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).
People from Te Awakairangi Parish and beyond gathered for a special Mass at St Bernadette’s Church in Naenae, on Sunday 9 February, to celebrate Barbara Rowley’s 18-plus years of service as their Lay Pastoral Leader.
A beautifully coloured korowai was gifted to Sr Marie Skidmore rsj for her commitment, faith and wisdom contributed to Catholic Education for almost six decades. The presentation took place at Cullinane College’s senior prize-giving celebrations last November.
Fr Noel Corcino cjm, recently arrived in New Zealand from the Philippines, has been welcomed to the Archdiocese of Wellington.
Jane and Wayne Gillingham purchased the Sacred Heart Church building on Main St, Greytown, Wairarapa, on a whim in December 2023. Their plan was to restore the beautiful building and hope local church groups and other members of the community would want to use it again.
A very important milestone in 2025 is that our Catholic state integrated schools are celebrating fifty years since the signing of the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act (PSCIA) in 1975.
Nau mai, Haere Mai.
It is a pleasure tinged with sadness that I write in the final issue of WelCom. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North have had a strong relationship over many years and we will be sad to see this newspaper go.
‘State of the Nation’ speeches are very popular among politicians, though the cynical part of me believes they are mainly used to either justify what they have done or what they are about to do. I have waited in vain for a speech that outlines a dream or vision for the future.
One in our midst, Honouring Mary in the 21st Century, is a new book of spiritual reflections from well-known Wellington author, Fr James Lyons.
High Wire, a new book of poetry from regular WelCom contributer Michael Fitzsimons, has been published by Wellington publisher Cuba Press. It is his third book of poetry.
Living on the Fault Line – Aotearoa’s bicultural future, Quentin Wilson Publishing, February 2025, is a new book by New Zealand author and retired Anglican Bishop John Bluck.