Dear readers,
'Kiwicath News & Notes' will now take a break for a couple of weeks. It will return in 2024 when there is something to report. I wish you a very happy Christmas and all God's blessing in the new year - Mike Leon
"And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world." Pope Francis. 'Urbi et Orbi' message, Easter 2013.
NZ CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE
RIP Thomas Cardinal Williams 20 March 1930 – 22 December 2023
Cardinal Tom Williams, ONZ, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington has died, aged 93. Cardinal Williams became Archbishop of Wellington on 20 December 1979 – the 20th anniversary of his priestly ordination – following the death of Cardinal Reginald Delargey. He was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 2 February 1983 ...
NZ Catholic bishops urge Government to reduce stress on young families to counter rising abortion numbers
New Zealand's Catholic bishops say the rise in abortion numbers since a 2020 law change is a tragedy and they want the new coalition Government to promote policies that reduce stresses that can lead to mothers opting for abortion ...
NZCBC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicNZ/
** Pope Francis has expressed his sadness upon learning of the death of Cardinal Tom Williams, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, who passed away on Friday.
** Details of the services and funeral arrangements for Cardinal Tom.
** Pope Francis is asking for prayers for Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel. "Please, let us think about Palestine, about Israel. Let us think about Ukraine … tormented Ukraine, which is suffering so much."
** The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem expresses distress at the alleged murders of two women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, where Christian families have been sheltering from the war.
** The Catholic Education Convention 2024 will bring together Catholic educators, bishops, priests, school trustees and a range of others associated with our national Catholic education system.
** Auckland Vicar for Maori Manuel Beazley (pictured with Pope Francis) has told NZ Catholic it was "quite a surreal experience" talking to the Pope during the October synod meeting at the Vatican.
** Pope Francis has approved the Declaration "Fiducia supplicans" issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, making it possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage.
** New Zealand's Catholic bishops say a rise in abortion numbers since a 2020 law change is a tragedy and they want the new coalition Government to promote policies that reduce stresses that can lead to mothers opting for abortion
** As Pope Francis turns 87, he encourages Christians to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
** Pope Francis launches a heartfelt appeal for an end to the "terrorism" of war, and condemns an Israeli military attack on Gaza's Holy Family Catholic Parish, which killed two Christian women and destroyed a convent of the Missionaries of Charity.
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
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Cardinal Thomas Williams ONZ, 1930 - 2023
NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference. RIP Thomas Cardinal Williams 20 March 1930 – 22 December 2023
Cardinal Tom Williams, ONZ, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington has died, aged 93. Cardinal Williams became Archbishop of Wellington on 20 December 1979 – the 20th anniversary of his priestly ordination – following the death of Cardinal Reginald Delargey. He was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 2 February 1983 ...
1News. Cardinal Tom Williams, ONZ, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington has died, aged 93, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference confirmed today.
ODT. Cardinal with links to Otago dies age 93
RNZ. Cardinal Tom Williams dies, aged 93
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Auckland Church leaders' Christmas message: Telling the Christmas Story
Across every continent and language, millions of people will stop what they are doing this Christmas to remember the birth of a baby named Jesus. As Auckland Church leaders, we want everyone to hear this story and to consider what it might mean to experience, as in the words of the Christmas carol, "glad tidings of comfort and joy" ...
Miniature nativity scenes made by pupils
The traditional roots of Christmas hope were modelled in miniature nativity scenes at St Joseph's Catholic School in Balclutha last week. "They can be a gift to grandparents or other family to put on the mantelpiece or by the Christmas tree as a reminder of our faith," Emily Budge said ...
Gore neighbours showcase ability on track
Neighbours, schoolmates and good friends, Max McGregor and Millie McFadzien, won gold medals in the same event, the junior boys' and junior girls' 2000m steeplechase of the National Secondary School Track and Field Championships in Christchurch. The pair run together, catch the school bus together and go to the same church, so victory in Christchurch came as no surprise ...
