LENT 2010

Caritas Aotearoa NZ - http://www.caritas.org.nz

Lent: "Working together in true communion".

"The development of peoples depends, above all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family working together in true communion, not simply a group of subjects who happen to live side by side." - Pope Benedict XVI: 'Caritas in Veritate', 2009.

As we begin Lent, the reflection above reminds us of our common humanity and calling - and provides the inspiration for our Lenten theme "working together in true communion". The Lent Appeal is Caritas' main appeal of the year. Resources have been sent to schools and parishes.

Our schools' resource features the popular Lent Lifestyle Calendar and a songwriting competition. Our popular Reflection Programme is available in English, Samoan and Tongan. There is also additional scripture reflection and a Way of the Cross meditation. Find out more at http://www.caritas.org.nz

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NZ CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

Leaflet encourages Catholics to integrate prayer into lives (February 15, 2010)

As part of encouraging people to integrate prayer into their lives, New Zealand's Catholic Bishops have distributed leaflets around the country with prayers for different times of the day...

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Lent 2010
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Catholic Bishop makes YouTube debut
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1002/S00309.htm
In what is believed to be a first for the Catholic Church in New Zealand, Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland has recorded an online video message for Christians as they begin the 40-day season of Lent.

Bishop Pat's video message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=Op_BmeTe3_Q&v=F8aij5EOgKo

Churches turn to internet for Ash Wednesday
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/93769/churches-turn-internet-ash-wednesday
Churches are turning to the internet to reach out to the public, with two new online initiatives to be launched tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday.

Easter preparations under way, by Fr Alan Roberts
Marlborough Midweek
http://tinyurl.com/yje8vhb
Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Christian season of Lent... (Page 1 - top thumbnail image in the right-hand column - has a photo of Fr Alan distributing the Ashes)

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Mary MacKillop
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Australia's Mary MacKillop to be canonised (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/3353121/Australias-Mary-MacKillop-to-be-canonised/
The 84-year quest to recognise Australia's first saint came to fruition as it was announced in Rome that Mary MacKillop will be canonised in a ceremony at the Vatican on October 17.

Saint founded NZ schools
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10627395
[Everywhere that Mary went, her order named schools after their patron saint. And that's why, of the 194 primary (elementary) Catholic schools in New Zealand, 49 are called "St Joseph's", more than double the number of "St Mary's" (21) and "St Patrick's" (17) - ML]

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Emotions raised at gambling hearing
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/94173/emotions-raised-gambling-hearing
Ruined lives, misleading statistics and gambling machines which act like an abusive parent were the subjects of some emotional arguments for and against changes to Dunedin's gambling policy yesterday.

New school off to good start (photo)
Eastern Courier
http://tinyurl.com/yl2vekc
Sancta Maria Primary, a new school in Flat Bush, has started of the year with a hop, skip and a jump.

At home along the coast
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/94126/link-slideshowat-home-along-coast
The spectacular coastline north of Dunedin is full of hidden gems and history. Charmian Smith does a reconnaisance for The Taieri Rotary Club's Heritage Homes of the Coastline tour on March 7. [The article includes a slideshow with a photo of the stained glass windows of St Barnabas]

Anti-abortion doctors challenge guidelines
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10627134&pnum=0
Anti-abortion doctors have gone to court to challenge new Medical Council guidelines on how physicians with personal objections to abortion must deal with patients. One of the doctors is believed to be Mary English, a Wellington GP and wife of Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

Remember the refuge (photo)
The Horowhenua Mail
http://tinyurl.com/yafz55f
Events in the history of Poland 70 years ago were remembered in Kapiti on February 3. Catholic mass, followed by a pilgrimage up the hill to the statue of Our Lady, commemorated the 70th anniversary of the deportation of nearly two million Poles to Siberia.

Students get a feel for new home (photo)
North Shore Times
http://tinyurl.com/y9vm8n7
Before they settle into their studies for the year, Hato Petera College's newest pupils were getting the lay of the land.

School out of site? (photo)
http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/have-your-say/news/school-out-of-site/3910008/
It's Auckland City Council vs Monte Cecilia Primary School - both want the school's 1.1ha of land. Kieran Nash investigates who's entitled to it.

