Category: Uncategorized

Go, you are sent…

WelCom July 2018: Following the 2017 Synod last September, Cardinal John Dew promulgated 13 key directions late last year defined as priorities for ‘the local Church of Wellington’ for the immediate future. The following developments stem from two of those priorities – 3: Go, you are sent…to find leaders; and 10: Go you are sent…to support […]

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Unwrapping the Gift

WelCom July 2018: It happened a few years ago at Mass, with a light comment from a reader. She said that all the grey heads in the pews looked like a field of dandelions in late summer. A parishioner sighed, ‘Where are our young people?’ and another man joked that maybe the elderly were catching up […]

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A letter to St Mary Magdalene

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 […]

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There’s always room for one more

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 […]

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Catholic Thinking – Beauty ‘Neither peacocks, nor soap bubbles’

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 […]

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The Name of God

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 […]

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Responding with compassion

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 […]

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July is Bible Month 2018

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 […]

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Confirmations at Kaiwhaiki Marae

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 […]

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