IN a historic move for the local Catholic community in the region, Archbishop Mark O’Toole has announced the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia.

This decision, promulgated by Pope Francis today (Sept 12), coincides with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, and signals a new chapter for Catholics in South Wales and Herefordshire.

The Archbishop expressed his deep gratitude to Pope Francis for his swift decision, interpreting it as a mark of confidence from the Vatican. The creation of the united archdiocese follows a series of Open Listening Sessions earlier this year, during which both clergy and laity discussed the potential merger. The announcement will be read in churches across the region over the weekend of 14th-15th September.

In his pastoral letter to the faithful, Archbishop O’Toole drew inspiration from the Virgin Mary, who he described as the “first missionary disciple.” He encouraged the community to follow her example of faith and service as they embark on this new journey. “We are called to continue walking together on the path of the Gospel, deepening our relationship with Jesus,” the Archbishop wrote, urging the faithful to embrace Christ’s mission through acts of service.

The Archbishop’s pastoral letter further reflected on Mary’s role in both the joyful and sorrowful moments of Christ’s life. He emphasised her presence on the Way of the Cross and her deep understanding of the human experience, urging the community to follow her example in their own lives by embracing both joy and sorrow with faith.

The decision to unite the dioceses also comes as the global Church prepares for the Jubilee Year, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” Archbishop O’Toole noted that Mary was the first “Pilgrim of Hope,” bringing Jesus to others with openness and courage. He encouraged the faithful to seek Mary’s guidance in growing closer to Jesus and sharing His love with those who do not yet know Him.

In his letter, Archbishop O’Toole offered a prayer to Mary, asking for her intercession in helping the new Archdiocese live out its mission. He called on the community to be “Pilgrims of Hope” in today’s world, embodying Mary’s love and compassion for all, especially those in need.

The formation of the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia represents a significant moment in the history of the Church in the region, as it seeks to build on the legacy of both dioceses and move forward with renewed purpose and mission. Archbishop O’Toole’s message reflects a vision of unity and hope, urging the faithful to look to the future with courage, inspired by the example of the Virgin Mary.

In closing, Archbishop O’Toole asked for the prayers of the faithful, concluding with a heartfelt blessing for all.

THE Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is proud to announce that one of its flagship attractions, Carew Castle, and its dedicated Activities and Events team have been shortlisted for several prestigious awards at the 2024 Croeso Awards. Organised by Visit Pembrokeshire, these awards recognise excellence across the region’s tourism and hospitality sectors, highlighting businesses and organisations that deliver exceptional experiences for visitors.

Carew Castle, operated by the National Park Authority, scooped the award for the Best Attraction for a second time in last year’s Croeso Awards, as well as winning the Sustainable Tourism Award. This year, it is a finalist in three major categories: Best Attraction, Bro a Byd (Environmental and Sustainability), and Best Event. This is a remarkable achievement for the Authority, which has consistently placed sustainability and visitor experience at the heart of its operations.

One of Carew Castle’s standout events, FIRE! The Launch of the Giant Trebuchet, has secured a nomination for the Best Event Award. This unique event, which brings medieval siege warfare to life, features the only working trebuchet in Wales and drew enthusiastic crowds from far and wide over the summer months. Following a talk by an expert historian on its fascinating history and mechanics, a series of unusual projectiles—including a cabbage, a swede, and, most memorably, a giant watermelon—are catapulted towards the Millpond, much to the delight of the audience.

In an exciting twist, Carew Castle will compete in the Best Event category against other events organised by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Activities and Events team – the Wonders of the Night Sky event at Castell Henllys and the Biofluorescent Night Walk at Pengelli Woods.

As part of Dark Sky Week Wales, the Wonders of the Night Sky event combined stargazing and storytelling around a fire, with local storyteller Alice Courvoisier sharing ancient myths about the stars. The Biofluorescent Night Walk, led by Reveal Nature and Ranger Richard Vaughan, guided participants through Pengelli Woods using UV torches to show the fluorescent beauty of this ancient woodland and its nocturnal creatures. Both events were supported by the Authority’s Dark Sky Officer, Jamie Taylor.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Director of Nature and Tourism, James Parkin, said: “We are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts in delivering world-class visitor experiences that highlight the unique natural beauty and rich heritage of Pembrokeshire. Whether it’s the spectacle of a medieval trebuchet at Carew Castle or the wonders of our Dark Sky events, the National Park always offers something new and exciting for visitors of all ages. These nominations reflect our commitment to providing engaging, sustainable activities that make Pembrokeshire a truly exceptional destination all year round.”

The 2024 Croeso Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 30 October, at Pembrokeshire College, where winners will be revealed, and Pembrokeshire’s top contributors to tourism and sustainability will be celebrated.

To find out more about events throughout the National Park over coming months, visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/events.

A SPOOF Facebook page masquerading as the official Tenby Town Council page has caused a flurry of confusion, humour, and frustration in the normally tranquil Welsh seaside town. The latest instalment in its parade of parodic posts claimed that a shark attack off Tenby’s coast had endangered local marine life, sparking wild online speculation about the potential cancellation of the upcoming Ironman Wales event.

The post, which described a seal being “bitten in half” by a shark in a Jaws-style feeding frenzy, alarmed enough locals and tourists that the town council found itself inundated with concerned messages. One anonymous “expert” even declared that Ironman Wales competitors would be “a buffet for the apex predator” if they dared to swim.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek nature of the post, not everyone caught the joke. Some locals, along with a smattering of Ironman participants and holidaymakers, took the news to heart. The spoof even fooled a few town councillors, who were quick to demand Facebook remove the fake page — a battle they have been waging for years, with no success.

Andrew Davies, the actual clerk of Tenby Town Council, admitted that the spoof had once again caused unwelcome confusion: “We’ve tried to have the site taken down, but Facebook doesn’t seem to recognise that it’s a parody. It’s a bit of fun, but unfortunately, some people take it seriously.”

While Davies seemed irked by the hoax, other locals took it in stride. Councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall joined the chorus of light-hearted responses: “The shark story is obviously a bit of fun. If people don’t realise it’s a parody, we might need a bigger denial!”

However, in a bizarre twist, the fake news was hiding a real story. The spoof page’s authors have since claimed their post was based on an actual shark sighting that the media missed. According to them, a fisherman off Woolhouse Rocks reported witnessing a 13-foot shark attack a seal. The fisherman was said to be “shaken” by the event and reported it to the local coastguards, only to have the whole ordeal dismissed as a hoax when the fake page wrote about it.

The anonymous spoof writers added fuel to the fire by pointing out that Great White sharks, known for hunting seals off rocks, are typically not seen in UK waters. Whether or not the sighting is credible, their satirical take on the situation has left the local media and public scratching their heads, questioning what’s real and what’s a parody.

Meanwhile, as Tenby braces for the Ironman Wales event set for September 22nd, concerns about shark safety seem to have subsided, despite the humour-laden warnings of a “buffet for the apex predator.” But, whether inspired by fact or fiction, this saga has certainly left its mark on the town, ensuring that visitors will be looking over their shoulders — and into the waters — for quite some time.

As the spoof Facebook page said in its sharky conclusion: “duunnn dunn … duuuunnnn dunn… duuuunnnnnnn dun dun dun dun…”