Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

On White Ribbon Day (November 25) there will be a ‘Light a Candle’ service in St David's Cathedral at 12 noon organised by the St Davids Diocese Mothers' Union. White Ribbon Day is the International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women which is part of a global campaign to raise awareness of the need to combat violence against women and girls. In support of this initiative, the national Mothers' Union is undertaking 16 days of activism to highlight the issue. Brenda Evans, president of the St Davids Mothers' Union, said “Around 30% of women across the world experience violence, regardless of class, race, religion or age and in Wales figures show that some 150,000 women will suffer some form of gender-based violence often in a domestic setting.” The ‘Light a Candle’ service is the action of the St Davids Diocese Mothers’ Union in supporting the campaign. It builds on the diocese’s support for the Not in My Name campaign initiated by Joyce Watson AM a...

On Thursday, August 8 at 12 noon, the St Davids Diocese Mothers' Union is holding a Service of Commemoration for stillborn and miscarried babies at St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Brenda Evans, president of the St Davids Mothers' Union, said “The arrival of a new baby brings with it great joy and hope for the future. "Sadly, in some cases these hopes are dashed before they come to fruition and families are left grieving for a baby who would have been much loved. "Before the Mothers' Union decided to hold this service, there was no means of recognising this tragic loss publicly. "I hope this service will be a help to grieving parents and bring families together in remembering their little one.” This service is open to everyone and all are welcome to attend. There will be an exhibition mounted by the Mothers' Union at St David's Cathedral from 5 – 30 August and this will be open to all visitors to the Cathedral.

Wales’ Archbishop, the Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, turned 16th century Presbyterian leader, John Knox’s diatribe* against the ‘monstrous regiment of women’ well and truly on its head in St David’s Cathedral. The occasion was the Commissioning Service of the Mothers' Union Province of Wales and St David’s Diocese officers. In his eloquent address, the Archbishop pulled no punches in his effort to bring home to women the importance of their role in the Church. He began with a graphic description of the diversity of family life in today’s Wales and went on to describe the role of women in the Church as most often supportive and frequently subservient. Using current statistics across Wales and in each Diocese, he made an impassioned plea for women to take their place in the governance of the Church in Wales. He described sayings that ‘women are over-represented and under-authorised’ as having some foundation but refuted absolutely the dogma that ‘subordination [of women] is i...