Archbishop’s Newsletter September 2023

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I write to share with you the latest Newsletter. I hope you had an opportunity to spend time with other family members and relax during the summer period. I had a fairly full summer. The first part was spent in Portugal, accompanying our young people to World Youth Day. We had a truly blessed pilgrimage, spending several days together in the Diocese of Porto, first of all, a time of getting to know one another and building our sense of community and prayer. We then moved to Fatima and had a blessed few days living in the shadow of Our Lady’s Shrine, and travelling into Lisbon for the various WYD events. I had to leave the group for the final few days to transfer into central Lisbon as I was leading a catechesis of English-speaking pilgrims, and in order to travel to the various Papal ceremonies with other bishops. I am sure that the fruits of WYD will be of benefit to our young people across both Dioceses for many years to come. Please keep them in your prayers.

After a couple of days ‘catch-up’ here in Cardiff, I then travelled to Ireland. The first few days were spent visiting with Fr Liam Shore, Mgr Finbarr O’Leary and Fr Pat Cashin. Later, I also visited Fr Pat Coyne. All of these priests have retired to Ireland and have fond memories of their time ministering in South Wales and Herefordshire. They spoke warmly of the people, religious and priests whom they had got to know over the years. I assured them that we would keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

After the first visits, I spent some weeks at our house in Connemara – a time to catch up on sleep, to read, to connect with family and friends, to sit by the beach and watch the sea! Following that, was a pilgrimage to Knock where about 25 came from across South Wales. It was good to spend some time in that gentle Marian shrine.

I returned to Cardiff and promptly tested positive for COVID! Not the best of starts to the autumn period, and following a period of annual leave. I am mostly over it by now. You will be aware that it is going around, so I hope you can take care and stay well.

CLERGY

NEW VICAR GENERAL – CARDIFF

I have appointed Fr Brian Gray as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, effective from the beginning of Advent. I thank him for his generosity in agreeing to take on this Office.

I also thank Mgr Joe Boardman, for his exceptionally dedicated service in this role these past years. Mgr Joe will remain as Parish Priest of Penarth and Dinas Powys, as well as the other offices he holds. He will be overseeing a handover to Fr Brian in the period between now and Advent.

FAREWELL & WELCOME

Recently, we bade farewell to Fr Matthew Achunine OP, from the Dominican Community at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Mumbles. Having completed his Masters studies in engineering at Swansea University, Fr Matthew will return to Nigeria to work at the Dominican University there. We welcome Fr Jude Akpobasa, OP, who will replace Fr Matthew in Mumbles, and Fr Richard Ogedengbe, OP, who will be part of the community in Llandrindod Wells.

We look forward to soon welcoming Fr Denis Opoku from the Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana, to the Archdiocese of Cardiff.

We also welcome back Bishop Tom Burns, who returns to Wales after two years as one of the Spiritual Directors at the English College, Valladolid. Bishop Tom will be living in Malpas, Newport. We hope this period of his ministry among us will be blessed and are grateful for the generous service he is giving in supplying in our parishes.

CLERGY JUBILEES

Congratulations to Canon Benedict Koledoye, who celebrated his Silver Jubilee at the beginning of this month.

PRAYERS

Your prayers are asked for Deacon David O’Keefe, who is ill at this time, and Fr Kevin Paine, recovering after a spell in hospital. We remember, too, others who are ill, and those who carry illnesses in a hidden manner.

BISHOP MARK JABALE

We pray for Bishop Mark Jabale, who celebrates his 90th birthday on 16th October. We give thanks for his life so far and for all he has given to the Church, and we ask the Lord to continue to bless him in the living out of his vocation at his stage of his life.

SEMINARIANS

Please continue to pray for Deacon Dale Cutlan, who has returned to Allen Hall for his final year of Priestly Formation.

Please continue to pray for vocations to the Priesthood.

DECEASED

Please pray for the repose of the souls of Sr Mary Pius, SSJA, Sr Claude Walsh, SSJA, Sr Stephanie Roberts, OCSO, and Billy Taylor, caretaker at the PRC, Cardiff, all of whom have died over the last few months. May they rest in peace and Rise in Glory.

Please also pray for the repose of the souls of father of Fr Malachy Orjiebele, Assistant Priest of St Patrick’s, Grangetown, and of the sister of Fr John Flynn, Rector of the English College, Valladolid, both of whom died recently. Please keep Fr Malachy and Fr John, and their families, in your prayers. 

DIOCESE

PERMANENT DIACONATE FORMATION

Alan de Ste Croix has begun formation for the Permanent Diaconate for Cardiff Archdiocese. Alan is a parishioner of St Dyfrig’s, Treforest. He completed part of the formation a few years ago, and so will enter into the second year of the programme at St Mary’s College, Oscott. I thank Alan for his generosity in offering himself for formation, as well as Fr Allan Davies-Hale for his role as Director of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Programme. Please keep Alan, and any other men discerning this vocation, in your prayers.

DIOCESAN STAFF
Menevia
We say goodbye to Morgan Beake, who has offered his resignation as Safeguarding Coordinator for the Diocese of Menevia. I thank Morgan for his ten years of dedicated service to the Safeguarding Office, and we wish him all the best for the future.

Helen Hammond has resigned as a Trustee in Menevia. We thank Helen for her generous service to the Trust over many years and we ask God’s blessing on her as she has more time to pursue those things which inspire her most.

We welcome Jonathan O’Leary to the Menevia Trustees as a new Trustee. Jonathan has a background in Finance, and is a parishioner in Margam. We thank Jonathan for his generosity in joining the Trustee Body.

