Archbishop Mark O’Toole has shared the joyful news of the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, a decision promulgated by Pope Francis on 12th September, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. The announcement, to be read in churches across the region on the weekend of 14th-15th September, marks a significant milestone for the Catholic community in South Wales and Herefordshire.
Archbishop Mark expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his support, reflecting on the swift decision as a sign of confidence from the Holy See. The decision follows a series of Open Listening Sessions held across both dioceses earlier this year, during which clergy and laity engaged in discussions about the proposed unification.
In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Mark highlighted the role of the Virgin Mary as the first missionary disciple, reminding the faithful of her example in embracing Christ’s mission. He encouraged the community to continue walking together on the path of the Gospel, deepening their relationship with Jesus through acts of service, inspired by Mary’s life.
Here is a copy of the Pastoral Letter:
Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia for the weekend of 14/15th September
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
“Ave Maria – Hail Mary!” The greeting of the Angel Gabriel to our Blessed Lady is of course the beginning of a precious prayer for all of us. Across South Wales and Herefordshire, we have further cause to rejoice in this heavenly greeting as this past Thursday, the 12th September, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the Holy Father promulgated the creation of our united ‘Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia’.
We know that following the heavenly visit, Mary becomes the first Missionary Disciple, running quickly to visit and greet her cousin Elisabeth with great joy. In the joy of her own faith, she wanted to be close to and assist her elderly cousin, who at an advanced age was herself to give birth to an unexpected child. Mary manifests the combination of faith and good works that St James speaks of in today’s second reading. She proves her faith to us by her good works.
We know, too, that Mary was there on the Way of the Cross, accompanying her Son in His Passion and death, receiving her dead Son into her loving arms with the deep love of a mother who had known the joy of cradling Him as a young baby. Mary knows the sorrowful as well as the joyful mysteries of human life. As the first of the disciples, Mary teaches all of us to fulfil that invitation of the Lord in today’s Gospel: “To be my disciple you must take up your cross and follow me”. Mary knew and lived this from the inside.
This is why it is a joy for us to have received the decision of the Holy Father to create our united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis for making this decision and for his inspiring leadership in encouraging us to ‘go outwards’ in mission. We received this decision more quickly than anticipated. I believe this is a sign of the confidence that the Holy See has in the process that we have undertaken to date. I want to thank all of you – lay faithful, religious, deacons and priests – for your engagement, support and encouragement. It has helped all of us become more, at local level, what the Holy Father is inviting of all the Church – to be a synodal Church for mission.
We are invited to make that more real in the months and years ahead. We are called to continue to walk together the path of the Gospel, in open dialogue and faith, seeking to look at how we can, like Mary, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and at the same time, bear witness to Him through our good works.
Providentially, too, this decision on the creation of our new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, comes as the whole Church prepares for the Jubilee Year, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Mary was the first Pilgrim of Hope for she received Jesus with absolute openness and she immediately brought Him, in Hope, to those around her. She can help each of us grow in our relationship with, and love for Jesus. She can give us the courage to present Her Son anew to all those whom we know and encounter, who do not know His love. Like Mary, let us have a heart for those who do not know Jesus. In drawing closer to Him ourselves, may we have the hope and the courage that Mary had, to go out to those in our world who so desperately need the love of her Son in their lives. To her, in great joy and hope, we pray:
“Ave Maria – Hail Mary,
With joy, you received the greeting and message of the Angel. You ran quickly as a pilgrim of hope to your cousin to share with her the Good News of Salvation.
We ask you now, to be close to us all in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Teach us to be like you, to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and to welcome Him more deeply into our lives. Help us to accept and surrender to the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of our life, knowing that your maternal love is with us and that you show us how to follow your Son.
Give us the courage to be Pilgrims of Hope for our world today, always announcing the Good News of your Son. With you, may we raise up the lowly, feed the starving, welcome the stranger, comfort the dying, be merciful to all, so that one day we will join with you and with all your sons and daughters in an eternal loving gaze upon the face of your Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
May God Bless each of you, your families and loved ones. Pray for me.
Yours devotedly,
Archbishop Mark O’Toole
Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia