Sunday, May 24, 2009

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NEWS & NOTES - 24 May 2009 - The Ascension of the Lord

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'WEL-COM' - A Catholic newspaper for the Wellington and Palmerston North
dioceses

http://www.welcom.org.nz

News
Book of letters hailed as unique historical source ... NZ and Oz blamed for troubles in Fiji ... Commission members see justice in action

World News

Columns
Editorial: Anzac Day begs the question, by Cecily McNeill ... Archbishop's column: the Year of the Priest, by Archbishop John Dew ... The Year of Paul: Ephesians puzzle and pearl, by Kieran Fenn FMS

Schools
St Cath's new charity initiative ... Ss Peter and Paul's school tops wearable arts ... Marist St Pat's takes the prized Swindale after eight tries

Features
The marriage adventure ... St Paul's conversion inspires reflection in Mt Victoria ... Shepherding the flock

Wellington
Labyrinth reopens at Hutt Hospital ... Newtown People's Market a regular ... The cathedral 160 years ago

Palmerston North
Sharing the gospel using social context ... Prisoners share Lenten message of hope ... Southern Delights

Reflect: The Feast of the Ascension May 24, 2009, by Veronica Lawson RSM

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

When the wall came down
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2434732/When-the-wall-came-down
Sister Philippa Reed didn't hear the diggers that demolished the sturdy red brick wall in Hamilton East early on Thursday a week ago. "I slept right through it," she says, as she looks at the exposed earthworks and higgledy-piggledy heaps of bricks on the corner of Clyde and Grey Sts.

Diamond anniversary (photo)
Central Leader
http://tinyurl.com/qbsxda
Hillsborough residents Aiden and Winnie Gladstone celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on April 18.

'Ordinary folk' take gold (photo)
Hauraki Herald
http://tinyurl.com/ppy5r5
Gordon and Pam Shaw married in St Mary's Catholic church, Paeroa on April 11 1959.

Bulging roll brings hall back into use (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2434917/Bulging-roll-brings-hall-back-into-use/
History is repeating for children at St Joseph's Catholic School in New Plymouth. Fifty years ago a bulging role meant the school's Fatima Hall was filled with desks and used as classroom space.

Farewell to Gina
http://tinyurl.com/qonyrv
A framed photo of a smiling woman sits atop a small, white coffin. It's a smile familiar to the many people who knew and loved Georgina Yabo Forrest, known as Gina.

Death robs Gina of last wish
http://tinyurl.com/q7w5ty

Catering for elderly worshippers
Northern Courier (Wellington)
http://tinyurl.com/pqrpsy
Continuing our series on the issues surrounding an increasingly ageing population we look at how churches are catering for their elderly parishioners...

Conversation required over Foreshore and Seabed
Press Release: Caritas Aotearoa 20-5-2009 09:36
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/quotlonger-conversationquot-required-over-foreshore-and-seabed/5/14441

Kids give helicopter a funding boost (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/2422719/Kids-give-helicopter-a-funding-boost
Kids are getting fit while the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust gets a funding boost thanks to the Chopper Challenge at St Mary’s Catholic School in Ellerslie.

Burnside parish had tough start
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2418480/Burnside-parish-had-tough-start
Worries about meeting bank loan repayments are not confined to the secular world. More than 2000 parishioners celebrated the 50th jubilee of Christchurch's largest Catholic parish, Christ the King at Burnside, at the weekend.

Parents hesitant about cervical cancer vaccination
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2418526/Parents-hesitant-about-cervical-cancer-vaccination
Some Canterbury parents are hesitating to get their daughters vaccinated against cervical cancer because they fear it will make the teenagers sexually active.

Counselling Awareness Week Launched.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/counselling-awareness-week-launched/5/14308
The third counselling awareness week ( May 17 - 22nd) was launched this morning. It will send a message to those under stress that "Its better to talk" and that counselling can make all the difference in how you deal with a distressing situation.

