Priest Training & Discipleship Appeal 10th/11th May
Webmaster • May 2, 2025
Next weekend there will be a second collection for this Appeal. This year alongside supporting seminarians, this collection will also be used for wider discipleship activity across the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. Please support this appeal to the best of your abilities

On Mount Calvary I was a robber with my bad companion, we got caught and sentenced together. On this day of our crucifixion, another Man also joined us. Although I knew nothing at all about Him, but I was very touched when I watch this poor Man bearing all the dreadful torture of nailing on the Cross with extreme patience. I can never do the same, if that was me, I will wish that I was never born and would have been dead long ago. He also filled me with awe by His inexpressible look of dignity and goodness, despite in the midst of immense sufferings. Yet what struck my heart most was, when he said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” How could He still pray for his enemies?! At that moment, through His Prayer, something changed inside me, my eyes and mind were opened: I knew who He is, and I knew who I am and what I have been doing all my life! I want to repent! I don’t want to die in my sins! My conscience won’t let me stand anyone insulting my Lord anymore, whether from my companion or onlookers below, I want to defend Him with my words which were all I got left and all I can do, even that means I might die the next minute under their flying stones. So I rebuked them loudly, although I knew I am not worthy to speak up for my Lord. Ah, my Lord, I have sinned my entire life but now I wish to confess all my sins to You, I know that even if You condemn me it will be with Justice. I trust in Your Mercy. I thank God that He still willing to bestow great Graces on me at this very last moment of my life. Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom. And my Lord said to me: “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Reflection: Are you afraid to go to Confession because you have left the Church for too long? Then listen to what Jesus has said to St Faustina: “… I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy…Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.” (Diary #699)

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Wednesday 25 March This Solemnity recalls the historical event of the Angel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary, as found in Luke 1:26–38. It also celebrates the Church’s faith in the underlying reality that took place at that moment in time. It celebrates the Incarnation, making this solemnity not only a Marian solemnity, but first and foremost a Christological one. Most certainly, this solemnity is also a Marian celebration. We celebrate the Virgin Mary’s perfect “Yes” to the plan of the Father. We celebrate her humility, obedience, docility, and especially her motherhood of God and man. Therefore, on this glorious solemnity, seek the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Ask her to pray for you that you may imitate her “Yes” to the will of the Father in Heaven, so that you can continue to bring forth His divine Son in your soul, so that He will continue to be made manifest to the world through you.

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’ (John 11:25-27) By your help, we beseech you, Lord our God, may we walk eagerly in that same charity with which, out of love for the world, you Son handed himself over to death. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you In the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Passion of Christ I finally understand what Simeon’s prophesy that ‘a sword will pierce through your own soul’ mean. My Divine Son, You received all of Your human substance solely from me, which made me connect to You more than any other mother can be to her child. Your Pain is my pain. Your Sufferings are my sufferings. Your Sorrows are my sorrows. Even when we are physically separated, my spirit is always with You. From the tribunal of the high priest to the tribunal of Pilate, You didn't protest, You didn't defend Yourself. From being clothed in the fool’s garment in Herod's palace, to being put on the purple cloak, to being stripped off Your clothes again and again, like a plaything in the soldiers hands without dignity. You were silent like a lamb being led to the slaughter, patiently bear with everything and offered them to God for our salvation. From slapping by the official to the most barbaric form of scourging, You didn't uttered a single complaint in those humiliation and extreme cruelty; but returned them with Your mild but deep groans, and Your prayers and supplications. Your enemies' insulting, mocking, jeering, despising, accusing, reproaching, blaspheming words fired like rains of arrows towards You. Most Pure and Holy God, not only You didn't shy away from being hurt, You continued to turn Your Face towards them, and forgave them 'seventyseven' times. From giving You the crown of thorns on Your Head and the reed in Your Hand to putting the Cross on Your Shoulder, how much You have suffered when not a single part of Your Sacred Body is not in great Agony! I can never forget the moment when I can embrace and meet You face to face, when our eyes looked upon each other with ineffable tenderness yet with unspeakable sorrow…But I have to let You go, I will not let myself hinder the Will of God. Ah my Beloved Son, it broke my heart into pieces when I see You suffered so. If I was not strengthened by divine power, the vehemence of my interior sorrow and anxiety would certainly have ended my life long ago. I survived this heart-wrenching grief countless times, so I can accompany and continue to participate Your Sufferings with You on this Work of Salvation. Although my tears sometimes blurred my vision, but I followed You as close as I can on this Way of the Cross. I want to venerate every place of Your peculiar sufferings, driven by the love to mankind. And every drop of Your Most Precious Blood that shed along the way, were the Signs of Love and Mercy which point us the way to the open gates of Heaven. Reflection: God's single Word would be sufficient to save this world, but in His Divine Plan He came down from Heaven, took our human flesh and dwell amongst us, suffered all His Life and die on the Cross. Although we cannot fully understand this whole Mystery, but could we not sense the Love for us behind all these? God not only wish to forgive and save us, He also wish to know and realise how much He Love us. Our relationship with God is not merely a Creator and the Created, nor a Master and the servant, but like Father and son, like friends, like lovers...







