Annwyl Gyfeillion

Our Lent Prayer

For a few days last week, the magnolia bush in Esgobty sprang into full bloom.  Then time caught up with it, and the blossoms decayed and shed their petals, not helped by the unseasonable hail we experienced.  It was a reminder of the beauty and the fragility of life.  I was mindful of the words of the psalmist, “We humans are like grass or wild flowers that quickly bloom.  But a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither to be forgotten forever.” (Psalm 103.15).

It is not surprising that in a transitory world, people are looking for stability and permanence, but, for us as Christians, our hope is in the Lord, who conquers death, and promises us the gift of life eternal.  As the Letter to the Colossians declares: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”.

I wish you all every blessing for your celebration of the Triduum.

Chrism Eucharist

It was very good to see you all last week for our Chrism Eucharist.  I felt that moving it could have disrupted what has become a very special part of our diocesan life, but I was heartened that virtually everyone was able to be there, and that it seemed to be a very happy occasion.

I’m grateful, too, to the diocesan team who assisted with the parking arrangements.   

Patronal Festival of St Asaph

There will be a special celebration of the Holy Eucharist to celebrate our diocesan patron Asaph on Saturday, May 2nd, in the Cathedral at 11.00hr.  I encourage the Teulu Asaph to come together for this service of thanksgiving for the inheritance of faith we have received and to pray for our ongoing service and mission in Asaph’s name.

During the Eucharist there will be an opportunity for us to celebrate aspects of our common life together. In particular, I would like to invite those who are celebrating a significant Ordination Anniversary during 2026 to join me for this special celebratory Eucharist– anniversaries such as 25 years and the subsequent ‘0’ or ‘5’ anniversaries thereafter.  If you have a special anniversary this year that you would like to celebrate then please contact Esgobty as soon as possible and no later than April 22^nd.

Also, the service will be an opportunity to induct new members to the Order of St Asaph for their faithfulness to diocesan service.

Diary and Events                            

Please read the whole of the diary below carefully.  The diary is updated every month to include all those fixed dates for events that clergy are required to attend as part of their professional commitment, together with those opportunities to build up our common life by supporting significant moments for our colleagues.

It is very important that each of you makes a note of these dates.  Please ensure that the dates which are a professional requirement are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.  Where a clash with your own plans comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity.  I am still occasionally getting excuses late in the day from clergy who don’t seem to have planned ahead, or even to have read this monthly diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

 Forthcoming events

 19^th April             The Licensing of Jules Harris as Priest in Charge in Aberconwy MA, St David’s Penrhyn Bay, 1530hr.

2^nd May               Patronal Festival, Cathedral, 1100hr

16^th May             LLM Day, Cathedral

24^th May             Pentecost Confirmation Service, Cathedral

Later in the year

27^th June             Ordination of Priests, 1000hr in the Cathedral

28^th June             Ordination of Deacons,1500hr in the Cathedral

17^th Sept             Autumn Clergy Synod 1000hr – 1600hr (St David’s Hotel, Ewloe)

8^th Octr                Diocesan Conference (online business meeting)

10^th Octr             Diocesan Conference in person in the Cathedral

Hwyl a Helo

I am pleased to announce the appointment of David Morris, who has just completed his time as Bishop of Bardsey, as Priest-in-Charge of St. Mark’s, Caia Park, in the Wrexham Mission Area, and Diocesan Director of Ordinands. David will take up his new role as DDO in June to work alongside Chancellor Mike Haslam as DTM, and be licensed and inducted the following month in Wrexham.

I am sorry to record that David Lewis will be taking retirement from the end of May.  David has been one of our most faithful and pastoral priests, and the diocese will be poorer because of his retirement.  David will have PTO, however, and we’ll not be letting him go entirely.

I am also sorry to record the death of Ann Hughes, wife of Revd Richard Millree Hughes, who passed on 4^th March, and Simon Piercy’s mother Lynne Piercy who died on 13^th March.  We commend these two wonderful ladies to God’s care and hold their families in our prayers.

Notes and Queries

Disability Inclusion Awareness and Resources

The Church in Wales will shortly be advertising a free Online Training Session for churches to explore how to develop resources for disability inclusion, focusing on mobility, hearing loss, and visual impairment.  This will take place on 28^th April from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.

We will be welcoming church access and disability awareness specialists Through the Roof to deliver the session. More information about this organisation can be found here : https://throughtheroof.org/

Please see the attached advertisement in English and Welsh.

Advancing Clergy Reflection Programme

Attached is a letter from Archbishop Cherry about the Advancing Clergy Reflection Programme, which, through our partnership with St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing, offers funded, professional pastoral supervision to clergy, providing a confidential space for them to maintain healthy patterns of ministry. The letter explains more about the programme and also includes this link which provides further information on the scheme and how to apply:

Pastoral Supervision – A Ministry of Care for Those Who Care for Others – The Church in Wales

This is such an important initiative for the wellbeing of those ministering in the Church in Wales, so we are very much hoping that clergy across the province will take up this offer.

Surviving Evin Exhibition

Amnesty will be hosting the ‘Surviving Evin’ Exhibition in St Asaph Cathedral during the week of 13th – 17th April and Anoosheh himself will be coming to the Cathedral and taking Q & A on Sunday 19th April at 6pm.  You probably are familiar with Anoosheh Ashoori’s ordeal in Evin prison in Iran who was arbitrarily jailed for 4 1/2 years and his subsequent release on the same day as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in March 2022.

The compelling exhibition is designed to take visitors through the years Anoosheh spent in detention, his arrest by Iranian intelligence officers and his interrogation, to life after his release. The pinnacle of the week is of course his attendance at 6pm on Sunday 19th April. You can find out more here. 

May the Father who gave up his only Son, the Son who died and rose again, and the Spirit who brings us into new life for all eternity, grant to you, your family, and your congregations the joy that transcends all adversities this Eastertime,

In Christ,