Dear friends,

You might remember an item in 'News and Notes' a couple of weeks ago about our bishops' meeting in Christchurch. A press report said that they might discuss a proposal by the Catholic Church in England and Wales to have all seminary candidates vetted by the police. Last week I spoke to Terence Oliver, the Executive Officer for the NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference. He told me that the bishops had discussed routine administrative matters and the British plan didn't come up.

A number of our members mentioned EWTN this week. That's the US-based international Catholic television and radio broadcasting network. Quite apart from any re-broadcasts of EWTN on local TV channels, you can watch the EWTN TV programme live on its Web site and listen to its international radio broadcast there too. The link is: http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm

In a media release, the bioethics agency of the NZ Catholic Bishops? Conference (The Nathaniel Centre ) welcomes the government's intention to call for new draft legislation on the use of genetic biotechnologies. Full text at: http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/news/news.html#art

And to all Mums, a very happy Mother's Day.

God bless,
Mike Leon
'kiwicath' forum manager
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NATIONAL CATHOLIC DIRECTORY
http://catholic.org/nz/cathcom/directory/frdirectory.html 'National Offices & Associations: M to Y' has been updated from the 2001 National Catholic Directory, so that's that for another year! Our Web edition of the National Catholic Directory has sections on: Apostolic Nunciature ... Catholic Bishops of New Zealand ... Catholic Publishers Chaplains & Workplace Support ... National Offices & Associations A to L and M to Y ... Religious Orders ... Personal Prelature of Opus Dei ... Seminaries, Theological Colleges & Formation Houses ... Ukrainian & Melkite Eparchies ...

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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

'The Far East' May 2001 (monthly magazine of the New Zealand and Australian Columban Missionaries) http://www.columban.org.au/TFE/TrevorTrotter/FarEast.htm

Editorial - 'Signs of the Spirit' Australians and New Zealanders are justly proud of our missionaries. They are the men and women who have given themselves to spreading the Gospel "to the ends of the earth." Their effort, seen in purely human terms, is admirable but limited and even sometimes ambiguous. Through the eyes of faith we perceive the action of the Holy Spirit in their lives and work and all of us are touched by it......

'Defender of the exploited' The author, Hank Zyp, and his wife Tillie have known Fr Shay Cullen for about 25 years and have worked with him on some development projects. They admire him as a friend who is committed to doing everything possible to improve the lives of the poor and especially to save children from exploitation. In this account they give us a glimpse into the life of a missionary who was horrified at what he saw around him and dedicated himself to doing something about it.......

'The Aetas? journey' When Mt Pinatubo erupted in June 1991, the indigenous people, the Aetas, who lived on its slopes lost their homeland to the lahar that covered the whole region. The volcanic ash destroyed everything and made the area uninhabitable. The Aetas have been struggling since then to find land to cultivate and establish a future for themselves. Many Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Church bodies have been helping them to establish their rights and to take charge of their lives.....

'Columban Sisters in Chile', by Sr Ita McElwain As a Columban Sister, I love being here in Chile and feel privileged to be part of this vibrant local Church. Our Sisters are located in different regions of the country. In the first region, our Sisters have responsibility for one of the Basic Ecclesial Communities, Our Lady of Fatima, a part of Holy Spirit parish in the city of Iquique......

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Manager to negotiate new school for diocese Waikato Times 10 May 2001 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,788446a1601,FF.html Hamilton's David Beirne has been appointed by the Catholic Church to spearhead negotiations for a new secondary school in Tauranga, a major goal for the Diocese of Hamilton.....

Two Catholic schools team up (photo) The Southland Times 12 May 2001 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,790120a1940,FF.html St Joseph's School in Invercargill, and St Patrick's in Nightcaps, both integrated schools, defined by their "special character," are teaming up to share resource material, ideas and some teaching staff. Eventually they will share their board of trustees.......

Editorial: Pope puts a crack in religious wall NZ Herald 12.05.2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=188387&thesection=news&thesub\ section=general Where the Pope goes, so does history. When John Paul II announced his intention to follow the steps of St Paul to Greece, Syria and Malta, he said it was a personal pilgrimage. He hoped nobody would "attach other meanings to this plan of mine." Some hope ........

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EVENTS

22-23 June Mercy Health Care Conference 2001, Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland The focus of the conference will be how Catholic health and aged care services can uphold the dignity of human life while setting realistic limits to the care provided. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 8 April 2001 p.19 and from the Conference Organiser, Te Tairere Oranga, PO Box 109 025 Newmarket, Auckland. Website: http://www.mercy.co.nz/

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EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Co-ordinator, Christian family Life Education, Auckland and Hamilton Dioceses Details in 'NZ Catholic' 22 April 2001 p.23; Therese Verheyn, tel: 09 378 4380; theresev@cda.org.nz

Youth Minister, St Michael's Parish, Remuera. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 22 April 2001 p.23 and from Craig Dunford, 5 Beatrice Rd, Remuera Tel: 09 520 1226

Tertiary Education Chaplain, Palmerston North Diocese. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 22 April 2001 p.23 and from Bishop's Office, Private Bag 11012 Palmerston North, tel 06 357 1980. Applications close 12 June 2001

Religious Education/Pastoral Assistant, St Mark's Parish, Pakuranga Auckland. Details in NZ Catholic May 6 p.23 and from the Parish Office tel 576 7959; fax: 576 7905. Applications close 1 June 2001

Weekend Nurses, Vincentian Home and Hospital, Berhampore, Wellington Details in Wel-com May 2001 p.19 and from Alison Crowe, 2a Stanley Street, Berhampore, Wellington Tel: 04 380 0294 or 04 380 0581

Tertiary Chaplain, Palmerston North Diocese. Details in Wel-com May 2001 p.19 and from bishops' Office, Private Bag 11012 Palmerston North, Tel: 06 357 1980. Applications close 12 June 2001

Accounting Officer, Archdiocesan Development Fund, Wellington. Details in Wel-com May 2001 p.19 and from Chris King, Administration Manager, PO Box 12-407, Wellington. E-mail: invest@adf.org.nz