Sunday, September 14, 2003

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'NZ CATHOLIC'

No 170, September7-20, 2003 http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/

Big regional churches are likely in Auckland AUCKLAND - Large regional churches look set to become a reality following a review of the way essential pastoral services are dispensed in Auckland. ...

Life turned around by "Welcome home" AUSTRALIA - "When it comes to Catholics evangelising, we don't have to look much further than ourselves," says Jan Heath, the Australian woman who has brought the Catholics Returning Home programme to Australasia. ..

First Mahitahi project a "great success" AUCKLAND - The first person to be sent overseas with the new Mahitahi organisation has completed his short-term assignment in the Solomon Islands with flying colours....


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EDUCATION

Sancta Maria College, Howick-Pakuranga http://www.sanctamaria.school.nz/index.htm

"Sancta Maria College is named after the mission schooner Sancta Maria on which Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier sailed around New Zealand. The College’s name commemorates the historic arrival and work of Bishop Pompallier. There is a comparison between the vessel Sancta Maria being used to spread the Word and our College being a vessel for furthering the Religious Education of young people in our area. It also links the College with the ships and the sea which are so much a feature of our city." Sancta Maria College will open in February 2004, beginning with classes at Years 7, 8 and 9 levels and will continue to grow a new level each year until 2008 when it will offer full schooling from Years 7 to 13.

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SEPTEMBER 11

St. Peter's Parish: Death and Resurrection at Ground Zero http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2003/Feature2.asp

St Peter's Catholic Church in lower Manhattan once stood in the shadows of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The pastor of St. Peter's and other eyewitnesses describe what it was like at Ground Zero on the day the Twin Towers fell—and during the weeks and months that followed....

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POPE JOHN PAUL IN SLOVAKIA

This weekend Pope John Paul is visiting Slovakia, former Czechoslovakia's "other half" and the neighbour of the Pope's homeland Poland, across the Tatra mountains.

Especially in the early years of the Cold War era (1945-1983) the church was subjected to a brutal campaign of repression, with the imprisonment of many clergy and religious and harassment and discrimination against active lay Catholics, while an underground Church was formed to minister to the faithful. during his visit, the Pope He will canonise two martyrs of the persecution - a bishop and a nun - who died as a consequence of their treatment. In his public addresses he is encouraging the Catholics of Slovakia to celebrate and give thanks for their faith in country which, together with the Czech Republic, has the lowest number of declared Christians in Europe.

The Pope in Slovakia: Photo slideshow, video and text reports: http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=world&cat=pope_john_paul_ii

Articles in the Catholic and secular press:

Slovakian Cardinal on the Impact of John Paul II http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=40698

Pope's visit recalls communist-era cruelty to the church in Slovakia http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=world_home&articleID=1405239

Slovakian Catholics and Their Religious Roots Interview With Archbishop Jan Sokol of Bratislava-Trnava http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=40638

Victims of Communist persecution tell their story: for years Vatican Radio only contact with Universal Church and Free World http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0309/09_650.html

Cardinal Korec : The Holy Father’s visit will give us new thrust for evangelisation and a deeper rooting of the faith, so necessary today, for us and for the whole world. http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0309/09_649.html

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EVENTS

September 2003

'NZ Catholic' newspaper's National Art and Faith Competition Closing date: September 19 2003; works to be in by September 30; exhibition opens October 3. For paintings of a spiritual nature demonstrating the vitality, joy and hope found in Christian beliefs. Three categories, including one for works relating to Mary the mother of Jesus, and one for icons. Prizes to the value of $4,750 Entry forms from "Art Competition", NZ Catholic, PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1034. Tel: (09) 360 3069; E-mail: catholic@iconz.co.nz

Related Website: NZ Art Monthly: 'Art and Faith' Competition http://www.nzartmonthly.co.nz/draper_002.html Background to the competition and a selection of entries from 2001

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