From WelCom Issue 2 – July 2025
We are in the midst of winter and often at this time we nestle down and become preoccupied with our own warmth and comfort. Yet we know that we need the seasons in order for things to be able to grow and develop. During wintertime the preparations are being made for the new life that comes with Spring. So, this can be a time when we can reflect on the things that we are grateful for, to give thanks to God for the good things in our lives and for God’s love and care for us. Developing a heart of gratitude in all seasons will enable us to be people who are open to the Holy Spirit and enable God’s grace and power to work in us.
I had the privilege of joining the Te Awakairangi Parish in Lower Hutt for their 175th Jubilee at the end of last month. That parish began in 1850 when the diocese of Wellington was established. From it many other parishes sprang up. The celebrations were wonderful in terms of the many different people and cultures that were present. It is a community that has given great witness to the gospel over so many years and continues to do so today. I know that each of our parish communities have histories like this. God has blessed us and we in turn play our part by bringing God’s presence into the world in which we live.
On the 12th of July we celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Kinh Nguyen. It was wonderful that his father and brother were able to be present from Vietnam. For many years New Zealanders went as missionaries to other countries and now we are receiving people from other lands to minister to us. We are very grateful to Fr Kinh for his generosity in saying yes to the call of God to be a priest and to joining our Archdiocese. It is important for the life of our Church that more young men respond to the call to priesthood and so I ask that you continue to pray for those who are being called. We also need to talk with our young people about this vocation and its importance in the life of the Church. I don’t think God has stopped calling people to priesthood and religious life, it is more about encouraging and supporting our young people to take up this call and to have the courage to say yes.
In August our Archdiocese will be focusing on a Gifting programme in each of our parishes. We will reflect on the spirituality of gifting and then on the practical expressions of this. The sharing of resources for the church community has been at the heart of the Christian life, and it is one of the constitutive elements of our faith. I would ask that you open your hearts to this work in August and to see what part you can play in all of this for the good of our Church and its call to mission.