All posts by 3 churches

Facing the future

3 churches

At a meeting on Friday 26th June between Archbishop Stack, Fr Matthew, Fr Gareth Leyshon of St Philip Evans and Fr William Isaac of St Teilo’s, the future provision of priests for this area of Cardiff, the so-called “Northern Arc”, was discussed. The Archbishop made the decision that in the light of ongoing uncertainty concerning his return, and the wider needs of the diocese, Fr Tomy would not be coming back to our 3 Churches, and that we should therefore plan for the presence of only 3 priests in the area, and not 4.

This decision was made independently of the start this week of our summer schedule of weekend Masses. The decision has wide implications for us, and for me as an individual, that I am only just coming to terms with. The fact that it was made on the day before my birthday didn’t help! As it is, the summer schedule allows us to get through the summer and to plan for the longer term future, not just in our 3 Churches, but across the Northern Arc, where there will need to be more of the cooperation that we have recently been putting into action.

The recent A.G.M. at Christ the King served to remind me once more of the wide variety of activities there and across our 3 Churches, and the large number of people involved in them. Although we may complain from time to time of there not being enough volunteers etc, I can assure you that compared to most parishes in the diocese, and our friends in other denominations, we do well. This gives me great hope for a future without so many priests, a future which has suddenly landed right in our laps.

So while this decision knocked me off my perch, as they say, during this week, I’m climbing back on and know that we can all work together for the future, with the help of our friends, the priests and people of our neighbouring parishes, and, of course, with the grace of the Lord himself, and the prayers of Our Lady, St Brigid and St Paul.

Fr Matthew

Proclaim’15

newsletter,

The Archdiocese of Cardiff has a strong missionary heritage, beginning with the Celtic monks at the time of St.Illtud and St. David. This continued with the monastic foundations of medieval times and in times of persecution in the 16th century… In more stable times, the missionary endeavours of the Society of Jesus, the Franciscans and the Benedictines were all significant in developing the faith of the people of our corner of Wales. The work of Gentili and his fellow Rosminians, together with the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy and the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, established firm foundations for the re-establishment of Catholic dioceses in the 19th century.

The Church is called to be missionary in every age. In 2015 we are asked by Pope Francis to respond to the challenge of a ‘new evangelisation’. This endeavours to offer confidently the Catholic Faith to all the people of Wales and Herefordshire. The Pope asks that each and every member of the Church needs to be helped to become missionary disciples’.

Proclaim’15 is a national event to assist in this process. It will be held in Birmingham on 11 July and I shall be attending together with 36 representatives from the Diocese. They are already involved in spreading the faith in their own parishes and lay organisations. In preparation for this important endeavour, there is to be a national prayer initiative in support of the national conference on the evening of 11 July. It will unite parishes throughout England and Wales and I commend it to you. Prayer and study resources will be available to parishes which can be used at all times leading up to and following the event.

We are also able to offer a local “Proclaim” on 10 October at St. David’s Sixth Form College. It will be hosted by a major team of international speakers and will be available to priests and people of the Diocese. At present, places have been reserved for one representative of every place of worship in the Diocese, as long as the booking is made by 20 July. In encouraging every community to participate, I wish to thank the members of the Diocesan Evangelisation Group for their work in preparing for the Proclaim’15 event on 10 October. It will be good to welcome you all.

You can find out more details in this leaflet and download the booking form.

proclaim