Monday, December 9, 2002

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"The wolf lives with the lamb,
the panther lies down with the kid,
calf and lion cub feed together
with a little boy to lead them .....
They do no hurt, no harm
on all my holy mountain,
for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters swell the sea."
(The prophecy of Isaiah 11:6, 9)
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"The 20th century, marked by war and bloodshed, closed with much hope
for justice and peace. However, the tragic events of September 11 have
sharply broken those hopeful expectations. But we must not resign
ourselves. Peace is a gift of God and, at the same time, the fruit of
the daily efforts of people of goodwill." (Pope John Paul II)

Dear friends,

Pope John Paul has asked all Catholics to observe Friday 14 December as
a day of fasting, prayer and alms-giving for world peace. He wishes the
fast to be "a cry of hearts to the Lord, because without his help it
will not be possible to find a solution to the tragic situation now
facing the world." The request was inspired by the terrorist attacks in
the United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, but the
tormented populations of Jesus' own homeland are equally in every
Christian's mind at present.

Some background information on Christian fasting and pastoral guidelines
for the Day are here:
http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=13786

In brief, all Catholics are invited to participate in the day of fasting
of their own free will - "children, who willingly make sacrifices to
help other poor children; young people, who are especially sensitive to
the cause of justice and peace; all adults, excluding the sick but
including the elderly" - according to local custom: eating only one
meal, or taking only bread and water, or waiting until sundown before
eating.

"It will be the responsibility of the Bishop to determine a simple and
effective way of placing whatever is saved through fasting at the
disposal of the poor, especially those who at present are suffering the
consequences of terrorism and war." In this connection please keep in
mind the continuing Caritas Appeal for Afghan refugee relief (details at
http://www.caritas.org.nz/world/USA_&_Afghanistan/afghanistan_proposal_summary.h\
tm#Appeal

)
and your local food bank (food banks have collection bins in the larger
supermarkets).

John Paul II also proposes that the fast should be made in conjunction
with a pilgrimage to places designated by the bishops between Dec. 14
and Jan. 23, the day before an assembly of representatives of the
world's religions at Assisi.

Every best wish and all God's blessings,
Mike Leon
'kiwicath' forum manager

CATHOLIC SUPPLIES, 1918-

In the half-hour "Spectrum" documentary series on National Radio at
12:30 this afternoon, there'll be a programme about Wellington's
venerable Catholic bookshop 'Catholic Supplies', in business since 1918
and still going strong. The Spectrum documentaries are re-broadcast in
the evening during the following week, but I can't recall on which day.
Can anyone advise?

AFGHANISTAN: RECONCILIATION AND REFUGEE AID

Current links on the bishops' What's New page at
http://www.catholic.org.nz/whatsNew.html include ...

War Reactions
Five weeks after Islamic extremists murdered 15 Christians in a worship
service, church leaders across Pakistan say their congregations remain
"tense and fearful" as Christmas approaches ... US Catholic bishops'
pastoral message "Living With Faith and Hope after September 11

Relief and Reconciliation Initiatives
John Paul II has called on Catholics the world over to fast for peace on
December 14, and invited representatives of world religions to meet in
Assisi on January 24, 2002, to "implore from God the gift of mutual
understanding, harmony and peace" ... Muslims and Jews taking up Pope's
invitation to Assisi ...Cardinal Etchegaray, an organizer of "Assisi I"
looks ahead to "Assisi II"

CATHOLIC WEB TV
http://www.catholictv.net/

"The Culture of Life", a Christmas message from Wellington's Auxiliary
Bishop John Dew.

Interview with Maria Boddington, Wellington leader of Life Teen, a
programme for Catholic teenagers of high school age centred on the Mass
and Eucharistic Adoration. The Life Teen Movement's Website is at:
http://www.lifeteen.org At the top of the home page, in the 'Find Your
Nearest Program' menu, there is a link to New Zealand with details of
Life Teen contacts and activities in nine NZ cities and towns.

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"And the band played on . . . "
Otago Daily Times 6 December 2001

The band outnumbered the audience 71 to . . . er, four. An Australian
high school band bravely played a full hour of lunchtime music to a
handful of hardy listeners as the rain poured down in the Octagon
yesterday. The cool temperatures meant instruments kept going out of
tune, but the band struggled on. The Franciscan Colleges band was from
Brisbane Catholic single-sex schools Padua College and Mount Alvernia
College, which shared a music department, head of music Chris Dodemont
said. "We organised for good weather but you guys let us down," Mr
Dodemont said. At the end of every second year, the schools' musicians
went on tour. "We like coming to New Zealand because it feels like a
different country," Mr Dodemont said. The band is on a two-week tour of
the South Island and leaves Dunedin today for Te Anau.

