Welcom Archive 2007-2026

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).

Safeguarding training

Safeguarding training

WelCom June/July 2021 Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College in collaboration with the National Office of Professional Standards have developed an online Safeguarding course for all people working in Catholic ministry. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops are committed to fostering a culture of safeguarding in the Church. As a Catholic community, we each have a […]

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Proposed artwork hīkoi postponed

Proposed artwork hīkoi postponed

WelCom June/July 2021 The NZCBC has made a significant change to the proposal to renew the country’s dedication to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven. The proposed hīkoi of a special artwork around Aotearoa New Zealand, in the three months leading to the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, has been postponed. The bishops decided […]

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Ignatian Year encourages us ‘to see all things new in Christ’

Ignatian Year encourages us ‘to see all things new in Christ’

WelCom June/July 2021 From 20 May, 2021 until the end of July 2022, the Society of Jesus will celebrate ‘The Ignatian Year’ to remember the life of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.  The year commenced on the 500th anniversary of St Ignatius’ injury during the Battle of Pamplona on May 20, 1521. […]

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A life inspired by St Ignatius Loyola

A life inspired by St Ignatius Loyola

WelCom June/July 2021 Over 50 years ago, a young lad from a sheep farm in Colyton – in the Manawatū-Whanganui region – who had been a student at Francis Douglas Memorial College, was captivated by the life of a sixteenth century Spanish saint named Ignatius Loyola. As a result, he flew to Melbourne to begin […]

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Church responds to India’s COVID surge

Church responds to India’s COVID surge

WelCom June/July 2021 Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), has pledged the support of the Church’s social and health resources to help with India’s COVID-19 crisis. After a meeting with Caritas India, he said, ‘We are preparing ourselves to help people, nationally, for relief in different […]

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Pope calls for vaccine equity

Pope calls for vaccine equity

WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has offered his support for waiving coronavirus vaccine patents to boost supply to poorer countries. In a video message released as part of the Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World broadcast, organised by anti-poverty group Global Citizen, the Pope repeated his call for global equity regarding COVID-19 vaccines, […]

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Pope institutes formal ‘ministry of catechist’

Pope institutes formal ‘ministry of catechist’

WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has formally instituted the ministry of catechist for lay people who have a particular call to serve the Church as a teacher of the faith. Teaching about the new role is contained in Pope Francis’ apostolic letter Antiquum Ministerium (Ancient Ministry), released last month. While millions of lay people around […]

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UK bishops urge compassion for refugees

UK bishops urge compassion for refugees

WelCom June/July 2021 Bishops in the United Kingdom have spoken out against the British government’s New Plan for Immigration, which they claim will create a ‘two-tier’ system for asylum seekers.  Bishop Paul McAleenan, from the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and Bishop William Nolan, Chair of the Scottish Bishops’ Commission for Justice and […]

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Synod of Bishops October 2023

Synod of Bishops October 2023

WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has approved a new multi-year, three-stage process for the next gathering of the synod of bishops. It aims to involve the whole church at diocesan, national and continental levels through a process of ‘listening and discernment’ on the important theme of synodality: ‘For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.’ […]

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Priesthood not a career, say Pope

Priesthood not a career, say Pope

WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has warned newly ordained priests against the twin perils of worldly ambition and love of money. Speaking at a Mass in Rome, where he ordained nine deacons to the priesthood, the Pope acknowledged that in the past there used to be talk of the ‘ecclesiastical career’. But he continued: ‘This […]

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