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 July 2017: The NZ Catholic Bishops congratulated Fr Bernard Espiritu SVD on his reappointment National Director of MissioNZ by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Rome. Fr Bernard Espiritu has been the New Zealand National Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies since 2012. He was born in the Philippines, and following ordination with the […]
WelCom July 2017: Dr Rebecca Miller, Programme Manager for People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons, Immigration New Zealand, spoke at a recent evening meeting with members of ANZRATH in Wellington. She described the extent of labour exploitation in New Zealand and the intimidation and coercion that often accompany this. ANZRATH is a group of Religious and […]
WelCom July 2017: Cardinal John Dew presented Margie Crook a Benemerenti Medal on behalf of Pope Francis at Mass at St Benedict’s Church, Khandallah, on Sunday 23 April. Margie was awarded the papal honour for her services at St Benedict’s parish as secretary for 19 years, from which she retired last year. During those years Margie worked […]
WelCom July 2017: Parishioner, Merrilyn George of St Joseph’s Church, Ohukune, and teacher at Ruapehu College, has been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Queens Service medal for services to education and the community. Merrilyn has taught at Ruapehu College since 1966 including in areas of technology, art, mathematics, science and Te Reo Māori […]
WelCom July 2017: Steven Thomas Hancy was born in Wairoa on 23 September 1953. After studying at Holy Cross College Mosgiel from 1981 to 1987, he was ordained to the priesthood on 6 February 1988. He is remembered for his gentleness and quiet faith as he loyally served the Palmerston North Diocese and its parishes in Hawera, […]
WelCom July 2017: Parish Priest of Whanganui Pastoral Area – Te Parihi Katorika Ki Whanganui, Fr Marcus Francis, was welcomed on Pentecost Sunday onto Kaiwhaiki Marae, 20 kilometres upriver from Whanganui township. In his welcome, kai korero (speaker of the day) and local historian, Kohunrangi Simon, explained how Fr Lampila sm arrived in 1853 to establish a […]
WelCom July 2017: Wellington Mayor, Justin Lester, recently presented St Mary of the Angels parish priest Fr Barry Scannell with an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian Award. The city council’s awards acknowledge members of the community who have made outstanding contributions to the Capital and its people. Mayor Lester said, ‘These awards are about recognising the people who selflessly […]
WelCom July 2017: Life looks a whole lot different now for the participants in a re-gathering that took place over Queen’s Birthday Weekend. The Leadership Formation Programme (LFP) ran in the Archdiocese of Wellington between 1997 and 2009. During those 12 years more than 250 young people aged between 18 and 25 years participated in an […]
WelCom July 2017: Tim Donkin, a year 10 pupil from St John’s College, Hastings, took part in the Junior Prepared Speech section at the O’Shea Shield competition in Lower Hutt over the weekend of 13–14 May. Tim’s speech was titled ‘Perseverance’, which is something Tim knows only too well as he suffers from the genetic, chronic […]
WelCom July 2017: St Michael’s Church Youth Group Taita, of Lower Hutt’s Te Awa Kairangi Parish, hosted their fourth annual youth fellowship over Queen’s birthday weekend. Led by guest MC Viane Makalio of the Christchurch Youth Team, this enjoyable event held in Taita brought together around 80 youth from within our Wellington region. Parish priest Fr Patrick […]