Connect | 18 March 2026

Published every Wednesday

Connecting you to the churches of South Cardiff Ministry Area across Butetown, Grangetown and Splott. Our vision is to be a creative and resourceful community which is welcoming, faithful and just!


This Week

Lent continues with our Christian Aid “Act on Poverty Course,” Stations of the Cross and Lent Lunches, as well as the usual daily Mass.

We’re also looking ahead towards Holy Week which is now less than two weeks away. Further ahead there’s information about South Wales Walsingham Pilgrimage in July, and the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage in August.

We also look ahead to the next coffee morning in St Paul’s in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

A reminder that our monthly Mass in Welsh takes place today (Wednesday 18th) at 6.30pm in Ss Dyfrig & Samson. The Mass and sermon are fully bilingual, so it’s a great opportunity to practice your Welsh if your are a learner. Tea and coffee is served afterwards.

Keep scrolling to find out more!


Act on Poverty

This Lent, we are taking part in Christian Aid’s Lent course, Act on Poverty – every Tuesday at 7pm in St Mary’s, following the 6.30pm Mass.

Our final session next Tuesday will look at how we can remain hopeful in the midst of so many challenges in our world, and then will encourage us to to develop our own Act on Poverty Plan.

Justice. Righteousness. Mercy. Good News. What would it look like if we shaped our response to poverty as a society around these principles? Come and found out on Tuesday!

Lenten Charity

An important part of Lent is charitable giving and our Lenten charity this year is Christian Aid.

Offertory boxes are available in all our churches.


Stations of the Cross

Join us on a devotional journey each week through Lent as we pray the Stations of the Cross

take place on Monday at 7pm in St Dyfrig and St Samson (following the 6.30pm Mass), and in St Mary’s on Saturday at 11am (before the 11.30am Mass).

We have many resources online that you can use at home. Why not check out this “Just Stations of the Cross” published a few years ago.


Lent Lunches

Lent lunches are held every Saturday at 12noon in St Dyfrig and St Samson.

Lunch is £8 and all proceeds are going to the charity Smile Train, which supports children suffering with a cleft.


Passion Sunday and Passiontide

This Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Lent, is sometimes also referred to as Passion Sunday.

This begin the final two weeks of Lent, sometimes also known as Passiontide. You’ll notice that from this Sunday, all the statues and crosses in our churches are covered with purple veils. This is ancient practice heightens the sense of anticipation as we near the end of Lent, and increases the sense of joy when the crosses and statues are unveiled again at Easter.

The Gospel reading for this Sunday is the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11.1-45. As we approach the time of the Lord’s passion, it is a reminder that Jesus has already won the victory over death.


Holy Week

Holy Week is the most important week of the Church year, as we journey with Jesus through the last week of his life on earth.

The week begins with Palm Sunday, and in all our churches we symbolically re-enact Jesus entering Jerusalem by holding a procession at the start of Mass. On Maundy Thursday we commemorate the Last Supper, Jesus instituting the Eucharist and washing the feet of his disciples, so giving us an example of service. Good Friday of course is the most solemn day when we remember his death on the Cross. Holy Saturday is a day of waiting, and our churches are decorated ready for the Easter celebrations. Then in the evening of Holy Saturday we proclaim Easter in a joyful way with the Easter Vigil. It is important for all Christians to attend as much worship as possible during Holy Week – details of our services are given below.


Grangetown Rising!

A new initiative for this year! Join us for a short service at dawn on Easter Day at the summit of Grangemoor Park in Grangetown, which overlooks the city of Cardiff. We will hold a short service to greet Easter Day and offer a blessing over our city. You’re invited to meet at the entrance of Asda in the Cardiff Bay Retail Park at 6am to walk to the summit. Afterwards we will enjoy coffee and pastries.


Coffee Morning

Our next charity coffee morning takes place on Saturday 21 March in St Paul’s Church.

This time we are raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. As usual there will be plenty of delicious cakes as well as tea, coffee, and a chance to catch up with friends. Everyone is welcome.