I have also approached Maria Battle to become a new Trustee in Menevia and to take on the role of Chair to the Safeguarding Sub-Committee. Maria has kindly expressed her willingness, for which we are most grateful. Maria is presently Chair of the Hywel Dda Health Board (covering Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion) and brings a wealth of professional experience to her work with us. Maria is parishioner in Tenby with strong links to the Cistercian Community on Caldey Island, where she has recently become the Safeguarding Rep.

Ad Clerum – September 2023 p. 4

ANNUAL DECEASED CLERGY MASSES

The Annual Deceased Clergy Masses will take place as follows: Menevia: Friday 24th November, 12pm, St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea Cardiff: Tuesday 28th November, 1pm, St David’s Cathedral, Cardiff

All are welcome. Please do come along and pray for those Clergy who, after years of faithful service, have gone to the Lord.

YOUTH MINISTRY

I have asked Deacon Christian Mahoney and Dr Chineze Ivenso to look into establishing some coordinated Youth Ministry across the two Dioceses. They have put together a Youth Council, who will take this project forward. I thank Deacon Christian and Dr Chineze for their generosity in taking on this work.

The first event being planned is an Advent Day of Recollection for youth at the Stella Maris Convent in Swansea on Saturday 16th December. More information on this will be distributed soon.

JUBILEE YEAR

Preparations for 2025, and the Jubilee Year entitled, “Pilgrims of Hope” have begun. I am grateful to Canon Pius Valummelmalayil (Menevia) and Fr Michael Doyle (Cardiff) for attending the recent planning meeting, organised by the Bishops’ Conference. I know that further details and information will be shared in these coming months.

CRIB OFFERINGS

I propose that, this Advent, the Crib Offerings go towards two causes: one “at home” and one “abroad”, namely, the work of Caritas Cardiff and Menevia and aid for Christians in the Holy Land, through the work of Friends of the Holy Land and the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre.

NEWS FROM THE FUNDRAISING DEPARTMENT
Pilgrimage Walk to Penrhys
The pilgrimage from Cardiff to the Shrine of Our Lady of Penrhys that was to take place on the weekend of 15th & 16th September was cancelled due to a lack of support. Apologies to those who registered.

Learning Opportunities

For a range of opportunities and other events, do visit the following link below regularly for updates www.rcadc.org/events/category/events/

EVENTS

OPENING MASS FOR THE CENTENARY OF ST ILLTYD’S SCHOOL – THURSDAY 5TH OCTOBER, 7PM

St Illtyd’s School, Cardiff, will begin a year of celebrations to mark its 100th year as a Catholic School in Cardiff with a Mass and reception at St Alban’s Church, Splott, which I will celebrate. The original school was based in Splott and so they are starting from their roots! A particular invitation is extended to all past pupils.

HOLY CROSS ABBEY COME AND SEE WEEKENDS

The Cistercian Nuns at Holy Cross Abbey, Whitland, will be hosting the last of three Come and See Weekends, for those who are discerning a vocation to Cistercian monastic life, from Friday 20th – Monday 23rd October.

For enquiries and registration please email comeandseehca@gmail.com

LOUDfence WALES – 21ST – 27TH OCTOBER

On behalf of the Cardiff Safeguarding Team, you are cordially invited to attend or support the LOUDfence Wales event, a week of support for survivors and victims of abuse, beginning with a Mass, which I will celebrate at St. David’s Cathedral, Cardiff, on Saturday 21st October, at 12noon.

Throughout the week, you are invited to tie ribbons in support of survivors outside the cathedral, engage with the Safeguarding Team for guidance, and share your experience, insights and service. I understand that the Holy See has also recently indicated that it is willing to host a LOUDfence event at the Vatican in due course. For more information of our local event, please contact Annie Griffiths at annie.griffiths@rcadc.org.

ONLINE SEMINAR WITH SHERRY WEDDELL – TUESDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

The Diocese of Portsmouth, in collaboration with the Bishops’ Conference Department for Evangelisation, have organised an online seminar led by Sherry Weddell
called Engaging the Disengaged: How to Accompany Non-Religious Persons in Daily Life. It takes place on Tuesday 21st November 2023 from 6pm till 8pm and tickets cost £10. This seminar will be of special interest to all those who are actively engaged in evangelisation and catechesis. For more details, please click here: “Eventbrite Engaging the Disengaged”

CATHOLIC PARISH SUMMIT – 12TH – 14TH JUNE 2024

Divine Renovation will host the Catholic Parish Summit (CPS) at Harrogate Convention Centre in June. The vision is that this event, focussing on evangelisation and leadership, will be a collaboration between many different movements and ministries. It is hoped that, together, 1,000 leaders can be gathered from across the UK, both clergy and lay, to unite in a common focus on the renewal of the Church. Keynote speakers are Fr James Mallon, Sr Miriam James Heidland and Fr Matthias Thelen. I plan to be present and hope to celebrate one of the Masses.

Registration will open soon. Our Dioceses have been offered a limited number of tickets at a reduced rate. More details to follow.

GENERAL

FIRST SESSION OF THE XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
You will remember, I’m sure, how we were all invited to take part in the first stages of the Synod back in 2021 and 2022. The first session of the final stage – the Synodal Assembly in Rome – will take place from 4th to 29th October this year. (The second session will follow next October). More information can be found on the Bishops’ Conference website: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/synodal-church

FROM THE BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE

The 16th episode of At the Foot of the Cross is now available from the Bishops’ Conference and can be listened to via the link below. Canon Christopher Thomas talks about two forthcoming documents from Pope Francis. An Exhortation on environmental issues, updating his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’. That’s due for release on 4 October – the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for Environmental Issues, joins us to talk about why now is the time for action. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/podcast/good-custodians-episode-16/