WelCom is the official monthly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North and is free in all parish churches and schools in the two dioceses.
As well as reporting on activities that occur in the two dioceses, WelCom aims to present educative and thought-provoking articles about the Church in the world.
WelCom December 2018: Staff of The Nathaniel Centre In October 2018, the Law Commission reported back to the Minister of Justice, responding to a request for advice on what alternative legal approaches could be taken in the event the Government decided to propose a policy shift to treat abortion as a health issue. The Law Commission
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WelCom December 2018: Karl du Fresne November 1, 2018 On Radio New Zealand recently, Kim Hill interviewed an Irish poet named Doireann Ni Ghriofa. Don’t ask me to pronounce her name, but she sounded a very pleasant, gentle person. She had a lovely voice that was even more beguiling when she spoke in her native Irish,
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WelCom December 2018: ‘For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.’ – Deuteronomy 8:7-8 Symbolic references
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WelCom December 2018: We come to another December, another Advent, and another Christmas and another New Year. Have all the plans we made at this time last year come to fruition? Probably not. Events will have got in the way, unexpected challenges, plans changed, things happened in our lives that were totally surprising and unasked for
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WelCom December 2018: Following last year’s Synod, Cardinal John Dew reached out to parishes across the Archdiocese to lend a hand with the annual Care Appeal during Advent. The response was overwhelmingly generous. ‘With your help, the appeal raised a record $65,750 to fund Catholic Social Services’ projects within the Archdiocese,’ says Cardinal John. The Appeal
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WelCom December 2018: The New Zealand Catholic bishops and religious orders have welcomed the inclusion of faith-based institutions in the New Zealand Government’s expanded inquiry into the historical abuse of children. On Monday 12 November 2018, the prime minister Jacinda Ardern stated that Cabinet agreed to expand the inquiry to include faith-based institutions. The inquiry will
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WelCom December 2018: Wellington’s Abrahamic Community What are a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian doing having a coffee together at the Botanical Gardens, Wellington? Those who watch television ads will have noticed a recent Kiwibank advertisement featuring just that. Kiwibank recently launched a campaign about helping make Kiwis better off by supporting them realise their
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WelCom December 2018: Saturday December 15, 7pm: Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. Despite the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart closing in July, the Cathedral Choirs have continued their work ensuring music for the weekly Masses as well as concerts around the Wellington area. This December the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra, augmented by singers from around
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WelCom December 2018: Unity Singers welcomes you to Christmas Carols at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Tuesday 4 December, at 7pm. Admission: donation or item of non-perishable food for the SVDP Foodbank. Food donations can also be left at the Cathedral Parish Office or the Vinnies shop 252 Rangitikei St. Our stocks are very low on
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WelCom December 2018: The Feast Day of the Archdiocese of Wellington, the Feast of Immaculate Conception, is 8 December. In previous years this feast day has been celebrated by the Filipino Community at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Hill Street. This year with the closure of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, this celebration
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WelCom December 2018: In response to the NZ government’s proposed reform of abortion and end-of-life laws, a group of lay Catholics have organised a pro-life Rosary Crusade around the country on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2018. People take part in the NZ Pro-Life Rosary Crusade, from 3pm praying to defend life from
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WelCom December 2018: Fr James Lyons ADVENT means ‘approaching’ – something is coming! It is traditionally a four-week season in preparation for Christmas, but the first two weeks focus on the ‘second coming’ of Christ, the time when all will be brought to completion. They follow the feast of Christ the King and conclude the Church’s
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WelCom December 2018: The changes and challenges in pastoral life over 50 years in ministry, feature in a new book by Wellington priest, James Lyons. As Good as Gold – Essays from a priest on the road, offers the reader insights and experiences relating to Catholic belief and practice, raising questions in a reflective an entertaining
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WelCom December 2018: Bishop Charles Drennan has announced the following clergy moves. Fr Nathaniel Brazil Assistant Priest, Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Pārihi Katorika ki Whanganui, and the parish of Waverley-Patea. Fr Dave Gledhill sm Semi-retired residing in Ōtaki (Archdiocese of Wellington) with some ministry to the Māori Apostolate in the Palmerston North Diocese. Fr
