Annwyl Gyfeillion

The Feast of the Visitation is such a joyful Feast, filled with hope. We have two cousins, both expectant mothers, with all the hope that those preparing for parenthood feel, meeting each other, apparently for the first time since their pregnancies became realities, and greeting each other with joy. One had waited for years to begin a family, and yearned for that blessing, the other was young, barely married. It is a powerful yet intimate scene.

And then there is the supernatural element, for neither of these anticipated births are without theological significance. The future son of Elizabeth moves in his mother’s womb – an alarming and yet potentially thrilling event for anyone who has experienced it – with a particular impact on the mother, but also anyone close enough to witness the experience – and Elizabeth perceives that this is the one son-to-be greeting the other, and that the son of Mary is the incarnate Lord and Saviour of the world.

It is a feast day in which God is fulfilling his promises – the promises to Israel of a Saviour and Messiah, the promises to two mothers in different ways, the promise to the world of the hope of redemption.

On such a feast day, let us give thanks for all mothers, and those expecting children, or recently giving birth to children (some members in our own Teulu Asaph, of course), but also give thanks for those who have experienced safe deliveries. These are delicate events. Let us also pause to remember those who have not experienced the happy outcome hoped for: amidst all the sadnesses of this world, this can be an especial cause for pain.

Let us also give thanks for the God who seeks to bring blessing into our own lives and let us pray for a sharpened sense of how God may be moving among to answer prayer, to open out new possibilities and to be at work in our midst.

The Petertide Ordinations: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June

 I am sure that you will have the ordination of priests in your diary on Saturday 27 June at 10.00hr, together with the ordination of deacons the next day this year, Sunday 28 June at 15.00hr. These are also joyful occasions as we welcome five new priests and six new deacons to the Teulu Asaph, with the need for separate services testimony to the continuing good response to God’s call to serve him in ordained ministry that we experience in this diocese. The ordination retreat leader and preacher at both services will be the Venerable Dr. Matthew Hill, Archdeacon of Carmarthen, and we look forward to welcoming him to the diocese.

Please remember daily in your prayers in this month those to be ordained:

To the Sacred Order of Priests:

• David Dobbs to continue to serve in the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area
• Jampa King to continue to serve in the Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area
• Sharon Morgan to continue to serve in Hope Street, Wrexham
• Ian Williams to continue to serve in the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area
• Glyn Wise to continue to serve in the Aled Mission Area

To the Sacred Order of Deacons:

• Robert Dawson to serve in Pool Mission Area
• Elin Douglas-Jones to serve in Elwy Mission Area
• Victoria Stait to serve in Wrexham Mission Area
• Cheryl Thomas to serve in Aberconwy Mission Area
• Paul Tipney-Hicks to serve in Bryn a Môr Mission Area
• Reuben Zwiggelaar to serve in Aber-Morfa Mission Area

Support for our new sisters and brothers in Holy Orders is so very important. I therefore ask all clergy and lay ministers to make every effort to be present to share in the joy of welcoming our newly ordained priests and deacons at least one of these services, and both if at all possible.

As usual, car parking will be available at Ysgol Glan Clwyd on Upper Denbigh Road to supplement parking at the Cathedral’s car park off Upper Denbigh Road. A limited amount of disabled parking places will be available near the cathedral on the north side, accessed off the High Street. It is advisable to make a reservation request to the cathedral office: hello@stasaphcathedral.wales / 01745 582245.

Clergy are encouraged to robe in alb/surplice with white stole, and robed priests will be invited to share in the ordination of priests by extending their hands from their places during the ordination prayer. Readers may robe in full choir dress, and other Licensed Lay Ministers are invited to sit with them. Robing, other than for the Bishop’s Party, will take place at St Asaph VP School, opposite the Cathedral on Upper Denbigh Road. Please be robed by 9.45am ready for the procession to the cathedral on the Saturday and by 2.45pm on the Sunday.

Please also encourage any member of the Teulu Asaph to feel welcome at this service. It is a diocesan and whole family event, and all are welcome.

