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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/

"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/

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IRAQ

Iraqi Christians consecrate country to Mary Queen of Peace (full text) On Friday afternoon, a number of Christian Churches in Iraq consecrated the country to the Virgin Mary. The solemn act took place at in the Chaldean-rite Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad, before a statue of the pilgrim Virgin, Queen of Peace. For the past few days, the Christians of Baghdad have gathered to pray around the statue of the pilgrim Virgin, in many churches of the city. The statue has been on pilgrimage in Iraq since 1998. The announcement of the consecration was made on Sunday, March 16, in all the churches of the capital. The act of consecration was to be attended by representatives of the Catholic Church and of other Christian denominations.

"Stars and Stripes or Keys of Peter?" The Tablet (UK) 22/03/2003 http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/archive_db.cgi?tablet-00721 Why do so many American Catholics support war in Iraq, when the Pope and their bishops are strongly against it? Why is there no dilemma for them? Our American correspondent explains...

Caritas-Iraq Sends Relief Aid to Basra. Mounting Fears of Outbreak of Disease Reported http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33368

Asia/Iraq - Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity choose to remain at children's home in Baghdad: "they need us" http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0303/24_01.html

Diary of a Human Shield : In a telephone interview, a Chicago priest in Baghdad describes preparing to die--and being comforted by Iraqi children http://www.beliefnet.com/story/123/story_12331_1.html?frameset=1&storyID=12331&b\ oardID=53802

Pope Urges Respect for International Humanitarian Law in War. Sends Message to Military Chaplains Attending a Course in Rome http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33253

"Military archbishop says troops can carry out duties in good conscience " http://www.cathnews.com/news/303/150.php

Cardinal McCarrick on the War in Iraq. Says Bishops Don't Classify Soldiers' Role as Immoral http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33262

Shiite Imam Says Pope Shows That There Is No War of Religions. Lebanese Hails "Historic Importance" of John Paul II's Words http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33196

Iraqi War Could Worsen the World Situation, Warns Archbishop Tauran. "Will Generate All Possible Extremisms," He Says http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33325

After Saddam, Trouble for Iraqi Christians? An Iraqi Catholic explains Christians' fears about the next Iraqi regime. http://about.beliefnet.com/story/123/story_12341_1.html?frameset=1&storyID=12341\ &boardID=55150

"Liberation theology and the Iraq War ", by Seamus Murphy SJ Irish Catholic 25-03-03 http://www.irishcatholic.ie/030325-f1.htm


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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

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'NZ Catholic' No 158, March 23, 2003 http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

"MP and bishops speak out against assisted suicide " Wellington - An MP and former geriatrician, a Catholic ethicist and Catholic bishops are among those speaking out against a bill for the legalisation of assisted suicide...

"Development of religious life to be discussed " Waikanae - Religious congregational leaders will host a major, inter-congregational conference next year to look at the further development of religious life in this country...

"Catholic girls' colleges achieve well in exams " Hamilton - Julie Jang, a student at Sacred Heart Girls' College, was named top all-round female scholar in University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships for 2002. Three other pupils at Catholic girls' colleges received top marks in the exams....

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'Wel-com' (Archdiocese of Wellington) March 2003 http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/wellington/

"Pope John Paul's tireless efforts to avert a war in Iraq"

"Bishop Pompallier and the 4th article of the Treaty of Waitangi"

"Impressive presentation on the work of Caritas."

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Cross of blood on US carpet " NZ Herald 25.03.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3251783&reportID=562588 A Catholic worker and priest poured a cross made from their own blood on the carpet of the United States consul's office to protest at the invasion of Iraq. Father Peter Murname and Nicholas Drake said they had been planning some kind of protest for several weeks after making yesterday's appointment to meet consul Douglas Berry....

"Friar's blood protest 'about gospel' " NZ Herald 29.03.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=3301075&reportID=562588 Pouring his own blood at the feet of the United States Consulate-General was a means of preaching the gospel for Dominican Friar Peter Murnane....

"Blood-cross protesters reject bishop's apology " INL 26 March 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2358362a11,00.html A Dominican priest and a Catholic worker who poured their blood on the floor of the United States consulate-general in Auckland have rejected an apology given on their behalf....

Spilled blood a 'dramatic' message Waikato Times 27 March 2003 http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,2360703a6004,00.html A Catholic priest and an activist who spilled their own blood on to the floor of the US consulate office in Auckland sent out a dramatic message about the Iraq war, says Hamilton's Anglican bishop David Moxon. Dominican priest Peter Murnane and Nicholas Drake made the sign of the cross on carpet with their own blood....

[See also the press release from Catholic Communications: "Bishop apologises for bloody protest at United States Consulate-General" : http://www.catholic.org.nz/newsF.htm ]

"Rolls booming at integrated schools " The Press (Chch) 25 March 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2354336a7694,00.html Integrated school enrolments have increased at three times the rate of State schools in the last decade. Demand for such schools is fuelling the construction of a new Catholic primary school, planned to open next year in Wanaka where an estimated 13 per cent of primary-aged children are Catholics. New Zealand Catholic Education Office executive director Patrick Lynch said the school, which would cater for about 120 children, would be the third new Catholic school to open within a year....

"Euthanasia not just a matter of choice " Otago Daily Times Friday, 28-March 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=28Mar2003&obje\ ct=GPE13S1650AJ&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Earlier this month, Father Gerard Aynsley spoke to the parish of St Francis Xavier in Mornington, Dunedin, on the ethics of euthanasia. The proposed Bill must be rejected by Parliament, he said.......

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CATHOLIC WEB TV

Catholictv.net http://www.catholictv.net/alive/index.html

Interview with Kay Smith, Archdiocesan advisor on Catholic social teaching

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CHRISTCHURCH CARMELITES

The March Newsletter of the Discalced Carmelite nuns is on-site at: http://www.karmel.at/~chch/ccnews.htm

In this newsletter: Sr Mary Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee and the solemn Profession of Sr Elisapeta

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IN OTHER READING ....

Catholic Studies Programs and a Coming Renaissance. Interview with Don Briel, of Minnesota-based University of St. Thomas http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33373 Rome, March 27, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Catholic colleges and universities, particularly in the United States, continue to struggle with the question of their identity, especially since the publication of the apostolic constitution "Ex Corde Ecclesiae." One school, the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, started the first "Catholic Studies" program in 1992 to offer students a comprehensive Catholic education shaped by the broad Catholic intellectual tradition....

Scott Hahn on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Steubenville Theologian Publishes New Book http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=33145 Steubenville, Ohio, March 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Theologian Scott Hahn has come out with a new book, this time on the sacrament of confession. The professor of Scripture and theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville spoke about the work, "Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession," which was released last Tuesday by Doubleday....

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EVENTS

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National Catholic Schools’ Day, April 2nd 2003

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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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