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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

'Wel-com'
http://www.welcom.org.nz

After occupying a page of the Wellington Archdiocesan Website for several years, 'Wel-com' - the monthly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North - has now opened its own Website.

The home page displays an opinion poll - currently: "Should all shops be open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday?" - columns by Cardinal Williams and Palmerston North's Bishop Peter Cullinane, and the full text of ten articles from Wel-com's print edition (headings follow; as new articles appear, I'll mention them in News & Notes - ML) ....

Painful times for the Iraqi community living in Wellington ... [five articles on euthanasia and the draft Death with Dignity Bill] ... A cry from the heart, by the Leaders of Christian Communities in Iraq ... Marist brother who arrived with Bishop Pompallier honoured ... “Yeah –right!” We see it on billboards. What does it mean? ... A family-centred approach to sex education ... Child Poverty Action report a challenge to concerned New Zealanders

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CATHOLIC WEB TV

Wellington Archdocesan Media Cetnre. 'Catholictv.net ' http://catholictv.net

** Bishop John Dew: The fortieth World Day of Prayer for Vocations

** Br Pat Lynch, NZ Catholic Education Office: the Education Report, including news on the upcoming Catholic Schools Conference.

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IRAQ

Iraqi Christian Leaders want a Constitution that recognizes religious liberty http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=34761

Caritas convoy leaving for Baghdad http://www.cathnews.com/news/305/9.php

Iraqi bishop tells US troops: Help us but leave quickly http://www.cathnews.com/news/304/147.php

Priest warns about danger of an Islamic State in Iraq http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=34696

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"National anthems " INL 27 April 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2432043a1860,00.html On the eve of New Zealand Music Month, Kim Knight asks prominent Kiwis to name the songs that mean the most to them.... [includes a comment by Bishop Cunneen about his favourite, the National Anthem! ]

"The secret is out" (photo) Otago Daily Times 2-May 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=02May2003&obje\ ct=HTF31B9638EC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial From the street front, the Green Island school looks much like it always has, nestled next to St Peter Chanel Catholic church, which has received its own garden acclaim in a Keep Dunedin Beautiful award. Visitors to the school, however, may be invited into a "Secret Garden", where ceramic angels, cats and numerous gnomes keep a careful watch over young vegetable and decorative plants....

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BIOETHICS

Nathaniel (Catholic Bioethics) Centre: 'The Nathaniel Report' Issue Nine - April 2003 http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/nr_issue_9.html

Editorial: Listening to the Culture (full text on the Website) Arguments in bioethics based on the right to self-determination inevitably ignore the societal implications of people’s "private" choices. In New Zealand law-makers need to consider the way in which the issue of euthanasia intersects with the broader societal context.

Also in the print edition ...

Toi Te Taiao – The Bioethics Council The Bioethics Council is a Ministerial Advisory Committee that reports to the New Zealand government through the Minister for the Environment. Its establishment is a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. This article introduces the terms, goals and members of the Council.

The Experience of Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands and in the State of Oregon (USA) – What can we learn? The very real dangers associated with the legalisation of assisted suicide or euthanasia are evidenced by the emphasis its proponents place on the need for safeguards. This article draws on official research to show that, overseas, apparently strict criteria fail to prevent abuse.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Disability and a Catholic Ethic of Caring From a Catholic perspective the over riding concern regarding Genetic Testing relates to the intrinsic dignity of the embryo. Yet deeper reflection shows there are also other concerns that point to the need for strong legislative parameters around the use of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for the sake of a caring society in which difference and diversity are celebrated.

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EVENTS

July 6-10 2003 "Active 8 Celebrate" National Catholic Youth Event, Christchurch http://www.connect.org.nz/wazzup/index.html

August 14-16 2003 New Zealand Catholic Schools' Convention Wellington Festival and Convention Centre http://nzceo.catholic.org.nz/2003convention.shtml

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WEBSITES FOR YOUNG KIWI CATHOLICS

National Council for Young Catholics: http://ncyc.org.nz

+ Connect = "Home of the young Church in New Zealand" http://www.connect.org.nz

Crumbs Youth Ministry Resources http://www.youthministry.org.nz Includes the online version of the Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Ministry Magazine, published by Churches Youth Ministry Association (CYMA)

Auckland Catholic Youth Ministry http://akyouth.org.nz

Christchurch Catholic Youth Team http://cyt.org.nz

St Mark's and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Pakuranga-Howick (SMOSS) Catholic Youth Ministry Web Site http://www.smoss.org.nz

Young Adults group in Northcote, Auckland http://www.triumph.net.nz

Jesus 4 Real http://www.jesus4real.org.nz/ (new URL) A voluntary group of adults bringing the reality of Jesus to Catholic teenagers, and to training of adult leaders for Catholic youth work, through camps and seminars.

Marist Brothers' youth and young adult ministries http://www.maristbrothers.org.nz

Lasallian Vocations and Youth Ministry in Australia and New Zealand http://vocym.org Lasallian Youth Gathering, Auckland, 2003 http://lyg03.com

Young Vinnies http://youngvinnies.org.nz Youth division of the St Vincent de Paul Society

********* Tertiary educational institutes' chaplaincies ********

Auckland University chaplains http://www.auckland.ac.nz/cir_students/index.cfm?action=display_page&page_title=\ worship

Auckland University of Technology: Chaplains http://www.aut.ac.nz/services_and_facilities/chaplains/index.shtml

Lincoln University Student Support Services: Chaplaincy and Counselling: http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/stusrvc/health/chaplain.htm

Massey University, Palmerston North: Chaplaincy services http://albany.massey.ac.nz/dept/ss/index.htm (link 'Chaplaincy' left column)

University of Otago: Campus Chaplaincy http://telperion.otago.ac.nz/Chaplain/

Victoria University, Wellington: Catholic chaplaincy http://www3.vuw.ac.nz/chaplains/kohanga.php