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NEWS & NOTES - 16 August 2009

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NZ CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

** Prayerful support for people of Tonga ** (August 14, 2009)
New Zealand Catholics are showing their support and deep concern for Tongan families affected by the sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry in Tonga. Prayers are being said in parishes and schools around the country and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has offered its support to Bishop Paini Mafi of Tonga...

** Child protection and family subsidiarity important, say Catholic bishops ** (August 13, 2009)
The New Zealand Catholic bishops say that both the protection of children and family subsidiarity should be taken into account when considering child discipline...

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

ABs may be saved by (Fr) Bell (photo)
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/sport/news/abs-may-be-saved-by-fr-bell/3902723/
Our Father (who art from Wanganui) will be watching over the All Blacks in their fourth test of the Bledisloe Cup against the Wallabies in Tokyo on October 31. Monsignor David Bell, priest and rugby referee, will be there for our boys in black sending through a blessing and a prayer for a great win.

Heritage threatened. Compassion to be swept away by motorway construction?, by Joanna Newman (photos)
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=9742
With plans for motorway construction around the Basin Reserve, once more Wellington’s heritage is under threat. One site which must not be lost, but which is at risk from our desire to move trucks and cars faster through the city, is the last remaining evidence of Mother Suzanne Aubert’s original mission in Wellington.

Brisbane celebrates MacKillop feast day (photo)
http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/top-stories/brisbane-celebrates-mackillop-feast-day_52381
"Mary MacKillop is for all of us," Queensland provincial of the Sisters of St Joseph Sr Moya Campbell declared at the end of a rousing celebration of the life of Blessed Mary in St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane, last weekend.

The priest (photo)
Tom Lawn tells Leighton Keith what being a father to his flock is like.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/local-profile/2742704/The-priest
New Plymouth Catholic priest Father Tom Lawn sometimes wonders where he fits in. "You don't fit in anywhere, but in another way, you fit in everywhere," he says.

Most mainstream churches back 'Yes' vote in smacking referendum
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10590197
Most of New Zealand's mainstream churches are supporting a "Yes" vote in the referendum on whether smacking should be a criminal offence.

Residents praised for tackling house fire
Northern Advocate — A002 — 15 August 2009
Residents of a tiny North Hokianga settlement have earned firefighters' praise for saving a house next to one of the holiest Catholic sites in New Zealand. The fire broke out about 8.30pm on Thursday in the ceiling of a house near St Mary's Church at Motuti...

Manawatu Standard 10 Aug 2009 Page: 3
More than 500 worshippers flocked to the opening ceremony of the new St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Feilding. The sun shone down on those who spilled out the doors of the church, as Bishop Peter Cullinane led the first sermon.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** Teaching in a Church school **
Sr Helen O'Sullivan talks to Alan Grant about his vocation as a Catholic teacher at Sts Peter and Paul School, Lower Hutt.

** Have life forever **
A reading and commentary on John 6:51-58 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

** Station XV - Episode 24 - Two years old today! **
Happy birthday to us! With today being the Feast of the Assumption, it's been two years since our first episode. This month we talk about a new approach to justice, the referendum on smacking, more anti-Christian violence with more mainstream media silence, clapping at Mass, and Fr Roderick from SQPN.com's Daily Breakfast podcast is coming to New Zealand!!!


** Catechiwi - The Saints Come Marching In **
Catechiwi returns for another show examining the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith. In this month's episode, Fr Peter Fitzsimons explains the Church's understanding of and teaching about saints. Who can become a saint? What does that process involve? How can you live more like a saint? Is using saints to pray actually idolatry? Those questions and more are answered in this programme.


** Familia - Episode 11 **
This month's edition of the Familia Podcast explores the following questions: with the recent referendum on the 'anti-smacking' bill does the Church have any new information to consider before we vote on it; Obama has recently put through some very controversial legislation on abortion in the states, what has been the Churches reaction; is there a set standard that a couple should be looking for in their marriage preparation; why don't we hear more about avoiding pre-marital sex from our priests?

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'BEING FRANK' - http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

‘That is very Catholic’ (the meaning of 'Christian', and 'Catholic') ... 'Mercy - the True Face of God' (on mercy in the Gospel) ... 'Caritas in vertitate…in practice' (on reading the summary version of Caritas in Veritate) ... 'What to make of Medjugorje' ... 'Whose job is it?' (Jesus the worker ... 'Unprotected sex safer?' (contraception and depression)

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

http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic

'High tension' and 'low tension' religious life

Anyone in or around religious life in the United States these days knows two things: New members tend to come from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, especially Hispanics and Asian-Americans; and they tend to be more traditional in both theological outlook and spiritual style than older religious...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EVENTS

Diocese of Palmerston North Youth Festival. 'Real life! Real Power!
Saturday 5 September 2009 10:00 am - 4 pm, Convention Centre, 354 Main Street, Palmerston North.
Details in 'Wel-com' August 2009 p.20 and from Paul Skippen, tel: (06) 354 1780 ext 844; Mobile: 021 976 483; e-mail: pskippen@pndiocese.org.nz

2009 International Conference: Life, Faith and Family
October 2-4, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland
Details in 'NZ Catholic' July 26 - Aug. 8 2009 p.8, from Family Life International, tel (09) 279 2413, fax (09) 279 2418; e-mail: life@fli.org.nz; and on http://www.fli.org.nz

Joshua Catholic Men's Fellowship. Men's Retreats
2-4 October 2009, St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Upper Hutt
16-18 October 2009 Willow Park, Eastern Beach, Auckland
Details on http://www.joshua.org.nz and from John Kinney tel. (04) 475 5541

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

New Zealand Bible Society. Chief Executive
http://www.biblesociety.org.nz
Details in 'NZ Catholic' July 26 - Aug. 8 2009 p.28, and on the Society's Website. Applications close 25 September 2009.

Parish Presenters, 'NZ Catholic' newspaper
Details in 'NZ Catholic' July 26 - Aug. 8 2009 p.23, and from Dennis Augustine, Promotiona and Advertising Manager, 'NZ Catholic', PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144; tel: (09) 360 3049; e-mail: advertising@nzcatholic.org.nz