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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Two new Catholic secondary schools to open this week Stuff/INL National News 27 January 2003 [Full text] Two new Catholic secondary schools are opening in the North Island this week, the Catholic Education Office (CEO) says. Aquinas College, Tauranga, opens initially as a Year 7-10 (forms 1-4) school with 330 students. The school will expand up to Year 13 (form 7), the CEO said in a statement. In Wanganui, Cullinane College opens as a Year 9-13 (forms 3-7) school with 430 students. Cullinane College was created from Sacred Heart Girls' College and St Augustine's Boys' College, which have been closed. There are 240 Catholic schools nationwide.

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IRAQ

Asia/Malaysia - Bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei oppose war against Iraq Fides 25/1/2003 The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei have officially stated their opposition to military intervention in Iraq. The Bishops say they agree with the Holy See, the Bishops of the United States and the Middle East that resorting to war against Iraq under current circumstances would not meet the strict conditions in Catholic teaching for over-riding the presumptions against the use of military force. "We also join others in urging Iraq to comply fully with the latest United Nations Security Council resolutions" the Bishops state. "We urge other Bishops' Conferences all over the world to join their voices in solidarity to call upon all involved to abide by the principles of international law. We join and urge peoples of all faiths and goodwill to pray fervently that all involved will act to ensure that this action of the United Nations will not simply be a prelude to war but a way to peace and justice."

Caritas Internationalis Appeals for Diplomatic Solution to Iraqi Crisis Zenit 26 Jan 2003 http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=30502

Iraqi Bishop Says War Wouldn't Solve Anything Zenit 29-1-2003 http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=30679

Philippines - President of Bishops' Conference and all Bishops endorse warning issued by Pope John Paul II: "War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity". http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0301/30_03.html

Cardinal Sodano Wonders Who Would Benefit from Iraq War Zenit 2003-01-30 http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=30723

Concept of "Preventive War" Is Inadmissible, Say Italian Bishops Zenit 30-1-2003 http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=30727

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PARACHUTE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2003

Growth testament to faith in soul music (Photo) NZ Herald 28.01.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3098217 As the last of more than about 23,000 tired Christians trudged out of the Parachute Festival yesterday, the small town of Matamata farewelled for good one of the biggest Christian music festivals in the world. The four-day event has made its home at Totara Springs in Matamata for eight years, but growing numbers have forced organisers to move to Hamilton from next year....

Parachute farewells Matamata NZ Herald 27.01.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3098045 Matamata will bid farewell to the country's biggest Christian music festival tonight after playing host for eight years. A record 20,000 people attended the annual four-day Parachute Festival, which organisers said was the best yet. ...

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YOUTH MINISTRY

St Mark's parish, Pakuranga is the base for a remarkable Catholic youth ministry Web site: http://www.smoss.org.nz , the most ambitious parish site of its type I have ever seen. Readers of any age will find the "Why are you Catholic?" feedback page fascinating (anyone can contribute to it). ML

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EVENTS

April 2003

The Eucharistic Convention, Friday 25th April - 6.00pm Sunday 27 April 2003 http://eucharistic-convention.com Venue: The Logan Campbell Theatre, Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane Road, Auckland New Zealand The Eucharistic Convention 2003 is an annual event organised by lay people within the Auckland Diocese of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Full details are on the Website.

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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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Adult Religious Education Co-ordinator, Catholic Diocese of Hamilton Details in 'NZ Catholic' Jan 26 2003 p.17 and from Naomi McGowan, tel: (07) 838 2079; fax: (07) 839 4652; e-mail: naomim@mlc.co.nz ; PO Box 19-221 Hamilton. Applications close: 3 February 2003

Religious Education Advisor, Northland Details in 'NZ Catholic' Jan 26 2003 p.17 and from Maureen Hammond, Co-ordinator Religious Education, Pompallier Diocesan Centre, Private Bag 47-904, Ponsonby, Auckland. Applications close 24 February 2003

Journalist, 'NZ Catholic' newspaper For full-time relieving work in Auckland in mid-2003. Details from the Editor, 'NZ Catholic'. E-mail: catholic@iconz.co.nz Tel. (09) 360 3069