WelCom is the official monthly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North and is free in all parish churches and schools in the two dioceses.
As well as reporting on activities that occur in the two dioceses, WelCom aims to present educative and thought-provoking articles about the Church in the world.
WelCom September 2019: In this month’s Catholic Thinking article, Dr John Kleinsman discusses the proposed revision of New Zealand’s abortion laws. Dr Kleinsman is Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre – The Nathaniel Centre, which is formally affiliated with The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand – Te Pūtahi Katorika ki Aotearoa. Proposed abortion
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WelCom September 2019: Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington “Our Baptism calls for us all to be involved.” Last month on 4 August, on the Feast of St John Vianney – the patron saint of parish priests – Pope Francis wrote a letter to the priests of the world. The Holy Father thanked priests for their sacrifices
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WelCom September 2019: Annette Scullion The annual Koroneihana (coronation) commemorations celebrate the anniversary of the coronation of the current Māori King in Aotearoa New Zealand, Kiingi Tuheitia, on 21 August 2006, following the passing of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Ataairangikaahu. Koroneihana attracts hundreds of visitors nationally and internationally to Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawaahia, for
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WelCom September 2019: Lisa Beech and Chris Duthie-Jung A hand raised in condemnation, or a compassionate hand reaching out to assist? How will today and tomorrow’s pregnant women perceive our Catholic contribution to the debate around abortion legislative change? Will it make them more or less likely to approach us for help? Catholic teaching is clear
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WelCom September 2019: Te Wā o te Orokohanga – The Season of Creation 1 Mahuru – 4 Oketopa 2019 | 1 September – 4 October 2019 The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October. It celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural
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WelCom September 2019: Te Wiki o te Whai Tika: 8–14 Mahuru And what is tenderness? It is the love that comes close and becomes real. It is a movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hands. – Pope Francis (TED talk, 2017) Social Justice Week was established by the
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WelCom September 2019: Following the introduction of the Abortion Legislation Bill, Tuesday August 8, and its first reading at Parliament, Thursday 8 August, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops expressed concern about the proposed new abortion regime for New Zealand. They said they also looking forward to contributing to what they hoped would be an honest, respectful
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WelCom September 2019: Tā Mātou Kaupapa – Our Mission: Taking Good Boys and Growing them in to Great Young Men. Annette Scullion Tumuaki (principal) of Hāto Pāoro College, Dr Nathan Matthews (Nga Puhi), has now been in the job for a year. A well-known and respected old boy of the school he took over as principal
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WelCom September 2019: Ngā Tangata o te Awa Tupua I tēnei mārama ka rere tonu ngā kōrero mō ētehi o ngā Tāngata o te Awa e hono nei, e pūmau nei ki te Hāhi Katorika i te Awa o Whanganui. Ka rere tonu ngā kōrero mō Ngā Tāngata o te Awa hei ngā pepa e haere
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WelCom September 2019: The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf. New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL became an official language in New Zealand in 2006 alongside English and Te Reo Māori. St Theresa’s Catholic School in Plimmerton, north of Wellington,
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WelCom September 2019: 75th Anniversary Reunion St Dominic’s School for the Deaf opened in 1944 in Feilding to provide a Catholic-based education to deaf children. It ran for 45 years. Palmerston North Diocese’s St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre, Te Rito of Nga Katorika Turi, is hosting a reunion for the 75th anniversary of St Dominic’s School
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WelCom September 2019: Fr James Lyons Fr Barney Keegan was the first parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Lower Hutt’s suburb of Waiwhetu. Opened in 1946, the parish was home to a population of mostly young families, many in state housing, establishing themselves in the uncertain economic times following World War II.
