Eglwys y Groes - Holy Cross Llanelli Carmarthenshire

We are a small, but vibrant and welcoming, Catholic community in Camarthenshire who are lucky enough to live in a very beautiful part of the world. The church in Burry Port is dedicated to the Blessed Mother of Christ under the title of Our Lady, Star of the Sea.

In Kidwelly our church is under the dedication of Our Lady & St. Cadoc. Under the patronage of the Virgin Mary we are conscious that, like her, we must offer ourselves completely to following Christ. The Blessed Mother told the stewards at the Wedding Feast of Cana “Do whatever He tells you”, (John 2:5). We feel she speaks those same words to us. We ask her intercession that we will have the courage to follow this instruction and like her say “yes” to the call we receive from God to give our lives in service to, and discipleship of, Jesus Christ. Under the patronage of St. Cadoc we are conscious that we now form part of a church community that has a long and rich history in this part of Wales.

Aware of our ancient and Celtic Christian tradition we remain a diverse and open community grateful to our spiritual ancestors, like St Cadoc, while welcoming new members from all backgrounds and cultures. St. Cadoc worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray that we might follow his example and do the same , going out, obedient to Christ’s command, into the world proclaiming the Good News and baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt.:28:19) We hope you enjoy looking through our website. We hope you find it helpful and informative and we invite you to join us in giving praise to the living God and His son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Martin Donnelly P.P.

Mae’n bleser gennyf eich croesawu i wefan Plwyf Catholig Porth Tywyn a Cydweli. Rydym yn gymuned Gatholig fach, ond bywiog a chroesawgar yn Sir Gaerfyrddin sy’n ddigon lwcus i fyw mewn rhan brydferth iawn o’r byd. Mae’r Eglwys ym Mhorth Tywyn wedi ei chysegru i Fam Fendithiol Crist dan deitl Ein Harglwyddes, Seren y Môr.

Yng Nghydweli mae ein heglwys dan ymroddiad Ein Harglwyddes a Cadoc Sant. Dan nawdd y Forwyn Fair yr ydym yn ymwybodol, fel hithau, fod yn rhaid i ni gynnig ein hunain yn llwyr i ddilyn Crist. Dywedodd y Ffam Fendithiol wrth y stiwardiaid yn y Wledd Briodas o Cana “Gwnewch beth bynnag a ddywed wrthych“, (Ioan 2:5). Teimlwn ei bod yn siarad yr un geiriau hynny â ni. Gofynnwn iddi ymbilio arnom y cawn y dewrder i ddilyn y cyfarwyddyd hwn ac fel hi yn dweud “ie“ i’r alwad a dderbyniwn oddi wrth Dduw i roi ein bywydau mewn gwasanaeth i, a disgyblaeth o, Iesu Grist. Dan nawdd Cadog Sant rydym yn ymwybodol ein bod bellach yn rhan o gymuned eglwysig sydd â hanes hir a chyfoethog yn y rhan hon o Gymru.

Yn ymwybodol o’n traddodiad Cristnogol hynafol a Cheltaidd rydym yn parhau i fod yn gymuned amrywiol ac agored sy’n ddiolchgar i’n hynafiaid ysbrydol, fel Cadog Sant , wrth groesawu aelodau newydd o bob cefndiroedd a diwylliannau. Gweithiai Sant Cadog yn ddiflino i ledaenu efengyl Iesu Grist. Gweddïwn y gallem ddilyn ei esiampl a gwneud yr un peth, mynd allan, yn ufudd i orchymyn Crist, i’r byd yn datgan y newyddion da a bedyddio yn enw’r Tad a’r Mab ac o’r Ysbryd Glân. (Mat.28:19) Gobeithio y mwynhewch edrych drwy ein gwefan. Gobeithiwn eich bod yn ei chael yn ddefnyddiol ac yn addysgiadol ac rydym yn eich gwahodd i ymuno â ni i roi canmoliaeth i’r Duw byw a’i Fab, Iesu Grist, mewn undeb â’r Ysbryd Glân.

Tad Martin Donnelly P.P.

 

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Our Parish

The history of the present day Catholic Church dates back to the days of Lady Catherine Ashburnham, who had a private Chapel in Pembrey House. Her first Chaplain was a Belgian priest, who was succeeded by Fr. Jarvis. Fr. Jervis served also as Parish Priest to the local Catholic community.

A disused school in Morlan Terrace was used as the first church for the public celebration of Holy Mass. In 1933 the congregation moved to Pencoed Road where Mass was celebrated in a corrugated iron hut. This building had previously been used as a skating rink, a church hall, the local H.Q. of the Y.M.C.A.(Young Men’s Christian Association), and a military canteen during the First World War.

The primary benefactor of the parish of Burry Port & Kidwelly was Lady Howard Stepney.

In 1964 a new church, situated a few yards behind this old iron hut, was finally opened. The old building was then demolished to make room for a carpark that would serve the congregation. The church, which was opened and consecrated by Bishop Petit, includes a very simple but pretty Lady Chapel. The tations of the Cross, which are the work of Italian craftsmen, are carved in wood and are very fine.

When Fr. Owen basil Rowlands began his ministry in the parish in 1927 he also celebrated Holy Mass once a fortnight in Tumble. He had to walk a distance of 10 miles along the Gwendraeth Valley to Tumble, celebrate the Eucharist, and then make the same walk back in reverse until he arrived at Burry Port, before he eventually got a car.

Originally the Massnwas celebrated in the hall of the Old Tumble Hotel, with the Altar being situated in the club boxing ring. Eventually a small chapel was built in Tumble.

During the 2 nd World War the congregation moved from the church at Tumble to a chapel that had been opened in. The congregation achieved many positive goals within the local community. In 1961 a Catholic church was opened in Pontyberem (Eglwys Y Croes). Then in 1975 Bishop Langton Fox opened what is the present church in Kidwelly, which is dedicated to the patronage of Our Blessed Lady and St. Cadoc, whose Feast day is The parish priest of Burry Port, which includes Kidwelly,had, for many years, to offer Holy Mass four times each Sunday, two at Burry Port, one at Kidwelly and one at Pontyberem.

This situation continued until 1989 when the church at Pontyberem was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Parish of Llandeilo.

Priests who served the Parish of Burry Port & Kidwelly:

Fr. Jarvis 1917 – 1927 Fr. Owen Basil Rowlands 1927 – 1933 Fr. Thomas Williams 1933 – 1936 Fr. John Tole 1936 – 1938 Fr. Wifrid Brodie 1938 – 1951 Fr. William Cubley 1951 – 1954 Fr. William Andrews 1954 – 1957 Fr. James Howard 1957 – 1975 Fr. David Bottrill 1975 – 1982 Fr. Bernard Norris 1982 Fr. Sylvester O’Donnell 1982 -1986 Fr. Michael Lewis 1986 – 1988 Fr. Michael Burke 1988 – 1994 Fr. Peter Allen 1994 – 1998 Fr. John Patrick Thomas – 1998 Fr. Charles Higham – 2005 Fr. Harding Rees 2005 – 2006 Fr. John Murphy 2006 – 2007 Fr. Michael manning o.Carm served from Llanelli 2007-2008 Fr. Thomas Kochalumchuvattil 2008 – 2011 Fr. Paul Joseph 2011-2012 Fr. Benedict Koledoye 2012 – 2015 Fr. Richard Jones O.S.B. 2015 – 2018 Fr. Martin Donnelly 2018 –