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Archive 2005 Most photographs can be enlarged by clicking on the thumbnail
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Archbishop's visit to Swansea The Archbishop of Birmingham, The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, recently visited the University of Wales Swansea, where he addressed an audience of over two hundred people of the University Theological Society on the subject of ‘Proclaiming the Faith in a Pluralist Society’.
Stella Maris Convent The new Stella Maris Convent Home, for the sick and elderly of the ‘Ursulines of Jesus’, was officially opened on 14th October 2005. The Provincial of the Order, Sr. Nora Mary welcomed to the celebration Bishop Mark Jabalé and Bishop Emeritus Daniel Mullins, Mgr David Bottrill VG, Very Rev Canons James Morrissey, Richard Byron, A S O’Donnell, Michael Flook and Rev Frs Daniel J Williams, Peter Kelly, Eric Wastell, Domenic Kochee Purakkae, OSB and Merek Jargus (Diocese of Ostrava, sisters and friends of the community, the Architect Mr Richard Heath, his surveyor Mr Peter Williams, Mr Harrhy representative of Gee contractors, and Mr James and John Coats, Accountants. Bishop Mullins was the chief celebrant at the Mass of Thanksgiving. The Liturgy reflected the sister’s gratitude for their very beautiful new home and their appreciation for all who helped them achieve their goal, long dreamed of.
In his homily, Bishop Mullins paid tribute to the outstanding contribution of the ‘Ursulines of Jesus’ to the Diocese. The sisters came to Greenhill 150 years ago to care for the poor. Over the years and especially in their teaching, nursing and parish ministry, they have touched many lives, caring for all regardless of creed.
The community of Stella Maris at present numbers 25 and their lay staff are very delighted with the fine new premises, which are connected to the previous centre, a listed building. The original house, the listed building, was built by the Eaton family, from which Eaton Crescent gets its name. It was purchased as a weekly boarding school. The listed building status meant a lengthy process of planning permission and approval before the new building could begin. The linking up of the listed house with its new wings was closely regulated.
The first Nursing Home for our elderly sisters was built in the same grounds in the nineteen sixties. This Convent Home served the sisters well for many years but, with the coming of the EEC regulations, the hopes of the sisters to meet the new standards proved impossible, so reluctantly they had to take the decision to build from scratch in the extensive grounds. The new home has been carefully designed so that the sisters and those who care for them will be in a safe environment, fully conforming to modern legislations. A service of Blessing marked the entry of the sisters into their new home and life. The Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated the end of major constructions - a goal achieved, a dream realized. At the end of the Mass, Sr. Nora Mary expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Bishops, priests, sisters and friends for their presence and especially to Bishop Mullins for his appreciative and inspiring homily. She thanked the accountant, the architect, his surveyor and representatives of Gee Construction and the teams for their expertise, their patience, sensitivity and consideration at all times. Following the mass the sisters had prepared a splendid buffet for their guests and at which Mr John Coates, Accountant, on behalf of Partners and staff of Greaves West and Ayre, spoke of the pleasure which they had experienced in the building of this new home for the Ursuline Sisters. He then presented the sisters with two framed paintings, scenes of Berwick-on-Tweed, where many of the sisters taught and worked for many years.
At the centre of the new building is its new chapel, the true cornerstone for a religious community. As many as possible of the furnishings from the previous chapel were put to use, so that, though new, it has a familiar feel. Downstairs the little Oratory in the main part of the house remains unchanged. In both places of prayer the sisters will continue to pray for all the people of the diocese, indeed for all the people of the world. As Bishop Mullins pointed out at the Mass of Thanksgiving, the ‘Ursulines of Jesus’ and our other religious communities are the power houses of prayer, so vital for us all. This, the first of the Prayers of Intercession at the Mass on the 14th October, says as much: ‘Gathered together as your family, Lord, we come to praise and thank you for the gift of our New Home and particularly for this lovely chapel, where we continually experience your Eucharistic Presence’. Magandang pagdating On October 1st, St. Mary's Parish, Carmarthen and the Filipino community welcomed Father Jack to Carmarthen and to Wales. The food was cooked by the Filipino community and it was truly a banquet in every sense of the word. Fr Jack did his share of the cooking too which was enjoyed by all. He also accompanied the beautiful Filipino singing on the keyboard while the children of St. Mary’s sang a selection of Welsh songs to delight the hearts of everyone.
