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 2021 Michael Fitzsimons Donors to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand will have their donations multiplied fourfold, thanks to a new funding partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Under the new partnership, called He Oranga Taurikura (‘A Thriving Life’), the government will match donations by adding $3 for every $1 donated […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Annette Scullion Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish Church was honoured at last month’s 2021 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Wellington Awards, as one of the winners in the Public Architecture category. Designed by DLA Architects, the building was recognised for ‘collecting and connecting two Kāpiti parishes and three former […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Cardinal John’s homily below was delivered at the final Mass and closure of St Gerard’s Church, Mt Victoria, on Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 2021. On Easter Sunday the women thought they would find a body to anoint; they found an empty tomb. They went to mourn the dead; they heard a proclamation […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Emma Dodsworth At a packed Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North on Tuesday 11 May, Tony Murphy was awarded the title Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great for his service to the Church. The title was awarded by Pope Francis and Cardinal John Dew presented Tony with […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Pā Piripi Cody Richard (or Dick) Puanaki of Wairoa died (aged 72) at his hometown on Tuesday, 20 April, 2021. In his Requiem Mass, at St Peter’s Church Wairoa, he had pre-recorded a message for his whānau and for people to remember. In that message he stated, ‘If my tombstone has my […]
WelCom June/July 2021 New Zealand Catholics hungering for inspiration after the long pandemic are invited to join the Alive in the Spirit online conference from 8–10 July 2021. Three long-standing and wide-reaching Catholic networks have combined forces to host the Trans-Tasman event – the Pastoral Ministry Network, Christian Initiation Australia Network, and the Mission Planners […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Michael Fitzsimons Substantial increases to base benefit rates announced in Budget 2021 have been welcomed by a range of church agencies. It was announced in the May Budget that benefits will be boosted by up to $55 a week, with the increase being implemented in two stages, the first being a $20-a-week […]
WelCom June/July 2021 The UN Day of the Seafarer is 25 June and the Church’s Sea Sunday, Day of Prayer for Seafarers, is 11 July. Fr Jeff Drane sm Stella Maris New Zealand began establishing Port Welfare Committees this year by building relationships with everyone involved in seafarer welfare – faith-based groups, national maritime authorities, […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Modern slavery encompasses practices including forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, human trafficking and other slavery and slavery-like practices. Engagement Manager at Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Roger Ellis says 40 million people are living in slavery. ‘It is estimated around $3.1 billion worth of goods imported into New Zealand every year are […]
WelCom June/July 2021 The New Zealand Catholic Bishops ask us to mark a Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants on 20 June 2021. This date is celebrated as World Refugee Day around the world. For the Catholic Church in New Zealand, a Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants is set aside each year […]