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WelCom December 2018: Annette Scullion Recently appointed Irish Ambassador to New Zealand, Peter Ryan, was guest speaker at the second ‘Cardinal’s Lunch’, held in Wellington on 2 November. The series is a new initiative for people to hear from dynamic Catholic leaders in a professional forum and to encourage people to extend Catholic values in the
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WelCom December 2018: Annette Scullion A book of spiritual reflections by Joy Cowley was launched on 27 October, at St Joseph’s Church, Mt Victoria, to a room overflowing with family, friends and supporters. ‘In Veil Over The Light – Selected Spiritual Writings, Joy reveals her experience of God who is inclusive, joyous, full of unconditional love,
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WelCom December 2018: Joy Cowley With such eagerness I carry my gifts towards the place of the newborn King. I am like a guest hurrying to a wedding, and I cannot help but note that my golden gift is as large and as finely wrapped as any I have seen. At a point in the road,
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WelCom December 2018: Mary Eastham Peace Action Manawatu (PAM) organised a peace protest against the NZ Defence Industry Forum held at Central Energy Trust Arena, 31 October and 1 November. The weapons trade fair has been banned in Wellington and Auckland A multi-faith gathering with members of Baha’i, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Quaker traditions began
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WelCom December 2018: The National Centre for Religious Studies (NCRS) is one of the three organisations, along with the Tertiary Education provider (PTE) and the Nathaniel Centre, that forms The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand (TCI). NCRS produces religious education and catechetical programmes at early childhood, primary and secondary levels for schools and parishes. The
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WelCom December 2018: “Contemplatives in action” Gary Finlay Have you heard about the Christian Life Community? Known in many parts of the world as CVX from its name in French and Spanish, CLC is a lay, Ignatian, apostolic movement with its headquarters in Rome. CLC members pursue a way of life based on the Spiritual Exercises
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WelCom December 2018: A respectful silence then a peel of many bells marked the beginning of a special Eucharist in memory of those who served in WW1. Two retired priests from the Archdiocese – Frs Julian Wagg and Frank Whitaker – concelebrated Mass on Armistice Day, Sunday 11 November, at St Joseph’s Church, Mt Victoria. Along
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WelCom December 2018: The St Vincent de Paul Society in Aotearoa New Zealand has elected Marlena Hoeft-Marwick as its new National President. Marlena, a Vincentian since primary school, says her leadership style will be one of truly listening to the membership and then working collaboratively and decisively to put plans into action. ‘It is time to
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WelCom December 2018: On Sunday 18 November the second World Day of the Poor was observed around the globe. Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor to encourage the whole Church to reach out to those in need and let the poor know their cries have not gone unheard, the Pope said in his
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WelCom December 2018: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” – 1 Peter 1:3 This is the second half on an article by Bishop Peter J
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WelCom December 2018: First Sunday of Advent – Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 25 ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; 26 men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven
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WelCom December 2018: Catholic Thinking presents a range articles about theology, mortality, ethics and faith heritage written for WelCom by lecturers from New Zealand’s Catholic Tertiary Education providers: Good Shepherd College – Te Hēpara Pai and The Catholic Institute of New Zealand – Te Pūtahi Katorika ki Aotearoa. This month’s article is by Fr Kevin Waldie
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WelCom December 2018: The Vatican has told US Catholic bishops not to vote on proposed new steps their Conference has developed to address the clergy sex abuse crisis. The directive came from the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops the evening before the US Bishop’s annual meeting began, said US Conference of Catholic Bishops president Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.
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WelCom December 2018: Trappist priest, Thomas Keating, who was a global leader in both Christian contemplative prayer and interreligious dialogue, has died aged 95. He died at St Joseph’s Abbey, Massachusetts, US, where he had been abbot from 1961 to 1981. In the early 1980s Keating began his role as one of the chief architects of
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WelCom December 2018: The Catholic Church and all its members must get better at listening to young people, taking their questions seriously, recognising them as full members of the church, patiently walking with them and offering guidance as they discern the best way to live their faith, the Synod of Bishops on Young people, the Faith
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