Filipino representatives came from Swansea, Llanelli, Pontyberem, Haverfordwest and Ammanford. Fr. Jack has taken them
all to his heart and we wish him many, many happy years on the Welsh
mission field.
Benemerenti awarded to Bishop Mark of Menevia and Father Bernard Norris, Parish Priest, celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the parishioners of St Therese of Lisieux Church, Port Talbot on Sunday, 28 August 2005 in honour of Miss Linda Harris. Miss Harris was awarded the Benemerenti medal in recognition of her outstanding service to the sick and aged people of the Sandfields area. This prestigious award was one of the last to be sanctioned by the late Pope John Paul II before he died. Besides comforting the sick, Miss Harris is a Eucharistic Minister who upholds the teachings of the Church where her contribution is greatly valued within the Parish. Bishop Mark congratulated her and all those present for their work as parishioners in reflecting the teachings of Jesus in everyday living in the Sandfields. To care for the sick and aged is a thankless, but necessary obligation of all Catholic Christians and Linda Harris is an example of this. Following a wonderful Mass, Linda’s family and friends are seen with Bishop Mark and Father Bernard outside the Church before entertaining the sick of the Parish at her home with lunch.
Presentation of CCRS Certificates It was a great privilege for everyone concerned to
have the Rt. Reverend Mark Jabalé present the CCRS certificates at the
end of a special Mass for teachers on September 22nd. The ceremony took
place in St Mary’s Convent Chapel, Greenhill, which was all beautifully
prepared by Sr. Brigid. In his homily, Bishop Mark warmly congratulated
the teachers who had worked so hard: attending the study days and
completing assignments alongside their work in classroom and school. He
told them how proud he was of them and what a gift they were to the
Diocese and to Catholic Education. He emphasised the importance of
having committed people of faith working with children and young people.
It augurs very well for the future.
In addition, three students from Trinity College Carmarthen, who completed the CCRS course last year, were unable to attend the ceremony as they now teach in Ireland and received their certificates by post - Clare McMaughlin, Aisling Meehan and Eedel McCabe. Having celebrated the Eucharist, a sumptuous buffet was greatly appreciated by all. The CCRS course runs on a two-year basis; it can be joined at any time. The next session will be held on Wed. Nov. 16th at St. Mary’s Carmarthen. Topic - Liturgy and Prayer.
Obituary Alan William Rees was born in Morriston, near Swansea, on 1st February 1941, the only son of John and Hilda Rees. His love of religion and music began at an early age when he was taken to Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Chapel by his father and St David’s Church in Wales by his mother and, while still young, learnt to play the organ. He was educated at Dynefor Grammar School, Swansea, and University College Cardiff, where he gained an honours degree in Music and a Diploma in Education. He became an ARCM in 1961 and an ARCO in 1964. In his teens he became an Anglo-catholic and in his first year at university he was received into the Catholic Church by the saintly chaplain, Dom Leo Cesar. He also began thinking of a religious vocation and visited several monasteries. The Abbot and Council of Ampleforth accepted him for the novitiate. A nervous breakdown caused those plans to be shelved and he went into teaching. From 1963 to 1968 he was Organist and Choirmaster at St David’s Cathedral, Cardiff. At this time he also began composing music for the Liturgy in English. He was chosen to compose the Mass that was sung for the Papal Visit to Cardiff in 1982. In September 1968 he joined the novitiate at Belmont and made his Simple Profession in September 1969. He was solemnly professed on 29th September 1972. From 1970 to 1972 and again from 1974 to 1982 he was House Master of Cantilupe. He studied at Sant’Anselmo, Rome, from 1972 to 1974 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Mullins on 29th September 1974. For six years he was also Assistant Novice Master and from 1982 to 1986 Novice Master. From 1970 until his death he was Choirmaster and Organist. He served on the Abbot’s Council from 1975 to 1986 and was Delegate to General Chapter in 1977. In 1986 he was elected Abbot in succession to Dom Jerome Hodkinson. He was universally loved as a gentle and loving father and taught the community by word and example. However, he disliked being in authority and eventually, suffering from depression, had to resign after seven years in office. During his abbacy the annual May Procession in honour of Our Lady was initiated. In 1993 he was appointed Titular Abbot of Tewkesbury and continued his ever expanding work as a retreat giver and confessor. He also continued to write prayers for publication and compose music for the Liturgy. His music for the Mass and the Divine Office is now sung throughout