0:00:00 > 0:00:00- *
0:00:00 > 0:00:03- Today I've come on a pilgrimage - to the Llyn Peninsula.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06- Welcome to - Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:13 > 0:00:18- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:20 > 0:00:25- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:00:37 > 0:00:41- On tonight's programme - I'll be going on a pilgrimage...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- ..accompanied by - devout Catholic Sue Roberts.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50- As well as the congregational - singing, we'll enjoy performances...
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- ..by folk singer Sera Owen...
0:00:53 > 0:00:59- ..and Steffan Llewelyn Ellis, Bangor - Cathedral Choir's treble soloist.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08- We begin the programme with - one of our most uplifting hymns.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10- Bendigedig Fyddo'r Iesu.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30- St Beuno's Church at Clynnog Fawr - is an important location...
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- ..on the pilgrimage to Bardsey.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- This is where - Sue and I begin our journey.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- It's a wonderful church, Sue. - It's an enormous structure too.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- Why was it built - here at Clynnog Fawr?
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Saint Beuno lived here.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54- It was also - a centre of education....
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- ..in the early centuries.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01- It's one of the main churches - along the pilgrims' journey...
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- ..to Bardsey Island.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- Saint Beuno - was the uncle of Saint Winefride.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13- The pilgrimage begins in Holywell...
0:04:13 > 0:04:17- ..one of Wales' - most famous religious landmarks.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- Many pilgrims - visit several times a year.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- It's also a very convenient place...
0:04:26 > 0:04:31- ..for the pilgrims to rest before - moving on to their next destination.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- I know that pilgrimages - are very important to you.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39- Tell us a little about - their purpose and significance.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44- They started soon after - Christ's death on the cross.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- People wanted to visit - the places he had lived...
0:04:48 > 0:04:50- ..and where the events occurred.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- Pilgrimages have become an important - undertaking for Christians.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Pilgrims - go to different countries...
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- ..where Mary had been or where - a special saint had been buried.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Pilgrims go on pilgrimages - for several reasons.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- Curiosity for one.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- Some go as a penance for their sins.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- Others are praying for something, - such as a cure...
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- ..or are going - on behalf of someone else...
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- ..who can't go themselves - due to illness or circumstance.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- I think everyone - who goes on a pilgrimage...
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- ..comes away feeling better for it.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- I remember - going to Lourdes years ago.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47- A young woman from Nefyn - and her two-year-old child...
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- ..came with us.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- The little boy - suffered from serious fits.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57- He spent much of his time - at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- It was a long way from Llyn, - but the mother was always pleasant.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- She always had a smile on her face.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- She was very sweet.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- We all wondered how she - had the strength to be like this.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- During the pilgrimage to Lourdes...
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- ..we attended - a service for the sick...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- ..where severely ill people - are anointed.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- The mother and child - went to the front...
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- ..while the rest of us - were at the back.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- We met her after the service - and she was in floods of tears.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- We were concerned - about what had happened.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- But she confessed...
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- ..that she had reached - the end of her tether.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- She didn't know how she was going to - take the child to Alder Hey again...
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- ..not to mention - at the end of the pilgrimage.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- But during that service, - she was invigorated.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56- She'd gone there - for her son to be cured...
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- ..yet it was her who was blessed.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- She'd found the strength - to carry on, and she did.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- She left the area - and went to live elsewhere.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- We heard years later - that her wish had been granted.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12- Her child was cured.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50- Bangor Cathedral - is famous throughout the world...
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- ..for producing trebles.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- We all remember Aled Jones, - of course.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- These days, - there's a new star in the choir.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00- Singing Ave Maria - by Bach and Gounod...
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- ..this is Steffan Llewelyn Ellis.
0:10:18 > 0:10:25- # Ave
0:10:26 > 0:10:33- # Maria
0:10:35 > 0:10:42- # Gratia plena
0:10:43 > 0:10:50- # Dominus tecum
0:10:51 > 0:11:00- # Benedicta tu
0:11:02 > 0:11:10- # In mulieribus
0:11:11 > 0:11:18- # Et benedictus
0:11:19 > 0:11:25- # Fructus ventris
0:11:26 > 0:11:33- # Ventris tuae Jesus
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- # Santa
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- # Maria
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- # Santa
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- # Maria
0:11:50 > 0:11:54- # Maria
0:11:55 > 0:12:02- # Ora pro nobis
0:12:03 > 0:12:10- # Nobis peccatoribus
0:12:11 > 0:12:18- # Nunc et in hora
0:12:18 > 0:12:23- # In hora
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- # Mortis nostrae
0:12:28 > 0:12:35- # Amen
0:12:37 > 0:12:46- # Amen #
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- That was Ave Maria.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- Mary, as the mother of Jesus, - was used to suffering.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- A hymn writer from Wales who had - his fair share of suffering...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- ..was JT Job, - the author of our next hymn.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- "Ar yrfa bywyd yn y byd, - a'i throeon enbyd hi."