Chrism Masses

The Chrism Mass is where the holy oils for the year are blessed, and when clergy reaffirm their priestly vows.

If you would like a seat on the coach to the Bishop of Oswestry’s Mass in Bathwick on Saturday 28 March, then please see Glyn Perryman or Fr Dean.

Bishop Mary’s Chrism Mass takes place on Monday 30th March at 11am. All are invited.


Walsingham 2026

Bookings are now open for the Walsingham Pilgrimage 2026 which takes place from July 20- 23 2026.

You can either book directly online or give your £50 deposit and details to Georgina Partidge, Liz Norman or the clergy.


Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage

Young people aged 11-18 are invited to join us for the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage from 3-7 August.

Around 500 young people from all over the UK camp in a field just outside the village of Walsingham. Worship takes place in a large marquee led by the excellent worship band CJM. There are also lots of different activities for young people to take part in during the week.

As part of the Welsh camp, all tents are provided and you will be fully catered for. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag, air bed, clothes and toiletries. For more information, please contact Fr Richard and also take a look at the link below to find out more.


Here comes the bride!

We are delighted to announce that St Paul’s Church (meeting in the community hall) has now been licensed for weddings.

This means that our modern, flexible worship space can now be used for your special day! Here’s an idea of what it might look like decorated for your wedding. And then why not have the reception in our well-appointed and spacious hall….. no travelling required!

If you live in Grangetown (or have a qualifying connection to St Paul’s) and would like to get married in St Paul’s, please contact Fr Richard on 0333 301 1850 or RichardGreen@cinw.org.uk

Check out the link below about weddings in our churches:


Worship for the Week Ahead

Mass is celebrated each day across our churches. Here’s our pattern of prayer for the week ahead.

Wednesday 18 March 
10.00am: Mass at St Paul's with St Paul's School
11.00am: Mass at St Mary's with St Mary's School
6.30pm: Offeren yn Gymraeg (Mass in Welsh) at Ss Dyfrig & Samson

Thursday 19 March (Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary)
10.00am: Mass at Ss Dyfrig & Samson

Friday 20 March
10.00am: Mass at St Mary's
Note change of venue for this week only

Saturday 21 March
10.50am: Morning Prayer at St Mary's
11.00am: Stations of the Cross at St Mary's
11.30am Mass at St Mary's
12 noon: Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sunday 22 March | Lent 5 | Passion Sunday
9.30am: Sung Mass at Ss Dyfrig & Samson
9.30am: Sung Mass at St Saviour’s
11.00am: Sung Mass at St Paul's
11.00am: Solemn Mass at St Mary's

Monday 23 March
6.30pm: Mass at Ss Dyfrig & Samson
7.00pm: Stations of the Cross at Ss Dyfrig & Samson

Tuesday 24 March
6.30pm: Mass at St Mary’s

You can discover more about our regular pattern of worship through the week at


United in Prayer

WE PRAY FOR the work of Christian Aid, as it campaigns against poverty, and responds to those in need throughout the world.

WE PRAY FOR all foster parents, step-parents and adoptive parents as we give thanks for St Joseph, the earthly guardian of Our Lord.

WE PRAY FOR peace throughout the world, for leaders and governments everywhere.

For more prayer resources, check out our ‘Day by Day’ pages which includes prayers for various times and occasions.


Funerals

Thursday 26 March at 1130am at Ss Dyfrig and Samson (Clare Chelmis)

Thursday 26 March at 230pmSt Mary’s (Kathleen O’Neil)

Wednesday 1 April at 1130am at St Paul’s (Freda Dite)

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.


Clergy contacts

Ministry Area Leader and Priest for St Mary’s and St Saviour’s: Fr Dean Atkins

07368 176300 | deanjatkins@outlook.com

Ministry Area Vicar and Priest for St Paul’s and Ss Dyfrig & Samson: Fr Richard Green

0333 301 1850 | RichardGreen@cinw.org.uk


Keep in touch

To receive news and updates in your inbox, sign up here:


Leave a comment