Service of Memories

RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults  • 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, September 30th. 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.) Enrolment forms for the RCIA programme are now available at the back of both churches.

As we celebrate the Assumption today, we share Pope Leo’s message for this feast which he preached at Castel Gandolfo last year: Today we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, which changed the course of history. In Mary of Nazareth, we recognize our own history: the history of the Church, immersed in the common lot of humanity. By taking flesh in her, the God of life — the God of freedom — has conquered death. Yes, today we contemplate how God overcomes death — yet never without us. His is the Kingdom, but ours is the “yes” to his love that can change everything. On the Cross, Jesus freely uttered that “yes” which would strip death of its power — the death that still spreads wherever our hands crucify and our hearts remain imprisoned by fear and mistrust. On the Cross, trust prevailed; so did love, which sees what is yet to come; and forgiveness triumphed. Mary was there, united with her Son. In our day, we are like Mary whenever we do not flee, whenever we make Jesus’ “yes” our own. That “yes” still lives and resists death in the martyrs of our time, in witnesses of faith and justice, of gentleness and peace. Thus this day of joy becomes also a day that calls us to choose – how and for whom we shall live.  The liturgy of this feast of the Assumption offers us the Gospel passage on the Visitation. Saint Luke recorded in this passage a decisive moment in Mary’s vocation. It is beautiful to recall that day, as we celebrate the crowning moment of her life. Every human story, even that of the Mother of God, is brief on this earth and comes to an end. Yet nothing is lost. When a life ends, its uniqueness shines even more clearly. The Magnificat, which the Gospel places on the lips of the young Mary, now radiates the light of all her days. One single day — the day she met her cousin Elizabeth — contains the seed of every other day, of every other season. And words are not enough; a song is needed, one that continues to be sung in the Church “from generation to generation” (Lk 1:50), at the close of every day. The surprising fruitfulness of barren Elizabeth confirmed Mary in her trust; it anticipated the fruitfulness of her “yes,” which extends to the fruitfulness of the Church and of all humanity whenever God’s renewing Word is welcomed. That day, two women met in faith, then stayed together for three months to support each other, not just in practical matters but in a new way of reading history.

One of our parishioners, along with a group of likeminded people are providing food for the young, and not so young, men and women who are homeless and live on the streets of Cardiff City Centre. To support this work the team is in need of food supplies and clothing. Drinks, Crisps and Sweets are very welcome. Sleeping Bags, Tracksuit Bottoms, Boxer shorts (both around 32”) and socks are in great demand. Please note that the young people are medium size at most. Please do not donate large clothes items. Pre-used items are welcome. If you are able to help by donating any of these items, please drop them at the back of either Church.

This year’s pilgrimage takes place on Sunday, August 23rd . All are welcome to attend the whole or part of the day’s events: 9.15a.m. Mass at St Mary’s Church, Monmouth 10.15 a.m. Monmouth to Welsh Newton Pilgrims set off to walk to Welsh Newton from St. Mary’s Church, Monmouth after the 9.15 a.m. Mass. Everybody is welcome. Please bring a packed lunch. 3.00 p.m. Welsh Newton We meet for Rosary, Readings and Prayers at St. John Kemble’s Grave in the Churchyard at Welsh Newton. 4.15 p.m. Monmouth Benediction follows in St. Mary’s Church, Monmouth For further information please contact Mary Walsh on 07907 616578

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, August 27th. 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 Mass on Wednesday. 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.

Adoration and Exposition – Friday There will be Adoration and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 10.30am to 11.30am at St. Teilo’s on Friday. Why not come along to spend time in silent prayer and Adoration before the Lord?

Rest in Peace Please pray for those who have died recently, especially Katheen Harding, a regular attendee at St. Teilo’s who has been a very active member of the parish community over the years and Roger Goode, a long term parishioner of St. Teilo’s with Our Lady of Lourdes. Roger has lived more recently near his son in Miskin. Kathleen’s Funeral Mass will take place at St. Teilo’s on Thursday, August 27th at 1pm followed by cremation at Thornhill. Roger’s Funeral Mass will take place at All Hallows Church, Miskin on Thursday, September 3rd at midday.  Please also pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Canon David O”Keefe, Canon Patrick Daly, Father Basil Rowlands, Father Noel Williams, John Woodall, Charles Mullins, Eileen Taylor, Terry Barnes, Francis ‘Derek’ Furnham, Doris Gibb, Michael Morris, Pat Hodder, Winifred Kinsella, Constance Gaffney, Mary Wallace, Michael Reakes, Thomas Kelly, Maldwyn Hughes, Eileen Barker, Lucicune Newell, Margaret Rowland, Rita Boston, Margaret Simmonds, James Driscoll, Cecil Canlan, Eugene McGuire, Margaret Compton, Mary Roberts, Annie Reilly, Pierette Hogg and Sylvia Jones.