Sunday, March 14, 2004

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LENT 2004

"Receive children, the future of humanity": Message of His Holiness John Paul II for Lent 2004 (full text) http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=311

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand http://www.caritas.org.nz/lent.asp The theme of Caritas' Lent appeal for 2004 is “The Spirit of Hope is at Work in the World” taken from Pope John Paul II’s World Day of Peace Message, 1998. The donations Caritas receives from this appeal help fund development projects around the world. The Lenten envelopes distributed by Catholic parishes throughout the country, highlight five of these projects and provide information on how Caritas works with communities through sustainable development. Donations by credit card are most welcome and may be made by opening

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CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS NZ

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

MEDIA RELEASE Catholic Church to establish office to evaluate abuse complaints New Zealand’s Catholic bishops and leaders of religious orders confirmed at a meeting last week that an independent national office for professional standards will be established. The purpose of this office is to evaluate and oversee the Church’s procedures for dealing with complaints of abuse....

INTERNATIONAL NEWS CEO chief backs Minister's action on male teachers Sydney Catholic Education Office executive director Br Kelvin Canavan has welcomed Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson's efforts to overturn sex discrimination laws in order to open the way for gender-specific scholarships to encourage more men to become teachers.

Vatican plea at UN for greater role for women An increased role for women will benefit a society that is 'organised solely according to the criteria of efficiency and productivity or of brute force,' the Vatican said in a statement presented at United Nations headquarters in New York last week.

Pope orders top gear evangelisation to counter sects Pope John Paul II has said the Catholic Church must step up its efforts to match the 'spreading' evangelical force of the modern sects that are targeting 'those who find themselves in difficulties and loneliness'.

Vatican tells bishops how to do their job The Congregation for Bishops has issued a 258 page manual offering advice and setting forth norms regarding the use of episcopal authority and the proper responses to contemporary problems.

Most 'Patriotic' Chinese bishops approved by Rome About two-thirds of the bishops of China's state-sanctioned Catholic Church are recognised by the Holy See, according to an article in the Italian Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica.

Haitian bishops voice fears as island spirals into chaos Haiti's Catholic bishops' have described the worsening situation in the country as a 'nightmare', according to a report received by the charity Aid to the Church in Need.

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'WEL-COM'

http://www.welcom.org.nz

From the March 2004 issue of the Wellington and Palmerston North diocesan newspaper...

Cardinal Williams' Column: Were you puzzled by last Sunday’s Gospel?

Bishop John Dew's Refelction: People of patience, kindness, tolerance and hope

Christ’s passion as we have never before experienced it It’s probable that Ash Wednesday 2004 was like no other, as Christians began preparing for Good Friday and Easter. In over 3,000 theatres, it was the opening day of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ which portrayed the 12 hours leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Let us be fair and informed Bishop Peter Cullinane wrote this article in the wake of the race relations controversy sparked by Dr Don Brash when he delivered an address on this topic at Orewa on 27 January.

Orewa speech that sparked the controversy The address delivered at Orewa by Dr Don Brash which sparked the current controversy over race relation in New Zealand

Apology by Crown was part of 1995 settlement with Waikato As a part of that settlement when the Crown addressed the Tainui people of Waikato, Parliament passed into law this formal apology.

The cost of Treaty settlements How much have taxpayers actually paid to settle Treaty grievances

Forgiveness is a choice for us to let go Fr John Heijnen describes his response to the aftermath of a home invasion he experienced two days after Christmas

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'NZ CATHOLIC'

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

From the issue of March 7-20, 2004 of the national Cartholic newspaper ...

Huge floods close Maori boys college FEILDING - Massive flooding in Feilding temporarily closed Hato Paora Maori Boys College last month...

Support for Treaty given by bishops WELLINGTON - The Anglican and Catholic bishops have jointly expressed their support for the Treaty of Waitangi in a statement countering views expressed recently by National Party leader Dr Don Brash...

Prime Minister takes dim view of marriage AUCKLAND - The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has expressed disapproval of marriage in an interview with the gay newspaper express...

Also in the print edition of 'NZ Catholic' ...

Cardinal heads Bible Society; Charities will register or pay tax; Caritas lifting its profile in dioceses; Bishop Meeking in role as pope; How "civil union" bills would harm society; US study highlights factors in abuse; How one parish prepared to lose its priest.

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Cathedral mass for terror victims 13 March 2004 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWBLASTSpainfr22westmass?source= Hundreds of Spaniards filled Westminster Cathedral on Friday night for an emotional mass in memory of the Madrid victims...

Verily, verily The Press (Chch) 08 March 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,2836856a6528,00.html The unusual release of a united pastoral letter from the leaders of the Anglican and Catholic denominations has provoked a remarkably mild reaction, writes The Press in an editorial...

