
Photo: Rodrigo Abd/AP
WelCom July 2020:
The Archbishop of Lima, Carlos Castillo had his church filled with more than 5,000 portraits of those who have died in the pandemic. He then used his broadcast homily to criticise a health system he said was ‘based on egotism and on business and not on mercy and solidarity with the people’. Archbishop Castillo called for solidarity with the poor. Hundreds have died without receiving help from the health system and many families have faced financial ruin due to the cost of trying to care for the sick.
Church workers in Lima spent days filling the pews with images of coronavirus victims. When the 84 pews were filled the archbishop ordered thousands more photos attached to the base of the columns that rise to the arched ceiling. There were images of doctors, police, firemen and street cleaners, an infant. Some hugged their grandchildren. A woman danced with her son.
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.