JUSTICE, PEACE & DEVELOPMENT

In 'Caritas Update' Issue No. 28, Summer 2001.....
http://www.caritas.org.nz/Update/28_summer_2001/index.htm

"The World's attention has been focused on Afghanistan in recent months.
We provide a Catholic perspective on war and the US bombing campaign and
summarize what Caritas partners are providing for the thousands of
Afghan refugees. We also take time to reflect upon Catholic Social
Teaching and the workshops Caritas offers for people wanting to tap in
to this valuable resource." ... Letter from the Director ... A Catholic
Perspective on Military Action in Afghanistan ... Muslims & Christians
share grief over Church massacre ... Working for the poor and
marginalized through social change ... Principles of Catholic Social
Teaching ... Caritas Network's response to the Afghanistan Refugee
Crisis & Tents for Refugees ... What is the Caritas One World
Partnership? ... Caritas welcomes our new Education Officer ... Response
to the petition for restraint

EDUCATION

New Zealand Catholic Education Office: "Lighting New Fires" Newsletter
No.7 December 2001
http://catholic.org.nz/nzceo/lnf7.htm

Editorial ... Education Review Office and Ministry of Education to
Share Information and Work Programmes ... More Efficient System for
Teachers on Transfer ... National Nutrition Survey ... Effective
Leadership for New and Future Principals – University of Auckland Course
10 -12 April 2002 ... Ministry of Education Contents and Liability
Insurance ... Min. of Ed. survey of schools' progress with Information
Technology ... Achievements of NZ Catholic schools in brief ...
Interesting Websites

EMPLOYMENT

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

Communications Officer, Catholic Communications' national office,
Auckland
Full time position assisting the National Director and the Catholic
Diocese of Auckland in preparation and distribution of media releases
and other materials, as well as some administration and clerical duties.
Further information here:
http://www.catholic.org.nz/whatsNew.html#cathcomm
and in 'NZ Catholic' 2 December 2001 p.20 , and from:
cathcomm@xtra.co.nz
Applications close Tuesday 11 December 2001.

Prison Chaplain, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
Details in 'NZ Catholic' 2 December 2001 p.20 and in 'Wel-com' December
2001 p.19 and from the bishop's office, tel (06) 357 1980, fax: (06) 359
0091
Applications close 14 December 2001

Tertiary Education Chaplain, Diocese of Palmerston North
Details in 'NZ Catholic' 2 December 2001 p.20 and 'Wel-com' December
2001 p.19, and from Bishop's Office, Private Bag 11-012 Palmerston
North. Tel: (06) 357 1980
Applications close 14 December 2001

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

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



Sunday, December 8, 2002

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ADVENT RESOURCES

Beliefnet's Advent Calendar http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10055.html The calendar is designed to focus a child's interest on the coming of Christ, culminating in the story of the Nativity on 25 December. Each day's feature revealing a story or anecdote associated with the Christian celebration of Christmas. One of the early themes from this interactive Advent Calendar from Beliefnet is Star of Wonder, including information about telescopes and cosmology and an activity for making a Christmas star. The coding behind the calendar prevents users from peeking at stories from the days ahead. Since it operates on U.S. time, New Zealanders have to be patient for at least 12 hours before they can get at the latest material.

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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

The Marist Messenger, December 2002 http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/focus.htm

Full text articles from the current issue ...

** The reality of the Christmas story... Hospitality to the stranger is close to the heart of Christianity. This is a provocative and testing statement. Recently I preached from the Sunday Gospel about such hospitality. Someone who had listened waited after Mass to object to my homily! He politely but firmly asked me, 'Why should we welcome them when we are not welcome in some Muslim countries?' This excellent question has made me think....

** Sunshine through my window ** She has the most gorgeous little cherub face, and beautiful big blue-grey eyes framed by long, luscious eyelashes. Her smile - more a toothy grin - easily breaks into infectious laughter. Her face has graced the cover of New Zealand Family Physician magazine, The Bay News, Anne Geddes' nursery room.com website and IHC promotional brochures. In less than two short years, this little girl with Down Syndrome has become a type of celebrity for those with disabilities, celebrated as downright special....

Also in the print edition : Before the innocence of God ...Two babies in the manger ... Mary's words ... Mother of the Journey ... Table talk -for parents ... Cardinal Vlk of Czechoslovakia ... The strong words of love.

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Push for "values" education " TVNZ Dec 07 2002 [Full text] The Ministry of Education is being urged to heed a global push for spiritual values to be taught in schools alongside academic education. The message comes from a meeting of 30 Asia-Pacific countries under the auspices of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Deputy chairman of New Zealand's National Commission for UNESCO Pat Lynch** says children need to be explicitly taught some key values that are common to many religions. He says without peace, harmony, love, kindness, working together and truthfulness the fabric of society falls apart. Lynch says he hopes draft consultation papers on the secondary school curriculum, which are due to come out early next year, will include a strong spiritual values programme.