the world. He was a member of the Panel of Monastic Musicians from 1972 and Chair of the Society of St Gregory from 1981 to 1985. He had worked with ICEL (The International Committee for English in the Liturgy) since 1985 and was currently involved in setting the new English translation of the Missal to music. In recent years he was also Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Cardiff. Unfortunately, periods of deep depression recurred in 2000 and again from May 2005. This final bout of depression, despite hospitalisation and on-going therapy, was to prove fatal and he died on 2nd October, having been rushed by helicopter to Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham. During his final illness he was anointed on several occasions, though he was convinced that he had lost the gift of faith, so dear to him throughout life, and that he had been abandoned by God. The vast number of tributes received by the Abbot and Community is proof of the great love and esteem in which he was held by so many people. He will be sadly missed by his Community and family and by his countless friends throughout the world. May he rest in peace. Abbot Alan Rees: A tribute from Bishop Mark On Sunday 2nd October, the sad and tragic death of Abbot Alan Rees was announced. Alan was my predecessor as Abbot of Belmont from September 1986 to August 1993, when he took on the Titular Abbacy of Tewkesbury, and lived at Belmont. Abbot Alan was born in and educated in Swansea; he went to Dynevor School and Cardiff University, where he read Music. He joined Belmont Abbey and went to Rome to do his theological studies. Back at Belmont he worked as Housemaster in the school during my time as Headmaster. On his election as Abbot of Belmont he asked me to return from Peru to be his Prior. Many of you will have known him, as he frequently came to the Diocese to give conferences, retreats or help with music in convents and parishes. He composed the music for many Masses, including the one for the Papal Mass, when John Paul II came to Cardiff in 1982. Alan was a gentle, open-hearted and understanding priest, exuding confidence and love. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him; a longer tribute to him is to be found elsewhere on this page. May he rest in peace. Swansea Sick to Lourdes Group The Swansea Sick to Lourdes group has recently returned from its twenty second pilgrimage to the Marian shrine. Canon James Morrissey, the group’s spiritual director, continues his fine unbroken record leading again a very successful and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage. Canon was supported by Dom Cenydd Marrison OSB of Belmont Abbey, Father Eric Wastell and Father Peter Waring. Doctor Tony O’Kane officiated as medical officer. Nurses Biddy O’Kane, Bernadette Fox, Martina Eddy and Elaine Rafferty completed the medical team. The forty strong group maintained an active programme over the seven days at Lourdes. Many of the central ceremonies were attended, including the wonderful International Mass, the Blessing of the Sick and the Rosary Procession. The group also enjoyed their own celebrations of Holy Mass and a beautiful blessing of the group sick VIPs at the Ukrainian Church. Other group Masses were celebrated on the banks of the River Gave (opposite our hotel); in the open on the ramparts of the once fortified church at of St Savin – once a Benedictine monastery – on the way by coach to Garvanie with its spectacular views of the very foothills of the Pyrenees; again by coach for Mass at Hosanna House (the base of the HCPT) at Batres – the village where Bernadette had spent some of her earlier years with her foster parents, and where she attended the sheep shortly before returning to her family in Lourdes in preparation for her First Holy Communion and the first of the visions of Our Blessed Lady. The final farewell Mass was celebrated in the hotel’s dining room, before breakfast, and then boarding the coach to travel to the airport and the flight home.
We didn't do much about Parents Week last year. Everything died for a while after Listening Day! This year, in the wake of LISTENING 2004, there is a renewed impetus abroad. The Report, entitled "Not easy, but full of meaning" has been issued by the Bishops Conference and large quantities of the follow-up Leaflet, 'What did families say during LISTENING 2004' have been distributed to every Parish. Now comes PARENTS WEEK and we hope that you will be able to capitalise on the opportunities for encouraging our Parents and Families by promoting what already exists in the Parish, as well as, maybe, trying out some new initiatives. How can we do this?
Well, basically in three ways: Don't forget the theme this year is 'Real Stories' described by the national organisers as 'an opportunity to compare the realities of parenting against the often negative view put across by the media.' Peter Macpherson
Celebrating Parents Week 2005
BEGIN a Listening Process in the Parish. ASK what the Parish can do
to help families enjoy a fuller Christian life together.
