WelCom February 2022
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has announced plans to issue an historic apology to the Sámi people, who are indigenous to the Finnish nation and several other Nordic countries. The Sámi, currently numbering around 100,000 members, are the only recognised indigenous people of Europe. ‘We are coming to the moment when the entire Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, and other churches, should apologise to the Sámi,’ Lutheran Bishop Jukka Keskitalo of Oulu told Pope Francis at a meeting during the January 18–25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Bishop Jukka Keskitalo said repentance and an apology were due in relation to abuses and structural sins of the past that continue to affect people’s lives.
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.