Parish Newsletter Report of St Patrick's Day Meal

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY EVENING MEAL–With a background of Irish music, Shamrock supplied by Jack Kenny and a jovial atmosphere, once again, a great time was had by all who attended the St. Patrick’s Day meal. Thanks to Gareth who arranged the event and to Jack for supplying us all with Shamrock. Thank you too to all who supported the event especially those who came to the meal.

A special thank you to His Lordship Bishop Mullins for the pre-meal Blessing and his very interesting and informative talk on St. Patrick and the importance of his mission, a humble ex-slave who took our Faith over to Ireland and how the Irish had, in turn, spread our Faith across the world even back to our own Parish here in Wales. Pictures of the evening and more news can be found on our website. A report on the money raised will be printed soon.

St Patrick's Day Meal: Photo Report

On the evening of the 17th of March, parishioners from Our Lady Star of he Sea, Burry Port, and Our Lady and St Cadoc's, Kidwelly, gathered to celebrate the feast day of the Welsh Saint who had converted a nation, and had become the Patron Saint of that nation: Ireland.

Indeed, before the meal, His Lordship Bishop Mullins gave a brief talk about the history of Saint Patrick which was of great interest.

He culminated by stating how the Faith had been taken to Ireland by this humble ex-slave and the Irish had, in turn, taken that Faith right across the world whether that be America or even back here in Wales and our own parish.

Wit a background of Irish music, a great time was had by all.

A big thanks to all who came on the night, and the staff of Taylor's Steak House once again.

A report on the money raised will be posted on this site soon.

Thanks also to Steven James who popped in at the end, for his steak and chips, having just been made Mayor of Burry Port, the first Catholic to hold that post. The fact that he still came along to our parish get-together despite his busy evening says everything about his dedication to the parish.

The Life of St Cadoc

St Cadoc

"The graceful teacher of nearly the whole of Britain"
- Hildas (498 - 570)

St. Cadoc is one of the most important early Welsh saints and a famous son of Monmouthshire. His father Gwynllyw was a local king (commemorated by St. Woolos cathedral. Newport) and his mother Gwladus was the daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog (Brecon). He was a contemporary of Dewi Sant (St. David), St. Patrick of Ireland and St. Columba of lona, but lived before St. Augustine converted the Saxons.

Above Right: Saint Cadog as represented at Belz in Brittany

Cadog (known as Cattwg in south Wales) was a strong contender for Wales' patron saint. His Life was written by Lifricus, son of Bishop Herwald of Llandaff and himself Archdeacon of Glamorgan and Master of St. Cadog of Llancarfan. (It is worth noting that Lifricus, or Lifris, is a form of the Anglo-Saxon name Leofric.) According to this, he was baptised Cadfael by Tathan of Caerwent. When he was seven years of age he was sent to Tathan to be educated, and he instructed him assiduously in Donatus and Priscian and also diligently in other arts for twelve years. He seems to have had no inclination for tasks of secular government, and so, on the conclusion of his education at Caerwent, he sought a suitable place for the monastic life. This he found in the Vale of Glamorgan, at a spot subsequently known as Llancarfan (or, more correctly, Nantcarfan). From there the Life records that he went to Ireland for a further period of study, returning thence after three years with a large number of followers amongst whom were Finian, Macmoil, and Graunan. We next hear of him in the Brycheiniog district where his fame greatly impressed his grandfather, Brychan, who gave him “the part of that field, wherein the wheat was found, which is named Llanspyddid, in which place the holy man built a monastery for himself.” The monastery at Llancarfan, together with that of St. Illtyd at Llaniltyd Fawr (Llantwit Major), became a stronghold of the Christian faith throughout Europe during what is now termed the Dark Ages.

We next hear of him at the river Neath and, afterward, of a journey to Scotland and, later, to Cornwall. These journeys are substantiated by Cadog dedications in those particular areas. There are also several churches dedicated to him in Brittany. He was famed as a teacher whose life (and those of his brother monks) was devoted to serving the community.

It is probable that in his later years he returned to the area around Abergavenny. He died in 570 when his monastery was attacked while Cadoc was celebrating the Mass. In 1022, fearing plunder by the Danes, the shrine of the saint was moved to Mamhilad (7 miles from Abergavenny). His dedications reveal that his activity in Monmouthshire lay in the area to the west of Wentwood. The pattern suggests that there may have been a second monastic centre to that at Llancarfan -— possibly Mamhilad. There is also an intriguing connection with Roman sites in both centres (Gelligaer and Neath in Glamorgan, Caerleon, Raglan and Monmouth in Gwent).

Link:

The Life of Saint Cadoc