Golden Jubilee On Sunday 12th June Cardigan Parish celebrated with Canon Seamus Cunnane the golden jubilee of his priestly ordination – on the exact date fifty years later.
The ‘Thanksgiving Mass’ was concelebrated by Archbishop Aloysius Ward,
Bishop Mark Jabalé, Bishop (Emeritus) Daniel Mullins and fourteen fellow
priests. The theme of the Mass was to celebrate the priesthood and the
honour for all priests who are called to carry on the work of Jesus the
one true priest. Following Mass the parishioners presented him with a Papal Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI and a garden seat which will remain at the church courtyard for people to use in times of quiet contemplation and prayer and to give thanks for a priest who has been so dedicated to God. The congregation adjourned to the parochial hall where a lavish buffet had been prepared. The parishioners had pulled out all the stops under the guidance of the hospitality committee who work so hard. Tables were adorned with gold clothes and floral arrangements. A magnificent cake took centre stage. The buzz and hum of people enjoying the occasion was electric. It was a memorable event rounded off by an amusing few words from Canon Seamus who admitted that he was, for once, stuck for words. |
Annual Pilgrimage
to the Welsh National Shrine of
Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan The 2005 Annual Pilgrimage of the three Welsh diocese, to our National Shrine of ‘Our Lady of the Taper’ at Cardigan, took place on Sunday 29th May. It was led by the Most Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff; the Rt Rev Mark Jabalé, Bishop of Menevia; the Rt Rev Edwin Regan, Bishop of Wrexham and the Rt Rev Daniel Mullins, Bishop Emeritus of Menevia. In welcoming the pilgrims, on a dry if somewhat blustery day, Fr. Jason Jones, Parish Priest of Cardigan, reminded us that we do so in ‘The Year of the Eucharist’ and that, here in Wales, the Eucharist has held a place of prominence in the Church from the earliest times. Also that, in the recent ‘Year of the Rosary’ we were presented with the five new Mysteries of Light. In the final mystery we contemplate ‘The institution of the Most Holy Eucharist’ and that in the Shrine pilgrim’s prayer that Mary holds out her Son for our adoration. In the Epiphany story the wise men found the child on his mother’s knee and fell down in adoration. Mary becomes the living monstrance, showing Christ to the world. Fr Jason concluded his welcoming remarks with the words... “May our pilgrimage in this year of the Eucharist fill us with that same love and adoration. May our Lady of the Taper, the Woman of the Eucharist, who holds out her Son to each of us, lead us all ever more closely to intimacy with our Eucharistic Lord this year”. The format of the pilgrimage had changed slightly this year. Previous years it has started with pilgrims processing around the church grounds praying the Rosary and was then followed by Holy Mass. This year the order was reversed with Mass first, at an outdoor altar alongside the Shrine Chapel, and then followed by Benediction and a procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the grounds.
On arrival at a newly created Station Altar - at the rear of the church building - a period of silence followed, then a scripture reading and a decade of the 5th Mystery of Light of the Rosary and the 1st Benediction, before the procession resumed, returning to the outdoor altar when a second Blessing (for the benefit of the sick and infirm who were unable to do the procession) was given; concluding with the usual ending of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Archbishop Smith was the chief celebrant at the Mass, which was concelebrated by Bishop Mark Jabalé. Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop Mullins and clergy of Menevia Diocese, and Bishop Regan preached a very inspiring sermon. Many pilgrims paid private visits to the Shrine after the Mass and enjoyed refreshments before leaving on their return journeys for home. A.M. What is Faith and Light? Faith and Light is an
international Christian Association for people with learning
disabilities, their friends and families. In faith and light we have
discovered the many gifts that people with learning disabilities have to
offer us in our spiritual journey. Although they are frequently
dismissed as having nothing to offer today’s society, we in Faith and
Light know that people who have learning disabilities have a unique and
sacred value. They are loved by God, and reveal to us the values of love
and acceptance, which is so greatly lacking in the world today.
