Sunday, December 21, 2003

Dear friends,

This is the last "News & Notes" for 2003. As usual, I'm going to take a break for three or so weeks, and will start again early in the new year.

Time now to say Thank You to Pauline for contributing the daily Scripture readings and Reflections; to my helper (who wishes to remain anonymous) for reviewing the new newsletters; and to all the members of the Kiwicath forum and its little brother 'Kiwcath News & Notes' on MSN Communities: thank you for staying with us and passing on the good bits to your friends.

Every best wish and all God's blessings this Christams, and in the new year.

Mike Leon 'Kiwicath' forum manager

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ADVENT - CHRISTMAS 2004

On the Expectations of Advent: A "proclamation of hope" http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46388 Vatican City, Dec. 17 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul II's address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to a reflection on the mystery of Christmas....

Mother Teresa's "Dark Nights" Can Teach Us a Lot, Says Preacher Father Cantalamessa's 2nd Advent Homily for Pope and Roman Curia http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46164 Vatican City Dec. 14, 2003 (Zenit.org).- From the dark night of the mystics such as Mother Teresa, we can learn "how to behave in the time of dryness,". Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Papal Household preacher, delivered that message Friday when he gave his second meditation for Advent 2003, on Christian holiness in the light of the experience of Mother Teresa of Calcutta....

Christmas 2003: Young musicians from all over the world carry message of peace with concerts in Jerusalem and scholarships for Israeli and Palestinian music students http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0312/15_1399.html Jerusalem (Fides Service) With the sponsorship of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land the World Youth Orchestra WYO will give a series of concerts December 20 and 21 in Jerusalem, Ramallah and to the Jewish-Arab community in Nevé Shalom (north of Jerusalem)...

Kosovo: Young Muslims Join In Christmas Mass Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/12/16122003165720.asp Prague, 16 December 2003 -- Dom Nosh Gjolaj, a priest at St. Ndou Roman Catholic Church in the Kosovar capital, Pristina, expects overflow crowds this Christmas for the traditional midnight Mass celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. What is remarkable is that about 10,000 members of Father Gjolaj's midnight congregation will be young Kosovar Albanian Muslims....

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'NZ CATHOLIC'

Headlines from the Dec. 21-Jan. 24 issue of NZ Catholic (a special Christmas/holidays issue):

Ten tips for parishes without a resident priest; Answers to readers¹ most common questions; New translation of missal coming; Pope says silence is missing from Mass; Miss America speaks on chastity; Faith motivates The Passion star; National calendar for 2004; Romance began with Rendezvous ...... and A Day in the Life of NZ Catholic.

The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on January 25.

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CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS NZ

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

International News -** Perth archbishop backs Premier's stand on religious freedom ** Rockhampton Diocese compensates nine abuse victims ** Pope says Christmas offers hope to world plagued by conflict ** Iraq to return religious buildings seized by Saddam ** ACU supports education in East Timor ** Bishops present ethics teachings in new booklet

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BIOETHICS - THE NATHANIEL REPORT

Report of the Nathaniel Catholic Bioethics Centre Issue 11 , Nov. 2003 http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/nr_issue_11.html

Full text: Editorial: 'Anniversaries'. A reflection on three significant events -fifty years since the discovery of the three-dimensional structure of DNA, thirty years since the famous "Roe v Wade" decision that legalised abortion in the United States, and ten years since the release of the encyclical Veritatis Splendor -and the moral connections between these anniversaries.

Summaries: Gospel Perspectives for an Embodied Spirituality of Care Submission on Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill

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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE, 1 JAN. 2004

Pope John Paul II s message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2004 (full text) http://www.fides.org/eng/magistero/2004/jpii_mess_010104.html

Message for the Church s 37th World Day of Prayer for Peace (Summary) http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0312/16_1412.html Vatican City (Fides Service) An Ever Timely Commitment: Teaching Peace is the theme of Pope John Paul II s Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2004 which was released on 16 December in the Vatican...

Message for World Peace Day 2004 (Commentary) http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=163 The amazing thing is that his Message [is primarily addressed to] not only Catholic believers, churches, and parishes but also heads of nations, jurists, educators and even terrorists who, in choosing violence, compromise their very cause at its core . The pope says to everyone that peace is possible and that it is even a duty....