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

 7 June           Visit of representatives from our link diocese, Helsinki, to the Cathedral and to Hope Street.

16-18 June    Electoral College for the new Bishop of Bangor. Please do hold the electors in your prayers as they seek to discern whom God may be calling to this important ministry.

27 June           Ordination of Priests, 1000hr in the Cathedral

28 June           Ordination of Deacons,1500hr in the Cathedral

Later in the year

9 July                Licensing of David Thomas Morris as Priest-in-charge in the Wrexham Mission Area, at St Mark’s Church, Caia Park, at 1900hr.

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

8 Octr               Diocesan Conference (online business meeting)

10 Octr             Diocesan Conference in person in the Cathedral

Visit from Bishop Teemu and representatives from our link Diocese in Finland

Following on from a successful visit last year to Finland by our Cathedral choir and members of our diocese, we are delighted to be welcoming Bishop Teemu and eight other representatives from Finland on a brief visit to St Asaph over the weekend of 7 June. Bishop Teemu will be preaching at the 11am Eucharist at the Cathedral, at which we will also sign a renewal of the joint agreement between our dioceses as a commitment to ongoing collaboration and shared learning. During the trip, the group will also be visiting St Giles’ and Hope Street in Wrexham, and Christ Church, Prestatyn, to learn more about some of the growth initiatives taking place across the diocese. If you are free on Sunday morning – unlikely, I know – then you’d be very welcome to support the link and join us at the service.

Hwyl a Helo

I would like to congratulate Prebendary Norman Morris on his forthcoming 80^th birthday on 1 July. It coincides with Norman’s decision to take retirement from active public ministry in TVMA, and we thank him for all the years he has given to rural House with Duty ministry in the diocese over the past decade.

I am very sorry to say that, while editing the final text of this Ad Clerum, I have just heard the news that the Revd Adrian Johnson, died in the early hours of this morning. Adrian practised as a nurse before his ordination, but loved his priestly ministry and served with distinction during the brief years since 2021. Most recently, he has battled with calm and good humour against an aggressive brain tumour. We mourn his loss, and extend our condolences to Olga, his wife.

It is also a sadness to announce the death of Stan Walker, former Assistant Priest in Rhyl and hospital chaplain at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. He leaves a widow Jacqui. We also note the deaths of Margaret, wife of Brian Jones, and Huw Lloyd’s wife, Mary. We pray for all the departed and extend our sympathies to all members of the Teulu Asaph suffering loss and bereavement.

Notes and Queries

Retired Clergy Association

I am grateful to Canon Sue Huyton, who works hard as Convenor of the Retired Clergy Association, who has planned a number of events with a spread both geographically and in terms of dates. All retired clergy are warmly welcomed to any or all of these events:

• 18 June                 Evensong and Afternoon Tea at St Matthew’s Church, Buckley, 3pm.
• 8 September      Evensong and Afternoon Tea at St Mary’s Church, Chirk, also at 3.pm

It would be helpful if you could let Sue have expressions of interest for these so that she can give hosts an idea of approximate numbers.

26 November: Annual RCA Service in the Cathedral at 11am, with Bishop Gregory presiding, followed by lunch, also on this occasion in the Cathedral, following the pattern established at the Chrism Eucharists. Sue would be grateful for expressions of interest for the lunch and particular dietary requirements so that she can give a rough idea to the caterers. The speaker following lunch will be Liam Evans-Ford, Executive Director at Theatr Clwyd.

Sue also asks all Mission Area Leaders to check and to notify her of any retired clergy or widows that might be resident in their mission areas, where they do not have PTO. As mailing lists are largely compiled from those who do have PTO, it is easy for those not active in ministry in retirement to be absent from mailing lists and contact with the association.

Sabbaticals

If you are interested in exploring a Sabbatical in 2027, please see the attached paper, which gives information on who is eligible for a Sabbatical and on the expectations for those awarded a Sabbatical. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Haslam, the Director of Transforming Ministry, on mikehaslam@cinw.org.uk

I trust that you will be blessed in your ministry with a knowledge of how God is at work amongst you, that you will be filled with hope for the future, and joy in seeing God at work in people’s lives.

In Christ,