How can I find out more ? Union of Catholic Mothers Wales The Union of Catholic Mothers Wales recently held its Annual Conference at the Seabank Hotel, Porthcawl. It was hosted by the Archdiocese of Cardiff, with delegates in attendance from the Archdiocese of Cardiff, Diocese of Menevia and the Diocese of Wrexham. The theme of the Conference
was ‘Love in Action - Through Ministry’ and was opened with Holy Mass,
concelebrated by Bishop Daniel Joseph Mullins, Ecclesiastical Adviser to
U.C.M.Wales, Bishop Mark Jabalé, Bishop of Menevia, and the three
Diocesan Chaplains, Father I. Wyn-Jones, Cardiff, Father P. Watson,
Menevia, and Father J. Stewart, Wrexham. Joyful Service On Saturday 23rd April, no fewer
than nine Sisters of the Ursulines of Jesus celebrated their Golden
Jubilees; Srs. Bridget Carr, Mary Christina Dollard, Elizabeth Guidera,
Margaret Fitzgerald, Joanne Maher, Brigid Mulvaney, Kathleen Roberts,
Angela Mary Ryan and Winifred Quinlan. The occasion was marked by a Mass
of Thanksgiving in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, celebrated by the
Bishop of Menevia, Rt. Rev. Mark Jabalé OSB, Bishop Emeritus Daniel
Mullins, and many of the clergy of the Diocese.
The Mass continued with the penitential rite by Paul Inwood, led by
Jenny Burridge; the Gloria text and music were by Sal Solo. The first
reading (Jeremiah 1.4 -10) was read by Sr. Mary Christina Dollard; the
responsorial psalm which followed was sung by Jenny Burridge, with the
refrain ‘You are the centre of my life’. The second reading (Ephesians
1.3-14) was read by Sr. Elizabeth Guidera, and the Gospel (John 1.35-42)
was read by Fr. Des Hanrahan S.M., from Carmarthen. Referring to the reading from Jeremiah, Bishop Mark reminded us that vocation is not a matter of our choices; it comes from God, and is a call from God. The most fruitful moments in religious life may well be occasions which at the time seemed the most difficult, when the call from God demanded obedience and loyalty to him. This was also relevant to the Gospel, where we saw John the Baptist deliberately sending his own disciples away from himself, to transfer their loyalty to Christ. In the story of those disciples, we see Jesus opening the door to them, making it possible for them to meet him and spend time with him; if we search for him, he comes to meet us, more than half-way. As St. Augustine said, we could not even begin to search for God unless he had already found us.
Following the homily, the Jubilarians renewed their vows, standing on
either side of Bishop Mark; the Prayers of Intercession were then led by
Sr. Joanne Maher and Sr. Agnes Cullen - including a prayer for Sr.
Stanislaus, who had died that morning.
Sr. Margaret Maher UJ then spoke briefly on behalf of the General
Council, congratulating the Jubilarians on their achievement. She
repeated Sr. Noreen’s words, that this was an occasion of great joy for
all involved; she then thanked the Bishops and all the priests present,
and all who had been involved in arranging the service, for being
present on this day. Sr. Margaret ended by wishing the Jubilarians many
more years of joyful service; there could be no such thing as retirement
in religious life. Here and at several points during the service,
applause rang out for the .Jubilarlans. The Mass ended with the hymn ‘Be
thou my vision’.
The Sisters, their families and friends, then enjoyed a buffet in the Cathedral hall, where talk and memories and friendship lasted well into the afternoon. STATEMENT OF BISHOP MARK JABALÉ, BISHOP OF MENEVIA
The Catholic Church has just lost a great leader whose influence on the second half of the twentieth Century has been enormous. His authority has been felt on a much wider scale than the Church whose faithful leader he has been for over twenty-six years, the third longest pontificate after that of St Peter and Pius IX. On the occasion of his 20th anniversary John Paul II publicly asked himself the question: "Have you been a diligent and vigilant master of the church?" . "Have you tried to satisfy the expectations of the faithful of the church and also the hunger for truth that we feel in the world outside the church?" although he offered no answers to the questions, he did ask for prayers to help him carry on "right to the end." - In the papal tradition, "right to the end" meant the pope planned to die not as an ailing pensioner in the Apennines, but as the pope. Of the 263 men who preceded John Paul II as pope, only one -- Celestine V in 1294 -- left the papacy before his death. Until the accession of John Paul II most popes confined themselves to Rome and its environs. They were distant and seemingly unapproachable. Greatly helped by modern ease of travel, John Paul has revolutionized the papacy. He still remained a conservative and champion of long-standing church traditions but soon became the most-travelled pope in history and very much a man of the world. In his use of the media, he also brought a lot of attention to his role in helping and encouraging the church around the world and in influencing the course of world events. As a cardinal in Poland, he was a