You can now subscribe to our 3 churches newsletter online and receive a free copy in your email each week. There is also a button in each email newsletter to download a printable version.
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Next Sunday’s Mass (26th March) at Christ the King will take place at the usual time of 9am, not 9.30am as stated in the newsletter.
Cardiff Ardwyn Singers are delighted to present a thrilling concert of Lenten themed music at St Peter’s RC Church on Sunday 26th March at 6pm which is full of local and international colour. Motets from Karl Jenkins provide a mix of familiar music and new discoveries, while Arwel Hughes’ ‘Gweddi’ is a rousing prayer setting featuring a soaring soprano solo. German born composer and organist Josef Rheinberger gives us the jewel in the crown with his ‘StabatMater’, a setting for choir and string orchestra.
Tickets are just £12 and free for under 18s and available via the Ticketsource website using the link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cantorion-ardwyn-singers/ , or on the door.
We are planning our Confirmation programme for those who would like to be confirmed this year – that is current year 8 and up.
If this is you, please download, save and complete this Microsoft Word form and then email your completed form to Ansti Corellis at anstic2018@yahoo.com so we can contact you.
If you are unable to download and edit the above Word form, you can send an email to Ansti with the details as shown in this pdf version of the form (non-editable).
The sacrament will take place on Saturday 8 July 2023 at Christ the King Church. Further information can be obtained from Canon Matthew at matthew@3churches.org .
We are always looking for people to help run the course. If you think you could help in this important stage of our young people’s formation then please let Canon Matthew know.
The Archdiocese of Cardiff would like to invite you to nominate your volunteers, individuals or teams, to receive a ‘thank you’ for the great work they do.
Anyone can nominate, so please do share widely. All will receive a certificate with letter of thanks.
There’s a full explanation of each category on the Archdiocese of Cardiff website.
You can nominate quickly via Survey Monkey, by email return using the Microsoft Word form or even write your nomination by hand and post it to Gareth Simpson, Volunteer Recognition, Archbishop’s House, 41/43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9HD. There are ways to include everyone if you wish by making using of the ‘Teams’ category.
This will be the third year of this initiative and the recognition is always well received.
More details are available on the Archdiocese of Cardiff website.
Closing date for nominations is Monday 17 April 2023.
This reflection is based on today’s Gospel – the Samaritan Woman. To hear a dramatic reading of it go to youtu.be/5y2GlmTxpkM or thecanonsstall.blogspot.com
I am a woman of no distinction, of little importance. I am a woman of no reputation save that which is bad. You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances, though you don’t really take the time to look at me, or even get to know me. For to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known. Otherwise what’s the point in doing either one of them in the first place?
I WANT TO BE KNOWN. I want someone to look at my face And not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth and two ears; But to see all that I am, and could be – all my hopes, loves and fears. But that’s too much to hope for, to wish for, or pray for, so I don’t, not anymore. Now I keep to myself, and by that I mean the pain that keeps me in my own private jail, the pain that’s brought me here at midday to this well.
To ask for a drink is no big request, but to ask it of me? A woman unclean, ashamed, used and abused, an outcast, a failure, a disappointment, a sinner. No drink passing from these hands to your lips could ever be refreshing, only condemning, as I’m sure you condemn me now. But you don’t. You’re a man of no distinction; though of the utmost importance. A man with little reputation, at least so far. You whisper and tell me to my face what all those glances have been about, and you take the time to really look at me. But don’t need to get to know me.
For to be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known. And you know me. You actually know me; all of me and everything about me. Every thought inside and hair on top of my head; every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread. My past and my future, all I am and could be. You tell me everything, you tell me about me! And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation. Coming from you brings love, grace, mercy, hope and salvation. I’ve heard of one to come who could save a wretch like me, and here in my presence, you say I AM He. To be known is to be loved; And to be loved is to be known. And I just met you. But I love you. I don’t know you, but I want to get to.
Let me run back to town, this is way too much for just me. There are others: brothers, sisters, lovers, haters, the good and the bad, sinners and saints, who should hear what you’ve told me; who should see what you’ve shown me; who should taste what you gave me; who should feel how you forgave me. For to be known is to be loved; And to be loved is to be known. And they all need this, too. We all do. Need it for our own..
By Student Life Creative
Prayer is one of the big themes of Lent, and Jesus taught us his own prayer – to be ours. Here are some thoughts about it, bit by bit…
Our Father who art in heaven – We are talking to God who is “dear father” or “ dad” who loves us, not some neutral distant deity
Hallowed be thy name – Jesus starts with praise and worship, not by asking for something, as we so often do. This puts us in right relationship with God,
Thy kingdom come – This is one of Jesus favourite words. But what does it mean? Heaven? The afterlife? Some paradise?
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven The Kingdom is wherever God’s will is being carried out – perfectly through Jesus and in heaven. We are to bring about the Kingdom on earth by following God’s will day by day.
Give us this day our daily bread – As we pray for the coming of the Kingdom, we ask the Lord to supply our daily needs, symbolized by bread. This would also include of course the Eucharist.
And forgive us our trespasses – Now we ask for the healing of our relationship with God through forgiveness, one of Our Lord’s most important themes
As we forgive those who trespass against us – We ask the Lord to help us to forgive others as we are forgiven. Perhaps his forgiveness can only get through to us in proportion to how we forgive others…
And lead us not into temptation – Generally agreed to not be a perfect translation of the original, because God can’t lead us into temptation! “Do not put us to the test” might be better. We are weak human beings, easily tempted and quick to fall, we need help.
But deliver us from evil – Modern scholars tell us that this is personification of evil, perhaps better translated as “The evil one”.
So we can see a beautiful movement in this great prayer. We start from God, then pray His Kingdom down to earth. As it comes, we ask God to support us day by day. We then remember our relationships, with God and with our neighbour, as the Kingdom prompts us. Finally we move out into the future, asking for the Lord’s ongoing protection and strength.
There we have it – the prayer of the Lord, the Lord’s Prayer.
Fr Matthew