Sunday, December 16, 2001

Dear friends,

In this weekend's 'NZ Catholic' newspaper its Internet columnist Paul Freedman reports that he looked for holiday Mass times on the diocesan Websites, with mixed results. I decided to have a go, and here's the list, which I will repeat in next week's News & Notes, the last one for this year.

Auckland:
http://catholic.org/newzealand/auckland/mainparish.htm
Hamilton:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/hamilton/mass.htm
Palmerston North:
Palmerston North diocese only has a single page Website with contact
details.
Wellington:
http://www.catholic.org.nz/wellington/wellington/Clergy/Parishes/parishes.html
Christchurch:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/christchurch (click 'Parishes' link)
Dunedin:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mpeyroux/masstimes.htm

God bless,
Mike Leon
'kiwicath' forum manager

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

St Vincent de Paul Society Newsletter. Summer/December 2001 http://www.svdp.org.nz/society_news/index.asp

Face of the volunteer continually changing ... Shop managers meet .... National Council seeking a qualified spiritual adviser ...... Hastings considers school scholarships ... National Training officer approved ... Government's tax discussion documents labelled "frightening" ... Nat. Council to write to WINZ about its polices ... News of the Conferences... Young Vinnies news and articles ... Vincentians visit Sri Lankan border areas ... the Kaiwharawhara powder magazine and its Vincentian designer ... Obituaries: Jean Whitnall, Joan Clark

'NZ Catholic' No 127, December 16, 2001 http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

'Church explores cut-price scheme for electricity' An effort is under way to use the muscle of Church agencies and institutions to get a better deal on electricity prices...

'French team to make television documentary on Bishop Pompallier ' Two members of a French film production house have been in New Zealand this month preparing for the return to New Zealand of Bishop Pompallier's remains. ...

'Programme helps youth affirm faith ' The Odyssey Experience, designed to help young adults deepen their Catholic faith, has been test-run in the Wellington archdiocese with great success....

>From the 'Think Page ' for young adults: "What am I here for?" Celebrating a birthday, my radiant wife and I went out for tea to a cute little Italian/Greek café. We got to know the hard-case waiter, who was originally from Yorkshire, and on a perpetual OE around the world. During our last conversation, I asked him if he had thought about what his life is for? His response perhaps typifies the state of people living a comfortable, three-meals-a-day-with-snacks-in-between, "First World" lifestyle: "I try not to think too deeply about things like that.".........

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Lifestyle pressures at heart of birthrate fall ' NZ Herald 12 December 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233404 New Zealand's birthrate is falling as money and time pressures force people to keep their families small. The average number of children for New Zealand women is now two, compared with 2.09 in 1992, says Statistics New Zealand [Includes comment by Catholic Communications Director Lyndsay Freer] ......

'Going eight Rounds for the good of the country (photo)' http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233403 As NZ's birthrate falls, Rebecca Walsh talks to a couple who have done their bit - four times the average, in fact. While New Zealand women have an average of two children, Helena and Rob Round bucked the trend and produced eight..........

'Grieving mates will not let murderers win ' NZ Herald 14 Dec. 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233872 A hint of wartime spirit swelled among more than 20 Panmure RSA veterans, friends and family as they went to their second funeral service this week. The group, travelling on a free bus provided by Stagecoach, were on their way to join about 600 people gathered at St Joseph and St Joachim Catholic Church in Otahuhu yesterday to farewell murdered RSA president Bill Absolum......

'Special lessons teach spirit of Christmas ' Otago Daily Times 12 Dec 2001 (photo) http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=12Dec2001&obje\ ct=NAH1281217ES&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Christmas is about giving not receiving, and a Dunedin school is having a special lesson in giving. The St Francis Xavier School junior class raised funds and then bought children's presents to donate to Catholic Support Services.........

'Trio's long service honoured ' Otago Daily Times 15 December http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Dec2001&obje\ ct=NCG25D2643EC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Three Dunedin men have been awarded Orders of Merit by Paralympics New Zealand for the long service they have given to sports for the disabled. It was a Catholic priest who instigated a sporting association for the physically disabled in New Zealand. The late Fr Leo Close had represented Ireland in the javelin, shot put and discus in the first two Paralympics, in Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964)........

'Lifetime of service from caring Christian Brother ' Otago Daily Times 15 December 2001 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Dec2001&obje\ ct=N9L48E3527IR&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Behind a somewhat imposing exterior, Brother Patrick Aidan McManus was genuinely kind, compassionate and understanding, his colleagues recall. The former principal of the Christian Brothers High School in Dunedin and St Kevins College, Oamaru, rose to become Province Leader of the Christian Brothers in New Zealand for 12 years before he stepped back to lighter duties..........

NZ Council of Christian Social Services : Pressure Is On Families In Lead Up To Christmas Scoop 10 December 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/47/4c/200112101115.a3639692.html Families using foodbanks will be under extreme pressure to go further into debt this Christmas, according to research released today. The Poverty Indicator Project, run by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, shows that of the 2100 households going to the foodbanks included in the Project, over half are in debt.....

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Parish Pastoral Worker, Immaculate Conception Parish, Stratford, Taranaki Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the parish secretary, stratcath@xtra.co.nz

L'Arche New Zealand: full-time live-in assistant, Paraparaumu (north-west of Wellington) Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from Angela Capes, angela@larche.org.nz

Prison Chaplain, Paremoremo Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 p.21 and from Eric Allen, Director, Catholic Family and Community Services, tel (09) 378 9650

Part-time Youth Coordinator, Society of St Vincent de Paul A salaried position promoting the Society to children and young adults throughout the central North Island. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 and from Society of St Vincent de Paul, PO Box 529 Rotorua. Applications close 12 January 2002

Diocesan Manager, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North The appointee will be responsible for all the administration functions of the diocese. Further information in 'NZ Catholic' 18 November 2001 p.20 and in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the Bishops' Office, Private Bag 11-012, Palmerston north. Tel (06) 356 1980. Applications close 22 January 2002