The Catholic Enquiry Centre is the New Zealand Catholic bishops’ agency for evangelisation. The CEC has provided information and support to enquirers into Catholic faith for over 60 years. Rebecca Taylor-Hunt became its new director in January this year and reflects on her first few months into the job.
World Mission Sunday is held on the second-to-last Sunday every October with Mass celebrated especially for Catholic missionary activity worldwide. It was created by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the day of prayer for missions and is held in every Catholic community.
I have a little litmus test when I meet someone who wishes to discuss the Catholic Church. I tend to start off by saying something like, ‘I believe the Roman Catholic Church, has been, is now, and will continue to be a tremendous force for good in the world.’ I then look and listen carefully for their response. My experience too often is that even those who profess a strong Catholic faith baulk at this statement – it appears to be too bold a statement.
The 16th century Litany of Loreto contains several titles given to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. These are being explored by Fr James Lyons for WelCom. This month we meet two kinds of dwellings, house and ark.
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on 7 October. Senior contributor to Crux Catholic media, Fr Jeffrey F Kirby, a US Catholic priest, moral theologian, and Papal Missionary of Mercy, explains the importance of the Rosary as a prayer method.
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Matthew 21:33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: 33 ‘Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower.
During the month of October 2023 Pope Francis’ intention is: for the Synod.
We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world.
Master chef extraordinaire, Brett McGregor, the original MasterChef NZ winner, visited St Marcellin Catholic School in Whanganui last month and cooked up a storm for the students.
On Sunday 27 August, eight children from St Joseph’s School, Ōpunakē, received their First Holy Communion from Fr Vui Hoang. It was a proud moment for their families and all of our community as the children take the next step in their sacramental journey. The children enjoyed a special First Holy Communion feast and cake after Mass.
The Catholic Parish of Wellington South’s two churches, St Anne’s and St Francis de Sales, were full on Sunday 17 September, with the 52 children and their families who participated in this year’s Sacramental programme of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.