Unique Welsh Mass launches series of St. John Roberts commemorative events

St. Teilos Church welcomes a unique pilgrimage

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas looks forward to an important event in Wales historical and religious calendar

On Saturday, April 25th, St. Teilos Church, St. Fagans will play host to a very different Mass; for the first time ever, a Welsh language Mass will take place in this historic church. All seats have already been taken for the Mass, which is to be the first in a series of events scheduled to take place across Wales to celebrate the 400th anniversary of St. John Roberts of Trawsfynydds martyrdom.

The event organiser, Sue Roberts who is Vice-Chairman of Cylch Catholig (Catholic Circle) said: The response has been incredible. We could have easily filled the church three times over and the fact that this is the first Welsh Catholic Mass to be held in this church for almost five hundred years, makes this a truly unique occasion.

St. John Roberts is an important Welsh historic and religious figure and is even more celebrated in France and Spain, where many commemorative celebrations will be held in 2010. Born at Rhiw Goch farm, Trawsfynydd, he was educated at Cymer Abbey, near Dolgellau, he then went on to Oxford to study Law before moving to France where he converted to Catholicism. Following his time in France, he moved to Valladolid, Spain where he trained as a Priest, he then returned to London to care for the poor but was exiled many times by the anti-catholic authorities before eventually being sentenced to death in Tyburn on December 10th, 1610. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970. (See image attached of St. John Roberts).

One of the St. John Roberts anniversary celebrations co-organisers, Keith OBrien from the Llys Ednowain Heritage Centre in Trawsfynydd, a centre that documents the history of St. John Roberts and Hedd Wyn, said that the Mass is a really great way to launch the commemorative celebrations in Wales, while ensuring that the celebrations will be as impressive in the Saints native country as on the continent.

The celebrations will continue in 2010 with a Mass in the ruins of Cymer Abbey, Dolgellau on June 6th, 2010. Following this there will be a series of performances of the St. John Roberts Requiem by Brian Hughes, with the part of the saint played by operatic tenor Rhys Meirion with the accompaniment of choirs and orchestra. The Requiem will be performed in six cathedrals across Wales. In July 2010 there will be a pilgrimage from Rhiw Goch to Tyburn, with the highlight being a multi-faith service at Westminster Cathedral attended by the Heads of all Churches.

This will be the first time ever for a Welsh Mass to be conducted in St. Teilos Church, that was moved from Pontarddulais and re-built at the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans two years ago. The Archbishop of Cardiff; Peter Smith, the Bishop of Wrexham; Edwin Regan and the former Bishop of Menevia; Daniel Mullins, will be conducting the service along with a number of Welsh priests. Also giving readings in the Mass will be pupils from the Catholic Schools of South Wales. (See image attached of St. Teilos Church - please credit Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.)

The colourful ceremony, will start at 2pm with a procession from the Workmens Institute to St. Teilos Church, led by the Archbishop, bishops and priests, all dressed in their ceremonial robes with the altar boys carrying the cross and incense.

Archbishop Peter Smith said of the event: I am extremely glad that we are able to draw on old Welsh traditions and celebrate a Welsh Catholic Mass in this fantastic church for the first time since the Protestant Reformation. The fact that the Mass will be conducted in Welsh shows that the Church plays an active role in modern Welsh life. I would also like to extend an invitation to the public to come and watch the colourful procession that will take place prior to the Mass.

Another exciting element of the celebration will be the use of the Dowlais Chalice, which dates from the same period as St John Roberts. In addition, a 100 year old replica of the Cymer Abbey Chalice and Paten, which is the abbey where St John Roberts received his early education, will be on display on the altar (kindly on loan from the National Museum of Wales).

St. Teilos Church will be full to the rafters with 150 guests attending. Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham said: Im very excited that people from all over Wales will be taking part in the Mass and its a pleasure to have contributions from Welsh learners from the Catholic Schools of South Wales. Our roots as Welsh Catholics lie in St Teilos and the children can be inspired by this for the future. Its fantastic to see this church restored to its former glory and I cant think of a better way to launch a year of celebrating Wales martyrs than with this Mass.

Amongst the distinguished guests will be Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Im looking forward to the Mass as well as all the performances taking place over the next year that will draw attention to an important event in Wales historical and religious calendar.

