Fr. Selva Raj Mallavarappu
SDS
Fr Selva has
been moved on by the Bishop of Menevia and therefore the Parish of
Ystradgynlais has been left without a resident Priest. Here at
the Sacred Heart a campaign to reverse this decision has been
unsuccessful.
We are very
grateful for the help and commitment of Fr Teyrnon Williams who has
stepped in to the role with great enthusiasm and over the coming weeks
and months he will be reviewing the position and making adjustments and
changes as necessary.
Fr Richard Sullivan SDS
Our former parish
priest Fr Richard sadly passed away after illness on Saturday 28th
July 2008. Fr Richard will be long remembered by all members of our
parish and our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and
all of his friends across the world.
A website has been
set up that provides more detail.
http://www.fatherrichard.blogspot.com/
May Fr Richard Rest
in Peace and Rise In Glory !
Frank Schultz
(1923-2007)
Frank was born in
Poland in a town called Orjeck (orzech) on 13th September 1923.
As a 16 year old boy he left home when he was forced to join the
German Army during the 2nd World War. Being Frank, he was
invincible, and escaped from the German Army and joined the 2nd
Polish Army Corps. 1943 found him in an armoured division in Italy
where he spent the rest of the war. As the Polish Army was under
British Command Frank was demobbed to an army camp in North
Yorkshire in 1948. He worked there, underground, in a colliery for a
short time before joining Wimpey who sent him to Aden in the Middle
East. In 1954, Wimpey sent Frank to work in Glynneath and he came to
live in Ystradgynlais, lodging with Margaret and Euddwen's family.
He was supposed to stay for 2 weeks but this went on to be 7 years.
He had met Gaynor and instead of moving on to Scotland he stayed in
Wales. Gaynor and Frank married in 1963.
In 1996 Frank
received the "Bene Merente" for his dedicated, selfless and loving
service to our Church which he loved so much. Our dear and beloved
friend Frank passed away on Sunday 5th August. Our thoughts and
prayers are with his wife Gaynor and all of his family at this time.
May Frank Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Devotion to the Sacred Heart began
about the year 1672. On repeated occasions, Jesus appeared to Saint
Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, in France, and during
these apparitions He explained to her the devotion to His Sacred
Heart as He wanted people to practice it. He asked to be honored in
the symbol of His Heart of flesh; he asked for acts of reparation,
for frequent Communion, Communion on the First Friday of the month,
and the keeping of the Holy Hour. When the Catholic Church approved
the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she did not base her
action only on the visions of Saint Margaret Mary. The Church
approved the devotion on its own merits. There is only one Person in
Jesus, and that Person was at the same time God and Man. His Heart,
too, is Divine-it is the Heart of God. There are two things that
must always be found together in the devotion to the Sacred Heart:
Christ's Heart of flesh and Christ's love for us. True devotion to
the Sacred Heart means devotion to the Divine Heart of Christ
insofar as His Heart represents and recalls His love for us. In
honoring the Heart of Christ, our homage lingers on the Person of
Jesus in the fullness of His love. This love of Christ for us was
the moving force of all he did and suffered for us-in Nazareth, on
the Cross, in giving Himself in the Blessed Sacrament, in His
teaching and healing, in His praying and working. Devotion to the
Sacred Heart helps us see his presence in our hearts, in our homes
and in the Eucharist. The Devotion is our inspiration to love our
families, to be compassionate and forgiving toward others, and to
reach out to those who are in need. As we all know the month of June
is dedicated to the Sacred Heart and as preparation for our
celebration of the parish feast, since our church is dedicated to
the Sacred Heart, may I invite every one of you to attend these nine
days of Novena and draw graces and abundant blessings from the
Sacred Heart.
Fr. Thomas Kochalumchuvattil Msfs
CLOSING MASS AT ST. JOSEPH’S BRYNAMMAN
Tuesday 1st May, 2007
The closing Mass was
celebrated in a packed church on Tuesday 1st May, 2007
the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. The Mass was concelebrated
by Bishop Mark together with Fr. Peter Preston SDS, the Provincial
of the Salvatorians, Fr. Alex McAlister SDS, the Vicar Provincial
and our parish Priest Fr. Thomas Kochalumchuvattil Msfs. The homily
was preached by Fr. Preston who spoke of the great things that had
been achieved over the forty-eight years since the church was opened
by Fr. Gregory Brightling SDS. At the end of the Mass Bishop Mark
said that
it was always a
difficult decision to close a church but that we must be thankful
for what has been achieved and the need to pray for vocations and to
trust in Almighty God’s goodness, and He will not let us down.
After the Mass, the priests and congregation went to Brynamman Rugby
Club where a buffet had been prepared. We now look forward to
welcoming the parishioners of St. Joseph’s into the Sacred Heart,
where they will be made most welcome. Thank you to all who have
contributed their share for the success of the closing Thanksgiving
Mass at Brynamman.
A Parish Clean Up
at St Josephs Brynamman with Fr Henry Nevin
Click Here to See the Menevia News
Articles Regarding Brynamman Church
