Offeiriad newydd i Gonwy
Mae Esgobaeth Bangor wedi cyhoeddi penodiad y Parchedig Dr Kevin Ellis fel Arweinydd Ardal Weinidogaeth newydd Bro Celynnin yng Nghonwy.
Mae Kevin, sy’n offeiriad profiadol, yn dod â chyfoeth o brofiad i Gonwy, ar ôl gwasanaethu Esgobaeth Bangor am dros ddegawd. Mae Kevin wedi arwain gweinidogaethau ym Mro Eleth ar Ynys Môn a Bro Cybi yng Nghaergybi. Ar hyn o bryd, ef yw Arweinydd Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Madryn, sy’n gwasanaethu cymunedau gogleddol Penrhyn Llŷn.
Mae Kevin yn adnabyddus am ei angerdd dros rannu’r ffydd Gristnogol a thyfu’r eglwys, ar ôl cefnogi cymuned leol Morfa Nefyn yn ddiweddar i ailagor Eglwys y Santes Fair, Morfa Nefyn, ar ôl degawd heb wasanaethau addoli rheolaidd.
Ers symud i Ogledd Cymru, mae Kevin wedi dysgu Cymraeg, gan gynnal gwasanaethau yn aml yn ei ail iaith.
Mae Kevin yn briod â Jennifer sy’n byw gyda Sglerosis Ymledol (MS) - ffactor a oedd yn rhan sylweddol o’u penderfyniad i adleoli.
Meddai Kevin, "Roeddwn i wedi disgwyl bod ym Mro Madryn am fwy o amser, lle’r ydyn ni wedi dechrau gweld yr eglwys yn tyfu. Fodd bynnag, mae amgylchiadau teuluol yn golygu mai dyma’r amser iawn i symud. Y gwir amdani yw bod llawer o’r driniaeth ar gyfer MS yn haws ei chyrraedd ar ochr ddwyreiniol ein hesgobaeth. Bydd symud i Gonwy yn gwneud y cyfle i fanteisio ar y canolfannau hynny’n haws i Jennifer.
"I mi’n bersonol, mae’r cyfle i fod yn weinidog mewn man lle mae Cristnogaeth wedi’i gwreiddio’n ddwfn yn ddeniadol. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at fod yn gymuned newydd gan rannu pwy yw Iesu gyda chymaint o bobl â phosibl."
Mae penderfyniad Kevin yn tanlinellu’r heriau sy’n wynebu teuluoedd clerigwyr a’r cydbwysedd anodd rhwng dyletswyddau bugeilio a chyfrifoldebau personol. Er gwaethaf yr anawsterau o adael cymuned y mae ef wedi dod i’w charu, mae Kevin yn parhau’n obeithiol am y dyfodol. "Mae ymateb i alwad Duw yn mynnu rhai pethau gennym ni. Weithiau mae’n annisgwyl," meddai.
"Mae Conwy, fel Pen Llŷn, yn lle hyfryd ac rwy’n gyffrous am ymuno ag Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Celynnin. Mae Jennifer a minnau’n croesawu gweddïau wrth i ni baratoi ar gyfer tymor newydd yn ein bywydau."
Daw’r penodiad fel rhan o ymdrechion parhaus yr Esgobaeth i gryfhau gweinidogaethau lleol ar draws Gogledd-orllewin Cymru.
Dywed Esgob Ynys Enlli David Morris, "Rydyn ni wrth ein bodd gyda phenodiad Kevin i Fro Celynnin, sy’n gwasanaethu tref arfordirol hanesyddol Conwy a’r cymunedau cyfagos yn Nyffryn Conwy. Bydd Kevin yn dod â doniau ysbrydol a deallusol mawr i’r weinidogaeth hon, gydag angerdd a sgil arbennig ar gyfer addysgu ffydd a’i chyfathrebu.
"Mae penodiad Kevin yn cyd-fynd â sawl un arall ar draws yr esgobaeth, lle’r ydyn ni’n ceisio cryfhau a chynnal gweinidogaeth leol yng Ngogledd-orllewin Cymru."
Bydd Kevin yn dechrau ei weinidogaeth newydd yn y gwanwyn. Bydd y trefniadau ar gyfer ei drwyddedu yn cael eu cyhoeddi’n agosach at yr amser. Gweddïwch dros Kevin, ei deulu, a phobl Bro Madryn a Bro Celynnin.
New priest for Conwy
The Diocese of Bangor has announced the appointment of Reverend Dr Kevin Ellis as the new Ministry Area Leader for Bro Celynnin in Conwy.
An experienced priest, Kevin brings a wealth of experience to Conwy, having served the Diocese of Bangor for over a decade. Kevin has previously led ministries in Bro Eleth on Anglesey and Bro Cybi in Holyhead. He is currently the Ministry Area Leader in Bro Madryn, which serves the northern communities of the Llyn Peninsula.
Kevin is known for his passion for sharing the Christian faith and growing the church, having recently supported the local Morfa Nefyn community to reopen St Mary’s Church in Morfa Nefyn, after a decade without regular worship.
Since moving to North Wales, Kevin has learned Welsh, often conducting services in what has become his second language.
Kevin is married to Jennifer' who is living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a factor that played a significant role in their decision to relocate.
Kevin says, “I had expected to be in Bro Madryn for longer where we have begun to see the church grow. However, family circumstances dictated it is the right time to move. The reality is that much of the treatment for MS is more easily accessed on the east side of our diocese. Moving to Conwy will make access to those centres easier for Jennifer.
“For me personally, the opportunity to minister in a place where the roots of Christianity run deep is deeply attractive. I look forward to being a new community and sharing who Jesus is with as many as possible.”
Kevin’s decision higlights the challenges clergy families face and the delicate balance between pastoral duties and personal responsibilities. Kevin remains optimistic about the future despite the difficulties of leaving a community he has grown to love. "Responding to God's call demands certain things of us. It is sometimes unexpected," he reflected.
“Conwy, like the Pen Llyn, is a beautiful place and I am excited about joining Bro Celynnin Ministry Area. Jennifer and I welcome prayers as we prepare for a new season in our lives.”
The appointment comes as part of the Diocese's ongoing efforts to strengthen local ministries across North West Wales.
Bishop of Bardsey David Morris says, “We're delighted with Kevin's appointment to Bro Celynnin, serving the historic coastal town of Conwy and surrounding communities in the Conwy Valley. Kevin will bring great spiritual and intellectual gifts to this ministry, with a particular passion and skill for teaching and communicating faith.
“Kevin's appointment coincides with several others across the diocese, where we are seeking to strengthen and sustain local ministry in North West Wales.”
Kevin will start his new ministry in the spring. The arrangements for his licencing will be announced closer to the time. Please pray for Kevin, his family, and the people of Bro Madryn and Bro Celynnin.