Month: September 2014

On September 20th we will be having another Family group excursion. This time we heading to the lovely Margam Park, just outside Port Talbot. A Green Flag Award-Winning Park it boasts extensive grounds, a castle, deer park, Margam Abbey (a ruined Cistercian Monastery), Orangery, Grade 1 listed gardens and park, Adventure playground and narrow-gauge railway. Also, there’s an Iron-Age fort, Discovery centre and Celtic stones museum. So, pretty much everything to keep the whole family entertained!

It will be 10:00am pick up / meet at the church or meet at the park entrance near car park at 11am for those going straight there. Bring a picnic lunch and anything else you might need to make it a fun day out. There’s a cafe if you prefer.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

You can text or phone when you arrive at Margam. Here are the contact numbers: 07969017214/ 07807806058

[UPDATE] Thanks to a generous gift from Caerphilly Funeral Services transport to Margam Park will be FREE.

Lourdes, Fatima, Rome, The Holy Land, Assisi and……Penmaenmawr?

The little North Wales village is an unlikely companion for the world-famous shrines but in July this year it became the latest centre to be added to the list of places which have hosted our parish pilgrimage. Having visited the major sites in recent years, we felt it was time we had a look at our own native Celtic saints. The decision was a sound one as the stories and places associated with these saints proved every bit as interesting and spiritually inspiring as those surrounding the more illustrious locations we have visited in the past.

Eight people signed up for the 5 day pilgrimage led by Father John. Our base was Noddfa Spirituality Centre on the outskirts of Penmaenmawr. The Centre is run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary and they attract parishes and individuals from all over the UK and Ireland for retreats, contemplation and pilgrimages. The grounds of the building are extensive and beautiful with access straight on to the mountainside above the village. It is an excellent place to prepare for a spiritual journey.

Continue reading “Parish Pilgrimage to North Wales”

Thank You and Congratulations to the whole Parish on the beautiful and joyful celebration of the 50 years of our church building, and to all who worked so hard for it. Proposing, planning, and preparing.
Inviting special guests, and looking after them when they replied and came.
Doing out the church – The 50th anniversary banner designed and stitched by Catherine and her versatile team.
The flower-arrangers excelling themselves in creations of gold.
The secret cleaners, including Graham, Tony on lights and cobwebs assisted by Martyn, Cliff on kneelers, and Mary and Luigi on candle grease.
Norma’s linens- and Louisa on altar cloths, candles, and the sacristy.
Imagining the liturgy and putting it together to make it happen.
Preparing the music, Brett practicing us, the musicians and choir in tune, and everyone singing with gusto.
The newly confirmed welcoming at the door.
The flock of altar-servers trained and well turned-out by Tom and his two dressers.

And the great assembly of so many members of the parish, living stones bringing your imaginative and artistic stone stones to decorate the altar.

And the celebrations after in the Hall: The team that planned the reception and ordered the food; Mike i.c. the gazeboes; Vic’s running compilation of photos and memories; Tony clearing more cobwebs; The fun-raisers decorating, and laying out the food; Zanzibar on the booze, and clearing up everything after; And the wonderful cake baked and iced by Edna. Oh, and the Archbishop and priests.

Thank you to everyone for making the Jubilee such a memorable celebration. Our fine church building is here, thanks to the faith, vision and fund-raising of our fore-fathers and mothers, to build up our faith and that of future generations.