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IRAQ

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"Pope declares Ash Wednesday a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. March 5 to be set aside especially for the Middle East." Summary report: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=31771 Full text of Pope John Paul's address: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=31785

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Bishop says war debate should be informed http://www.cathnews.com/news/302/137.php The chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has encouraged Catholics to inform themselves before engaging in the "intensifying" debate on war and peace. Bishop William Morris was commending the Council's newly-released Discussion Guide "The Church speaks on war and peace":

"The Church speaks on war and peace" in HTML (ordinary Webpage) and PDF (facsimile) formats: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/index.shtml

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"There is still time". Joint statement on the potential war in Iraq from the Church Leaders in New Zealand. (February 2003 http://www.catholic.org.nz/newsF.htm

War talk upsets church NZ Herald 25.02.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3197590&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general The Anglican Church of New Zealand has asked Governments and the media to avoid calling the Iraq crisis a religious conflict....

Pope and Spanish Prime Minister concur on need for U.N. role in crisis http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32007

John Paul II and Iranian Envoy Discuss Mideast http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32008

War Would Be Unjustified, Says President of U.S. bishops' conference. http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32012

How to Sustain a Lasting Peace. Interview with Philosopher Jesús Villagrasa http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32015

US Ambassador to Vatican stands firm after archbishop's attack CathNews 28 feb 2003 http://www.cathnews.com/news/302/154.php

Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran: Unilateral War Would Be a "Crime Against Peace" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=31818

"No just war outside the law", by Daniel Brennan QC The Tablet 22/02/2003 http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/archive_db.cgi?tablet-00711

"Message of peace from a dusty field in Baghdad" Catholic Voice (Canberra-Goulburn, Australia) http://www.catholicvoice.com.au/174/n_03.htm

Prelates of Jerusalem, Sarajevo and Baghdad Call for Peace, Warn of Consequences of War http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=31876

Iraq aid workers braced for war http://www.cathnews.com/news/302/131.php

Vatican Statement on Pope's Meeting with Tony Blair: Solution to Iraqi Crisis Must "Spare the World New Divisions" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=31784

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LENT 2003

The Practice of Jesus : Commentaries on the readings for Sundays & holy days http://www.ake.quik.co.nz/termon/Comments, ideas, prayers, analysis, imagery and liturgy resources relating to Scripture readings of the Sundays of Lent and Ash Wednesday.

"Praying Lent" http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/This Website's special Lent section is structured around a Lenten retreat with prayer helps for each day and includes such details as reconfiguring our living spaces with clearly visible prayer props like a crucifix, candle, bowl of sand, etc.

Daily Lenten Reflections http://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/index.htm A clickable calendar which displays for every day of Lent - including weekdays - a Bible verse and reflection, question and answer, suggested action for the day, and a prayer.

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Teaching for teachers under attack NZ Herald 27.02.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3198010 Some graduate teachers are not smart enough and do not have the right training to teach young people, a parliamentary select committee has been told. Pat Lynch, chief executive of the Catholic Education Office, said some teachers were going through the training system, but did not have the necessary intellect....

O Jerusalem, by Mike Minehan (book review) The Press (Chch) 26 February 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2285405a4501,00.html The 30th anniversary of the death of James K Baxter last year ushered in a host of re-evaluations: the polarising secular priest- cum-prophet of the early 1970s, encrusted with myth, was revealed afresh as the lightning rod he'd become in later life – and death....

Fourth Treaty article denied Dominion Post 26 February 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2289896a6160,00.html Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson has denied the Government intends enshrining another Treaty of Waitangi clause in law, saying it does not accept the existence of a "phantom" fourth article claimed by National Party leader Bill English. The so-called "fourth article" was a verbal assurance after pressure by the French Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier, who was worried about the predominance of the Anglican faith in early New Zealand....

Editorial: Change attitude to abuse NZ Herald 24.02.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3197359 The Catholic Church's prescription for the co-ordinated internal handling of sex abuse complaints against New Zealand clergy, "A Path to Healing - Te Houhanga Rongo", is an impressive document. Regrettably, its sentiments and procedures have not always been abided by. So much so that the church faces calls for an independent body to take over its internal handling of such complaints........

"Contract historian" hoping for brighter things for future works Otago Daily Times Saturday, 22-February 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=22Feb2003&obje\ ct=ESG36B8640EC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial History needs to come out of the ivory tower, believes Dunedin writer Rory Sweetman. If the fate of a book he had published last year is any indication, however, there are still many stairs to descend and doors to unlock before it can. A "contract historian", Dr Sweetman was commissioned to produce "A Fair and Just Solution?", an historical account of how private schools in New Zealand were integrated into the state system. Sadly, he says, because only 750 copies were published, few people will ever read his book.....

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SPIRITUALITY

Medjugorje News Issue 29 March 2003 http://www.homebusinesslink.com/issue29.html Summary: Introduction ... The Medjugorje Story ... Our Lady's Messages ... From the Editor ... Auckland Eucharistic Convention Preview ... She'll Never Have a More Important Date ... News from Medjugorje ... Bob Gardner Story ... Medjugorje, an Amazing Place ... My Conversion Through Medjugorje ... My Visit to Medjugorje ... The Blessing of Thorns ... Today I Could be Your Guest ... The 13th Medjugorje Youth Festival ... Tommy's Story ... Jesus and Satan ... Interview with Marija Lunetti ... A Pilgrim's Heart ... Rosary Beads for Ghana ... Apparitions in Venezuela .. The Pit .. The Power of the Cross ... Prayer Groups ... The Secret of the Rosary ... The Stranik

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WEB TV

This week on the Wellington Archdiocese's Catholictv.net at http://catholictv.net ...

The special character of a Catholic school as experienced by three senior St Catherine's College students.

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EDUCATION IN FAITH

New at "Faith Central", a resource library for Catholic high schools ...

Molokai - The Story Of Fr Damien http://www.faithcentral.net.nz/molokai

"With the New Zealand release of the movie, "Molokai - the story of Fr Damien", we are happy to have developed a WebQuest to help teachers and students in their study of the film. It is important however to note that the WebQuest also allows students who haven't seen the movie to study the life of this very inspiring man."

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EVENTS

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Catholic Festival Sat. 1st and Sunday 2nd of March 2003 Venue: Aotea Centre, Aotea Square, Auckland Admission free Full details on the Festival Website http://www.catholicfestival.org and from: Catholic Festival, DX Box DP 95213, New Lynn, Auckland Tel. (09) 826-1520 during work hours; (09) 623-6630 after hours E-mail: info@catholicfestival.org

"The Catholic Festival is a celebration of our faith that will be joyful, prayerful, reflective, informative and educational.... We seek to provide the opportunity for anyone to display the gifts that God has given them. In doing so, the faith and Catholic identity of each one will be strengthened. We also wish to celebrate our cultural diversity and to grow together in unity. From the centre of Auckland, we also have the opportunity to witness to our faith and help others to see its richness and beauty...." Event venues: Main Theatre : guest speakers, drama, choir and dance, films .... Children's Room: acted-out bible stories (with costumes and props), cartoon videos of saints and religious stories, "Catholic Kids Net" ... Still Arts Room: displays of painting, sculpture, carving, poetry by different artists ... Live Arts Room: Albert's restaurant, songs, poetry, small dramas and dances on-stage ... Adoration Room: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the Festival ... Gala Day, Sunday afternoon : ethnic foods, games in Aotea Square.

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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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