Lead Stories
WelCom Office
Nominations sought for Delargey Awards 2024
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference sponsor the biannual Delargey Awards for young people and are seeking nominations for 2024. The nominations’ closing date is 15 May 2024.
WelCom April 2024
The latest version of WelCom is available to read here.
Heaven and earth rejoice. Alleluia!
Easter Sunday. ‘Christ is Risen’ – statue above the altar at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Palmerston North.
‘We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song’
Easter Greetings to you. I hope you have had a fruitful time of Lent and that these days of the Easter Triduum have been a blessed time as you pray and reflect on the gift of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for each one of us. It is a time for celebration for us as Christian people.
Journeying Together – Hīkoi Ngātahi
As the universal Church continues its synodal journey towards the second and final session in Rome in October this year, here is a recap of the Synod on Synodality steps so far.
News
Papal Nuncio Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa returns to Rome
Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, the Apostolic Nuncio to Aotearoa New Zealand, left New Zealand for Rome on 16 March, as he continues his recovery from a stroke. Archbishop Rugambwa arrived in Rome after a smooth journey. On Monday 18 March he entered a Catholic facility there to continue his rehabilitation.
Royal Commission report due
Te Rōpū Tautoko is the group coordinating Catholic engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Tautoko recently reported the commission is due to present its final report to the Governor-General by 28 March 2024. If that date is met, the report will likely be available to the public in early to mid-April.
Countdown on for Cathedral reopening weekend in June
The countdown is on for the reopening of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart over the weekend of 7 to 9 June this year. Parish volunteers are busy planning a schedule for the opening.
International News
Pope pleads for ceasefire in Gaza
Pope Francis has called for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement for ‘an immediate ceasefire in Gaza’, repeating ‘Enough!’ and ‘Stop!’ from the window of the apostolic palace.
Coptic Orthodox suspend dialogue with Vatican
The Coptic Orthodox Church has suspended its two-decade-long doctrinal dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church over the Vatican’s approval of same-sex blessings.
Three-quarters of youth believe in God – survey
Nearly three-quarters of youth questioned in an international survey believe in God.
About 73 per cent of those surveyed said they believe in God, while a further eight per cent were ‘searching to believe in God.’ The survey canvassed the views of young people in eight countries about religious beliefs, prayer and social issues.
Diocesan News
Jubilee and birthday celebrations
In January this year RNDM sisters enjoyed three noteworthy celebrations in Hawke’s Bay: Sr Carmel Cassin, her 70th jubilee and her 90th birthday; and Sr Mary Rose Holderness, her 60th jubilee.
New lay formation programme aligned to synodality
The Archdiocese of Wellington’s Church Mission team is the pastoral support team that seeks to enable intentional missionary discipleship in its parishes through delivering workshops, courses, resources and retreats to support the formation of lay people and ordained.
Vincentians festival meeting and commissioning
St Vincent de Paul Kapi-Mana region members celebrated with a festival meeting and commissioning ceremony at Our Lady of Kāpiti Church, Paraparaumu on 23 February.
Features
Social and environmental costs to be paid for ‘efficiency’
The coalition government has been passing multiple laws under parliamentary urgency since coming into power late last year. But a lack of public scrutiny and input to processes raises concerns among advocates for society’s vulnerable.
Laudato si’ Week: 19–26 May 2024
For this year’s Laudato si’ Week and Pentecost, we are invited to gather in community to contemplate and nurture seeds of hope for our ‘suffering planet’ (Laudate Deum 2).
Seeing the whole human being
Death happens to us all. It’s a healthy part of being on the planet, says Tony Paine, Chief Executive of Mary Potter Hospice.
Reflections
Thanks for the space
Cemeteries used to be called churchyards, because that’s what they were – a place near the church for deceased parishioners. Like St Paul’s image of the body, the burial ground is an ‘earthenware vessel’ holding the treasured remains of people whose lives have been part of the life of the parish. It’s hallowed ground, a sacred space.
Gospel Reading: Sunday 5 May 2024
Jesus said to his disciples: 9 ‘As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
May the Month of Mary
The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary came about in the 13th century. The reason is that this month in the Northern Hemisphere is the time when spring is at the height of its beauty. Spring is also connected with nature renewing itself.
Young Church
Sacred Heart College Napier to host 2024 O’Shea Shield
Running since 1946, the O’Shea Shield is one of New Zealand’s oldest intercollegiate competitions. Sacred Heart College Napier has the privilege of hosting the 2024 O’Shea Shield.
Nominations sought for Delargey Awards 2024
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference sponsor the biannual Delargey Awards for young people and are seeking nominations for 2024. The nominations’ closing date is 15 May 2024.
Free school lunches
Students from six schools in the Wellington area visited Parliament on 10 April to urge the government not to make any cuts or changes to the free school lunches programme. It has been proposing to review the programme ahead of Budget 2024.
What's on
Dates and events – what’s on
To list events free, email welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz with event name, date, time, location and contact details.
Wellington Abrahamic Council seminar
The Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians, and Muslims is hosting a public seminar asking the question: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’.
Sacred Heart Parish Reefton: 150 Years
Parishioners, past-parishioners and friends of the former Sacred Heart Parish of Reefton are invited to our 150-year celebrations over the weekend of 17, 18 and 19 May.