Press and Media Enquiries

For more information please contact: Lydia Jones at Mr Producer

Tel: 02920 916 667

Email: lydia@mrproducer.co.uk

Mass at St. Teilos Church, Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans: General Information

The Mass will take place in St. Teilos Church, Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans on Saturday 25th April 2009 at 14:0)

Entry to the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans is free. Car Parking 3. Museum of Welsh LifeSt. FagansCardiffCF5 6XBPhone: 02920 573500Website: www.museumwales.ac.uk

The Archbishop Peter Smith, Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop Daniel Mullins and Alan Jones, who is studying for the priesthood in Milton Keynes, will all be taking part in the Mass.

Special guests include: Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the Ambassador for Lithuania; Anthony Parker, Welsh folk life expert; Dr Robin Gwyndaf, Dafydd Pritchard and Prof. David Thorne

2010 Events

St. John Roberts Requiem by Brian Hughes with Rhys Meirion will be performed across Wales to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Roberts.

The celebrations are organised by Sue Roberts (Vice-Chairman of Cylch Catholig (Catholic Circle) and Keith OBrien (Director of Llys Ednowain Heritage Centre, Trawsfynydd)

Sue Roberts DelfrynYr AlaPwllheliGwyneddLL53 5BLPhone: 01758 614 977E-mail: sue@inc-cyf.com

Keith OBrien TrawsNewidLlys EdnowainTrawsfynyddGwyneddLL41 4UBPhone: 01766 540 528

Celebration Timetable 2010 6th June 2010 Open-air Mass in the remains of Cymer Abbey, near Dolgellau (over 1000 people expected) St. John Roberts Requiem performances 11th June 2010 St Giles, Wrexham 12th June 2010 Bangor Cathedral 13th June 2010 Aberystwyth University 18th June 2010 Brecon Cathedral 19th June 2010 Llandaf Cathedral, Cardiff 20th June 2010 Swansea Cathedral 8 10 July or 15 18 July 2010 Pilgrimage from Rhiw Goch to Tyburn

There will be a special book launch of Achub Eglways Sant Teilo on Saturday 26th April. A new book on the history of St. Teilos Church, the medieval church in St. Fagans which has grasped the imagination of so many people over the years. Discount copies will be available in the Mass on the 25th April 2009.

The Archbishop of Canterbury officially opened St. Teilos Church in October 2007. The church was moved stone-by-stone from its home on the flood plain of the River Loughor near Pontarddulais and today stands proudly at St. Fagans.

The fully restored medieval church now looks as it would have done in about 1520 and contains all the elements associated with a late medieval Catholic church including a striking rood screen and a loft elaborately carved out of oak. The interior is decorated with copies of an extremely rare series of colourful wall paintings, which were discovered under layer upon layer of paint.

Offeren Gymraeg unigryw yn lansio cyfres o ddathliadau Sant John Roberts.

Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan yn croesawu pererindod unigryw.

Yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas yn edrych ymlaen at ddigwyddiad pwysig yng nghalendr hanesyddol a chrefyddol Cymru.

Ar ddydd Sadwrn, Ebrill 25 eleni, cynhelir Offeren dra gwahanol yn Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan; am y tro cyntaf erioed, bydd Offeren Gymraeg yn cael ei chynnal yn yr eglwys hanesyddol hon. Mae pob tocyn eisoes wedi mynd ar gyfer yr Offeren, sef y digwyddiad cyntaf mewn cyfres o ddigwyddiadau ar draws Cymru i ddathlu pedwar can mlwyddiant merthyrdod Sant John Roberts o Drawsfynydd.

Meddai Sue Roberts, Is-gadeirydd y Cylch Catholig, syn trefnur dathliadau: Roedd yr ymateb ir Offeren yn anhygoel. Gallwn yn hawdd fod wedi llenwir Eglwys deirgwaith drosodd. Ac maer ffaith mai yn Gymraeg fydd yr Offeren Gatholig gyntaf iw chynnal yn yr Eglwys ers bron i bum can mlynedd yn rhoi blas arbennig ar yr achlysur.

Mae Sant John Roberts yn gymeriad hanesyddol, yn ogystal chrefyddol, pwysig iawn i Gymru gyfan ac maen enwocach fyth yn Ffrainc a Sbaen ble bydd nifer fawr o ddigwyddiadau iw goffu yn cael eu cynnal yn 2010. Yn enedigol o fferm Rhiw Goch, Trawsfynydd, cafodd ei addysg gynnar yn Abaty Cymer, ger Dolgellau, yna aeth ymlaen i Rydychen i astudior gyfraith cyn symud i fyw i Ffrainc ble cafodd ei droedigaeth ai dderbyn ir Eglwys Gatholig. Aeth ymlaen i Valladolid yn Sbaen ble cafodd ei hyfforddin offeiriad, yn dilyn hyn, dychwelodd i Lundain i weini ar y tlodion ond cafodd ei alltudio sawl gwaith gan yr awdurdodau gwrth-gatholig cyn cael ei ddedfrydu i farwolaeth yn Tyburn 10 Rhagfyr, 1610. Cafodd ei ganoneiddio yn 1970 gan Pab Pawl VI. (Gweler darlun or Sant wedi atodi).

