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).
The Pope’s charitable efforts continue towards Ukraine, a country he has long described as ‘martyred’, with trucks loaded with essential supplies leaving Rome for the war-torn country.
In a surprise announcement, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Richard G Henning of the Diocese of Providence as archbishop-elect of Boston. Henning, who has only been a bishop since 2018, will replace 80-year-old retiring Cardinal Seán P O’Malley, who has served as one of Francis’ closest advisers since the beginning of his papacy.
Pope Francis will make an official visit to Belgium, 26–29 September, where he will preside over the Eucharist before more than 35,000 people. The event has generated significant enthusiasm, with all tickets for the Mass already distributed.
As the next meeting on synodality happens at the global level we need to do our best to ensure that those who spent time on prayer in putting forward their hopes and dreams for change.
“Hope has two beautiful daughters, Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” – Attributed to St Augustine
The Wellington Archdiocese Ecology, Justice and Peace commission’s Integral Ecology committee organised two workshops in early August to offer and lead people with creative initiatives and resources for celebrating the Season of Creation during September.
When in 2023 Ōtari Parish was surveyed by their Parish Justice, Peace and Development group, the community made it known it wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This led to a recent offering to take part in a two-part video and discussion programme called ‘Belonging in this Land: Treaty Basics from a Christian Perspective’.
National statistics show our aged population is increasing exponentially and our elderly are now becoming a significant part of the peripheries we are called to encounter.
Several members of various migrant communities came together at the newly re-opened Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on 13 July to celebrate their cultures through prayer and fellowship.
St Anne’s Church, with its distinctive sparkling stained-glass steeple and tiered seating, was packed for the last Eucharist to be celebrated at the church in Whanganui East, after 82 years.
On 27 September hundreds of thousands of members in 153 countries round the world will celebrate the patronal feast of the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
The Society as we know it was founded in Paris 1833 by Frederic Ozanam and his young friends – aged late teens and early twenties – as means to develop their faith.