O Safaris i’r Eglwys yng Nghymru – gweinidog newydd yn ymuno â thîm Bro Ardudwy
Mae Esgob Bangor- y Gwir Barchedig Andy John - yn falch o gyhoeddi penodiad y Parchedig Tony Hodges fel Ficer Cynorthwyol yn Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Ardudwy, sy’n gwasanaethu’r cymunedau yn nalgylch Harlech, Dyffryn Ardudwy a’r Bermo. Fe fydd yn gweithio hanner amser, ochr yn ochr ag Arweinydd Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Ardudwy - Canon Beth Bailey - fel aelod o dîm gweinidogaeth Bro Ardudwy.
Yn frodor o Ferthyr Tudful, hyfforddodd Tony ar gyfer y weinidogaeth ordeiniedig yng Ngholeg y Santes Fair, Oscott, yn Lloegr a Choleg Sant Padrig, Carlow, yn yr Iwerddon. Fe’i hordeiniwyd yn ddiacon ym 1990 ac yn offeiriad ym 1991, a hynny ar gyfer Archesgobaeth Gatholig Rhufeinig Caerdydd, lle bu’n gweithio fel offeiriad plwyf mewn sawl plwyf ledled de-ddwyrain Cymru.
Bu Tony yn gaplan i bobl fyddar a thrwm eu clyw eu clyw ers ei ordeinio, gan arwyddo’n gyson ar gyfer gwasanaethau trwy Gymru gyfan. Fe fu hefyd yn gweithio yn Luz - Saint Sauveur yn ne Ffrainc, lle bu’n gofalu, gydag offeiriad arall, am Ardal Fugeiliol Luz, a oedd yn cynnwys 17 eglwys.
Mae’n ei chyfrif hi’n fraint o fod yn aelod o’r Orsedd, anrhydedd a gyflwynwyd iddo fel cydnabyddiaeth o’i waith yn hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg a’i diwylliant fel offeiriad plwyf yng Nghaerdydd. Ei enw barddol ydy Glas y Dorlan.
Mae gan Tony gariad angerddol tuag at fywyd gwyllt a natur ac fe hyfforddodd fel Tywysydd Safaris ac Arweinydd Teithiau yn Botswana a De Affrica. Bu’n gweithio i’r RSPB fel Rheolwr Ardal Canolbarth Cymru dros Ddatblygu Aelodaeth a hyfforddi fel ymgynghorydd ecolegol.
Mae Tony yn byw ym Mhorthmadog gyda’i bartner sifil, Dominic, sydd hefyd yn gweithio i Esgobaeth Bangor, fel Cyfarwyddwr Disgyblaeth a Galwedigaethau. Mae ganddyn nhw dŷ yn Llydaw, sy’n cael ei adnewyddu’n raddol, ac mae’r ddau ohonyn nhw’n mwynhau teithio.
Meddai Tony, ‘Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at yr her gyffrous nesaf hon yn fy ngweinidogaeth ac i weithio’n agos gyda phobl Bro Ardudwy i ateb galwad Duw i sancteiddrwydd.’
Dywedodd Esgob Bangor - y Gwir Barchedig Andy John, ‘Mae Tony wedi mwynhau gyrfa amrywiol yn ei weinidogaeth ordeiniedig yn ogystal â’i fywyd proffesiynol. Mae’r gwerth a roddir ar gariad yn yr Efengyl - boed hynny am bobl Dduw neu greadigaeth Duw - wedi amlygu’i hun ym mhopeth mae wedi’i gyflawni. Teimlaf yn sicr y bydd ei brofiad yn gaffaeliad i dîm gweinidogaeth Bro Ardudwy. Mae hi hefyd yn dda cael croesawu aelod o’r Orsedd i’n plith eto fel un o glerigwyr yr esgobaeth. Gweddïwch dros Tony, Canon Beth a phobl Bro Ardudwy.’
Bydd Tony yn dechrau ar ei weinidogaeth ym Mro Ardudwy ar ddechrau mis Rhagfyr, a chael ei drwyddedu mewn gwasanaeth arbennig ar ddydd Sul, Ionawr 7fed am 11 yb yn Eglwys Sant Ioan, Y Bermo.
From Safaris to the Church in Wales - a new minister joins the team in Bro Ardudwy
The Bishop of Bangor - the Right Reverend Andy John - is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Tony Hodges as Assistant Vicar in the Bro Ardudwy Ministry Area, which serves the communities around Harlech, Dyffryn Ardudwy and Barmouth. He will work alongside Bro Ardudwy’s Ministry Area Leader - Canon Beth Bailey - as member of Bro Ardudwy’s ministry team on a half-time basis.
A native of Merthyr Tydfil, Tony trained for ordained ministry at St Marys’ College, Oscott, England and St Patrick’s College, Carlow, Ireland. He was ordained deacon in 1990 and priest in 1991 for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff, where he worked as parish priest in various parishes throughout south-east Wales.
Tony has been a chaplain to deaf and hard of hearing people since his ordination and regularly signed services throughout Wales. He has also worked at Luz - Saint Sauveur in the south of France where, with another priest, he looked after the Luz Pastoral Area comprising 17 churches.
He is a proud member of the Gorsedd, which was given to him in recognition for his work in promoting Welsh language and culture as parish priest in Cardiff. His bardic name is Glas y Dorlan (Kingfisher).
Tony is passionate about wildlife and nature and trained as Safari Field Guide and Trails Guide in Botswana and South Africa where he has family. He has worked for the RSPB as Mid-Wales Area Manager for Membership Development and trained as an ecological consultant.
Tony lives in Porthmadog with his civil partner Dominic, who also works for the Diocese of Bangor, as Director of Discipleship and Vocations. They have a house in Brittany, which is being slowly renovated, and both enjoy travel. They also share a passion for birding and the natural world.
Tony said, ‘I am looking forward to this next exciting challenge in my ministry and working closely with the people of Bro Ardudwy to answer God’s call to holiness.’
The Bishop of Bangor - the Right Reverend Andy John - said, ’Tony has enjoyed a varied career in his ordained ministry and his professional life. The Gospel value of love - be it for God’s people or God’s creation - run through all that he has done. I’m sure that his experience will be an asset to the Bro Ardudwy ministry team. It is also good to welcome a member of the Gorsedd as part of our diocesan clergy again. Please do pray for Tony, Canon Beth and the people of Bro Ardudwy.’
Tony will begin his ministry in Bro Ardudwy at the start of December, and will be licensed at a special service on Sunday January 7th at 11am in St. John’s Church, Barmouth.