WelCom News

Young people prepare for World Day of the Poor

WelCom October 2018: ‘The Lord listens to the poor who cry out to Him’ – from Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Second World Day of the Poor, 18 November 2018. Annette Scullion Fratello, an international charity, based in France and which promotes the World Day of the Poor, has invited the Archdiocese of Wellington

Venerable Suzanne Aubert Celebration Day – 7 October 2018

WelCom October 2018: Suzanne Aubert | Meri Hōhepa A woman of great faith | He wahine whakapono nui Catholics invited to follow in Suzanne Aubert’s footsteps Sunday 7 October 2018 marks the third annual Celebration Day for Venerable Suzanne Aubert in all Catholic churches throughout New Zealand. On that day parishioners will be asked to participate

Day of Prayer to Respect Life 2018

WelCom October 2018: The Day of Prayer to Respect Life is Sunday 14 October. This year, the focus will address pastoral issues relating to the beginning of life. Prayer for Respect Life God of life and love, you created us in your image and sent your Son to bring us life. Instil in us a respect

Pope to canonise Paul VI, Oscar Romero in Rome October 14, 2018

WelCom October 2018: The Catholic Church will officially recognise the sainthood of Pope Paul VI and Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who was martyred as he was celebrating Mass. They will be canonised on 14 October 2018. The ceremony, to be celebrated by Pope Francis, will be in Rome during the month-long meeting of the

Challenge 2000 family celebrates 30th birthday, October 2018

WelCom October 2018: Annette Scullion Challenge 2000 was founded in Wellington in 1988 by Kitty McKinley. It began with a little office with three ‘employees’. Kitty’s philosophy is that ‘love works’ sooner or later. So, with a lot of love, enthusiasm for young people, the support of a generous community and professionalism, Challenge 2000 was born.

Young missionaries living the gospel in our communities

WelCom October 2018: Missionary calling in youth ministry Tausilia McClutchie Kia Ora, Talofa lava my name is Tausilia Mcclutchie. I am of Samoan and Māori decent and I am from the beautiful Te Tairawhiti, Gisborne. My role at the Palmerston North Diocese is part of the youth team as the St Peter’s College Chaplain in Palmerston

Sacred Heart Cathedral Developments

WelCom October 2018: Cathedral In Strengthening Mood Fr James Lyons The blue material wrapping one side of our earthquake-prone Sacred Heart Cathedral tells a story of progress in the strengthening work. Except this is not part of the main project, but rather a preliminary step towards reopening the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Connolly Hall. The clearing

Diocesan priests gather for reflection and renewal

WelCom October 2018: Annette Scullion Nearly 200 Catholic priests from around New Zealand met in Christchurch from 10 to 14 September. The national assembly of diocesan priests is held every five years. Together with bishops, the priests met to renew their commitment to priesthood and to reflect on their place in this time of unprecedented change

Miha Māori at The Cathedral on Broadway

WelCom October 2018: Korty Wilson On Father’s Day, Sunday 2 September, Bishop Charles Drennan said Mass in the Cathedral in te reo Māori. He extended an invitation to the parishioners of the Palmerston North Diocese to his first Miha Māori. People from as far afield as Te Wairoa were acknowledged for their efforts for travelling the

Hato Pāora old boy appointed college principal

WelCom October 2018: Dr Nathan Matthews has been appointed the new principal of Hato Pāora College, the Catholic Māori boarding school for boys near Feilding. He is an old boy of the school and his son Caleb is the school’s head boy this year. Matthews has been formally welcomed and starts 1 October. Sean Bristow has

Caritas to Host Oceania Forum

WelCom October 2018: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is hosting this year’s Caritas Oceania Forum in Wellington, 1‒5 October 2018. Some 30 delegates from 11 countries or territories in Oceania, as well as representatives from the international Caritas network, will attend. They include Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, Tonga; Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, Fiji; Bishop Joe Roszynski, Wewak,

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand supporting Philippines in Typhoon Aftermath

WelCom October 2018: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is accepting donations towards a Rapid Response Appeal to support Caritas Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut (local name, Ompong). The typhoon, with a strength of Category 5 hurricane – the planet’s most intense storm this year – swept through the Philippines over the weekend of 15‒16 September,

Refugee quota: 1500

WelCom October 2018: The annual refugee quota will lift from 1000 to 1500 by 2020, the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern announced at Parliament on 21 September 2018. The announcement fulfils a Labour campaign promise to raise the quota within their first term of Government. The quota increase will take place in July 2020. The previous National

New Joy Cowley book to be launched

WelCom October 2018: A new book of spiritual reflections by Joy Cowley, one of New Zealand’s favourite and most influential spiritual writers, is to be launched at St Joseph’s Church, Mt Victoria, at the end of October. Veil Over The Light – Selected Spiritual Writings by Joy Cowley will be launched on October 27 at 4pm.

