In January, 24 young people from the Catholic Parish of New Plymouth were among 305 other young people at the 2024 Life Teen Camp. The New Plymouth group was the largest parish contingent from around the country. Held St Peter’s College in Cambridge, it was the 8th Life Teen Summer Camp. The annual camp offers opportunities to connect with Jesus through keynote sessions, group discussions and fun.
Three youth ministers have been appointed to Catholic colleges in Wellington as Tuākana (youth ministers) for the archdiocese’s 2024 Youth Minister programme.
In December the Archdiocese of Wellington brought together 71 students from its nine Catholic colleges to attend the 19th annual Young Catholic Leaders (YCL) camp. The camp prepares students going into Year 13 for leadership roles for the year ahead.
On their way to Christmas carols in the Challenge 2000 van are former interns Rose at the back and RenC with guitar.
February 2024
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Helping the Sisters at the Home of Compassion to set up the Christmas crib in the chapel for Advent are brother and sisters from the Chine family of Island Bay (l-r) Gelila (10), Minab (13), Asgedet (7) and Luwam (15). The three younger children are students at St Francis de Sales School and Luwan attends Wellington East Girls College.
On the eve of Pope Francis’ historic attendance at the UN climate change conference COP28 in Dubai, 30 November to 12 December, His Excellency Rashed Matar Alqemzi, UAE Ambassador to New Zealand, writes for WelCom on the profound significance of Pope Francis’ invitation and acceptance to attend COP28.
Seminarian Matthew White was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Paul Martin sm on Sunday 12 November at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori.
Members of Matthew’s family, friends, clergy and several parishioners from his home parish Te Ngākau Tapu in Porirua and from Ōtari parish in Wellington were all there to support him.