The
Cafan Mission by Dom Cadfan
I count myself very
fortunate to have been able to prepare for Ordination in Rome. Not exactly in
the flush of youth, I wondered if I would be capable of lasting the course of
studies but, miraculously, the Lord gave the grace and I managed it. Rome is
a wonderful place in which to study and, dare I admit it, to enjoy oneself,
for it was none other that Pope John Paul I who advised seminarians that they
should not let studies get in the way of their education! On this point it is
sufficient to say that I love hot weather - I can't get enough of it - and my
ieda of heaven when not, of course, engaged in prepartion for or the taking
of exams, was to sun myself on the beaches near Rome.
During my last semester in Rome I attended four diaconal ordination service,
to wit: at Basilica Sant' Antonio al Laterano and a Collegio Sant' Anselmo(
both in Italian); At Santissima Nome di Maria ( in German) and at Basilica di
San Paolo Fuori le Mure ( in English). If that were not enough, also at St.
Vincent de Paul, Altrincham, Cheshire (English). So far as my own ordination
was concerned, I felt I would know what was required of me. However, there was
also the spiritual preparation in addition to the actual course of studies.
Canon Law requires that deacons and priests (and even bishops!) have a five
day retreat before ordination. I was fortunate to be able to take mine with
the Trappists nuns at Hedy-gwyn -Whitland Pembrokshire, though somehow I didn't
manage to join the holy sisters at 3.30am for matins.
I have been asked about my feelings on being made a deacon. The one thing of
which I am most aware is the feeling of being surrounded by so much loving,
supportive prayer. Ynys Enlli - the island of Bardsey, where St. Cadfan was
traditionally held to be the first abbot, neatly encapsulates the love of God
surrounding me, just as the sea washes the shores of that island.
And now there is work to be done. I call upon all readers to join with me in
the task which the faithful - all of us, laity and clergy alike- are called
to do: that is to respond to the Divine Call, to 'go out into the world' and
tell people the Good News of the love of God, made known in the Incarnate Son,
Word made Flesh.
A View from the
Pew by a Parishioner
On Saturday 8
September 2001 I arrived at Belmont Abbey together with my mother-in-law and
my sons, Joseph (13) and Matthew (10). Outside was Brother Cadfan greeting
his friends with a lovely smile and looking set to enjoy his big day.
We sat inside and waited for the Church to fill up. By the time the ceremony
began there were over 100 people; many were parishioners and many had travelled
from far and wide, even from as far as Rome!
The procession began headed by the monks and four altar servers, children
of the Parish - Lauren and Andrew Langley and my sons Joseph and Matthew Corrigan.
A now slightly nervous looking Cadfan! followed with Abbot Paul of Belmont
and Bishop Mark of Menevia.
Bishop Mark preached an interesting sermon, as usual, and the feeling among
the congregation was one of warmth and happiness for Cadfan. After the Examination
and the Litany of Saints, Cadfan knelt before the Bishop for the Laying-On
of Hands and the Prayer of Consecration, which raised Cadfan to the Diaconate.
He then assisted in his new role, and helped to administer Holy Communion
during which the cantors, Father Alan and Father Brendan sang Elgar's Ave
Verum which was a great pleasure to hear.