Kiwi teen accepted into Ivy League university in the US (text and video)
Charm Tuala was sitting in the living room of his Auckland home, when the message flashed across his screen: he had been accepted into Brown, an American Ivy League university. His family cheered. Tuala's grin took over – he couldn't believe it ... (Charm Tuala was head boy of De La Salle college in 2022.)
Memory Box: The church on a site bought for five shillings
Amongst the twelve 'must see' buildings featured in the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects' Guide to Waikato Architecture is Huntly's Catholic church. A post-war Modernist design, St Anthony's (1967-68) stands between the former St Genevieve Convent of the Sisters of the Mission (1931-32) and the former presbytery (1929) on Great South Road ...
The New Zealand Catholic Church's Institutional Response to Clerical and Religious Sexual Abuse: A Critical Analysis, by Christopher Longhurst.
Redress for clerical and religious sexual abuse in the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand is provided to victims and survivors through the application of a protocol titled Te Houhanga Rongo—A Path To Healing (APTH). The following critically examines the effectiveness and credibility of APTH in light of testimonies from victims and survivors, advocacy groups, experts, lawyers, and the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
Part one: Core APTH criteria. Survivor redress testimony
Part two: Current situation in New Zealand. 'The Light of the World'. Conclusion.
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) (Mass videos will resume on 4 February 2024)
Today's Mass is celebrated by Monsignor Bernard Keily at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Balmoral, Auckland. It can be viewed at:
Sunday Mass is also broadcast on Shine TV (Freeview channel 25) at 2 pm and live streamed at:
https://www.shinetv.co.nz/videos/live (only viewable in New Zealand).
RNZ. Hymns on Sunday, 24 December 2023 (audio and text).
Hymns for the Fourth Sunday in Advent include: O Holy Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
New Zealand Commentaries on the Readings for the Sundays of the Year:
Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent by Fr Anthony Trenwith (podcast):
Your Catholic Corner (podcast)
A 30-minute reflection and commentary on the Sunday readings by Julie South.
Models of Courageous Faith: Lessons on Trust from David, Paul, and Mary.
Marist Laity NZ. Living The Word: 4th Sunday Of Advent – The Holy Spirit will come upon you
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STATION XV
Happy Christmas from the Fifteenth Station
Unfortunately we won't be able to record a Christmas episode for 2023 as sickness has beset The 15th Station team, and we just haven't been able to get well enough to put on a show this month. We're sad…but at the same time, we're happy to have spent another year talking faith and news with you all. We pray that all of you have a wonderful, blessed and holy Christmas season, and we thank you for tuning in! See you in 2024 ...
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CRUX - Edited by John L. Allen Jr. and Inés San Martin
Holy Land church leaders recall Jesus was born amid military occupation
Christian leaders in the Holy Land have called for an end to the current war in Gaza in their annual Christmas message, saying that the commemoration of Jesus's birth, which itself occurred under a military occupation, is a sign that hope is present even amid darkness ...
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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:
Vacancies at Caritas Aotearoa:
Job vacancies in the Catholic dioceses of ...
Hamilton: https://www.cdh.org.nz/jobs
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
The six dioceses:
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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. https://nzcatholic.org.nz/
Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. 'Kete Korero'.
Catholic Dioceses of Palmerston North and Wellington. 'Wel-com' http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/welcom/
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 'Inform'
https://chchcatholic.nz/?sid=25 (Latest news - Latest Inform)
Catholic Diocese of Dunedin. Newsletter
NZ Catholic Education Office Newsletter 'Kotui'
The Nathaniel Centre. The New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre. 'The Nathaniel Report' http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/
St Columban's Mission Society. 'The Far East'
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul NZ.
https://www.svdp.org.nz/resources/ Newsletters. News in Brief:
'Tui Motu Interislands'. An independent Catholic magazine.
https://tuimotu.org/ Scroll down to Articles, Explore More
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Facebook
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NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference
Catholic Discovery NZ (Catholic Enquiry Centre)
'NZ Catholic' newspaper
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
Catholic Theological College
Holy Cross Seminary
Marist Seminary, Auckland NZ
Society of St Vincent de Paul NZ
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News of the Church
in NZ and the World
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https://www.romereports.com/en/ (video)
