Category Archives: advent

An Advent for all!

Advent this year has some real highlights, starting with this Sunday evening!

There will be beautiful music for Advent and Christmas in St Brigid’s at 7.30pm when “In The Stillness” is a concert given by the Elizabeth Singers with our own Max Davies. There is nothing like music to set the scene for events, and when it is as good as this will be, I’m sure we will all be smiling our way towards Christmas. There will be refreshments to follow. Free entry with retiring collection. Don’t miss it…

Meanwhile, on Saturday of this week a wonderful Catholic Youth Retreat will take place with young people from all corners of the Archdiocese of Cardiff and the Diocese of Menevia! Are you a teenager or young adult? Join us on Saturday 16 December in Swansea for a day filled with joy, inspiration, and spiritual growth. This is a follow-up to World Youth Day in Lisbon in July, but also it is the launch of a Youth Service for the Catholic church here in South Wales, something we have looked towards for a long time… What to expect? Mass with Archbishop Mark… Uplifting music from 99. One… Inspiring talks and insightful conversations… Delicious food to fuel your spirit… Two streams available: ages 13 to 18 and ages 18 and above. To register, please email Deacon Christian Mahoney at: christian.mahoney@rcadc.org or call him on: 07764 515864.

Then next Sunday, so-called Gaudete Sunday is also Bambinelli Sunday in our 3 Churches. At all weekend Masses in all 3 churches, you are invited to bring the figure of the baby Jesus from your crib at home. During the Mass the images will be blessed, ready for you to place in your crib at Christmas. This lovely tradition from Italy (bambinelli means little children) has taken off here in Britain too in recent years. Children love it, but anyone can bring their little figures to the altar when the priest invites us – young and not-so-young!

Lastly, we have our 3 Churches Carol Service on Tuesday 19 December 6pm at St Brigid’s, led by our younger children from Christ the King, our parish school.

So there’s a lot going on this Advent in our 3 Churches. Make sure you are part of it…

Fr Matthew

New Vicar General, New Dean

Today, the First Sunday of Advent, sees a new year in the life of the Church, and in the life of our own local Church in Cardiff we see some significant new appointments. Our new Vicar General in the diocese is Fr Brian Gray, formerly Dean of Cardiff, who now replaces Mgr Can Joe Boardman of Penarth, while our new Dean is Canon John Griffiths. Fr Gray is parish priest of St Cadoc’s, St John Lloyd’s and Blessed Sacrament on the east side of the city, but parishioners of St Brigid’s and St Paul’s may remember him as assistant to Canon Dunne and acting parish priest for a few years up to 2004. Canon Griffiths is parish priest in our neighbouring parish of St Teilo’s with Our Lady of Lourdes.

Our diocese is divided into four deaneries, and each Dean has a coordinating role, among the clergy and parishes in his area, and between his area and the Archbishop. In each diocese the diocesan bishop must appoint a vicar general who is to assist the bishop or archbishop in the governance of the whole diocese. It is a personal appointment by the bishop. Church law states that he is “to be a priest not less than thirty years old, a doctor or licensed in canon law or theology or at least truly expert in these disciplines, and recommended by sound doctrine, integrity, prudence, and experience in handling matters.” A bishop can delegate a lot of actions to him, but communication between them is very important.

I remember being told in my church law studies back in the 80s in Canada that although the job of “V.G” might be seen as high profile, it is also potentially very difficult, because of one little phrase in the small section in the law devoted to the role. This states that a Vicar General is “never to act contrary to the intention and mind of the diocesan bishop. In other words, if he has his own ideas any different to those of the bishop, he is to be “of one mind”. Hmm, tough call, especially in the modern church where we are more encouraged to share our thoughts and opinions! Good luck lads!

Fr Matthew

Coming up… Advent

Next weekend sees the start of the great season of Advent. First, we have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at our joint Penitential Service at St Brigid’s on Saturday at 11.30am. The First Sunday is marked by a Family Mass at Christ the King church and a lovely talk about Our Lady, so central to Advent and Christmas, in the evening at Christ the King Parish Centre.

Here are the details about what’s happening in Advent 2023:

Saturday 2 December
11.30am Penitential Service at St Brigid’s

Sunday 3 December
9.30am Family Mass at Christ the King
7.15pm “Mary the Mother of Jesus” talk at Christ the King Parish Centre

Sunday 10 December
7.30pm Advent and Christmas Concert by the Elizabeth Singers at St Brigid’s

Sunday 17 December
All Masses. ‘Bambinelli’ blessing

Tuesday 19 December
6.30pm Carol Service at St Brigid’s

Thursday 21 December
10.30am Advent and Christmas Mass at Christ the King School

Sunday 24 December Sunday Masses
9am St Paul’s
9.30am Christ the King
10.30am St Brigid’s

Sunday 24 December Christmas Vigil
6pm St Paul’s
6pm Christ the King
8pm St Brigid’s

Christmas Day Masses
9am St Paul’s
9.30am Christ the King
10.30am St Brigid’s

Christmas at our 3 churches

At the beginning of Advent we published our special information sheet for Advent and Christmas. In case you missed the times and places of Christmas Masses, here are those details again.

First however, a change of time for our Carol Service on Tuesday 20 December. Rather than a separate parishes service at 7pm, we are now invited to join our Primary school for a beautiful carol service at the earlier time of 6pm on the same day, Tuesday 20 December at St Brigid’s Church.

Masses for Christmas

Christmas Eve

Vigil Masses: 6pm St Paul’s,  6pm Christ the King,  8pm St Brigid’s

Christmas Day

 Morning Masses:  9am St Paul’s 9am Christ the King 10.30am St Brigid’s

(no evening Mass)

We always welcome people at Christmas that we perhaps do not see on other occasions. Some, especially family, may be visiting for Christmas, others may be “resting” Catholics. Either way, let’s remember to let that welcome be both real and warm. We do not want to be like those people in Bethlehem who could not find room for the Holy Family. We do not want people to feel that they are not welcome in our churches. However small the stable may have been, the miracle is that there is room for all!

Fr Matthew.

On the way

We have begun our Advent journey with a creative Advent Service. We now look forward to our Children’s “Bambinelli” events and our Carol Service in the week leading up to Christmas. During Advent we are seeking support for our Food Market. Booking is necessary for any of our six Christmas Masses as follows:

Full details for our Advent and Christmas activities are on our 3 Churches Advent & Christmas Info Sheet.