Marist Messenger closes
The Marist Messenger monthly publication has come to an end. The editorial in the March edition informed subscribers that it was the final issue.
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).
New Catholic Hospital Chaplain commissioned
Wendy Hill has been appointed as a Catholic Hospital Chaplain to work part-time at Wellington Hospital. Wendy took up her appointment in January joining the Wellington Catholic Social Services chaplaincy team.
Medals returned to family
Cecily McNeill (left), a parishioner of Wellington South and niece of Fr James Hugh McNeill, accepts his medals from Archdiocesan Archivist Peter Holm (right). Fr. McNeill was Military Chaplain 1956–1968, receiving campaign medals for Malaya and Borneo followed by an MBE in 1968. On his death in 1994 the medals were to be sent to his relatives but ended up in the Archives. To honour this intention Cardinal John Dew approved the return of the medals to Cecily as a representative of the family.
Applications invited for Catholic Foundation grants
The Wellington Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Wellington makes a significant grant to the archdiocese each year, including chaplaincies and social services. It also makes funding available to the Archbishop for priests’ support and special issues.
Cathedral corner:
Sell your house for the Cathedral!
Anna Geremia-Young sells houses. She is also a wife and mother, has an Italian background and is a parishioner of Te Awakairangi (formerly Lower Hutt) Parish.
Her monthly advertisement in WelCom promises a donation of $400 to the Cathedral Restoration Fund for every parishioner who sells their house through her.
Annette Young’s 60th Jubilee
Sisters, family, friends and parishioners gathered on Sunday 8 January – the Feast of the Epiphany – in the Petone Church of the Sacred Heart, to celebrate with Sr Annette Young her 60 years of faithful service as a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions.
Eucharist in Eketāhuna part of civic celebrations
When the Tararua District township of Eketāhuna marked 150 years since its establishment over the weekend of 11–12 March 2023, local parishioners at Sacred Heart Church registered their Sunday Eucharist as an event for this civic occasion. Some who gathered could trace their family line to the original Scandinavian settlers in the area.
Faith community fundraiser
A parishioner’s random dare placed on the Catholic Parish of Whanganui’s Facebook page, under the Palmerston North diocesan prayer for those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, snowballed into three other parishioners coming forward to organise a fundraising garage sale. These people needed money as well as prayer they figured.
Mika Teofilo farewelled
Mikaele (Mika) Teofilo was farewelled at a morning tea function hosted by the Archdiocese of Wellington in February, after serving 13 years as the Lay Pastoral Leader of the Samoan Chaplaincy. His chaplaincy comprised 12 communities with over 800 members in the archdiocese.
Catholic interfaith committee meets in Palmerston North
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations (NZCBCIR) met in Palmerston North on 4 and 5 March.
Every diocese in Aotearoa New Zealand has a representative on this committee. Each representative is member of their local Interfaith Council, which all have representatives from different religious traditions. Bishop Michael Dooley of Dunedin liaises on behalf of NZCBCIR with the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference.