18 March 2007

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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St Patrick's Day

Special party for Irish-Maori (not available on the newspaper's free
Website)
The Dominion Post, 14 Mar 2007, Edition 1, Page 13.
Shamus O'Flarehtery is one of many New Zealanders who can claim heritage
from both the Land of the Long White Cloud and that wee emerald isle on the
other side of the world. Shamus, 16, will be one of many Irish-Maori New
Zealanders taking part in a special St Patrick's Day celebrating Maori and
Celtic cultures -- a Hui and Huilli -- on Saturday in Napier.

A different version of this article is online at:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/3991723a6045.html

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Hope Yet for ‘Praise Be’?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0703/S00188.htm
An unexpected financial windfall for New Zealand On Air could mean that the
ten programmes of ‘Praise Be’ that were chopped from this year’s schedule,
are reinstated. “That’s what we’re hoping,� said Churches Broadcasting
Commission chairperson Trish Moseley...

South Park, by Ian Steward
The Press, 13 Mar 2007, Edition 2, Page 2.
[This article is not available on the newspaper's free Website]
The controversial television cartoon South Park is again raising hackles in
New Zealand church circles with an episode that will depict Jesus defecating
on George W. Bush and the US flag. The episode 'Cartoon Wars 2', scheduled
to air on C4 on May 1, shows the citizens of South Park worried by a US
television station's decision to depict the prophet Muhammad...

Community group pans Govt bill
Press Release: New Zealand National Party
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00259.htm
National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says it’s “alarming
arrogance� for Labour to have ignored the views of significant community
groups putting together the Social Security Amendment Bill. Ms Collins is
responding to strong criticism by the New Zealand Council of Christian
Social Services at a select committee today...

Timaru woman confronts her demons (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/3989593a10.html
Bullying classmates and "vicious" Catholic nuns preyed on her because she
had a physical disability, making her childhood a living hell. But half a
century later, Timaru's Kuini Te Miha- Ryan has faced her demons, returning
to Our Lady of the Rosary School to confront the perpetrators who ridiculed
her as a scared little girl...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://inspirationaltv.net/

'Studying religion' (part 1 of 2)
Why are so many young students at Wellington's Victoria University deciding
to study religion? Sister Stephanie talks to Professor Paul Morris about the
reasons for the surprising upsurge in interest ...

'What's New'
Sandon and Karlene tell you what's coming up next week.

'Angel in the City'
"We are ambassadors for Christ ..." 2 Co 5:17-21. Reading and discussion
recorded in St Mary of the Angels church, Wellington.

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CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

http://www.caritas.org.nz/?sid=1035

Caritas Lent Appeal 2007
Theme: Our love is to real and active (cf 1 John 3:18)

The Caritas Lent Appeal starts on Ash Wednesday, 21 February 2007, and runs
through to Palm Sunday on 1 April 2007. The Lent Appeal is the annual appeal
for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and
development.

Resources for the Lent Appeal 2007 on this Website ...

- Parish Resources
- Lent Coordinator Kit
- Lenten Reflection Programme
- International Speakers for Lent
- Schools Resources

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH (Regularly updated)

http://www.cathcom.org.nz/

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC
Analysis and commentary by John R. Allen

http://ncrcafe.org/node/507

Weekly Analysis:
Sobrino's notification: a sign of things to come
I suspect the most common reaction to news this week that the Vatican has
censured Jesuit Fr. Jon Sobrino, a pioneer of liberation theology and a
former advisor to Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, will be, "Why
now?" After all, the titanic battles over liberation theology were fought
during the 1970s and '80s. Should we also expect the Holy See, some may
wryly ask, to condemn eight-track tapes, or "Miami Vice"? ...

Also:
- Papal preacher exalts non-violence, connects Nietzsche to Holocaust
- Vatican censures Sobrino, who calls procedures 'not honest'

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EVENTS

14th Annual Eucharistic Convention, 13-15 April 2007
Westlake Boys High School, 30 Forrest Hill Road, Takapuna, North Shore,
Auckland.

http://www.eucharistic-convention.com/

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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/ ]