WelCom July 2018: In 2016, Pope Francis set a feast day on July 22 honouring St Mary Magdalene, putting her on a par with the apostles and underlining the importance of the first testimony of the Resurrection and the role of women in evangelisation. A key woman in Jesus’ life, Mary Magdalene was the first witness […]
WelCom July 2018: In May this year, the people of Ireland voted overwhelmingly to repeal the country’s 8th amendment to their constitution, a move which opens the way for a new abortion law in that country. Later this year, our own country’s Coalition Government will receive a much-anticipated Report from the Law Commission on a possible […]
WelCom July 2018: In this month’s Catholic Thinking feature Dr Christopher Evan Longhurst explores beauty’s theological and aesthetical contexts within the Western Catholic tradition. Dr Longhurst is a lecturer for The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand – Te Pūtahi Katorika ki Aotearoa. Beauty ‘Neither peacocks, nor soap bubbles’ Beauty is one of those multifaceted topics […]
WelCom July 2018: Fr James Lyons The biblical story of how sin came into our lives centres on the refusal to take responsibility for what we do or fail to do. Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the Serpent – and so it continues today. When I know I’m in the wrong I look for a […]
WelCom July 2018: Merrick Mitchell Jairus has asked Jesus to heal his daughter who is very ill. We do not know her name, as she, like the other women in this passage, is not named. Jairus is very definite in believing that Jesus can heal his daughter through laying hands on her, as he has healed […]
WelCom July 2018: Sarah Richards Starting 1 July, Bible Month 2018 is a time to focus on the Bible and its centrality to your Christian faith walk. Bible Society New Zealand’s key message is, the Bible really is good for life. The organisation has created a range of Good for Life tools, which help people engage […]
WelCom July 2018: Sue Seconi Bishop Charles Drennan confirmed eleven members of Ngā Paerangi whānau at a joyful and warm occasion at Kaiwhaiki Marae, Whanganui, on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, 3 June. Fr Marcus Francis, parish priest of the Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika ki Whanganui, assisted. Bishop […]
WelCom July 2018: Fr John Dykes officiated at St Patrick’s Parish in Kaponga at Pentecost and Mother’s Day was also celebrated with a prayer and candles being lit by parishioners in remembrance of their mothers. Three generations of St Patrick’s parishioners lit candles – the Sherman family, back (l-r): Alivia Kells, Roseanne and Kelly Sherman; middle: […]
WelCom July 2018: Pat Rhodes Fr Don Don celebrated the Feast of Pentecost at Vigil Mass, Holy Family Church, Whanganui, with an international theme. Parts of the Eucharistic Prayer were recited in Filipino, the Mihi was issued by John Haami, and Mass began with parishioners carrying in flags to represent their nationalities and introduced themselves in […]
WelCom July 2018: Sue Seconi Holy Family Whanganui Marian Mothers’ group gathered for the weekend of 19‒20 in May to celebrate the group’s 30-year anniversary. From a beach house at Mowhanau Beach, north of Whanganui, they walked along the coastline, read, prayed, shared, recited the rosary, then returned to Whanganui for Saturday Vigil Mass and some […]