Sunday, March 12, 2000

Dear 'kiwicatholics',

Many thanks for your reports on the ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday.

Thank you also to Anthony Trenwith for the tip about the Prayer for Lent Web site 'Sacred Space' - http://www.sacredspace.ie - , a step-by-step guide to reflective prayer centred on a daily Gospel passage. I haven't had a chance myself to look around for useful Lent pages on the Internet but if you know of others, please send them in. Ideas for making Lent come alive for children at home and school would be especially welcome.

EASTER TRI-SERIES

To Welliington-area residents: At Easter weekend young adult Catholics from all over the country are coming to St. Patrick's College Silverstream for the Easter tri-series celebration of the liturgy, for three nights: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 20-22 April. If you can offer accommodation for the three nights, please contact Chris Duthie-Jung on: 565 3819 ... (025) 539 246

If any 'kiwicatholic' is actually *going* to the Easter Tri-series, it would be great to read your first-hand report about the weekend.

THE GREAT JUBILEE OF THE YEAR 2000

The document 'Memory and Reconciliation: the Church and the Faults of the Past' caused quite a stir even outside Catholic circles. There are new links to commentaries on it and articles in the secular press on the bishops' Jubilee News and Events page:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/jubilee/news.html

There's more to come. Tomorrow, our time, is designated the Jubilee Year's 'Day of Asking Forgiveness' at which Pope John Paul will ask God's forgiveness on behalf of the Church for the times when Christians have been 'counter-witnesses' to the Gospel . By Wednesday there will be more links on the 'News and Events' page to reports about the Day in the Catholic and secular media.

Of the newspaper articles to date, by far the best I've seen is a thoughtful piece by Chris McGillion in the Sydney Morning Herald at:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0003/07/features/features6.html

The only flaw in the article that I could see was the use of the term 'non-Catholics'. Most of us are so used to this term, we think nothing of it. I suppose there is no harm in it within Catholic circles, but to the person so described it can appear discourteous. There are several denominations which identify with the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" of the Nicene Creed. And how would you feel if an Anglican writer or speaker referred to you and your fellow-Catholics as "non-Anglicans"? If you are communicating with a wide audience, please consider a positive alternative such as "other Christians".

MEDIA RELEASES

A press release from Catholic Communications advertises an international architecture competition. Any professional may take part who has designed a recently-built Christian devotional structure. There is a substantial cash prize. Details at:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/news/news.html

Our sponsor NZ Catholic Education Office has two new press releases: 'Schools trying to keep drugs at bay' and 'School Certificate reprieve' at:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/nzceo/media/M1.html

CATHOLIC PRESS

From the fortnightly national newspaper 'NZ Catholic':
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

'Talkback blasphemy not ruled offensive'
A Radio Pacific talkback host has survived a complaint against him for telling a caller to "take a swallow of the Body of Christ and have a few gins with it". [Links to the Broadcasting Standards Authority and a copy of their decision on the complaint]

'Four secondary head students from one class'
Staff at a small Christchurch Catholic primary school are "chuffed" at the disproportionate success of some former pupils. The pupils were part of the same class at Our Lady of the Assumption School, Hoon Hay. Now aged 17, four are head students at their respective secondary schools and another four hold either deputy-head or other senior student positions. [Photo. Link to Hoon Hay school.]

'St John's students top in NZ '
Two student at St John's College, Hamilton topped the country in School Certificate subjects, in maths and science [Link to St John's College]
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Next week in 'News & Notes': stories from Wel-com, the diocesan newspaper of Wellington and Palmerston North, and the schools' news and educational resources newsletter 'Lighting New Fires' from NZCEO.

Until next post, every best wish and all God's blessings.

Mike Leon
'kiwicatholic' list manager