shrewd and unflinching opponent of communism, a tireless and fearless champion of the church's agenda without allowing outright hostility -- and repression -- to develop; as pope, his clandestine support of the Solidarity movement was instrumental and ultimately led to the downfall of the government and the beginning of the downfall of the Iron Curtain. As a spiritual leader and social reformer, John Paul seized the high moral ground in world affairs; the main thrust of his teaching was based on human rights, and the fact that people have the right not to be fearful, to be able to work and to have their religion. In his book Crossing the threshold of Hope in 1994 he said: "We cannot afford forms of permissiveness that would lead directly to the trampling of human rights, and also to the complete destruction of values which are fundamental not only for the lives of individuals and families, but for society itself". Catholics throughout the world have lost a great leader, and the world has lost the presence of one who strove constantly to enlighten the human conscience on matters of vital importance. I met him first at the Abbots’ Congress, as Abbot of Belmont, in the year 2000, when his health had already begun to deteriorate. Thereafter I was privileged to meet him on a number of occasions, and I became more and more aware of his immense courage, his tremendous inner strength and his overriding sense of duty. In October 2003, the Bishops of England and Wales had their ad Limina Visit to Rome at what must have been one of the busiest and most taxing times for the pope. Within a period of a week he had to preside at the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of his election as pope, the Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Consistory to name 30 New Cardinals, and the Consistory Mass for the new Cardinals. It must have been an almost intolerable burden on a man already weakened by illness. Nevertheless, he insisted on giving each one of us bishops the customary private interview with him, when he could easily have dispensed with it. Travelling throughout our Diocese, I have met many people who remember his visit to Cardiff with great affection. May he now rest in peace.
Frank Maher Friday,
7th January was a very sad day for the parishioners of Our Lady of the
Rosary, Ammanford and St. David’s, Llandeilo when they said farewell to
Father Frank Maher, after 9½ years as their parish Priest.
As well as having gifts from individuals, Father was presented, by Mr.
Brian Smith, with an electric reclining chair on behalf of both
parishes. Ordination to the Priesthood of This joyful ceremony took
place on Saturday 1st July 2005 at the Cathedral Church of St Joseph,
Swansea, before 150 invited guests.
In 1992 Neil became a Resident Tutor and then Chaplain at the Anglican Seminary of the University of Durham before moving in 1997 to the parish of East Clevedon in Somerset, where he served for three years as assistant priest and was engaged in ecumenical work with other congregations. After resigning from his Anglican ministry he was received into the Catholic Church at the Friary in Clevedon in 2001 and was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood by Bishop Mark in 2002, spending a pre-seminary year at the English College in Valladolid before going to study at the Beda College in Rome.
Ordination to the Diaconate had taken place in Rome on 18th June 2004 at
the High Altar of the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls and,
whilst the chief celebrant at that ceremony was Bishop Crispian Hollis
of Portsmouth, Bishop Mark was also present and, at the point in the
ceremony when the ordaining bishop asks the candidate, who has his hands
between the hands of the bishop, whether he promise obedience to his
ordinary, it was our own bishop who asked the question.
At the front of the congregation pride of place was given to his family – including his father, Mr Tom Evans (who read the First Lesson of the mass in Welsh), and his brother and sister with their families. Unfortunately Neil’s mother was unwell and unable to attend.
Also present were Dom Philip Jebb, former prior of Downside, Mgr. Roderick Strange, the Rector of the Beda College, Rome, and Fr Michael Kujacz, the Rector of Valladolid College. The sanctuary was also filled with many of our diocesan clergy, including the two Vicar Generals and Reverend Canons and Priests. The Deacon at the mass was the Rev Paul Lloyd, a fellow seminarian from Nottingham Diocese and music for this Mass was prepared by Ross Matthews leading the Cathedral Choirs.
Bishop Mark in his sermon, addressed mainly to the Ordinand, said…
Immediately after the ordination Mass Fr Evans imparted his 'first blessings' to all who came forward and this was followed by splendid refreshments served in the Cathedral Parish Hall by the ladies of the parish.
The ‘FISRT MASS’, of the Reverend Father Neil Evans was celebrated the following (Sunday) morning at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ammanford.
Report by the Editor, Menevia News |
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