Soniodd un o gyd-drefnwyr dathliadau coffa Sant John Roberts, Keith OBrien o Ganolfan Treftadaeth Llys Ednowain, Trawsfynydd, sef canolfan syn olrhain hanes Sant John Roberts a Hedd Wyn fod yr Offeren yn ffordd wirioneddol wych o lansior digwyddiadau i gofio am y sant yng Nghymru a sicrhau bod y dathliadaur un mor wefreiddiol yn ei wlad enedigol ac y byddant ar y cyfandir.

Bydd y dathliadau yn parhau yn 2010 gydag Offeren yn Abaty Cymer, Dolgellau ar Fehefin 6, 2010. Yn dilyn hyn, bydd cyfres o berfformiadau o Requiem Sant John Roberts gan Brian Hughes; caiff rhan y Sant ei berfformio gan Rhys Meirion gyda chyfeiliant crau a cherddorfa. Bydd y Requiem yn cael ei pherfformio mewn chwe eglwys gadeiriol ar draws Cymru. Fis Gorffennaf 2010 bydd pererindod o Riw Goch i Tyburn ac uchafbwynt fydd gwasanaeth cydenwadol yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Westminster gyda phenaethiaid yr Eglwysin bresennol.

Dymar tro cyntaf erioed i Offeren Gymraeg cael ei chynnal yn Eglwys Sant Teilo a gafodd ei symud o Bontarddulais ai hailgodi yn Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan ddwy flynedd yn l. Archesgob Caerdydd; Peter Smith, Esgob Wrecsam; Edwin Regan a chyn-Esgob Mynwy; Daniel Mullins, fydd yn cyd-ddathlu ynghyd nifer o offeiriaid Cymru gyda darlleniadau gan ddisgyblion ysgolion Catholig De Cymru. (Gweler llun atodedig Eglwys Sant Teilo. Angen cydnabod - Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales).

Bydd y seremoni liwgar yn cychwyn am 2 or gloch gyda gorymdaith o Sefydliad y Gweithwyr i Eglwys Sant Teilo dan arweiniad yr Archesgob, yr Esgobion, Offeiriaid ar gweision allor ifanc, i gyd yn eu gwisgoedd seremonol. Bydd un or gweision yn carior groes ac un arall yn carior arogldarth.

Dywedodd yr Archesgob, Peter Smith Rwyf wrth fy modd ein bod yn gallu tynnu ar hen draddodiadau Cymru a dathlu Offeren Gatholig Gymraeg yn yr eglwys hynod hon am y tro cyntaf ers y Diwygiad Protestannaidd. Maer ffaith fod yr Offeren yn cael ei chynnal yn y Gymraeg yn dangos fod yr Eglwys hefyd rhan lawn ym mywyd Cymru heddiw. Hoffwn hefyd estyn gwahoddiad ir cyhoedd ddod i wylior orymdaith liwgar cyn yr Offeren.

Elfen gyffrous arall or dathliad fydd y defnydd o Gwpan Dowlais (Dowlais Chalice), syn dyddio or un cyfnod a Sant John Roberts. Hefyd bydd replica amrhisiadwy o Gwpan a Phaten Abaty Cymer (Cymer Abbey Chalice and Paten), sef yr abaty ble cafodd Sant John Robert ei addysg gynnar. Bydd y gwpan, sydd dros 100 mlwydd oed ac ar log hael gan yr Amgueddfa Cymru, yn cael ei arddangos ar yr allor yn ystod y seremoni.

Bydd Eglwys Sant Teilo dan ei sang gyda 150 o westeion yn mynychur gwasanaeth. Dywed yr Esgob Edwin Regan o Wrecsam Rwyf wrth fy modd fod pobl o bob rhan o Gymru yn yr Offeren ac maen bleser cael plant syn dysgu Cymraeg yn ysgolion Catholig y de-ddwyrain i gymryd rhan. Mae ein gwreiddiau fel Catholigion Cymraeg yn Eglwys Sant Teilo ac maer plant yn gallu tynnu maeth o hynny at y dyfodol. Rwyn hynod falch fod yr eglwys hyfryd hon wedii hadfer. Mae dechrau ar flwyddyn o ddathlu merthyron Cymru gydar Offeren hon yn rhoir dechrau gorau posibl ir holl ddathliadau yn 2010."

