WelCom December 2019
Tēnā koe,
Congratulations on graduating from secondary college. As you leave college and enter into the workforce and go onto tertiary education know of my prayerful support and best wishes for you.
Our Catholic colleges are wonderful communities of learning and faith. You have been part of a loving, extended whānau supported by dedicated staff and surrounded by pastoral care, manaakitanga. You take with you good friendships, strong Catholic values and moral compass, school spirit and a vision for a better world, both personally and environmentally. You bring hope, vision and courageous leadership to our world. I am very proud of your commitment to addressing climate change and to improving the quality of peoples’ lives and environment. Care for our common home and care for each other are growing challenges in today’s world.
Leaving school is full of opportunities but also challenges as you move out of a close-knit community to a much bigger, less personal world. As followers, disciples of Jesus Christ we are all called to pastorally care for each person we meet, ‘to love others as I have loved you’ and to create warm interpersonal communities. Our mission is to reach out and care for each other and care for the earth for a better world. Pope Francis speaks of this in his Encyclical ‘Laudato Si – Care for Our Common Home’. The call of our last Synod ‘Go you are sent’ fits well with these words to you from Pope Francis, ‘You too, dear young people can be joyful witness of Jesus’ love, courageous witness of His Gospel, carrying to this world a ray of His light’.
My prayer and hope for you is you hold steadfast to God’s unconditional love for you, keep true to your values, kia kaha, and care for each other. May you be blessed at all times with the fruits of the Holy Spirit ‘Joy, love, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’.
John A Cardinal Dew,
Archbishop of Wellington
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December
‘As has been the custom for many years an archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on our diocesan feast day, 7pm, Thursday 8 December, at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori. The archdiocese will again be entrusted to the care of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception at this Mass. Parishes are asked to renew that Consecration on the following Sunday, 11 December, at All parish Masses.’ – Cardinal John Dew
Dates and events – what’s on
December 2022
If you would like your event listed on this page, please send an outline to welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz including name of event, date, time, location and contact.
Pope Francis registers for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon
At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis registered for the next World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. Assisted and accompanied by Portuguese university students studying in Rome, the Pope tapped his way to becoming the first officially registered pilgrim for World Youth Day.