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

The Scoop on the Pope Newsweek Dec.22 http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3704902&p1=0 Outside of the North Korean government in Pyongyang, no bureaucracy is harder for a journalist to crack than the Vatican's. And no one does it better than John L. Allen Jr., Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, an independent weekly newspaper...

"Who will be the next pope?", by John L. Allen Jr., The Boston Globe 14 Dec. 2004 http://tinyurl.com/27u7z Picking a pope is a bit like hunting for one's dream house... Similarly, in electing a successor to St. Peter, members of the College of Cardinals start with an ideal vision of the kind of man needed to lead the church. Usually that vision is constructed on the basis of six criteria ...

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IRAQ AFTER SADDAM

The serpent s head has been crushed: Our fears are finally over . http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=160 Rome (AsiaNews) - Bishop Rabban al Qas, age 54 and of Kurdish origin, is elated to say the least. The serpent s head has been finally crushed, he said. Now we can peacefully rebuild our country with the help of a military presence he defines as liberating and not occupational ....

With regard to who should judge Saddam Hussein, Most of us were victims of his dictatorship, we all applauded him when he was in power Iraqi priest told fides http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0312/15_1404.html

Christians under Saddam suffered persecution http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=165 Verona (AsiaNews) Now that tyranny is under lock and key, Iraqi Christians are now open with about their tales of suffering and persecution during the Saddam Hussein era...

Iraqi Christians appeal to people of Mosul: A minority of extremists must not be allowed to destroy Mosul s traditional image of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0312/17_1413.html

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'THE FAR EAST' Magazine of the NZ and Australian missionaries of St Columban's Missionary Society Nov.-Dec. 2003 http://www.columban.org.au/tfe/tfe_current.htm

Full text articles online ...

** The Director's Message ** Surviving Christmas in Peru ** Another Beginning (Fr Kelly speaks about how Columbans and Christian Brothers are working together in China after a lapse of 70 years) ** New Blessing in Shanghai

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EVENTS

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"Pompallier: Te Hokinga Mai": The Journey home of Bishop Pompallier Auckland Museum 18 October 2003 to 18 January 2004. Website: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/web/content.cfm?Id=565 An exhibition of over 100 photographs supplemented by a number of Pompallier's personal effects including his travelling altar and cope.

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"Hearts Aflame" Catholic Summer School 2-11 January 2004 Website: http://heartsaflame.org.nz The Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School offers young adults (18-35 years old) an opportunity to learn more about the teachings of the Church, through: 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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Parachute Music Festival, Mystery Creek, Hamilton, 23-26 January 2004 Website: http://p04.parachutemusic.com/frameset.asp

The annual Christian music festival. Every year a Catholic "tent city" is set up at the Festival, and an all-comers Mass is celebrated, undoubtedly the first experience of a Catholic liturgy for most Festival-goers. Co-ordinator: Jamie Cox. E-mail: jamiec@cdh.org.nz

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Catholic Festival: A Celebration of the Catholic Faith Auckland Town Hall, Friday 27 - Sunday 29 February 2004 Website: http://www.catholicfestival.org "The Catholic Festival is a celebration of our faith that will be joyful, prayerful, reflective, informative and educational. We hope that it will be inspiring and life-changing for all who participate... We seek to provide the opportunity for anyone to display the gifts that God has given them... We also wish to celebrate our cultural diversity and to grow together in unity. From the centre of Auckland, we also have the opportunity to witness to our faith and help others to see its richness and beauty. Finally, there is the opportunity for the many groups and religious communities to promote their apostolates and seek members and vocations."

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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 ]

Receptionist - Office Assistant, Archdiocese of Wellington. Details from Lorraine McArthur, Director, archdiocesan Pastoral Services, PO Box 1937, Wellington. Tel (04) 496 1706; fax: (04) 496 1768; e-mail: l.mcarthur@wn.catholic.org.nz applications close 31 December 2003

Manager, Vincentian Home and Hospital, Berhampore, Wellington Details in 'Wel-com' December 2003 p.21, and from John Grogan, secretary, Vincentian Home and Hospital PO box 1937 wellington; tel: (04) 569 6809; e-mail: jagrogan@paradise.net.nz

Managers, Manna Healing Centre, Oakura, Taranaki Full-time Live-in position for a married couple. Manna is a five-bedroom residential care facility. Details from The Managers, Manna Healing Center, Upper Wairau Road, Oakura RD4, New Plymouth. Tel: (06) 752 7620