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Dear readers,
This is the last 'News & Notes' of 2008. The newsletter will recommence in
either the second or third week of January 2009, depending on the amount of
news available.

Every best wish for a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

Mike Leon

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'NZ CATHOLIC' - http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

Christmas issue, no. 307 Dec. 21 - Jan 24 2008

In this issue:
2008 in Review ... Colossal Christmas Crossword

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Church's voice moving on (photo)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10549041
The long-time voice of the Catholic Church has been ousted from her job, a
move she believes is in part linked to internal politics. Lyndsay Freer left
yesterday after 23 years' service to the church, surprised to be told that
her role as national director of the Catholic Communications office was no
longer required.

Radio NZ. Saturday, with Kim Hill.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
The second of two interviews with Sister Loyola Galvin, New Zealand Gardener
of the Year

Young vinnies blanket animals with love (photo)
South Waikato News
http://tinyurl.com/4qnoe4
Lost and lonely kittens and puppies will have something warm to cuddle over
Christmas thanks to pupils at Bishop Edward Gaines Catholic School ...

Float
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4780296a6010.html
A group of Timaru school students acting as "slaves" have raised money for
the Child Cancer Foundation. In the lead-up to tomorrow's Funrazor day, year
12 students at Roncalli College have collected more than $2000 from Timaru
businesses. The students acted as unpaid "slaves". The fundraiser was
organised by Libby Zandbergen and fellow students Morgan Jones and Charlotte
Parish. People were very supportive, Libby said. The students will also show
their support for two teachers, Gavin Hamel and David Mills, who will have
their heads shaved tomorrow to raise money to support children with cancer.

Maiden speech from Clare Curran
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/36515/maiden-speech-clare-curran
Tena koutou, koutou te kahui torangapu o Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu. Tena koe
hoki e te mana whakawaa o te whare nei. He kupu whakamihi tenei no roto mai
i te awa o Otakou me ona wahapu ki a koutou e noho nei ki te waha o te ika.
Tena koutou, tena hoki tatou katoa. I dedicate this speech to my
grandmothers; Ellen Kinney and Peg Thompson, two strong willed, but
compassionate women who would be proud, if somewhat astounded to see me
standing here today. I want to talk about honesty, aspiration and community.
I stand here a New Zealander, a union member, a member of the Labour Party,
a mother, and, until very recently, the owner of a small business.

My first job
Bay of Plenty Times â€" â€" 20 December 2008
Each Saturday we talk to a well known local and find out about their first
job. This week it's Brendan Schollum, principal of Aquinas College...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://inspirationaltv.net

'Mary will have a son'
A reading and discussion of Luke 1:26-38 with Fr Chris Skinner and Regina
Perez at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC PODCASTS

http://station15.libsyn.com

'The Fifteenth Station'
In our Christmas episode this year, we talk about kneeling at Mass
continuing in New Zealand, a Bishop that is prepared to die for an end to
abortion, the Tui beer billboards about Christmas, the Vatican going green
and the Beatles being "forgiven". From all of the 15th Station team, have a
safe, happy and holy Christmas!

Catechiwi -- Episode 4: Viva il Papa
Fr Merv Duffy, SM, returns to the Catechiwi hot seat to help explain the
papacy -- not an easy task in 25 minutes or so. Fr Merv speaks with Gavin
Abraham about the biblical origins of the papacy, some good and bad pontiffs
and his time in Rome at the time of John Paul II's death.

Familia - Episode 4
This month’s edition of the Familia Podcast features part two of our special
2 part interview with Dr. Chris Pemberton on the issue of contraception. You
can hear part one of this interview in last month's edition of the Familia
Podcast.

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

Blogs about Catholic life in New Zealand. Some current topics ...

The Parents of Christmas (first Christmas as a confirmed Catholic) ... "Are
you saying ‘boo’ or ‘Boo-urns’? (Catholic movie rewiews) ... The
Importance
of Friendship (with video link) ... The Temptations of Jesus (on reading
Pope Benedict's ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ ... Nuevo Semi-Protestantism ... Harder
Times (Christmas and the recession)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

http://ncrcafe.org/node/507

Unpublished interview with Avery Dulles
Tributes to Cardinal Avery Dulles, who died last week at the age of 90, have
already been penned by people who knew him far better than I did, and who
are in a much stronger position to assess his theological legacy. At that
level, all I can add to what's already been written is "amen." What I can
contribute to the mix of remembrances, however, are the contents of a
previously unpublished interview I had with Dulles two years ago, in October
2006, as part of the research for my forthcoming book on "Megatrends in
Catholicism...."

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH (Regularly updated)

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

http://www.romereports.com (video)

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EVENTS

'Hearts Aflame' Catholic Summer School
9-18 January 2009
St Bede's College, Christchurch
Details:
http://www.heartsaflame.org.nz/HA2009/tabid/1348/Default.aspx


Parachute Music Festival
Mystery Creek, Hamilton. January 23 to 26 2009
http://websites.parachutemusic.com/festival/2009/

Legacy: "Witness the Spirit"
Saturday 21 - Sunday 22 February 2009
Tahaki Reserve, 250 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, Auckland
World Youth Day follow-up for ages 16-35
Details in 'NZ Catholic' no. 307 Dec. 21 - Jan 24 2008 p.8, and from Jo van
Kempen, tel: (09) 360 3023; (027) 249 1448

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EMPLOYMENT

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

Youth Minister. St Peter's College. Parishes of Palmerston North
http://www.dyc.net.nz
Details in 'Wel-com' December 2008 p.12, and from Jonny Boon, email:
jboon@pndiocese.org.nz ; tel: (06) 350 3824 or 021 976 483 Applications
close 19 December 2008.

Seasons for Growth . Trainer / Coordinator
http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/?sid=162
Details in 'Wel-com' December 2008 p.15 and from Barbara Gilray, tel. (04)
385 8642; e-mail: director@wn-catholicsocialservices.org.nz Applications
close 22 December 2008.

Presenters, 'NZ Catholic' newspaper
Details in 'NZ Catholic' no. 307 Dec. 21 - Jan 24 2008 p.22, and from Dennis
Augustine, NZ Catholic, PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144; tel (09)
360 3049; e-mail: advertising@nzcatholic.org.nz