Dear 'kiwicatholics'
On the New Zealand Catholic Internet this week ...
CATHOLIC PRESS : 'NZ CATHOLIC' SUNDAY APRIL 9
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html
'Positive response to bishop's offer'
Despite reactionary comments, including being told to "butt out", Bishop Patrick Dunn has received a mainly positive response to his pledge last month to give financial and every other possible help for women to choose life instead of abortion ... [Photo of Bishop Pat with his arms full of small human beings. Link to the Family Life Pregnancy Centre]
'College nips bid to push drugs at "kiddy level" '
Six pupils have been expelled from St Paul's College, Auckland after "a calculated attempt to infiltrate drugs into the college at the kiddy level". The boys say they were given marijuana leaves by another boy at the bus stop and two admitted smoking some on the school grounds ... [Photo. Link to the NZ Herald's interview with the father of some of the boys] (For overseas readers: "college" usually means "high school" in New Zealand, and "drugs" in connection with a school generally means marijuana, which grows like weeds in some parts of the country.)
'Uncertain future for famed Futuna Chapel'
The Wellington property developer who bought the Futuna Conference and Retreat Centre in Karori last month says there is "nothing definite" about plans for its award-winning chapel. Eyal Aharoni, director of the Prime Property Group which paid approximately $2.9 million for the property, said it would be used for residential properties, possibly a retirement village ... [Photo. Link to the Society of Mary and Wellington City Council's Futuna
Chapel page]
NEWS (CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS)
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/news/frnews.html
'Auckland's Catholic bishop launches pro-life initiative and pledges help in crisis pregnancies'
Bishop Patrick Dunn, the Catholic Bishop of Auckland, has given a personal undertaking that he will give every possible help to girls and women contemplating an abortion, in order that they may choose life for their baby. [Link to Family Life Pregnancy Centre]
'Sisters of Mercy celebrate 150 years in Aotearoa-New Zealand'
Mercy Sisters from Ireland, where the Congregation was founded in the 19th century, as well as Sisters from many other countries, will be guests at next month's jubilee celebrations to mark 150 years since the first Mercy Sisters stepped ashore in this country. [Link to the New Zealand page of the MercyWorld Web site]
EDUCATION - CATHOLIC SCHOOLS' DAY, MAY 17 2000
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/nzceo/schools/day.html
Once a year all the Catholic schools of New Zealand organise special events to draw the attention of parents and potential pupils to the benefits of a Catholic education. The Day is coordinated by our 'kiwicatholic' forum's sponsor, the NZ Catholic Education Office. On this new page NZCEO describes the resources it will be distributing to our schools for Catholic Schools' Day this year, and lists forty activities which schools large and small can do to mark the Day.
JUBILEE YEAR NEWS & EVENTS
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/jubilee/news.html
This page is updated with fresh links at least twice a week. All is fairly quiet in Rome at present as Pope John Paul enjoys a good long rest between his strenuous week-long pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the strenuous week-long ceremonies of Easter Week, 16-23 April (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday). However he took time out to address the Italian National Association of Magistrates on their special Jubilee day concerning "concrete problems and weaknesses that beset Italian Justice". Our page has links to a couple of reports about the event.
Meanwhile, back in New Zealand we have scheduled ...
20 - 23 April (Easter Weekend)
"Easter Tri-Series" National Easter Experience for young Catholic adults, St Patrick's College, Silverstream, 20-23 April. Article: http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/press/welcom/page2.html#story2 Contact: Chris Duthie-Young: cduthie-jung@clear.net.nz
29-30 April
150th Anniversary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington, Events Centre, Queen's Wharf
Next week there'll be (at the very least) stories from the Wellington/Palmerston North diocesan newspaper 'Wel-com'.
Until then, every best wish and all God's blessings.
Mike Leon
'kiwicatholic' list manager