Church angry after religious advertisements rejected (photo) The Age (Melbourne) 11/3/04 http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/11/1078594503631.html The Catholic Church has faced many obstacles to spreading the word in its 2000-year history, but advertising agencies in 21st century Melbourne was not one it anticipated. Slogans such as "Don't look down, look up" and "Talk to the Boss online every day" are too controversial, even illegal, Father Michael Kelly has been told...

'Truth' behind potboiler no Holy Grail of good TV NZ Herald March 14, 2004 http://tinyurl.com/2mv6d What a difference a week makes on TV3's new Thursday doco slot. Last week the network screened the best documentary to air so far this year, In the Line Of Fire... Tonight the slot holds The Da Vinci Code (8.30), an alleged investigation by America's ABC network into the bizarre but hardly new claims that Jesus married, produced offspring and that, after his death and resurrection, his descendants moved to the south of France ...

Maori Underclass Has Emerged (Press Release: NZ Council of Christian Social Services) Monday, 8 March 2004 http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0403/S00061.htm Monitoring of food banks nationally over a three year period has revealed the development and growth of a Maori underclass, according to a recent report of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services....

NZ media accused of exploiting deported girl for commercial gain NZPA 10 March 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2839547a11,00.html Sri Lankan child protection authorities have hit back at "misleading and unethical" New Zealand media reports that a sexually abused girl is being forced into a prosecution...

Frail exterior belies pope's determination to shape Church Financial Times; Mar 13, 2004 http://tinyurl.com/yudm8 Physically weak but more determined than ever to shape the long-term future of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul will tomorrow become the third longest serving pontiff in 2,000 years of Christianity....

Teschemakers school reunion Otago Daily Times Monday, 8-March 2004 [Full text] Tales of midnight feasts and other girlish pranks abounded at a Teschemakers school reunion at the weekend. The Catholic girls boarding school closed in 1978, after being operated by the Dominican Sisters for 66 years. More than 200 former pupils, Dominican Sisters, teachers and friends of the college attended the reunion. A celebratory Mass was held in the Teschemakers Chapel yesterday, followed by lunch and afternoon tea at The Homestead in Oamaru. The organising committee was "overwhelmed" by the response to the reunion. Former pupils travelled from Ireland, Australia and from throughout New Zealand, one of the organisers, Edna Cogger, said.

Former NZ wicketkeeper dies NZPA 09 March 2004 [Full text] Former Wellington and New Zealand cricketer Frank Mooney has died aged 82. Mooney died yesterday and a funeral mass for the former wicketkeeper, who played 14 tests between 1949 and 1953, will be held at the St Anthony's Catholic Church at Seatoun, Wellington, on Thursday at 1pm. He played 91 first class matches in a career that ended in 1955 and made his test debut against England at Leeds in the first test of the 1949-50 tour. His last test was against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in the 1953-54 season.

Henry John O'Reilly: Sporting efforts and a smile hallmarks of Central identity ODT Saturday, 13-March 2004 http://tinyurl.com/3xt9y Harry O'Reilly was well known throughout the Clyde and Alexandra district because of his sporting efforts, his gentle nature and ability to get on with anyone. Mr O'Reilly died last month, aged 74...

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'THE PASSION'

Gibson could make $200 mil off 'Passion' Filmmaker financed film himself, reaps profits CNN Thursday, March 11, 2004 http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/11/film.passion.reut/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Not only has "Passion" managed to turn around what was a decidedly lackluster year at the box office, it's also impacted on Hollywood in ways that are likely to alter how the film industry does business for years to come...

Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir says Gibson’s film is not anti-Semitic http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=483 Beirut (AsiaNews/Nahar) – Cardinal Butros Nasrallah Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, said Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” is “not anti-Semitic at all”. The prelate also said the film is “very tied to the facts, very moving and painful (to watch)”....

"The Passion" Isn't Anti-Semitic, Says Vatican Aide Rome's Jewish Community Wanted the Film Condemned http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=50473 Vatican City, March 11, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican spokesman says the film "The Passion of the Christ" cannot be considered anti-Semitic without also regarding the Gospel the same way. JoaquĆ­n Navarro-Valls made this statement in response to a request from Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of Rome, who, after seeing the film Tuesday, asked that the Vatican condemn it officially....

Vatican sermon criticises Passion http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3506754.stm A Vatican sermon has made a veiled criticism of Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ. Father Raniero Cantalamessa said if the film spread the belief that all Jews were responsible for Christ's death, it should be criticised...

Bishops impressed by "The Passion": "Mel Gibson is like Mother Teresa" http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=480 Manila (AsiaNews) – Even before Bishop Teodoro Bacani of Manila saw the film, he learned from a Jesuit retreat master that the film has the impact of "four spiritual retreats" on its viewers. Hence, the bishop said, it really must be worth it...