Ymysg y gwesteion anrhydeddus fydd Llywydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas. Rwyn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at yr Offeren yn ogystal r digwyddiadau eraill fydd yn cael eu cynnal dros y flwyddyn nesaf a fydd yn tynnu sylw at achlysur pwysig yng nghalendr hanesyddol a chrefyddol cymru.

Diwedd-Ymholiadaur wasg ar cyfryngauAm fwy o fanylion cysylltwch Lydia Jones - Mr ProducerFfon: 02920 916 667Ebost: lydia@mrproducer.co.ukCyfweliadau ar gael ar gais cyn yr Offeren ac ar y dydd.Croeso i newyddion radio a theledu ar y dydd, cysylltwch ar swyddfa i drefnu os gwelwch yn dda.Manylion cyffredinol Offeren Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan* Bydd yr Offeren yn cael ei dathlu yn Eglwys Sant Teilo, Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan, ddydd Sadwrn, Ebrill 25, 2009 am 14:00.* Mae mynediad i Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan, yn rhad ac am ddim, parcio ceir 3.Amgueddfa Werin Cymru,Sain Ffagan,Caerdydd,CF5 6XBFfon: 02920 573500Gwefan: www.amgueddfacymru.ac.uk* Maer Archesgob Peter Smith, yr Esgob Edwin Regan, Esgob Daniel Mullins ac Alan Jones sydd yn astudio am yr offeiriadaeth yn Milton Keynes i gyd yn cymryd rhan yn yr Offeren.* Gwesteion arbennig yn cynnwys: yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Llysgennad Lithuania; Anthony Parker, Dr Robin Gwyndaf syn awdurdod ar fywyd gwerin, y Prifardd Dafydd Pritchard, Prif Lenor Harri Pritchard Jones ar Athro David Thorne.* Digwyddiadau 2010* Requiem Sant John Roberts gan Brian Hughes gyda Rhys Meirion, a fydd yn cael ei berfformio ar draws y wlad i ddathlu pedwar can mlwyddiant marwolaeth Sant John Roberts.* Trefnir y dathliadau gan Sue Roberts, Is-gadeirydd y Cylch Catholig a Keith OBrien, Cyfarwyddwr Canolfan Treftadaeth Llys Ednowain, Trawsfynydd.Sue RobertsFfn: 01758 614 977Ebost: sue@inc-cyf.com* Keith OBrienTrawsnewidFfon: 01766 540 528Amserlen dathliadau 2010 6 Mehefin 2010 Offeren awyr agored yn adfeilion Abaty Cymer, ger Dolgellau (disgwylir dros 1000 o bobl) Perfformiadau Requiem Sant John Roberts 11 Mehefin 2010 St Giles, Wrecsam 12 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Bangor 13 Mehefin 2010 Prifysgol Aberystwyth 18 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Aberhonddu 19 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf 20 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Abertawe Pererindod i Lundain 8 11 Gorffennaf neu 15 -18 Gorffennaf 2010

* Ar ddydd Sul, 26 Ebrill, bydd lansiad llyfr arbennig 'Achub Eglwys Sant Teilo'. Dyma hanes yr eglwys ganoloesol yn Sain Ffagan sydd wedi gafael yn nychymyg gymaint o bobl dros y blynyddoedd. Bydd copiau ar ddisgownt ar gael ar y 25ain

Agorodd Archesgob Caergaint Eglwys Sant Teilo yn swyddogol yn Hydref 2007. Symudwyd yr eglwys fesul carreg oi chartref ar orlifdir afon Llwchwr ger Pontarddulais, a heddiw maen sefyll yn Sain Ffagan. Maer eglwys ganoloesol wedi ei hadfer yn llwyr erbyn hyn, ac maen edrych fel y byddai wedi bod tua 1520 gyda holl elfennau eglwys Gatholig o ddiwedd y cyfnod canoloesol, gan gynnwys croglofft drawiadol wedi ei cherfio o goed derw. Addurnwyd y tu fewn ir eglwys gyda chopau o gyfres brin iawn o furluniau lliwgar, a ddarganfuwyd dan haenau di-ri o baent.