Social Justice Messages – New Books Launched

WelCom October 2018: Remember the Brave, World War I Mary Nash Palmerston North parishioners Forrest Chambers and his daughter have produced a children’s book entitled Remember the Brave, World War 1. They launched it on 2 September in Palmerston North. The book, written by Forrest and illustrated by Lena, is dedicated ‘to those who have resisted

Blessing and re-opening of Greenstone Doors

WelCom October 2018: Suzanne O’Rourke More than 60 people from Wellington and the Hutt Valley gathered on Sunday 2 September, for the blessing and re-opening of ‘Greenstone Doors’, after a month-long refurbishment and expansion of their premises in Lower Hutt. Fr Patrick Bridgman and Fr Cirilo Barlis from Te Awakairangi Parish led the procession through the

220 years of priestly ministry celebrated in Whanganui

WelCom October 2018: Sue Seconi A combined priestly ministry of 220 years was celebrated at St Mary’s Church – Te Parihi Katorika Ki Whanganui, on Tuesday evening, 18 September 2018. Since the Palmerston North Diocese was established in 1980, the annual celebration of ordinations are usually held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. This year,

Marriage Encounter Anniversary

WelCom October 2018: Fr Ron Bennett The Second Vatican Council stressed the role of all people in the life of the Church. The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Movement grew out of this. It began in the Wellington Archdiocese (now Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses) in June 1978. The programme teaches a way of communication, creating a closeness

Warm winter thermals for Hawke’s Bay children

WelCom October 2018: Mary Fama The chilly May weather gave impetus again this year to our Hastings Parish ‘Needy Children’ project, to distribute thermal clothing to children in our district. Our parish’s Environmental and Social Justice (ESJ) group developed and ran the project. Supported by a diocesan contribution of $3000 and private donations of $6800, the

New translation of Te Paipera Tapu

WelCom October 2018: Sarah Richards, NZ Bible Society This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of Te Paipera Tapu ‒ The Holy Bible in Māori. Te Paipera Tapu, first published in 1868, has just been digitised. This digitised version will be one of the many tools used to help produce a

Papal letter to People of God resonates

WelCom October 2018: Last month, WelCom published in full an unprecedented letter from Pope Francis to the people of God, following the release in August of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on sexual abuse by priests and others in the Church and the cover-ups that have enabled this behaviour to continue. In his letter, 20 August

When the well seems dry

WelCom October 2018: Joy Cowley Our awareness of God grows in the context of human experience, and as our understanding of ourselves deepens, so does our spiritual life. We don’t live faith backwards: God always takes us forward to a larger place. We can look back on our lives and see times when we were very

Retreat Cluny Centre: The Gospel of our Lives

WelCom October 2018: Joan McFetridge Who could not be attracted to a retreat subtitled: ‘Wisdom is life experience well digested, where one story must end for another to begin. Our lives are literally gospel or good news’? In August this year, Joy Cowley, writer and spiritual-retreat director, and Alan Roberts, parish priest and spiritual-retreat director, led

October is Stewardship Month in the Archdiocese

WelCom October 2018: Lorraine McArthur Stewardship is about each one of us putting the Gospel into action. In 2016 Cardinal John Dew announced that the Archdiocese would reflect on a dedicated Stewardship theme every October. The theme for October 2018 is ‘The Call to Holiness’. Pope Francis, in Gaudete et Exsultate, Rejoice and be Glad! speaks

The Name of God: (3)

WelCom October 2018: This article is the third and final part of a series by Fr James Lyons about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The name of God is Mercy. There can be no other name. St John tells us that God is Love. If love is the essence of God’s being, then mercy is God’s primary

Catholic Thinking – What’s Happening in Intercession?

WelCom October 2018: In WelCom’s Catholic Thinking series, lecturers from Good Shepherd College – Te Hēpara Pei and The Catholic Institute of New Zealand – Te Pūtahi Katorika ki Aotearoa, share their views about a range of topics on theology, mortality, ethics and faith heritage. This month, Sr Elizabeth Snedden rscj discusses intercession. Intercession is defined