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!
Welcome…
to our weekly bulletin. It’s packed with events, celebrations and opportunities across the churches of our Ministry Area! This week we remember all who were lost in the Aberfan disaster; we give thanks for Fr Dean’s faithful ministry as he announces his retirement; we reflect on our Walsingham devotions, interfaith visits and guest speakers; and look forward to youth events, a lunch and a coffee morning.
Remembering Aberfan
Today – 21 October – marks the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster. This was the horrific day when a colliery spoil tip slid down the mountainside onto Pantglas Junior School, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
We pray for the souls of those lost, for those left behind who still bear the physical and psychological scars of that day, and for the whole community.
Jesu mercy, Mary pray.
Retirement of Fr Dean
It was announced on 18 October that Fr Dean, our Ministry Area Leader, will retire on 16 November. Fr Dean has been MA Leader since 2022, the priest at St Mary’s since 2016, and at St Saviour’s since 2008. He has served for 30 years in the Diocese of Llandaff, including a fruitful decade as Diocesan Youth Chaplain.
His ministry in South Cardiff has been marked by a passion for promoting Anglo-Catholic worship and spirituality, a commitment to inter-faith dialogue, a love for our communities and their people, and a hunger for justice. For many years he has organised the annual South Wales pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and he has influenced, guided and nurtured many in their life of faith. We are so grateful for all he has offered over the decades. We will miss him enormously but wish him well in this next chapter.
Fr Dean’s last Mass in the MA will be on Sunday 15 November at 11am in St Mary’s followed by a buffet in church. If you would like to contribute towards a leaving gift, please give your donation to Glyn or Liz in St Saviour’s, Rachel in St Mary’s, or Fr Richard or Julian in Grangetown. Alternatively you can give it online using the following bank details:
Account name: South Cardiff Ministry Area
Account no: 43994158
Sort code: 23-05-80
And use the reference “Fr Dean”.
Shine Club
Our next Shine Club, with activities for young people during the school holidays, will be on Monday 26 October from 11am-1.30pm in Ss Dyfrig & Samson. The session is open to all children and young people aged 5-16 and concludes with a free lunch.
OMG! Time for Young People
Our next OMG! session for young people is on Sunday 1 November at 5pm in St Saviour’s. All are welcome, and we will conclude with a chip tea!
Macmillan Coffee Morning
St Saviour’s are holding a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. It’s taking place on Sunday 25 October following the 9.30am Mass. Do come along and show your support!
Social Lunch
Our next social lunch at St Dyfrig & St Samson will be on Saturday 30 October at 12noon. For only £8 you are treated to three courses – soup, a toastie of your choice with salad, and dessert, plus tea and coffee. If you would like to come please contact Fr Richard.
All Souls Day
On Monday 2 November we commemorate All Souls Day, when we remember our departed loved ones. There will be a Requiem Mass at 6.30pm in St Dyfrig & St Samson. If you would like the names of loved ones remembered, please bring them along on the night.
Interfaith visits
Members of our congregations recently enjoyed visiting the local synagogue and mosque. We attended the Shabbat (Sabbath) service at the Cardiff Reform Synagogue, and were then welcomed to the Kiddush, or blessing over wine and sharing of bread. At Grangetown Muslim Cultural Centre, we were welcomed by Imam Siddiq who showed us around, and explained much about the religious life of Muslims. We are grateful to both communities for their hospitality.
Grangetown Guest Speakers
Many thanks to our guest preachers/speakers who came to St Dyfrig & St Samson and St Paul’s this month. The series started with The Very Reverend Jason Bray, Dean of Llandaff (sorry no picture as Fr Richard forgot!). Then we listened to Fiona and Amira from Cardiff Citizens talking about community organising. Finally we had a visit from Canon Tim Jones, Diocesan Director of Ministry. Thank you all!
Walsingham Devotions
We had a lovely day on Saturday when we observed our October Devotions to Our Lady of Walsingham in St Mary’s. The day began with Mass at 12noon. After everyone enjoyed their picnic lunch, we had Sprinkling with water from the Walsingham well, followed by Benediction. Thank you to everyone who joined us.
Thank you for your generosity!
The incredible range of activities that you read about in this bulletin, together with our regular round of services and ministry, is only possible thanks to the generosity of those who give financially to our churches.
We are grateful for all your support. If you don’t yet give, then we invite you to consider signing up to the Gift Direct scheme. This acts like a direct debit from your bank account every month, so that you can decided a regular sum to give. To start giving this way, click the link below. On the Gift Direct webpage, on the Beneficiary drop down menu, search for South Cardiff Ministry Area, then select the church you would like to support. Fill out your details on the online form, and the rest will be taken care of for you!
We also invite those who give regularly to review your level of giving. We are conscious that the cost of living is increasing, but this means that our costs are rising too! Once again, we are grateful for everyone’s generosity.
Support us through easyfundraising
Did you know that every time you shop online you can donate to our ministry area, at no extra cost to yourself? If you sign up for easyfundraising, the retailer donates a percentage of what you spend to us! It’s so easy to sign and use – this is how it works:
– Click the button below to take you to the easyfundrasing website
– Click “Find a cause”, then in the search box type “South Cardiff Ministry Area”
– Click “Start raising free donations today”
– Create an account by entering your email and choosing a password
– Click “Add Extension” to add a reminder to your web browser – this will tell you when any online purchases qualify for easyfundrasing
You can also download the easyfundraising app for your mobile device. Click the link below to find the app on either the App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play (Android). Then follow these instructions:
– Click on “Choose a cause and create account”
– Search for South Cardiff Ministry Area and click “Sign up and support this cause”
– Follow the prompts to connect the app to your mobile device’s web browser
– From the side menu click “Donation reminder” then “Enable the donation reminder”
– Shop online as normal and the donation reminder will tell you if purchases qualify for easyfundraising
HAPPY SHOPPING AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Daily Mass
Did you know that Mass is celebrated each day across the Ministry Area?
You’ll find the times below. On weekdays, the Mass is usually about 25 minutes long which, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is usually followed by coffee.
Also, we publish daily reflections from the Mass online. Why not sign up to receive news and reflections in your inbox?
Dates for your diary
Here is the South Cardiff Calendar, with details of lots of upcoming events and activities across our Ministry Area. Make sure you put everything down in your diary so that you don’t miss anything!
There will be more details about these events in future editions of Connect.
This is also available on our website here.
Worship
Sunday is the heart of our week, and the Eucharist is at the centre of our worship.
We have four Sunday celebrations across the Ministry Area. There is also a daily celebration of Mass on weekdays.
BUTETOWN:
S MARY THE VIRGIN
11am Solemn Mass
GRANGETOWN:
S PAUL THE APOSTLE
11.00am Sung Eucharist
SS DYFRIG & SAMSON
9.30am Solemn Mass
SPLOTT:
S SAVIOUR
9.30am Sung Mass
MONDAY
630pm Mass (Ss Dyfrig & Samson’s)
TUESDAY
630pm Mass (S Mary’s)
WEDNESDAY
10am Holy Eucharist (S Paul’s)
11am Mass (S Mary’s)
THURSDAY
10.00am Mass (Ss Dyfrig & Samson’s)
FRIDAY
10am Mass (S Saviour’s)
SATURDAY
11am Morning Prayer & Rosary (S Mary’s)
1130am Mass (S Mary’s)
12noon Confessions (S Mary’s)
You can discover more about our regular pattern of worship through the week at
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:
