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ADVENT 2004
"Our Lady of the Sign" An Icon by Fr William McNichols http://www.puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/images/advent.gif
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
Tom Flannery Farmer, Central Otago identity (obituary) Otago Daily Times 20 Nov. 2004 http://tinyurl.com/43ntr Tom Flannery, a family man of great faith and a Central Otago identity, died in Alexandra recently. He was 85. A Poolburn farmer for many years, Mr Flannery was also a justice of the peace and, as a stalwart of the Catholic Church, was renowned for his community work...
School ruling angers parents http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,3109965a6009,00.html The Press (Chch) 27 November 2004 Sean Thomson thought he was a faithful, good-living Catholic man, until a job application was rejected partly because he was "living in sin". Yvonne Martin reports on a holy row...
Family angry over will Sunday Star Times 28 November 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/0,2106,3110949a6442,00.html Family and friends of an elderly woman who died, leaving her home to a Catholic priest, are outraged. Elizabeth Yeoman, 84, died last month, leaving Christchurch priest Father Raymond Schmack her house...
Faithful lungs may be at risk http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3105365a10,00.html The Press (Chch) 23 November 2004 A church service may be good for the soul, but is it damaging your lungs? A Dutch study has found that burning candles and incense inside a poorly ventilated church can produce high levels of fine airborne particles....
Destiny teens pledge no alcohol, drugs or sex before marriage NZPA 27 November 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3110092a11,00.html About 200 teenagers declared they would abstain from alcohol, drugs and sex before marriage at the launch of a Destiny Church programme in Auckland last night...
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FROM THE OVERSEAS CATHOLIC PRESS & NEWS AGENCIES
Brian O’Connor: “My story, a Christian in a Saudi jail” http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1976 Exclusive interview with Brian O’Connor, an Indian Protestant accused of evangelising activities and freed after an international campaign supported by AsiaNews...
Return of Relics to Rekindle Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=62567 Vatican City, Nov. 25, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Theological dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches is expected to resume after the relics of Sts. Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom are returned to the patriarch of Constantinople...
'Aggressive secularism' threat to freedom, says Ratzinger The Tablet (UK) http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/citw.cgi/past-00207November 2004 God is being pushed to the margins of society, thwarted by an "aggressive secular ideology", according to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in an interview in the Italian daily La Repubblica...
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CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS NZ
International News
http://www.cathcom.org.nz
Bishops propose abortion alternatives Catholic patients "denied access" to chaplains Church agencies back Queensland prisons report Catholics rebuild churches in Iraq despite ongoing violence Pope identifies Eucharist as the parish's 'beating heart' Irish missionary murdered in Kenya robbery
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CHARLES II: THE POWER AND THE PASSION
TVNZ - TV One, Sunday 27 November 8:30 PM
In the final episode of this series, Titus Oates in collaboration with Lord Shaftsbury launch "the Popish Plot" with fatal consequences for the Catholics in the king's circle and for many underground priests. Charles dies, after converiotng to the Catholic faith, in the presecne of Father Huddlesstone who helped to conceal him when Charles was fugitive form Cromwell.
The BBC's summary of Episode Four (2 pages) http://www.bbc.co.uk/charles/episode4/index.shtml
The Catholic Encyclopedia's article on Father Huddleston ... http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07511a.htm
... and on Oates's Plot http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11173c.htm
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THE FAR EAST
The monthly magazine of the Australian and New Zealand province of St Columban's Mission Society
http://www.columban.org.au/tfe/tfe_current.htm
From the October issue ...
Editorial: Small is beautiful Henry Lawson (1867-1922), one of Australia’s early short story writers, wrote a ballad ‘When the world was wide.’ The title has always appealed to me and I have always felt that it applied to Columbans. This issue of the The Far East proclaims that the world is wide. The locale of the stories take in China, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan, Japan, Peru, Myanmar, Korea and the Philippines....
From the Director : But do they help the poor? In election campaigns many policies are presented for the benefit of society. How do we know which are the best ones? What criterion should we use to judge what is being proposed? From years of working in poor countries, the question Columbans ask is “Do they help the poor?”...
Women in Christian Mission. In July this year Sr Susan Smith rndm spoke at a Mission Conference in Melbourne and Sydney on the theme, The Story of Women in Christian Mission. She began her talks by explaining that the role of women in Christian mission is difficult to access because traditionally, histories of mission have been ‘his stories’ rather than ‘her stories....’
