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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

"L’Arche founder reveals face of Christ " National Catholic Reporter http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/110102/110102a.htm I recently bumped into Jean Vanier, the 74-year-old founder of the L’Arche movement that fosters community life with people with developmental disabilities, during a Catholic-Orthodox dialogue in Terni, north of Rome, and he asked how my interviews with American Faith and Light delegates had gone. “They want to see you a saint one day,” I said. Vanier’s smile died a quick death. “You know what Dorothy Day said about that.” Taking the cue, I repeated the famous line from the founder of the Catholic Worker movement: “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed that easily.”.......

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Diocese to probe claim of forgery " Waikato Times 09 November 2002 [Full text] The Hamilton Catholic Diocese is investigating allegations that voting papers were forged in a Huntly school's trustee board election. The Education Ministry ruled the September 6 election of three trustees at St Anthony's Catholic School, Huntly, invalid. St Anthony's school board has asked the diocese to investigate the election. Diocesan manager Geoff Kay said an independent investigator would be appointed within a week. Returning officer Greg Murphy, from Huntly, suspected 20 of the votes cast were forged because they did not have an identification number. Two of the three elected candidates would not have been appointed if those 20 votes were not counted, he said. St Anthony's board chairman Mike Meyrick is not convinced the votes were forged. He said he had not seen enough evidence to prove that. Meanwhile, another board election was held this week. The results will be announced on Monday.

"Fundraising starts for church restoration" (photo) Timaru Herald 07 November 2002 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/0,2106,2103209a6010,00.html Lorna Double feels she is earning a reputation as a professional fundraiser. Having just secured around $100,000 for the Temuka Swimming Pool upgrade, Mrs Double has set a new target of $60,000, to restore Temuka's historic Roman Catholic church in Wilkin Street, built by Father Flauvel of France and his parishioners from 1879 to 1881....

"Quail Island hut opened " The Press 4/11/2002 [Summary. Full next not available online] A replica leprosy patients' hut, designed and built by Catholic Cathedral College students, has opened on Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour. Students drew up plans for the hut, which has been designed from old photos, raised funds to build it, and even did the maths to work out the materials and costs of the project. The hut has been built on top of one of the original sites of the former human quarantine station, which was used from 1906 to 1925 to isolate and treat people infected with leprosy.

"Clergymen to voice cares to PM " 04.11.2002 [ Composite report. Full text] Church leaders will descend on the Beehive today to outline their concerns about child poverty, affordable housing and a possible war with Iraq. Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist and Salvation Army churches are all represented in the Church Leaders Group, which is making its first visit to Parliament since the new Government was formed. They will meet Prime Minister Helen Clark, deputy Michael Cullen, Social Services Minister Steve Maharey, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia. The group had four meetings with Prime Minister Helen Clark and her ministers during the last Government. The church leaders will put forward recommendations on increasing the level of superannuation, reducing child poverty by lifting family support payments and initiating housing policies to meet the needs of low income households. They will also voice their concerns on the spread of poker machines in low-income areas. They plan to reiterate their opposition to a war on Iraq and commend the Government for supporting a UN-led solution.

"Cuth Mowat, Barrister and solicitor" (obituary) (photo) Otago Daily Times http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=02Nov2002&obje\ ct=1025000846&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Family, friends, former clients and staff packed the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Peace in Roxburgh in a farewell to James Cuthbert Mowat. Mr Mowat, or Cuth, as he was known to most, was a highly respected barrister and solicitor who has been involved in the district's legal affairs for nearly 50 years. He died recently aged 91....

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EDUCATION IN FAITH

New in Faith Central, a resource site for NZ Catholic schools....

"Signs of God", compiled by Fr Rowan Donoghue sm. http://www.faithcentral.net.nz/inclass/godsigns.htm This topic explores an approach to seeing signs of God through ordinary things and people. It considers culture, ritual, signs, symbols, sacramentals and ultimately the seven sacraments.

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EVENTS

5-8 December 2002 The Future of Christianity in the West. An international, interdisciplinary conference hosted by the School of Liberal Arts and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Otago http://telperion.otago.ac.nz/theoweb/conference/index.html

Conference themes include: The future of Christianity in the West ... Secularization, R.I.P.? ... Australian and New Zealand Christianities: past, present, and future .... Religious patterns in Europe, North America, and Australasia compared ... Christianity and the public sphere: problems and prospects ... The impact of globalization and religious pluralism on Western Christianity ... Christianity and human rights ... Postmodern Christianities

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January 3-12, 2003 Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School. "Where Faith and Knowledge Meet" St Joseph's Maori School for Girls, 25 Osier Rd, Taradale, Napier http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/heartsaflame

The Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School for young Catholic adults (18-35) offers ... An opportunity to deepen your spiritual life through personal, communal and liturgical prayer and through celebration of the sacraments A discovery of the richness of Catholic spirituality and tradition. An experience of living a common life of prayer, service and recreation An introduction to theology and scripture An examination of some of the many issues facing the Church

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31 Jan. - 3 February Parachute Music Festival, Totara Springs Christian Camp, Matamata

Catholics@Parachute: http://www.parachute.ecatholic.net.nz Parachute Music Festival Website: http://websites.parachutemusic.com Parachute Music New Zealand: http://www.parachutemusic.com

The annual Parachute Music Festival Extreme is the biggest Christian music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, with audiences of over twenty thousand mainly young Kiwis.

Parachute Music, the Festival's sponsor, works to develop NZ Christian music, to market it internationally and to make Christian musicians and performers a major influence in mainstream Kiwi culture. Catholics@Parachute is organising a group booking for Kiwi Catholics so as to a get a reserved campsite (tent city) for their group. The idea is to make attending Parachute Festival easier and more appealing, to encourage fellowship among young Kiwi Catholics and introduce them to Parachute Music's mission. Catholics@Parachute also hope to organise a public Mass on one of the stages, which will be the first Catholic Mass most of those at the Festival will have ever witnessed.

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