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- We end our pilgrimage today...
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- ..at a church that's - very special to you in Abersoch.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- Yes, this is - a very special church for me.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14- In 2001, I was given 175,000 - by the bishopric...
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- ..to restore the church.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22- It was built in 1953, and by 2001, - it was in a pitiful state.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- The drains had blocked - and it was letting in water.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31- The priest's living quarters - were uninhabitable.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38- We had a problem, - because, as everyone knows...
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- ..priests are becoming scarce...
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- ..and we had no hope of finding - a priest to serve all the visitors.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49- I came up with the idea of - giving priests a busman's holiday.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- They can come here, - stay in a five-star hotel...
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- ..for a week or a fortnight - with their family or friends...
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- ..or just to spend time alone...
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- ..as long as they conduct mass on - Saturday night and Sunday morning.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07- The system runs like clockwork.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- We have plenty of priests...
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- ..and during winter, - when the place is empty...
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- ..we open it up to visitors - to raise funds...
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- ..for the church's upkeep.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- The money generated from Abersoch...
0:16:23 > 0:16:25- ..by wealthy visitors...
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- ..is a great help - to its mother church in Pwllheli...
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- ..to maintain the upkeep.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- Tell us about the Catholic Church - in Wales nowadays.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- Like every denomination, - numbers are dwindling.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- Having said that, - we're standing our ground.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49- People come and go.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54- People join the Church, - one or two every year...
0:16:54 > 0:16:56- ..around Easter time.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- We're very active.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03- We're taught from an early age, - when the nuns taught us...
0:17:03 > 0:17:07- ..that you have to work - and have to maintain the tradition.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- We do a lot of fundraising.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- The bike ride - was one example of that.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- We also support - the Air Ambulance and local causes.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- We do a lot of work - with older people...
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- ..and those - who are confined to their homes.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- We visit them and so on.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- The work of the Church - is visible in these parts.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35- People are happy to join us - and support us in our events...
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- ..which is a great thing.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- No matter what denomination, it's - lovely that we all come together.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- It's been a pleasure talking to you. - Thank you.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- You're welcome.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- # I hear thy welcome voice
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- # That calls me, Lord, to thee
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- # For cleansing - in thy precious blood
0:18:05 > 0:18:09- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:18:09 > 0:18:14- # I am coming, Lord
0:18:14 > 0:18:19- # Coming now to thee
0:18:19 > 0:18:23- # Wash me, cleanse me, in the blood
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:18:30 > 0:18:35- # 'Tis Jesus calls me on
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- # To perfect faith and love
0:18:39 > 0:18:44- # To perfect hope - and peace and trust
0:18:44 > 0:18:48- # For earth and heaven above
0:18:49 > 0:18:54- # I am coming, Lord
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- # Coming now to thee
0:18:58 > 0:19:03- # Wash me, cleanse me, in the blood
0:19:03 > 0:19:08- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:19:30 > 0:19:35- # All hail atoning blood
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- # All hail redeeming grace
0:19:39 > 0:19:44- # All hail the gift of Christ, - our Lord
0:19:44 > 0:19:52- # Our strength and righteousness
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- # I am coming, Lord
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- # Coming now to thee
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- # Wash me, cleanse me, in the blood
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- # I am coming, Lord
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- # Coming now to thee
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- # Wash me, cleanse me, in the blood
0:20:23 > 0:20:28- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- # That flow'd on Calvary
0:20:33 > 0:20:38- # That flow'd on Calvary #
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- Lord Jesus, you are my true friend.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- My only friend.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- You shoulder all my worries.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- You take them upon yourself...
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- ..and know - how to turn them into blessings.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14- It's been lovely spending time - with Sue Roberts today.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19- I hope you've been blessed and - that you'll join us again next week.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- We end with the popular hymn, - Mor Fawr Wyt Ti.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Goodbye from us all.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:24:25 > 0:24:25- .