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 John 20:1-2, 11-18 Elizabeth Julian rsm So much weeping! Poor Mary Magdalene! Weeping, turning, announcing. Three verbs lie at the heart of this highly significant passage about Jesus’ encounter with a distraught Mary Magdalene in the garden. While it is proclaimed on her feast day (22 July), we don’t hear it on […]
WelCom June/July 2021 During the month of June 2021 Pope Francis’ universal intention is: The Beauty of Marriage. Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience. During the month of July 2021 Pope Francis’ universal […]
WelCom May 2021 Michael Fitzsimons The Bishop Viard College Hall in Porirua was filled to the brim for the 500th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines. Around 700 people from Wellington’s Filipino community gathered for the joyous occasion. The first Mass in the Philippines was celebrated by the Spanish priest, Fr Pedro […]
WelCom May 2021 “The New Zealand Catholic bishops are strongly urging everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.” COVID-19 information The Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics, an agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops, is producing information to communicate the Bishops’ support for the COVID-19 immunisation and vaccine programme. […]
WelCom May 2021 Over Anzac weekend I returned to the parish in which I was born and grew up, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Patrick’s Church, Waipawa. The current St Patrick’s Church is the third church on the site, with the first being dedicated by Bishop Phillipe Viard on 16 April 1871. When […]
WelCom May 2021 Caritas has expressed its deep appreciation for the recent response of the Catholic community to the Lent Appeal. ‘We were truly humbled by the response we have received from the Catholic community this Lent. We have faced a number of challenges due to Covid level changes and uncertainty around Masses. A few […]
WelCom May 2021 19 January 1949–20 April 2021 It has been with sadness we learned of the passing of Rīhari (Richard) Tiki te Aroha Puanaki of Wairoa, who died on Tuesday, 20 April 2021. Known and loved by many people across Aotearoa and the world, Rīhari gave so much to his whānau, communities and Kaupapa […]
WelCom May 2021 A chapel that was built to house the remains of French Marist missionary Fr Antoine Garin SM is to be restored, but it will be a long-term project. The chapel was built in Nelson’s Wakapuaka Cemetery and is listed as a category one historic place, with ‘special or outstanding historical or cultural […]
WelCom May 2021 Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow at the death of Prince Philip in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, his wife of 73 years. ‘Saddened to learn of the death of your husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Holiness Pope Francis offers heartfelt condolences to your majesty and the members of […]
WelCom May 2021 Catholic organisations are trying to pressure Brazil’s government to do more to protect the South American country’s environment, especially in its Amazon region. The initiative was launched by the Bank für Kirche und Caritas (BKC), a German financial institution connected to the Church. Since 2019, when President Jair Bolsonaro took office, there […]