Is 'The Passion' suitable for teens? Youth workers' opinions differ http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/20040305.htm Los Angeles (CNS) -- Given the brutal violence in "The Passion of the Christ" and its accompanying R rating, parents, youth ministers and high school teachers around the country are discerning whether or not to encourage teens to see the movie...

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FROM THE OVERSEAS CATHOLIC PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

The Pope prays for victims of terrorist attacks in Madrid http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0403/11_1918.html Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope John Paul II has voiced his deep grief and sympathy to the people of Spain after the string of bomb blasts in Madrid’s underground this morning in which 170 people were killed and at least 600 injured....

Why are the churches failing? The Age (Melbourne) March 10, 2004 http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594360739.html The churches argue they are better attended than football. They are kidding themselves, writes Muriel Porter...

"No rise in the number of atheists in the world” http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0403/10_1907.html Vatican City (Fides Service) - To fulfil the mission entrusted to it by the Holy Father to be at the heart of profound changes at the beginning of this new millennium, the Pontifical Council for Culture felt the need to look again at two serious phenomena: non belief and religious indifference in the world, its actual importance, modalities and impact on believers and the frontier between religion and non belief consisting of so called “new religious movements” or “alternative religions”...

Mary Ann Glendon Named to Head Pontifical Academy Harvard Law Professor Chosen for Social Sciences Post http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=50338 Vatican City, March 9, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II has appointed Harvard Law School professor Mary Ann Glendon president of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences...

Vatican posts for women http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1165025,00.html The Roman Catholic Church has quietly taken a step forward for women's equality, naming the first female theologians as Vatican consultants, and promptly denied the appointments had anything to do with their gender...

Wedged between Israel and Islam, Christians emigrate from Bethlehem http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=475 For 22 years Sister Ileana Benetello, of a Franciscan order of nuns from Padua, has helped run Bethlehem’s Baby Caritas Hospital, a pediatric medical center for poor Catholic children. She works together with 6 other nuns of the same order, 5 of whom are Italian. In an interview with AsiaNews she relates the daily problems and the lives of Christian faithful living in the region....

Sister Nirmala witnesses to Christianity in her Hindu home town http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=463 Ranchi (AsiaNews/Ucan) – “Jesus started chasing me when I was in Doranda and ultimately caught me in Patna.” Mother Teresa’s successor Sister Nirmala Joshi told the hundreds of mostly Hindus who gathered to greet the nun as she visited her birthplace for the first time in 57 years....

Directory Tells What a Bishop Should Be Vatican Publishes Pastoral Guidelines http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=50339 Vatican City, March 9, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Bishops of the 21st century should be men of prudence, humility and chastity, able to listen and to dialogue, with "a heart open to all," says the Holy See...

Arrest of Catholic Bishop Wei Jingyi; from China a call for prayers [Full text] Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On the basis of reliable information Fides confirms that the Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Qiqihar in mainland China, Bishop Wei Jingyi, was arrested on Friday 5 March. The grounds for the arrest are unknown. Bishop Wei Jingyi, aged 45, was ordained a priest in 1985 and appointed Bishop of Qiqihar in 1995. He has already been arrested twice and sent to labour camps: from 1987 to 1989 and more recently from 1990 to 1992. We ask people to pray for Bishop Wei Jingyi and to pray for conversion of the persecutors who continue to harass bishops, priests and lay members of the universal Church.

Review: New edition of the Douay-Rheims Bible, by Father John Buckley, Catholic Dean of Winchester, Diocese of Portsmouth http://www.indcatholicnews.com/dpuayyr.html

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"THE WORD FROM ROME"

http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/

A weekly column in the National Catholic Reporter by the paper's full-time Vatican correspondent John L. Allen

Summary of the column for March 12, 2004: Discussing Karl Rahner; Archbishop Amato on 'The Passion'; appointments to International Theological Commission; Pontifical Council for Culture's survey of state of unbelief in the world; the Catholic Church in Scotland; memoirs of former US ambassador to the Holy See; manners and the shaping of the moral self

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EVENTS

Jesus 4 Real Ministries http://www.jesus4real.org.nz "A voluntary lay ministry committed to building up the faith in Catholic teenagers"

Camp for Years 11-13: Wednesday 14 April to Sunday 18 April, Paraparaumu (near Wellington). Full details on the Website and from Anne and Andy Lovell, tel (06) 364 3141

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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 ]

Prison Chaplain, Mt Eden Prison Women's Division Details in 'NZ Catholic' Feb.22 p.22 and from Eric Allan, Director, Catholic and Family Community Services, tel. (09) 378 9650

Lecturer in Relgious Education, Catholic Institute of Theology, Auckland Details in 'NZ Catholic' March 7-20 2004 p.22 and from The Registrar, Catholic Institute of Theology, 16 Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland 1001. Tel: (09) 379 6424; fax (09) 379 6426; e-mail cit@auckland.ac.nz Applications close 31 March 2004

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