Caterers in league of their own (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/94049/caterers-league-their-own
Maniototo's Catholic Women's League members are hanging up their aprons after 56 consecutive years of catering for the annual Maniototo A and P show.

Head Of Caritas Tonga Visiting New Zealand
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/head-caritas-tonga-visiting-new-zealand/5/38828
A leader in relief and development response in Tonga is visiting New Zealand over the coming weeks, a few days after a cyclone tore destruction down the length of Tonga.

Bishops: Keep Te Hurihanga
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3333853/Bishops-Keep-Te-Hurihanga
Hamilton-based Catholic Church Bishop Denis Browne has joined his Anglican counterpart in speaking out against government mothballing of the Te Hurihanga youth justice facility.

Couple love to share (photo)
Page 1:
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/2010/02/couple_love_to_share.php
Page 2:
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/2010/02/couple_love_to_share.php?page=2
Throwing parties, travelling around the world and owning a business are not just for youngsters, according to Charles and Cathy Levine. The husband and wife believe staying active keeps you going and they are showing no signs of stopping, having just notched up 50 years of marriage. The couple live in Pakuranga and have a daughter and grandson.

Making a home away from home
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3327409/Making-a-home-away-from-home
Taupo Tokelauan Island leader Isitolo Pakome does not regret deciding to stay in New Zealand, rather than return home to his village, after his education scholarship ended 35 years ago.

Staff attitude important for inclusion
The Daily Post (Rotorua) - B001 - 20 February 2010
Maureen, 20, was born in 1989, the year Section 8 of the Education Act was passed to give people with special educational needs equal rights to enrol and receive an education. Friendly, outgoing Maureen has attended Catholic schools since she was five...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://inspirationaltv.net

** To Samoa with love **
Warkworth couple Mark and Martha Farmer speak about their initiative to gather donations to aid Samoan villagers to rebuild homes which were wrecked by a tsunami last September.

** Forty Days **
Luke 4: 1-13 - a reading and discussion with Very Rev Frank Nelson and Rev Jenny Wilkins upstairs in the Flag Room at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, overlooking the government centre (the pinnacle of the temple, so to speak).

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'BEING FRANK' - New Zealand Catholic blogs

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

** Faith for Granted (religious freedom, a relative rarity)
** "Hmmm, 'The Widowmaker?' Oh, that one's for the ladies. (at Mass in Westminster Cathedral)
** Our need for God. (Pope Benedict's message for Lent; on the emptying of holy water fonts)
** Part two of watching the good Congolese samaritan(s)
** Private opinions in Catholic school newsletters? (from Carmel College, on the new missal
** Where have all the sinners gone? (Reconciliation and the concept of sin)
** Is the Devil real?

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NEW ZEALAND COMMENTARIES ON THE SUNDAY READINGS

Living the Word - Fr Frank Bird sm
http://livingtheword.wordpress.com

Reflect - Veronica Lawson RSM
http://www.welcom.org.nz/?sid=394

Daily Reflections (right-hand column)
http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz

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

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

The most talked-about nun in America
http://ncronline.org/node/17123

A little over a year ago, Mother Mary Clare Millea became the most talked-about nun in America almost overnight. In December 2008, the Vatican tapped Millea, a Connecticut native and superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to run arguably the most controversial "apostolic visitation" ever carried out in this country: A sweeping review of women's congregations, capping decades of tension about the state of the soul of religious life in America. On Tuesday, Millea sat down for an interview at the U.S. headquarters of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hamden, Connecticut, where she's set up an office for the Apostolic Visitation.

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FACEBOOK

Bishop Pat Dunn's diary
http://www.facebook.com/bishoppatrick

Catholic Discipleship College
http://www.facebook.com/cdcnz

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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

Catholic Youth Conference for school years 10-13
5-7 March 2010
St Thomas More Catholic Church, 17 Gloucester Road, Mt Maunganui 3116
Theme: "Set Free" (Galatians 5:1)
Conference site: http://www.catholicyouth.co.nz
Video promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0cNWXK7_-g
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Youth-Conference-New-Zealand/184045426370?ref=search&sid=100000701925135.747740152..1

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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 ]