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WelCom September 2019: Anne-Marie McCarten, St Vincent de Paul, Executive Officer St Vincent de Paul’s feast day is on 27 September. St Vincent de Paul (1581‒1660) was a French priest who devoted his life to serving the poor. He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity. Canonised in 1737 he is known as the ‘Great Apostle of
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WelCom September 2019: Congratulations to Joy Cowley whose recently published book Veil Over Light: Selected Spiritual Writings was judged third place in the book category of the 2019 Ashton Wylie Mind Body Spirit Book Awards. Joy was one of five finalists selected from 42 entries. The Awards, which are unique in New Zealand for their encouragement
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WelCom September 2019: The Chair of the Abuse in State Care Inquiry, Sir Anand Satyanand, announced his resignation on 6 August, to take effect in November 2019. Sir Anand was appointed Chair of the Inquiry following its establishment by the Government in February 2018. Sir Anand said, ‘it has been a privilege to Chair the Abuse
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WelCom September 2019: The historical Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch, which was to be restored after the earthquakes, is now to be deconstructed. Announcing the decision in early August, the Catholic Bishop of the Christchurch Diocese, Paul Martin, said the decision to deconstruct the cathedral was a long time in the making, and an
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WelCom September 2019: The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference welcomed Catherine Gibbs in July as Administrative Assistant for the National Liturgy Office (NLO). Catherine is working alongside NLO Acting Director Fr John O’Connor. Catherine has recently worked with Caritas and The Catholic Institute and previously in education and creative art sectors. Catherine is managing the administrative
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WelCom September 2019: The Sisters at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Wellington invite pilgrims from around the country to a weekend retreat of Taizé prayer and worship. Br Matthew from the Taizé community in France will lead the retreat, Taizé in Aotearoa, from 15 to 17 November 2019. The theme is Remembering Hospitality – manaakitanga
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WelCom September 2019: The widespread revelations about sexual abuse and cover ups within the Catholic Church, have uncovered deep trauma among those who have suffered abuse and by the entire community of the ‘people of God.’ It is important to be aware of ‘vicarious trauma’ which can be suffered by those dealing directly with abuse revelations
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WelCom September 2019: Dr Elizabeth Julian rsm continues her eight-part series about the Old Testament. So far, we have seen that the Old Testament, describing God’s love affair with a particular group of people, follows a basic storyline involving many different characters, places and events, spread over 46 books. Inspired in its origins and inspiring in
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WelCom September 2019: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 14: 1, 7-14 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honour at
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WelCom September 2019: Tertiary students in the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North entering into their third year or more of study are invited to apply for a Suzanne Aubert Tertiary Scholarship. Each student selected receives $3000 towards their third year of tertiary study. For more details and an application form please apply
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WelCom September 2019: Nick Wilson The youth ministers, college chaplains and tertiary chaplains of the Palmerston North and Wellington dioceses gathered in Pahiatua for a 24 hour retreat over 8 and 9 August. The theme was Christus Vivit – Christ is Alive!, which is the new Apostolic Exhortation from Pope Francis on young people in the
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WelCom September 2019: Tania Savage, Principal Cardinal McKeefry School, Wilton, commemorated our one-year anniversary of Garden to Table, on 12 June this year. Cardinal John Dew led with a blessing of our garden and kitchen. Garden to Table is a nationwide, school-based initiative that teaches children the joy and skills of growing vegetables and cooking a meal
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WelCom September 2019: Philippa Winch Young people from around the world celebrated The Society of St Vincent de Paul International Youth Day on 4 July. The theme was ‘Young Vincentians Caring for the Environment! Caring today to generate sustainability and ensure tomorrow’. SVdP’s Nelson Area Council held a competition for all Vinnies groups within the area
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WelCom September 2019: Susie Walker For their term-two project this year, ‘feed the hungry’, the Young Vinnies at Chanel College, Masterton, gathered over 600 non-perishable items to boost the pantries of people in need in the Wairarapa. While every year local foodbanks help thousands of families struggling to make ends meet, the Young Vinnies were especially
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WelCom September 2019: Kathy Whelan Two founding members of the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Wellington, Henry Ward and Kevin O’Connor, who retired from the foundation in 2018, have each received a papal award for their services to the Archdiocese. Kevin O’Connor received his award from Cardinal John Dew at the foundation’s Annual Mass, on
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WelCom September 2019: Sue Seconi ‘Blessed are they who have kept the Word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance,’ was the theme of the Jubilarians Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Saturday 27 July. Bishop Owen Dolan was ordained on 21 July 1954 in Hawera, Mons David Bell
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WelCom September 2019: Lisa Beech Over 70 Victoria University architecture students visited Te Kāinga Catholic marae in Kilbirnie, Wellington, to carry out a course assignment for costing the repairs of seismic strengthening the building. The students were welcomed to Te Kāinga in a pōwhiri, which for some students was their first experience of being welcomed formally
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WelCom September 2019: Clare Barrett The Cenacle Retreat Team led a ‘Retreat in Daily Life’ for parishioners of Te Whaea Tapu o Kāpiti – Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish, 9–14 June this year. The retreat team comprised Srs Mary J Kay, Clare O’Connor, Anne Powell, Mrs Ronnie Parton, Mrs Merle Whiteman and Fr Alan Roberts. People
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