** Brother Pat Lynch, head of the NZ Catholic Education Office


Radio New Zealand. "9 to Noon", with Lynda Clarke. 11.00am to Midday 06/12/2002 http://xtramsn.co.nz/musicandvideo/0,,6151,00.html Why are mainstream churches' congregations dwindling? Do New Zealanders still want to live by Christian values? Interview with Wellington parish priest Fr Gerard Burns (audio file, preceded by 12 minutes of news and weather)

"Abused trio get church runaround " NZ Herald 07.12.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3008295&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general Three brothers sexually abused as children by a Catholic priest in Auckland are angry they are still waiting for their case to be resolved eight months after they complained to the church. Church authorities this week admitted that they had failed the brothers and apologised when approached by the Weekend Herald....

"Of God and Gollum " (photo) INL National News 04 December 2002 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2130421a11,00.html It's a question of the Lord and the Rings ... or whether God knows his way around Middle Earth. And it's a question Waikato's Anglican Bishop David Moxon thinks he knows the answer to. Bishop Moxon, a long-time fan of Lord of the Rings, both book and movie, has recently been preaching from the gospel according to JRR Tolkien in an effort to prove Christianity lies at the heart of one of the world's most famous literary trilogies...

"Catholic order pays 70 who claim abuse " NZ Herald 04.12.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3007649&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general A Catholic order has handed out a pre-Christmas bonus of $1500 each to 70 men who complain they were abused as boys by its brothers. The St John of God Order mailed the payments this week to complainants from the former Marylands residential school in Christchurch....

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CATHOLIC WEB TV

Catholictv.net Wellington Archdiocesan Media Centre http://www.catholictv.net

Capt. Annette Garrett of the Salvation Army Hope Centre, Newtown, talks about de-stressing Christmas by keeping it simple and preserving its spirit (Interviewer, Fr Peter Roe)

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CHRISTMAS E-CARDS

http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/ecards/

This is a free services by which, after opening the Website, you can choose a picture with a Christmas theme and send Christmas greetings by e-mail to a friend with the picture attached. Over time, Marist Messenger will add cards and music for other important Catholic occasions, such as Baptisms, Weddings, Confirmations, as well as St Patrick's Day and Easter.

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"BLACK ROBE" : The Jesuit Mission in Canada

Prime TV screened the movie 'Black Robe' last night, a fictional account of the early French Jesuit missionaries in seventeenth-century Quebec. For a more historical view of the period you can read the biographies of Isaac Jogues and his companion missionary-martyrs, and of Kateri Takewitha ("the Lily of the Mohawks"), on the Canadian Martyrs Website http://home.golden.net/~wts/wts/wts-saints-martyrs.html The links include translations of the reports ("Relations") written by the French Jesuit missionaries at the time.

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EVENTS

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January 3-12, 2003 Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School. "Where Faith and Knowledge Meet" St Joseph's Maori School for Girls, 25 Osier Rd, Taradale, Napier http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/heartsaflame

The Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School for young Catholic adults (18-35) offers ... * An opportunity to deepen your spiritual life through personal, communal and liturgical prayer and through celebration of the sacraments * A discovery of the richness of Catholic spirituality and tradition. * An experience of living a common life of prayer, service and recreation * An introduction to theology and scripture * An examination of some of the many issues facing the Church

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24-27 Jan. 2003 Parachute Music Festival, Totara Springs Christian Camp, Matamata

Catholics@Parachute: http://www.parachute.ecatholic.net.nz Parachute Music Festival Website: http://websites.parachutemusic.com Parachute Music New Zealand: http://www.parachutemusic.com Parachute 2002 Photo Gallery ... http://www.parachute.co.nz/festival/gallery/index.shtml... including "Catholic service in the Cage" (photo by Hamish Ferguson) ... http://www.parachute.co.nz/festival/gallery/pages/catholic%20service_hamish%20fe\ rguson.htm

The annual Parachute Music Festival Extreme is the biggest Christian music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, with audiences of over twenty thousand mainly young Kiwis.

Parachute Music, the Festival's sponsor, works to develop NZ Christian music, to market it internationally and to make Christian musicians and performers a major influence in mainstream Kiwi culture. Catholics@Parachute is organising a group booking for Kiwi Catholics so as to a get a reserved campsite (tent city) for their group. The idea is to make attending Parachute Festival easier and more appealing, to encourage fellowship among young Kiwi Catholics and introduce them to Parachute Music's mission. Catholics@Parachute also hope to organise a public Mass on one of the stages, which will be the first Catholic Mass most of those at the Festival will have ever witnessed.

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EMPLOYMENT

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

Vacancies in Catholic Youth Ministry are advertised on the Job Bank page of the National Council for Young Catholics: http://ncyc.org.nz

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Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth, Wanganui. Manager/Hostess The Sisters are seeking a live-in Manager/Hostess to co-ordinate and oversee the running of their busy Centre overlooking Wanganui City. The Centre is the Sisters' hearth-place as well as a place of retreat and reflection, and a conference centre. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Dec 1 2002 p.21 and from Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth, 14 Hillside Terace, PO Box 777, Wanganui. Applications close 20 Dec 2002

The Catholic Network of Marriage Educators. National Co-ordinator Part-time position, involves some travelling. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Dec 1 2002 p.21 and from CNME Trust Board Chairperson, PO Box 1937, Wellington. Applications close 31 January 2003.