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 March 2022 Pope Francis has announced that hope will be the central theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year, voicing his desire for the year to foster a greater sense of global brotherhood and solidarity with the poor, as well as care for the environment. After two years marked by the coronavirus pandemic and the […]
WelCom March 2022 The number of Catholics worldwide increased by an estimated 16 million in 2020 to 1.36 billion, according to statistics released by the Vatican. 2020 is the most recent year when numbers are available. The rise was in line with global population growth in the year that the coronavirus pandemic swept the planet, […]
WelCom March 2022 A group of Christian leaders took turns to be locked in a cage outside a hotel in Melbourne to demonstrate their solidarity with around 32 refugees and asylum-seekers detained there. Sr Brigid Arthur csb, coordinator of the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, Baptist minister Rev Tim Costello and Uniting Church minister Rev Alexandra […]
WelCom March 2022 Former Pope Benedict XVI has acknowledged errors in his handling of sexual abuse cases when he was Archbishop of Munich and asked for forgiveness. A letter by Benedict and a three-page legal addendum was issued by the Vatican after a report on abuse in the Munich archdiocese from 1945 to 2019 included […]
WelCom March 2022 Two high ranking churchmen in Germany have expressed support for optional celibacy for priests. Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich, one of Pope Francis’ most trusted aides, has spoken out in favour of banning mandatory clerical celibacy. He also supports allowing Catholic priests the option of marrying. Four days earlier, Archbishop Heiner Koch […]
WelCom March 2022 Sister Andre Randon, a French nun, celebrated her 118th birthday on February 11, 2022 making her the second-oldest living person in the world and the oldest living person in Europe, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Born Lucile Randon, she converted to Catholicism at 19 years of age. She served young children […]
WelCom March 2022 Papua New Guinea has abolished the death penalty for a second time, saying it is ineffective in deterring crimes. Since its reintroduction in 1991, many have been sentenced to death in the poverty-stricken nation but none have been executed. The authorities have accepted the death penalty is cruel, inhumane and violates people’s […]
WelCom March 2022 Faith, veteran and Afghanistan-Australian community representatives met with federal MPs in Canberra to urge the Morrison Government to do more to provide safety for those fleeing the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. Dr Tim McKenna, advisory group member of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) said: ‘CAPSA reiterates its call on […]
WelCom March 2022 8am Saturday 19 March–7pm Saturday 26 March Metropolitan Cathedral of Sacred Heart invites your support Debbie Matheson, Parish Leader/Lay Pastoral Leader Thanks to the generous support of artists in Wellington and beyond, over 100 works of art can be purchased on an online art auction later this month. The auction will help […]
WelCom March 2022 Archdiocese of Wellington Church Mission Team Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew says, ‘I want you to be involved in this Synod process. Your baptism calls you and entitles you to be involved.’ The Synod process invites each of us to read, reflect and respond to questions about the Church’s direction and […]