Sunday, April 7, 2019

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LENT 2019

The Caritas Lenten Reflection Programme


Each year the Lent Appeal is run by Caritas on behalf of New Zealand's Catholic Bishops to support its work of charity and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable around the world, including in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Lent 2019 theme – "Living Our Lives with Love" – is taken from "Gaudete et Exsultate – Rejoice and Exult" by Pope Francis. The key themes are new beginnings, patience, compassion, mercy and love. 

Resources and the Lenten Reflection Programmes are prepared each year for parishes, schools, small groups and the wider community. Links to the resources are available on the linked page.

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Cardinal John Dew calls for overhaul of Catholic Church in Wellington Archdiocese
Soaring insurance costs and a dwindling number of priests have led one of the country's most senior clergyman to call for an overhaul into the way Catholic churches are run in the Wellington region. 

Also: Cost-cutting Catholic authorities to begin closing churches in Wellington

New Catholic cathedral rumoured for prime Christchurch city centre site (includes a link to a 4-minuter documentary)
Christchurch's Catholic basilica was set to be restored after the earthquakes, but word is a new bishop will opt for a new cathedral in a prime, central city location.

Parents of one of NZ's biggest families renew vows on 60th wedding anniversary (photos and video)
It was a special moment for one of New Zealand's largest families as Ann and Bryan Watt renewed their wedding vows after 60 years. After sixty years of wedded bliss, 17 children and a dozen foster kids, Ann and Bryan Watt say the glue to their marriage has been to never speak a terse word to one another... 

Minister refuses state abuse inquiry chair's resignation amid conflict criticism
Sir Anand Satyanand offered to withdraw as head of the country's largest ever state inquiry amid worries about a perceived conflict of interest because of his Catholic faith.

People invited to Share the Journey
Dunedin people are invited to lace up their walking shoes and step out in solidarity with refugees across the globe in today's Share the Journey walk. Launched by Pope Francis in September 2017, the Share the Journey campaign aims to highlight the plight of refugees by encouraging people around the world to collectively walk 1 million kilometres.

When Christian bells rang out for respect and unity
Such has been the extraordinary outpouring of emotions and gestures of solidarity in the past two weeks that even Palmerston North's sleeping civic church was roused from its slumber. While so much attention rightly focused on Christchurch, on the mosques, and those most directly affected by the terror attacks, the tolling of Anglican and Roman Catholic church bells slipped slightly under the radar.

Smith leaves message for Pope Francis at global summit on clergy sexual abuse
Darryl Smith didn't get to speak to Pope Francis but he left him a strong message at a global summit on clergy sexual abuse in Rome recently.

St Mary's clean up 'making a difference'
After Sunday service at church, the community [of St Mary's parish, Gisborne] cleaned up in and around the area by the Campion Road footbridge.

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NEWS OF THE SCHOOLS
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Kavanagh College: Late principal understood the role of sport in pupils' lives

Palmerston North: Long-serving Our Lady of Lourdes principal says goodbye

St Joseph's School [Temuka] development continues with a working bee

St Patrick's College, Silverstream: Shock at delay in removing paedophile priest's photo

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INSPIRED WORD 

Christ and the accusers of the woman caught in adultery (Christ and the sense of sin) - John 8,1-11
A reading and commentary by Fr Edward J. Tyler, NSW, Australia

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CRUX - Edited by John L. Allen Jr. and Inés San Martin


Pope's new youth doc draws largely rave reviews from young consultants
Pope Francis on Tuesday published a new document dedicated to youth, bringing full-circle a process of consultation that began last year when the Vatican reached out to young people around the world ahead of an October summit of bishops on how to better approach them. Called Christus Vivit, the document is 180 pages long and takes into consideration not only what was said during the Synod of Bishops but also what the youth said during a pre-synod gathering that took place in Rome several months earlier...

Will pope's meeting with LGBTQ community prove 'historic'?
This morning, Pope Francis was scheduled to be meeting with members of the LGBTQ community at the Vatican. The encounter is expected to be private, but French journalist Frédéric Martel asserted the pontiff is expected to give an "historic speech" during the event. That claim caused sufficient media buzz that a Vatican spokesman felt compelled Thursday to "categorically deny" that the pontiff would do so...

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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND


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New Zealand Catholic 
Periodicals & Newsletters
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'NZ Catholic' is a national newspaper published by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland. http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz 

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. 'Kete Korero'. https://issuu.com/search?q=%22kete+korero%22

Catholic Dioceses of Palmerston North and Wellington. 'Wel-com'  http://www.welcom.org.nz

Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 'Inform'  https://chchcatholic.nz/?sid=25 (Latest news - Latest Inform)

Catholic Diocese of Dunedin. 'The Tablet' https://catholic-diocese.squarespace.com/back-issues

The Nathaniel Centre. The New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre. 'The Nathaniel Report' http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/

NZ Catholic Education Office. School News Update  http://www.nzceo.org.nz/news/ 

Society of Mary. 'Marist Messenger' http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz


'Tui Motu Interislands'. An independent Catholic magazine. http://www.tuimotu.org/

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New Zealand Commentaries 
on the Sunday Readings
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Fr Frank Bird sm. Living the Word: Sundays of the Year: Discussion Guide - http://livingtheword.org.nz

Marist Messenger. Daily Reflections https://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/

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Facebook
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Catholic Discovery NZ (Catholic Enquiry Centre)

'NZ Catholic' newspaper

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Holy Cross Seminary

Marist Seminary, Auckland NZ

NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference

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News of the Church 
in NZ and the World
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Catholic Herald. Morning Catholic Must Reads : https://bit.ly/2TILT2N

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Events
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Our God is too small: a speaking tour by Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ, Director Of The Vatican Observatory

An astronomer, researcher and author, Bother Guy is visiting New Zealand to discuss his vision of God and our universe. Locations and dates on the linked page.

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Employment 
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Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised on the Website of the Education Gazette: https://gazette.education.govt.nz/vacancies/?Keywords=catholic#results

Vacancies in the Catholic Overseas Volunteer programme: 

Job vacancies in the Catholic dioceses of ...