Obituary: Vivien Snow, first Chair of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Wales

Vivien Snow

Vivien Christine Snow, formerly Perry, the first Chair of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Wales and co-worker with Cardinal Suenens, died on 24 October 2015.

Born in Hornsey as Vivien Christine Thomas, 3 July 1948 Viv grew up in Barnet where she attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. She read Geography at Southampton University, becoming a teacher of Geography and Religious Education, working in Ireland, and a noted author of school geography textbooks. She was raised Anglican but became a Catholic around 1972.

In 1967, in the USA, the Catholic Church began to experience the phenomenon of 'charismatic renewal', a revival of the gifts mentioned in the Biblical Acts of the Apostles, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and experiencing God's healing power. Charismatic Renewal first touched South Wales through the ministry of Dom Alan Rees OSB of Belmont Abbey in 1970. North Wales - then part of the Diocese of Menevia, later restructured in 1987 - gradually tasted renewal through the influence of Dom Ian Petit OSB. Small prayer groups began to spring up and grow. In the early 1970s, Vivien became involved in Catholic Charismatic Renewal, moved from Dublin to Llantwit Major, and became a leader of a Cardiff prayer group which met in "The Walk" convent.

In 1976, Bishop Langton Fox of Menevia became personally committed to Charismatic Renewal after attending an event in Birmingham. At the first conference for renewal leaders in Britain that year, the Welsh delegates decided that for the time being Wales should remain linked with England until more leadership expertise had emerged, but that in the future it would be necessary to set up a separate national team for Wales to cater appropriately for its distinct geographical and cultural needs. A Diocesan Team for Menevia was quickly established; in 1979 Cardiff also established a Diocesan Team. The following year, Viv became Secretary of the Cardiff team.

In the young Vivien, Bishop Fox spotted the talents necessary to organise a national conference, and to represent Wales on the world stage. Vivien herself was invited to attend the first European Charismatic Catholic leaders' conference in Rome, one of 60 participants. Despite her protests of inexperience, she became a key figure in arranging the annual Wales National Renewal Conference; and at world gatherings of charismatic leaders, where most countries sent bishops or senior priests, Wales sent Viv. Often the only woman and youngest lay-person present, she would read the Bible Lesson at Mass in these gatherings, and developed a close relationship with the Pope's delegate to charismatic renewal, Cardinal Suenens of Brussels - becoming known by many as the "Cardinal's sidekick"!

A further national leaders' conference was held in 1980 at Hopwood Hall. Bishop Fox decided that the first Welsh National Conference should be held in 1981, for which Viv become organiser and secretary. She was assisted in this work by the late Audrey Newton, and by Fred Roberts as treasurer.

This first Wales National Conference took place in September 1981 and attracted a very high attendance, resulting in a heavy schedule of follow-up activities including weekend retreats, leaders' meetings, production and sale of cassette tapes, a newsletter, communications and the maintenance of a mailing list throughout the country. By 1983 it was clear that the Conference Team was in fact functioning as a national service committee (NSC), in the same way as the English NSC had come into being. The charismatic teams for the two Welsh dioceses therefore agreed to the establishment of Wales National Service Committee, which officially came into being in 1984 with Vivien Perry as its first Chair.

The then international chairman of the International Charismatic Renewal Office, Fr Tom Forrest, was very supportive of Wales being recognised as a national team in its own right, and allocated Wales places at all international conferences even before a separate NSC was established. Vivien attended leadership conferences in Berlin and Warsaw, once including a furtive crossing of the Berlin Wall, concealing her intent to attend a religious gathering on the Eastern side.

The charismatic renewal movement in Wales was also marked by a strong ecumenical dimension, supported by the publication of Colomen Renewal in Wales, a quarterly, bilingual, ecumenical renewal magazine. Vivien was the second of three editors to produce this publication, serving between Revd Saunders Davies and Revd Bill Longley.

Vivien stepped down from the chair of NSC Wales in 1990, but continued to be actively involved in the running of the annual Carmarthen conference, especially in its youth activities.

In November 2009, Viv was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a few months of aggressive treatment, accompanied by the prayers of many friends and supporters in Renewal, she returned to good health until 2015. Then, secondary tumours caused a slow decline in her health until her final rapid deterioration in October. Through the 2000s and even up to 2015, she remained a trusted advisor to Catholic Charismatic Renewal Leaders in Wales, an occasional speaker at events, and an active member of the Archdiocese of Cardiff Evangelisation Team. She was supported and cared for throughout her illness by her husband, Michael.

Her funeral Mass was concelebrated on 9 November 2015 by two priests who were both former chairs of the Archdiocese of Cardiff Charismatic Service Team, Canon Matthew Jones and Revd Gareth Leyshon, together with Revd Ambrose Walsh (a regular speaker at the New Dawn Conference) and Revd Edmund Neizer (former Parish Priest). Also serving were Deacons Rob Coyne (a founder member of the Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism) and Revd.Dr Philip Manghan. Irish missionary Revd Pat Collins CM could not be present but sent a message of condolence.

In addition to her Renewal role, Viv was a very active member of the SVP, rising to the role of District Chair, and of her home parish, where she edited the Parish Newsletter for 25 years and the most recent 12 editions of the Parish Magazine.

Neil Tully, who became Chair of the Welsh NSC in succession to Viv, has written: "Those early days of Charismatic Renewal in Wales were truly life changing, and Vivien was at the forefront. All of us owe her a great deal, strong leadership and good organisation."

Frances Graham, current chair of NSC Wales, writes: "Catholic Charismatic Renewal owes Vivien an irreplaceable debt for her work in Wales. We will miss her, but pray now that she has eternal peace and joy and that she will intercede for us. We offer our deepest sympathy to her husband Michael and all their family, and will keep them in our prayers."

Charles Whitehead, former chair of NSC England and of ICCRS (the international body for Catholic Renewal, recognised by the Holy See) has written: "When I was elected Chairman of the NSC for England, it also served Wales with Vivien an active member. Quite rightly the plan was that Wales would have its own independent NSC, and this was soon initiated very efficiently and correctly by Vivien. We really missed her helpful and constructive input but were delighted to encourage and support the newly formed Welsh Committee. I kept in touch with her even after she retired from the Welsh NSC and she remained totally committed to the growth of the Charismatic Renewal. She served us all well and will be greatly missed. May she enjoy her heavenly reward."