All posts by 3 churches

Saint James the Great (Feast day Saturday)

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Saint James was a son of Zebedee and Salome. He was brother of John, and probably the elder of the two. He is called “the Great” to distinguish him from the Apostle James the Less, son of Alphaeus, who was probably just shorter! They were known as Boanerges or Sons of Thunder, maybe because of their fiery tempers. Their parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee was a fisherman in Galilee who lived perhaps in Capernaum; and had some boatmen or hired men. Salome was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and helped take care of him. The brothers would have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life. John was personally known to the high -priest, and must have had the means to provide for the Mother of Jesus given to him at Calvary.

James was one of the first disciples to join Jesus. James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to witness his Transfiguration. James and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles records that Herod had James executed by sword. The only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament, he is traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve martyred for his faith.

Saint James is patron saint of Spain, and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela. The traditional pilgrimage there, known as the “Camino” or Way of St James, has been popular since the early Middle Ages. Local tradition tells how on 2 January AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the River Ebro at Caesaraugusta (now Zaragoza), while he was preaching. She appeared upon a pillar, which is venerated there. It is said that his disciples later carried his body by sea to Spain, where they took it for burial at Santiago. James’ emblem was the scallop shell (or “cockle shell”), and pilgrims to his shrine often wore and wear that symbol on their hats or clothes.

Fr Matthew

 

Facing the future

3 churches

For the sake of those who were unable to attend Mass at our churches last week, I repeat here the article explaining the current situation.

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 Fr Tomy’s 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. In other words, Fr Tomy may return to this diocese, but not to these parishes

This decision was made independently of the start of our summer schedule of weekend Masses. The decision has wide implications for us, and for me as an individual, of course. 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.

I 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

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