Disposable elderlies, by Paul McCartin On the train from Tokyo to Suwa, in Nagano Prefecture, I saw a signboard explaining the origin of the name of Obasute, a station near Nagano City. Obasute means ‘abandon old women.’ The signboard explained that many years ago the lord of the region ordered that all old people in his domain were to be thrown out of the home and abandoned. One man could not bear to abandon his elderly mother and decided to hide her....
Catechists are crucial, by Joseph Ramon Joseph Ramon tells of the Silver Jubilee of the Catechetical school in Edin, Myitkyina.
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SUMMER READING FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
These books can be borrowed at many public libraries, or requested via interloan. Shelf numbers may differ.
********** (non-fiction) **********
362.7 WIL Mean streets, kind heart : the Father Chris Riley story, by Sue Williams. Pymble, N.S.W. : HarperCollins, 2003. Publisher's note: Australian streetkids are the forgotten underclass of society, an ever-increasing pool of children who are often abused, frequently in the clutches of drug dealers, and usually engaged in crime just to make enough money to stay alive. Their childhood dreams of a happy, loving future are lost forever. This book tells of Father Riley's faltering first steps towards helping such children, and his determination to pledge the rest of his life to giving them back their dreams. Throughout the triumphs and the tears is Father Riley's inimitable humour, his sense of fun, and the indomitable spirit that has entranced so many of the kids he's helped.
262.13 TOB Selecting the Pope : uncovering the mysteries of papal elections, by Greg Tobin. London : Robson, 2004. Publisher's note: Award-winning author Greg Tobin offers a compelling guide to what is sure to be one of the most important and headline-making events in modern history - the election of the next pope. 'Selecting the Pope' examines each rule of this secretive process and explores the rich history behind the conclave and the key issues that will shape the future of the Catholic Church.
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"THE WORD FROM ROME"
http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/
Summary of the column for November 26, 2004 ... The World Congress on Consecrated Life; Cardinal Martino receives the International Prize for Peace 2004; Debate over norms governing cases of priest sexual abuse reopens; the Paulist Fathers' American parish in Rome; the Church’s response to HIV/AIDS; Spanish cultural wars; Rocco Buttiglione comments on his rejection by the EU Commission; Mary Ann Glendon and the transmission of the faith to young generations; President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; Comments on decentralization
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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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Executive Secretary / Personal Assistant, Catholic Tribunal, Wellington. Details in 'Wel-com' November 2004 p.17, and from: The Catholic Tribunal, 22-30 Hill Street, PO Box 1937, Wellington 6015. Tel: (04) 496 1727; fax: (04) 496 1726; e-mail: tribunal@wn.catholic.org.nz Applications close 30 November 2004
Pastoral Care Coordinator, Te Korowai Atawhai, St Joseph's Mercy Hospice, Auckland. http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/auckland/offer_health.html Details in 'NZ Catholic' Nov. 28 - Dec. 11 2004 p.19, and from Jan Nichols, Executive Manager, St Joseph's Mercy Hospice, PO Box 9911, Auckland. Tel: (09) 623-9757; e-mail: jann@mercy.co.nz
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Assistant Editor, 'NZ Catholic' newspaper
The national Catholic newspaper 'NZ Catholic' seeks a senior journalist for the position of assistant editor, with the prospect of taking over the managing editorship of this award-winning publication.
Besides a strong newspaper background, and writing and subbing strengths, the successful applicant will have a personal commitment to and knowledge of the Catholic Church, and an enthusiasm for the mission of the Catholic press.
The managing editor, who reports to a board of management, is responsible for NZ Catholic¹s editorial direction, strategic planning and business operations. Leadership and management skills are required.
A competitive salary, including superannuation, is provided for this Auckland-based position.
Inquiries and applications should be made to the managing editor, Pat McCarthy, PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland; tel. (09) 360-3069; email catholic@iconz.co.nz Applications close December 6, 2004.
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EVENTS
"Hearts Aflame" Catholic Summer School Sacred Heart Hostel, Hamilton, Friday 31st of December 2004 - Sunday January 9th 2005 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: A deepening of your spiritual life through personal, communal and liturgical prayer and 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 January 28-31 2005
The annual Christian music festival, takes place on Auckland Anniversary weekend (last weekend of January) at Totara Springs Christian Camp, Matamata.
Parachute Festival Website: http://websites.parachutemusic.com/festival/2005/default_noflash.asp
Catholics@Parachute: The young Catholic presence at Australasia's biggest Christian music festival is growing by the year.. The National Council for Young Catholics coordinates the bulk purchase of tickets and the set-up of a Catholic village on site. Contact Jamie Cox: jamiec@cdh.org.nz
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