Reinforcing Faith In New Zealand Society
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0905/S00306.htm
Press Release: ACT New Zealand Hon Heather Roy, ACT Deputy Leader
A 'Dominion Post' article caught my eye this week and got me thinking about what it is that sets New Zealanders apart. The article was about Kiwi physiotherapist and former Wellingtonian Damon Newrick - now living in London - who recently received a commendation from police for rescuing a woman from three brutal attackers...

** Canterbury Catholic social welfare expo **
The diversity of social welfare activities by Canterbury Catholic groups were on display on Saturday at an expo at St Bede's College organised by the Diocesan Welfare Council. The theme for the biennial event is "God's work in our hands". The expo was covered by three reports in The Press which are not available on the newspaper's free Website (details below). They can be read at the public library and the libraries' free Newztext service:

Expo showcases welfare works
The Press, 21 May 2009, Edition 2, Page 6.
The diversity of social welfare activities undertaken by groups within the Catholic Church will be on display on Saturday afternoon at an expo at St Bede's College, organised by the Diocesan Welfare Council. More than 20 organisations will showcase the work they do in fields that range from traditional charity to mutual support groups of families...

Giving witness critical
The Press, 21 May 2009, Edition 2, Page 6.
The church has the responsibility of always giving witness to Christ's teaching, and one of His great teachings was to practise charity, to be a good neighbour to anyone in need, says the Most Rev Barry Jones, Bishop of the Christchurch Diocese...

Gospel values celebrated by the church
The Press, 21 May 2009, Edition 2, Page 6.
The words of Jesus Christ recorded in St Matthew's Gospel resonate as much in the Catholic Church today as any other period in its history...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** To Vanuatu with a mission **
Natalie and John Paul are off to Vanuatu on the Mahitahi (Catholic Overseas volunteers) Connect mission trip to build classrooms and a water tank. Natalie reports on a previous mission trip.

** Mary on Mary **
Sister Mary Scanlan on Jesus' mother's role in his upbringing.

** Going out to the world **
A reading and discussion of Mark 16:15-20 with Suzanne O'Rourke and Fr David Kennerley at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK' - http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

Our Holy Father - Internets Master! ... "We live in a society of laws. Why do you think I took you to all those ‘Police Academy’ movies?" (the Catholic Church in the media) ... I never really thought about it like that (the morality of gambling) ... No Regrets (what does Scripture - and the Church - say about regret?) ... A mixed bag today (Swine flu restrictions; Christine Rankin; Obama Notre Dame) ... 20 week insight (on re-educating fathers about sex)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic

'We're all in the same boat'
Whenever an aging prelate pipes up on some controversial issue, he generally draws one of two reactions. Those who disagree will say, "This guy's an anachronism who doesn't realize the world has passed him by," while those who concur will sigh, "Too bad he had to wait until the end of his career to tell it like it is." I make it a point to listen to these guys for another reason: I think that anyone who's spent a lifetime of leadership in the church deserves a hearing...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

http://www.romereports.com (video)

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EVENTS

NZ Catholic Tennis Wind-up
Renouf Tennis Centre, Brooklyn Road, Wellington
Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31 2009 (Queen's Birthday weekend)
Details and registration at: http://www.nzcatholictennis.org.nz , in 'Wel-com' May 2009 p.15 and from Brian Kennedy, briken@xtra.co.nz tel: (04) 479 9153; 027 675 8844

Knights of the Southern Cross. Pauline Year Writing Competition
Topic: Why is Saint Paul important? What does Saint Paul say to me? $1,000 in total prizes divided between three age categories
Details in 'Wel-com' May 2009 p.17 Closing date: 6 June 2009

'Be the Change': NZ Catholic Education Convention
29 - 31 July Wellington Convention Centre
Full details and registration: http://www.conference.co.nz/cathed09

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EMPLOYMENT

[Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Vacancies section of the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz ]

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]