Author: Jemma

Finance not enough for climate action

WelCom December 2017: International officials met in Bonn, Germany, 6‒17 November 2017, at the UN’s 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to form a ‘just and effective path’ to achieving Paris Agreement goals of 2016. Fiji chaired the conference, aiming to bring world attention to vulnerable people and nations most seriously impacted by […]

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Benefit Impact Week

WelCom December 2017: The Archdiocese’s Catholic Social Services have again partnered with the Hutt Valley Benefit Education Service Trust (BEST) to organise a ‘Benefit Impact’ information event. This second Benefit Impact was held at St Bernadette’s Church Hall in Naenae, of Te Awakairangi parish, during the week of 14–17 November 2017. It was timed to  lead […]

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A Corner of History

WelCom December 2017: St Joseph’s historic Catholic Church is situated on SH58 between Pauatahanui Village and Judgeford – about 30 minutes’ drive from central Wellington. Once the centre of a small farm district where poverty and isolation were common, it is now just 150 metres away from massive earthworks constructing the new Transmission Gully motorway between Linden […]

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Thousands of Kiwi kids to get really good news this Christmas

WelCom December 2017: Bible Society is giving away 93,000 booklets and leaflets nationwide telling the story of Christmas. ‘Christmas is gift-giving time, and this year Bible Society is happy to offer the good news of Christmas – the story of the birth of Jesus to children. Many Kiwis today have never heard this message. We trust it […]

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Positive about Dyslexia

WelCom December 2017: For the 70,000 New Zealand school children who have been diagnosed with dyslexia, Dyslexia Awareness Week from 2‒8 October this year was an opportunity to reflect not only on the difficulties this disability can produce but also on the positives that can come with it. The theme was, ‘Positive about Dyslexia’. The Vinnies from […]

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Young Catholics’ success in public speaking

WelCom December 2017: The Stockley Cup and Dunsheath Plate are the premier public speaking competitions for high school students in the Wellington region. Held annually, the Wellington Speaking Union’s competition brings together the best public speakers and orators from dozens of schools to speak on ideas such as racism, feminism, the relationship between parents and their children, […]

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‘We are the Church’

WelCom December 2017: At our parish mid-week Mass on 27 September, we baptised five children and welcomed three more children into our Catholic family in Patea. St Joseph’s Primary School led the song and prayer and Fr Marcus Francis was our celebrant. Preparing children for the Sacraments enriches your own faith and offers you better insight. […]

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Life Teen Training Conference

WelCom December 2017: A group of youth ministers from across New Zealand gathered at Magnificat Retreat Centre, Featherston, over the weekend of 27‒29 October to extend their formation in youth ministry. Organised by Life Teen Summer Camp Aotearoa and Life Teen Wellington the conference provided practical tools for ministry with teenagers. It included topics such as leadership […]

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Jesus 4 Real Junior Camp

WelCom December 2017: Jesus 4 Real concluded their 29th year of operation with the Junior Camp at Palm Grove on Kapiti Coast, October 4 to 8 this year. Forty-two campers, years 8 to 10, attended along with 19 cabin leaders, 10 senior leaders and our chaplain Fr Kevin Connors. Here is what four cabin leaders had to […]

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