WelCom is the monthly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Wellington. Print copies of the eight-page newsletter are free and available in parishes, and sent to parishes and schools in PDF form. The archive contains WelCom stories published from 2007 to 2026 (May).
WelCom June/July 2022 Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Michael Gielen (50) as the new Bishop of Christchurch. Bishop Gielen has been the Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland since March 2020. He will be installed in his new Christchurch role by July to replace the former Bishop of Christchurch, Paul Martin sm, who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Two ‘pre-synod’ hui were held last month – one in the Diocese of Palmerston North and one in the Archdiocese of Wellington – each as the final step in the diocesan ‘listening phase’ of the Pope’s Synod of Synodality, 2021–2023. A cross section of representatives from the two dioceses met respectively at […]
WelCom June/July 2022 ‘The Catholic bishops of New Zealand are looking forward to meeting a wide a group of people at the national synodal hui in Wellington, on July 2, as we look at the question, “How do we as a Church journey together?”,’ said Bishop of Auckland Stephen Lowe, Secretary of the New Zealand […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Cardinal John Dew has written to parishes advising that some of the restrictions associated with Covid-19 Framework regulations can now be relaxed. Now that the country has been in an orange setting on the Covid-19 Framework for some weeks, the Cardinal has advised that a number of restrictions affecting parish liturgies can […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Budget 2022 was published May 19. ‘Caritas Aotearoa welcomes the Budget 2022 $1 billion cost-of-living package that will assist low-income families who are increasingly faced with the effects of rising inflation. The extension of the half price public transport subsidy and the permanent subsidy for Community Service Card holders will also provide […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Caritas has welcomed the Government’s first emissions reduction plan for Aotearoa New Zealand and the general cross-party support for long-term carbon budgets that start to bring down our carbon emissions. The plan was released on May 16. ‘A strong, committed carbon reduction plan is long overdue,’ says Caritas Engagement Manager Roger Ellis. […]
WelCom June/July 2022 This month, WelCom visits Holy Family Parish in Porirua East, 22kms north of Wellington. The pastoral area includes Cannons Creek, Porirua East, Ascot Park, Waitangirua and Rānui. The area was developed following the second world war. The village of Porirua became the site of a new city after the government acted on […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard has been appointed Co-Chief Executive Māori-Tumu Whakarae of the Sisters of Compassion Group, the Wellington-based religious order founded by Meri Hōhepa Mother Suzanne Aubert. Danny joins Dr Chris Gallavin, appointed in March 2021, as Co-Chief Executive-Tumu Whakarae. Danny takes up his new his role after having been Māori Adviser […]
WelCom June/July 2022 A Marist St Pat’s rugby player who was charged over his violent behaviour in an on-field brawl has been forgiven by his victim. The incident happened in a Rugby Seven’s series match at Upper Hutt’s Maidstone Park on November 14, 2020. A fight broke out and in the midst of a brawl […]
WelCom June/July 2022 Pope Francis has challenged Patriarch Kirill over his support of the war in Ukraine warning that the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church ‘cannot become Putin’s altar boy’. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Francis explained that during their 40-minute Zoom discussion in March the Patriarch spent half of it reading […]