*******************************************

LENT 2003

The Practice of Jesus : Commentaries on the readings for Sundays & holy days http://www.ake.quik.co.nz/termon/

"Praying Lent" http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/

Daily Lenten Reflections http://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/index.htm

The Lent Calendar -http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Lent/calendar/lent2003.asp

Stations of the Cross http://www.catholic.org.uk/chapel/stations/

************************************

IRAQ

"Lighting the way " Waikato Times 22 March 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,2348890a6579,00.html New Zealand's Catholic and Anglican bishops say the war with Iraq is unnecessary and unjust and they're calling on everyone to light candles for peace. "We are at one with all who believe this war was not justified so long as other means of achieving disarmament had not yet been exhausted," the bishops, including Waikato's David Moxon, Denis Browne and Max Mariu, said in a statement yesterday....

"Be kind to Muslims suggests conciliator " NZ Herald 21.03.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3251156&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general New Zealanders should make a special effort to make Iraqi and Islamic New Zealanders feel welcome in the next few weeks by baking them a cake or giving them flowers, says race relations commissioner Joris de Bres....

"NZ Muslim community prays for peace" (photo) NZ Herald 22.03.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3251419&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general

Can Catholics Support the War? http://about.beliefnet.com/story/122/story_12264_1.html?frameset=1&storyID=12264\ &boardID=53249 This collection of articles and statements, mainly from the United States, includes: "We have a moral obligation to stop terrorism", say George Weigel and Michael Novak; "It's a matter of conscience", says Deal Hudson; War is a "defeat for humanity," says Pope John Paul II; "Preemptive war creates a troubling precedent", say U.S. bishops; Group says just war conditions have been met, launches petition drive; Pax Christi urges civil disobedience if war escalates; What should Catholic soldiers do when Church teaching and the military oath collide?; Conservative dilemma: Can faithful Catholics support President Bush's position on Iraq?

"Pained by War, John Paul II Prays for Iraqi People" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32991

Historian Speculates Why Pope Backs Role of U.N. in Iraqi Crisis Giorgio Rumi Warns About Dangers of a Divided West http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32834

Caritas Getting Ready to Respond to the Effects of War in Iraq Dozens of Churches Would Serve as Places of Refuge for Civilians http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32873

"Franciscan Superior Proposes 5 Ways to Foster True Peace" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32876

US Bishop Gregory's Statement on War with Iraq "Our First Obligation Is Prayer and Solidarity" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33000

Iraq Statement from Bishops of England and Wales "Praying Together Is Our First Duty" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32880

**************************************

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"A licking for Paddy (full text)" Otago Daily Times 18 March 2003 It might have been a cool 13degC yesterday morning but that did not stop 950 Catholic school pupils from enjoying their "Irish" ice blocks. The lime ice blocks were part of the Catholic Primary Schools fun sports morning, held at Bathgate Park, to celebrate St Patrick's Day. St Patrick's School principal Stephen Hopkins said the day had become a regular event. "It's a fun day, not really competitive," he said. Pupils from every Catholic school in Dunedin and St Mary's School, Milton, took part in round-robin activities, including sack races, tug-of-war, gumboot throwing and egg-and-spoon races.

"Dozens of GPs help patients die, study finds " NZ Herald 21.03.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3251158&reportID=862594 In one year, 39 GPs have performed euthanasia or helped a patient commit suicide, a researcher has found. Both practices are crimes although Parliament will soon debate a bill that would legalise doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill or incurably ill patients....

"Victims accept deal in sex-abuse case " The Press (Chch) 22 March 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,2347705a6009,00.html More than 20 men who say they were sexually abused as boys by religious brothers at a Catholic residential school have confirmed they will accept a compensation deal. The St John of God Order which ran Marylands in Christchurch for boys with intellectual and learning disabilities has offered $4 million to 56 of a total 75 complainants. Payouts range from about $30,000 to $100,000. Twenty-three men of those offered money have formally accepted.....

Confronting the past (editorial) The Press 18 March 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,2338048a6528,00.html The agreement by a Catholic Order to pay a total of $4 million to those allegedly abused while in its care is both necessary and welcome writes The Press in an editorial. Yet the hope of the Order's Australasian head, Brother Peter Burke, that the payments will bring "a sad and sorry situation to closure" can only prove unfulfilled....

**************************************

IN OTHER READING

***************************

"In Defense of Harry Potter: Professors Defend Fiction's Famous Wizard" http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=32786 St. Paul, Minnesota, March 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Some Christians have condemned the author of the Harry Potter series for promoting relativism and sorcery. Catherine and David Deavel see things differently. Professors at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, they have written and spoken on the merits of the series and are contributors to a forthcoming book on "philosophy and Harry Potter" ....

**************************

The on-line edition of Reality Magazine - http://www.reality.org.nz -published by the Bible College of New Zealand, contains the full text of (so far) two articles by Alan Jaimieson reporting the results of his survey of why people leave the Churches they have long attended. Those surveyed were exclusively (as far as I can make out) from Protestant denominations - specifically, evangelical, charismatic and pentecostal churches - but by and large the responses of those surveyed will be very familiar to Catholics. The two articles in the series published so far are:

1. "Ten Myths About Church Leavers", by Alan Jaimieson What kind of people quit their denominations http://www.reality.org.nz/articles/32/32-jamieson.asp

2. "A Churchless Faith" What happens to their faith after they have left? http://www.reality.org.nz/articles/33/33-jamieson.asp

*************************************

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

****************************************

Adult Religious Education Co-ordinator, Hamilton diocese Accountable to the Catholic bishop of Hamilton , as Catechetical Studies course director and Teaching supervisor in Pastoral Leadership Moderator for the "walk by Faith" programme Full details in 'NZ Catholic Mar 9 2003, p.21 and from Sarah Rounthwaite,, sarahr@mlc.co.nz . Applications close 24 March 2003

Diocesan General Manager, Catholic Diocese of Hamilton http://www.hn.catholic.org.nz Full details in 'NZ Catholic' 23 March p.21 and from sarahr@mlc.co.nz Applications close 28 March 2003

Catholic Social Services, Dunedin: Manager Counsellor Further details in 'NZ Catholic' 23 March p.21 and from cathsocialservices@clear.net.nz Applications close 28 March 2003

Relieving Journalist, 'NZ Catholic' newspaper, Auckland. For full-time relieving work in Auckland over several weeks in mid-2003. Further details in 'NZ Catholic' 23 March p.21, and from the editor Pat McCarthy : catholic@iconz.co.nz

*************************************

EVENTS

*************************

National Catholic Schools’ Day, April 2nd 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.

**********************************