Dear readers,

I invite you all to let me know the Web addresses of any good Advent resource sites for children and adults. Please drop me a line at leon@xtra.co.nz . Many thanks.

Sky TV is now offering e-mail via its digital service. Subscribers can send and receive messages via their TV screens, so they don't need to a master a computer to have e-mail. And *that* means they can join the 'kiwicath' forum, which is an e-mail service. So if you know anyone who you think might like to join out forum and who has Sky Digital or is thinking about getting it, please mention the new e-mail service, and tell them they can join 'kiwicath' by simply sending a message to kiwicath-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Mike Leon 'kiwicath' forum manager

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ADVENT RESOURCES

US Bishops' Advent Homily Resource site To help preachers combine doctrinal and theological content in their homilies in the coming weeks, the U.S. bishops' conference has posted a Web page that correlates the themes in the lectionary with the teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The page is at www.nccbuscc.org/dpp/advent.htm.

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CATHOLIC WEB TV

Catholictv.net (Wellington Archdiocesan Media Office) http://www.catholictv.net

Sr Stephanie Kitching talks to Msgr John Carde, Vicar General of Wellington Archdiocese, about surviving Christmas (first of a series)

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MARIST BROTHERS NEWSLETTERS

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"Champagnat": A Newsletter for Boards of Trustees and Staff of Marist Schools and Schools with Marist traditions in New Zealand Volume 6 Number 4 November 2002 (four pages, illustrated) http://www.maristbrothers.org.nz Summary: With Mary as our Model ... St John’s College Hamilton 40th Reunion ... Reunions and Jubilees 2003 ... Catholic Cathedral College, Christchurch restoring Opening of Leper Cottage, Quail Island ... People News ... National Catholic Schools' Day 2003

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"Marist Family News". November 2002 (four pages, illustrated) http://www.maristbrothers.org.nz Summary: Rest in Peace ... Jubilees ... Building Plans ... REMAR Youth Groups ... Alternative Education Units ... Recent Publications ... Overseas Training ... Champagnat Family Movement ... Web Sites -Keeping in Touch ... Marty Holah, new All Black ... Leadership in the Province ... Our Christmas Wishes

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MEDJUGORJE NEWS

Issue 28 Dec 2002 http://www.medjugorjenews-nz.org/

Summary: Introduction ... The Medjugorje Story ... Our Lady's Messages... From the Editor ... Excerpts from Medjugorje Bulletins ... New Mysteries for Rosary ... News from Medjugorje ... Prayer Groups ... Vicka's Visit ... Our Father in Heaven ... Mirjana says ... Concerning Our Lady of All Nations ... A Poor Scottish Farmer's Son ... Apparitions at Kibeho, Rwanda ... The Incredible Story of Maria Esperanza ... Damascus Miracle ... Our Lady at Burkina and Marpingen... Henri Nouven on Prayer ... The Latest on the Visionaries ... Funny How We Can Overlook ... Our Own Miracle ... Pope Was Born After Mother Refused Abortion ... Spiritual Experience

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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 Parachute 2002 Photo Gallery ... http://www.parachute.co.nz/festival/gallery/index.shtml... including "Catholic service in the Cage" (photo by Hamish Ferguson) ... http://www.parachute.co.nz/festival/gallery/pages/catholic%20service_hamish%20fe\ rguson.htm

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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EMPLOYMENT

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

Vacancies in Catholic Youth Ministry are advertised on the Job Bank page of the National Council for Young Catholics: http://ncyc.org.nz

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Parish Pastoral worker, St Heliers, Auckland 15 hours per week. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Nov 17 2002, p.21 and from Pat McNamara tel. (09) 528 3459. Fax (09) 528 3419, 22 Lammermoor Drive, St Heliers, Auckland. Applications close 2 December, 2002

Part-time Parish Pastoral Co-ordinator, Maria Assumpta Parish, Beachhaven, Auckland Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Dec 1 2002, p.21 and from John Rooney, Chairperson, Maria Assumpta Parish Council, PO Box 66-020, Beachhaven, North Shore City 1310. Applications close 6 December 2002.

Live-in support Person, Mt Tabor Trust Inc., Helensville, Auckland Full-time position working with people with intellectual disabilities in the Grey Lynn area. Drivers licence essential. Please reply in writing to Mike Popple, PO Box 121, Helensville. Tel: (09) 420-9701

Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth, Wanganui. Manager/Hostess The Sisters are seeking a live-in Manager/Hostess to co-ordinate and oversee the running of their busy Centre overlooking Wanganui City. The Centre is the Sisters' hearth-place as well as a place of retreat and reflection, and a conference centre. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Dec 1 2002 p.21 and from Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth, 14 Hillside Terrace, PO Box 777, Wanganui. Applications close 20 Dec 2002

The Catholic Network of Marriage Educators. National Co-ordinator Part-time position, involves some travelling. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' Dec 1 2002 p.21 and from CNME Trust Board Chairperson, PO Box 1937, Wellington. Applications close 31 January 2003.