This weekend we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, which is an inspiring occasion in itself, but which also marks the beginning of the month of November. This is quickly followed on Monday by All Souls, properly known as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. The coming together of the two feasts takes us beyond seeing November as simply “the month of the Holy Souls”, and points to that wonderful part of our faith that we call “the communion of the saints”. This is telling us that we all belong, past and present, alive and dead. We are bound together by our faith, our hope and our love.

In each church you will find a Book of Commemoration where you can write the names of your loved ones. Please enter your names, and also take a look at it from time to time in the month and offer those people to God in your prayers. All those named will be remembered in one or more “Altar List” Masses celebrated each week during the month.

Next Saturday 7th November we celebrate our annual Mass of Memories 10.00am. in Christ the King. I always enjoy this Mass, if “enjoy” is the right word. It really underlines that “communion” I just mentioned. Not only are we one in our bereavement, one with our loved ones, but we are also one with each other on our pilgrimage helping to carry our crosses. We especially name and remember those who have died over the last twelve months.

The annual Requiem for Deceased Clergy this year takes place at St Peter’s in Roath on Tuesday 10th November at 3.00pm.

Fr Matthew

The Mass is often referred to as “the source and summit of Christian life”. This beautiful phrase comes from no less a source than Lumen Gentium, the Vatican Council’s document on the nature of the Church. Another central document after the Council says

“The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.” (Instruction on the Eucharist Eucharisticum Mysterium 1967)

This summer we moved to a situation of fewer Sunday Masses – going from seven to five. Clearly, in view of Fr Tomy’s leaving us, there is no going back to the former arrangements. We are also now in closer cooperation with our neighbouring parishes – St Philip Evans and St Teilo/Our Lady of Lourdes in the so-called “Northern Arc”. This is particularly relevant regarding Fr Gareth Leyshon’s undertaking to celebrate a 9am Mass each Sunday with us. All other Masses are at present celebrated by me.

We now need to reach a decision for a longer term than just the past summer. I am already taking soundings from some groups, and will be meeting with two parish council members from each of our 3 Churches in the next week or two. I am aware from several years ago of other views also.

My own prayerful reflection is that perhaps the Lord is encouraging us to take hold of this new situation and do “something beautiful for God” to quote a well-known book about Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. We should be thinking not so much “What do I want?” but rather “What do we need?” and “What does God want?” Originally my intention was to simply decide and implement a schedule, but I have found it difficult to decide. It is out of that difficulty that I have been led to think a little more creatively. What is the best way for us together to achieve that “communion in divine life” and “unity of the People of God”. So rather than your opinion, which you are still welcome to share, I would prefer your prayers, as I mentioned at Masses last Sunday. And that prayer should be along the lines of “Lord, we/I will do whatever you want”.

Fr Matthew

Role models come in all varieties. In October we remember St. Francis of Assisi, a shining example to us all, both in the way that he lived and for his love of nature. In his Canticle of the Creatures, this patron saint of ecology, says:
‘Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.’

Nature is more than a pretty view, birdsong or wild flowers swaying in the breeze. It is estimated, for example, that one in four of us will suffer from some form of severe stress or depression in our life time. Studies and our everyday experience have shown that time in nature can heal, improve our well-being and uplift our spirits. In these cost conscious times, it can also save the NHS and us money.

Nature, however, is in trouble. Did you know that…

• We have lost 97% of our wild flower meadows since the 1930’s
• 60% of our bird and wild life species have declined in the last 50 years
• We have lost half of our 27 bumble bee species in recent times and pollinators are responsible for one in three mouthfuls of food that we eat
• The RSPB has 200+ reserves in the UK (17 in Wales) that protect 80% of our bird and wildlife species yet this only covers an area enclosed by the M25

We ignore nature and God’s creation at our peril. In a time of tweeting, texting and technology is it any surprise that only 1 in 8 children in Wales, under-12 years old, has any real connection with nature?