Every year in November, the archdiocesan Canonical Bodies meet with the archbishop to share reports about the year passed, and their vision and strategies for the year ahead. They include the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC), the Board of Administration, the Council of Priests, and the Directors of the Archdiocese.
The Sacrament of anointing with oil gave a sense of community, healing and the Lord’s presence to those gathered at St Mary’s Church, Blenheim, for a special mid-week Mass in July.
A farewell afternoon tea was held for Srs Francine McGovern sm and Margaret Vaney sm, at Our Lady of Hope, Tawa, on 28 October. The Sisters are the last of many Marist Sisters who have ministered in the Archdiocese of Wellington over the last 70 years, including in Tawa for 27 years.
After a four-year break, the archdiocesan induction programme for incoming clergy from overseas, called ‘Landing the Waka’, recommenced in October.
Forrestal House and land has a long history with Sacred Heart Parish Inglewood. The future and ownership of the historic convent house and land is up for review as a committee of parishioners begins to explore possibilities. Sue March of Sacred Heart Parish, shares some of the history of Forrestal House history and invites WelCom readers to contribute ideas for its future development.
Ōtari Parish of Wellington has been slowly integrating more te reo Māori into our Mass responses for some years.
Around 8.30am on Sunday 8 October, the sound of taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments) echoed over Wilton’s valley from St Thomas More Church.
A double celebration was held at St Michael’s Church in Taita of Te Awakairangi Parish over a weekend in September. On Saturday 23 September, St Michael’s Taita Samoan Aulotu/community celebrated their 30 years’ anniversary of establishment within the parish.
On 8 August, to celebrate St Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day and as part of their Local Histories Curriculum, everyone dressed-up as children and teachers from the 1860s.
It was with great rejoicing and gratitude we celebrated the 70th Jubilee of Religious Profession of Srs Mary-Ellen O’Sullivan rndm and Valerie Lawson rndm. Family, Sisters and friends gathered firstly in Notre Dame Chapel in Hamilton for the celebration of the Jubilee Mass. Rev Darren McFarlane and Rev Msgr Frank Eggleton were the celebrants.
All parishes throughout the Palmerston North Diocese will be invited to seek out the Poor and the causes of their poverty in response to World Day of the Poor on 19 November.
Material poverty can be obvious, but Pope Francis prompts us to seek out other less obvious forms of poverty and address their causes.