PASTORAL LETTER - ADVENT 2011

“Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord”

My dear people In our parishes, in our families, in our schools, and in our workplaces, we endeavour to live by the virtues of caring in charity for one another, particularly for the young, the sick, and the elderly. We desire peacefulness and harmony in our daily living and working. Our faith motivates us to treat others with integrity and respect, because we are all temples of the Holy Spirit and images of God our Creator. We seek to raise up the lowly and the down-hearted, as mentioned in the First Reading of last Sunday’s Mass. If we can identify ourselves with these things, then the Lord will reward us greatly with his graces and blessings. Yet, “Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord”. For, these are not easy times to live in. Unemployment is over 8% at 2.62 million in Britain, and the average level is higher here in Wales. The economy is faltering. Governments struggle to resolve the Euro-debt crisis. Those allegedly responsible for it still seem largely unrepentant. Meanwhile, many people among those who are the worst affected suffer in silence, often faced with desperation and hopelessness, the innocent victims of rash policies and the over-reaching ambition of others. Where is hope in this? Where is God? St Paul provides the answer: Real hope is in things unseen. Sometimes we confuse it with expectations about what we want. In fact, hope is the very essence of grace. It brings freshness and courage. It calls us to be awake to welcome the unexpected. Out of the depths of despair and anxiety, the unforeseen can emerge.

(more…)

M.A.P.Nite?? What??

The YOUTH GROUP of St.Benedict’s Sketty are holding their once-a-term MAP (Movie And Pizza!) night FRIDAY MARCH 16, 7.30-10pm. Everyone from any parish Year 7-13 very welcome!!

For more info. please contact the Group leader, Louise on 01792 412610

mmm….pizza….!!!

“My Peace I leave you…”

This year Peace Sunday is celebrated in England and Wales on the 15th January.

Pax Christi’s new resource offers a collection of reflections and activities to introduce young people to key concepts of peacemaking. Elements of Peace is perfect for use with youth groups and in schools as part of yourPeace Sunday celebrations. Order your copy http://bit.ly/zC0ENd or see the online version http://paxchristi.org.uk/elements/

And liturgy resources for Peace Sunday can be found on the Pax Christi website:
http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/peace_sunday1.php

The latest JustPeace, the Pax Christi members’ newsletter, also has a series of good articles on the Peace Sunday theme http://bit.ly/smSidg

- Olympics 2012 -

Lots of things coming up in 2012 using the Olympics as a springboard for encouraging peacemaking. The Peace Museum have launched a new exhibition, Playing for Peace. Details here http://bit.ly/uNRw7z

An extensive collection of resources and details of events promoting the peace legacy of the London Olympics is being gathered here:
http://www.peacelegacy.org.uk/

St.Illtyd’s Parish, Swansea

For some time, the people of St. Illtyd’s Parish had awaited a very special day. It finally came on October 26^th when, in the context of the Mass, four people were presented with medals by Bishop Tom. They were – Anne and Peter Jones, Val Fox and Rae Clarke. As they stood humbly but joyfully before Bishop Tom, Father Cyril read out the personal tributes and appreciations which had been presented for each person. The applause from the congregation said it all. As Bishop Tom drew his homily to a close, he smiled at us all and said “I wish I could give you each a medal today but there are plenty more in stock!”

Apart from bringing up a family, both Peter and Anne Jones had spent much of their lives, in rendering services to the parish as they gave of themselves, their time and their talents in sensitivity to needs. When asked about his feelings on being presented with an award Peter said “ What I only wanted to do always was to help out in the parish” Anne too had a similar comment – “ I was very pleased but we were only doing our parish duty”. Later Anne said “As we went to bed that night we looked again at the medals and were delighted to see that they were Welsh with St. David on them. Very beautiful”

Val Fox was the parish representative for Cafod. She worked tirelessly and with the help of her husband Peter, she raised sizable funds every year for this charity. “I felt very honoured” said Val “and I never expected anything like that. What I want to say is, that this medal belongs to the people of St. Illtyd’s parish. Without their support down the years, we would not have been able to raise the funds for Cafod”. Rae Clarke received a silver medal of merit for her dedicated altar serving over many years. Expressing how she felt Rae said “ I felt very humble to be able to serve my Lord, my community and my friends. What a privilege to be able to serve at Mass and to be able to help the young people.”

After Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Tom with Fathers Cyril and Fr. Saji, the festivities continued in the hall. There we rejoiced with our four medal recipients, with their friends and families who were very proud indeed and very grateful to be part of something so memorable. As parishioners of St. Illtyd’s we all say – “You do us proud. You are an inspiration to us all. May you all continue to find joy in the Lord and in your service of God’s people”. (Sr.Carmel)

Building on the legacy and enthusiasm of last year’s Papal visit, and in the year that the Olympics comes to Britain, CYMFed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation of England and Wales) have organised what promises to be one of the biggest and most memorable Youth Events of recent years, the FLAME CONGRESS to be held at Wembley Arena on Saturday the 24th March 2012.

