Holiness Pope Francis was in place of honour on the altar too! Thanks to Fr. John who oversaw it all. I was overwhelmed and overawed by it all. God bless each and every one of you ."