New and united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia approved by Pope Francis

Archbishop Mark O’Toole has announced the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, a decision promulgated by Pope Francis on 12 September and coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

The announcement by the archbishop, who now becomes the Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, having served as Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia since 2022, is to be read in churches across the region on the weekend of 14/15 September.

The decision and the unification “marks a significant milestone for the Catholic community in South Wales and Herefordshire”, says the current Archdiocese of Cardiff website.

It notes that the archbishop expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for his support, and that he took the swift decision from the Pope “as a sign of confidence from the Holy See”. The Pope is currently engaged in the longest tour of his papacy, a 12-day visit spanning Southeast Asia and Oceania.

The decision to unite the two dioceses follows a series of Open Listening Sessions held across both dioceses earlier in 2024, during which clergy and laity engaged in discussions about the proposed unification.

In his pastoral letter making the announcement, the archbishop highlighted it coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, emphasising the role of the Virgin Mary as the first missionary disciple, while reminding the faithful of her example in embracing Christ’s mission, whatever form it may take.

Wales has a long history of Christianity. Its origins undoubtedly date back to Roman times, notes the current Archdiocese of Menevia website.

It says that the “new faith” arrived and was then spread by the troops occupying fortresses and towns and by traders from Gaul.

In 1916 the Cardiff Province was established, comprising the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cardiff with the diocese of Menevia as a suffragan see.

Since 1897, the Menevia diocese included most of Wales, and this presented a variety of difficulties. In particular, travel between the north and south Wales was a problem.

There were differences too, between the two areas in terms of geography, history and public administration that made the development of a unified diocese difficult.

These and other pastoral considerations led to a petition to Rome for a third diocese. When the Province was restructured in 1987, Bishop Hannigan was translated to the new diocese of Wrexham and Daniel Mullins became bishop for the restructured Menevia diocese.

Here is a copy of the Pastoral Letter announcing the creation of the new united diocese, signed by Archbishop Mark O’Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia:

Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia for the weekend of 14/15th September 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“Ave Maria – Hail Mary!” The greeting of the Angel Gabriel to our Blessed Lady is of course the beginning of a precious prayer for all of us. Across South Wales and Herefordshire, we have further cause to rejoice in this heavenly greeting as this past Thursday, the 12th September, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the Holy Father promulgated the creation of our united ‘Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia’.

We know that following the heavenly visit, Mary becomes the first Missionary Disciple, running quickly to visit and greet her cousin Elisabeth with great joy. In the joy of her own faith, she wanted to be close to and assist her elderly cousin, who at an advanced age was herself to give birth to an unexpected child.  Mary manifests the combination of faith and good works that St James speaks of in today’s second reading. She proves her faith to us by her good works.

We know, too, that Mary was there on the Way of the Cross, accompanying her Son in His Passion and death, receiving her dead Son into her loving arms with the deep love of a mother who had known the joy of cradling Him as a young baby. Mary knows the sorrowful as well as the joyful mysteries of human life. As the first of the disciples, Mary teaches all of us to fulfil that invitation of the Lord in today’s Gospel: “To be my disciple you must take up your cross and follow me”. Mary knew and lived this from the inside.

This is why it is a joy for us to have received the decision of the Holy Father to create our united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis for making this decision and for his inspiring leadership in encouraging us to “go outwards” in mission. We received this decision more quickly than anticipated. I believe this is a sign of the confidence that the Holy See has in the process that we have undertaken to date. I want to thank all of you – lay faithful, religious, deacons and priests – for your engagement, support and encouragement. It has helped all of us become more, at local level, what the Holy Father is inviting of all the Church – to be a synodal Church for mission.

We are invited to make that more real in the months and years ahead. We are called to continue to walk together the path of the Gospel, in open dialogue and faith, seeking to look at how we can, like Mary, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and at the same time, bear witness to Him through our good works.

Providentially, too, this decision on the creation of our new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, comes as the whole Church prepares for the Jubilee Year, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Mary was the first Pilgrim of Hope for she received Jesus with absolute openness and she immediately brought Him, in Hope, to those around her. She can help each of us grow in our relationship with, and love for Jesus. She can give us the courage to present Her Son anew to all those whom we know and encounter, who do not know His love. Like Mary, let us have a heart for those who do not know Jesus. In drawing closer to Him ourselves, may we have the hope and the courage that Mary had, to go out to those in our world who so desperately need the love of her Son in their lives. To her, in great joy and hope, we pray:

“Ave Maria – Hail Mary,

“With joy, you received the greeting and message of the Angel.  You ran quickly as a pilgrim of hope to your cousin to share with her the Good News of Salvation.

“We ask you now, to be close to us all in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Teach us to be like you, to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and to welcome Him more deeply into our lives. 

“Help us to accept and surrender to the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of our life, knowing that your maternal love is with us and that you show us how to follow your Son.

“Give us the courage to be Pilgrims of Hope for our world today, always announcing the Good News of your Son. 

“With you, may we raise up the lowly, feed the starving, welcome the stranger, comfort the dying, be merciful to all, so that one day we will join with you and with all your sons and daughters in an eternal loving gaze upon the face of your Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Photo: Archbishop Mark O’Toole. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Cardiff.)

The post New and united Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia approved by Pope Francis appeared first on Catholic Herald.