Young Catholics (year 10 to young adult) are invited to participate in an event which will offer them the very best of Catholic Youth Ministry in England and Wales: speakers – local and international – who will set their hearts on fire with messages of hope, faith, challenge, justice, and leadership in adversity; music which will be used back in schools and parishes to bring fresh animation and participation in liturgy; a dynamic atmosphere of joy and participation which happens when young people come together in such numbers and are well led, and completely engaged. It will be an unique event, not to be missed!

(more…)

The National Youth Sunday 2011 resources have arrived! On the website www.nationalyouthsunday.org.uk there is everything you need to start planning for our national day of prayer celebrating young people. The theme this year is “Lift up your hearts”, inspired by the new translation of the missal. The aim is to help and encourage young people to go deeper into the Mass, to understand its meaning and richness, and find new inspiration in the Eucharist. It is to enagage with them so that they too feel fully “part” of our Christian Communites, and not just onlookers, hesitant and often overlooked.

Therefore, in addition to the usual planning helps for Youth Sunday itself, there are 4 evening sessions that look at different aspects of the Mass using silly games, high energy activities, art, movies, serious discussion and prayer. Leaders (priests/teachers/catechists) can choose to run all 4 sessions, or just 1 or 2 instead. Each session is easy to run, with a kit list, full details of activities, and links to the YOUCAT for further reflection. There’s also a lot of practical help on the website covering everything from getting a group together to setting up a room, with printable posters, a Mass guide and ideas for what to do next.

These resources can either be run over the next couple of months, or used at any time as an introduction to the Mass for young people. They would work well in a confirmation programme, or as an Advent/Lent group as well.

I wish you, your young people and communities a truly joyful and blessed celebration of Christ the King.

The Diocese of Menevia welcomes Archbishop George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff

The Welcome Mass took place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral , Swansea on Friday 23rd September 2011 at 7pm . Cross Bearer, Altar Servers, Cathedral Choristers, Ecumenical guests, visiting Priests, Priests of the Diocese and Knights processed into the Cathedral to the exulting voices of ‘Thy Hand, O God has guided..’ To be followed shortly by the Archbishop to a trumpet fanfare who processed with the Vicars General and Bishops.

After the initial rite of Aspersion and the Opening Prayer, Representatives from the Diocese, including from the Priests, Religious, Education, Diocesan Societies and Groups, other Faith Communities and Civic Leaders, each in turn welcomed the Archbishop . The Mass unfolded with sombre solemnity and some splendid and angelic singing. Archbishop Stack addressed every section of society in a moving and thought –provoking homily, echoing the words of Pope Benedict XVI during his visit almost exactly a year ago, calling Catholics both young and old to embrace the challenge of holiness, and to build together with civic society and those of other faiths and none a “civilisation of love”. The Archbishop was full of gratitude for the “overwhelming” welcome he had received, here in Swansea and in Wales generally as he begins his new ministry.

At the end of the celebration Bishop Tom warmly thanked Archbishop Stack and presented him with a beautiful framed Icon of St. David.

A magnificently rich and copious meat-free buffet awaited everyone in the Cathedral Hall afterwards for which the Ladies of the Parish once again did themselves proud, with the food and with their expert and generous service and attention.

(more…)

I fell into step with a well-known public figure at the Big Assembly in 2010, when Pope Benedict met thousands of school-children at St Mary’s University College Twickenham.

We were crossing the running-track and he pointed to a spot on the ground and said: “That’s where I won my first medal for athletics.” I asked him if he remembered the time when we first met at the Naval College in Dartmouth about 20 years previously, when he was Principal Speaker at a College Dinner. I reminded him that he had urged all the young people present: “Never be afraid to stand up and be counted for your faith. I am never shy,” he had said, “to tell others that I am a Catholic. I unashamedly profess my Catholicism and am proud to be a member of my Church.” I asked him if he would say the same thing today, in the context of scandals and abuse. His reply was immediate: “We wouldn’t have these scandals if more people stood up for what mattered, for their religion and their faith, sensibly and truthfully, selflessly and convincingly. Others would admire us for it.”

(more…)

Welcome to the newly launched Menevia website. In this collection of pages I hope you will find information about the Diocese, its people and its activities that you will find useful. More pages can be added later according to suggestions received. So, don’t be shy in in making constructive comment. The editor will be doing his best to update the pages as often as possible. He has to keep an eye on costs and resources, both of which are limited, and they involve people, time, and energy, often on a
voluntary basis.

(more…)