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).

Passionate defence of the unborn

Passionate defence of the unborn

WelCom April 2020: One of the strongest opponents to the Abortion Legislation Bill was National MP Agnes Loheni, who opposed the legislation recommended by the select committee overseeing it, and produced her own minority report.  Ms Loheni has highlighted how of the 25,000 submissions on the bill, approximately 91.6 per cent were opposed to it […]

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SVDP goes green

SVDP goes green

WelCom April 2020: Mike Fitzsimons For the first time St Vincent de Paul has included a commitment to caring for the environment as an integral part of its strategic plan for the next five years. Caring for the planet is an essential part of living the Gospel today, says John Kennedy-Good, national leader of the […]

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Catholics invited to observe Laudato Si’ Week

Catholics invited to observe Laudato Si’ Week

WelCom April 2020: Five years on from the publication of the landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis has urged Catholic communities around the world to take bolder actions to care for creation. In a video message he invites Catholics to participate in Laudato Si’ Week, in May. The week aims to celebrate what has been […]

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Smart phone prayer app released

Smart phone prayer app released

WelCom April 2020: New Zealand Catholics now have an app for prayers with the launch of the NZpray2day app.  The Church’s National Centre for Religious Studies (NCRS) – part of Te Kupenga-Catholic Leadership Institute – announced on Wednesday 12 March, the launch of a prayer app, NZpray2day. The app is available for Android devices.  NCRS […]

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Obituary: Tireless champion for human rights

Obituary: Tireless champion for human rights

WelCom April 2020: Sr Sue Cosgrove dolc Sr Catherine Hannan dolc, who lived a life of compassion and service to the disadvantaged for more than 60 years, passed away in March. Catherine Hannan was born in New Plymouth in 1935 and joined the Sisters of Compassion in 1953. After her profession, she completed her teacher […]

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Fostering understanding and friendship

Fostering understanding and friendship

WelCom April 2020: Fr Ron Bennett The Wellington Abrahamic Council, of which I am a member, is a small group of committed Jews, Muslims and Christians who seek to build better relationships between the three Abrahamic faith communities. They do this through getting to know each other and providing opportunities for the wider community to […]

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Advocacy to raise benefit levels

Advocacy to raise benefit levels

WelCom April 2020: Lisa Beech The Wellington Archdiocesan Commission for Ecology, Justice and Peace, told the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee on 12 February, that raising benefit levels is essential if the Government wishes to achieve its Budget goals to address child poverty and enhance child wellbeing.  ‘Benefit levels are so low it is impossible […]

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New Zealand Lay Missionaries to Britain

New Zealand Lay Missionaries to Britain

WelCom April 2020: Fr Tom Rouse In 1920, 16 priests gathered in Ireland to prepare for their journey to China. They were the first Columban missionaries to go overseas on mission. They would have made their oaths of aggregation and signed their membership agreements. They were probably aware that they were travelling under the cloud […]

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Missionaries come together

Missionaries come together

WelCom April 2020 Mary-Ann Greaney “We are called to participate in the mission of the Church given to us at Baptism.” – Cardinal John Dew The first-ever Mission Expo 2020 in the Archdiocese of Wellington showcased the vast range of missionary outreach in the Archdiocese. On Saturday 14 March, hundreds of people from around the […]

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