WelCom December 2022
Pope Francis will mark the 400th anniversary of the death of St Francis de Sales, ‘the gentleman saint’ from Savoy, with a new letter planned for the end of the year. A native of Savoy, where he lived a large part of his life, Francis de Sales was appointed bishop of Geneva but was forced to live in exile because of the rise of Protestantism in the Swiss city. He became an important figure in the Counter-Reformation, preaching tirelessly on abandonment to God. He opposed violence all his life, preferring to call for charity and witness. He was canonised in 1665 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1877. At a general audience in 2018, the Pope referred to St Francis de Sales as a ‘model of meekness’.
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.