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'NZ CATHOLIC' - March 14-27, No. 336

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

In the current issue ... Cardinal Williams turning 80 ... Mixed-faith women break down barriers at forum ... Archbishop says letter didn't imply he backs Waihopai accused ... Catholics' Bible habits disappoint ... Board of Trustees get standards reminder ... [MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt]'s your faithful uncle ... Sophie's Nazi resistance inspired by Cardinal Newman .. New Roman Missal teaching readied .. Sainthood for Australian will cap 85 years of work ... Advertising Feature: 2010 Eucharistic Convention

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Smashing service comes to an end (photo)
Auckland City Harbour News
http://tinyurl.com/yffcw35
The retirement of Pompallier Tennis Club founder Ray Keenan from its committee marks the end of a 47-year association with the club.

Call for study of religion in primary schools
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2010/03/14/1247f81491a2
The Catholic Education Office and a Victoria University academic are joining calls for educators to focus on the study of religion in primary schools.

Radio NZ. Sunday Morning, with Chris Laidlaw
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
8:12 Insight: Christianity in State Primary Schools
In an increasingly diverse and secular country, the provision of Christian education in state-run primary schools is under threat.

Advertising feature: Boarding schools: A beautiful place to shine
The Press
http://tinyurl.com/ye8u2tv
Every student has the opportunity to shine at Garin College, regardless of whether they're artistically, academically or athletically adept.

Designer retires at 85 (photo)
Matamata Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/yekskc4
After more than half a century in designing Matamata buildings, Jim Cotter is taking it easy. Sort of.

Mission marks 125 years
Franklin County News
http://tinyurl.com/ybj3pw8
The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions are hosting their 125th Jubilee this year to celebrate 125 years of Catholic education in Pukekohe.

Brother Steve off to Hong Kong (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/3428819/Brother-Steve-off-to-Hong-Kong
Mangere is a long way from the bustling streets of Hong Kong as De La Salle College principal Brother Steve Hogan is about to find out.

Radio New Zealand Newswire - 09 Mar 2010 (full text)
The Catholic Church in New Zealand believes there's nothing to suggest priests in this country have been involved in sexual abuse during the past 20 years. Germany's justice minister yesterday criticised the Vatican for what she called a wall of silence over abuse allegations that emerged recently. Claims of sexual abuse are being investigated in 18 of Germany's 27 Catholic dioceses. The national director for professional standards for the Catholic Church in New Zealand, John Jamieson, says he has received some complaints from more than 20 years ago. But he says because they're historical, accused offenders are often dead by the time an investigation takes place.

Armed youths stopped by police
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/6907041/armed-youths-stopped-by-police/
Police managed to prevent a potentially deadly situation when they intercepted an armed group of Rotorua secondary school students on their way to "deal to" students from another school. Weapons were found on students wearing Rotorua Boys' High School uniforms who were walking home through the John Paul College grounds.

Youngsters celebrate Kiwiana (photos)
Children get their Jaffas rolling during Kiwiana Day at St Mark's Catholic Primary School in Pakuranga. Times photos Wayne Martin.
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/2010/03/youngsters_celebrate_kiwiana.php

Missionary letters reveal gritty lives
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3421477/Missionary-letters-reveal-gritty-lives
New insights into New Zealand's history have come to light from a project to transcribe and translate thousands of letters written by French missionaries in the 1800s. The letters, from between 1836 and 1854, were transcribed on to computer files in the past 12 years to preserve them by United States' Catholic priest Charles Girard. They are now being translated into English through an internet project.

Interview with Waihopai protester Peter Murnane (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/415756
"I've got some swords I'd like to turn into ploughshares," says the blog post. "I'd like to use their heads as anvils." The actions of the men who allegedly broke into the Waihopai spy base with a pair of insulated bolt cutters and two $10 sickles bought from Bunnings Warehouse have not won universal approval. But Dominican friar Peter Murnane is - no pun intended - unrepentant.

Spy base 'disarmed for Jesus', court told
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10631125
A man on trial for attacking the Waihopai spy base has told Wellington District Court how he and two fellow activists planned and executed their mission.

Accused 'trying to save lives overseas'
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3421078/Waihopai-accused-trying-to-save-lives-overseas
Three peace protesters who broke into Marlborough's Waihopai Valley satellite communications station, where a dome was slashed, plan to defend their criminal charges by saying they were trying to save lives overseas.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://inspirationaltv.net

** Hold on to your passion **
"Don't let people look down on you because you are young", St Paul wrote to Timothy (1Tm 4:12), and Owen Braaksma doesn't.

*** Solidarity **
A reflection by Sr Mary Scanlan

** A son returns **
Luke 15:1-3,11-32: a reading and discussion with Suzanne O'Rourke and Claire Mullarkey

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'BEING FRANK' - New Zealand Catholic blogs

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

** Get your act together AUSA (the struggle continues for a prolife club at Auckland Uni)
** "Wow! Joseph of Arimathea! (football and religion)
** Cohabitation (its effects on marriage)
** A change of scenery and some Eucharistic Swahili. (from DR Congo)
** And now for the news. (satire on the trial of Fr Murnane and companions)
** Outside looking in (judging - Catholics and others - from outside)
** Should we increase GST?

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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

A status report on Haiti: Money flows, leadership lags
http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/status-report-haiti-money-flows-leadership-lags

While Sean Penn may be splashed across American TV for his relief efforts in Haiti, on the ground easily the most substantial private humanitarian operation belongs to Catholic Relief Services. With a history in Haiti dating back fifty-five years and a staff of 300 even before the most recent crisis, CRS was delivering food, water and shelter to victims by the next day after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.

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FACEBOOK

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

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

Youth for Family and Life (YFL) New Zealand
http://ko-kr.facebook.com/pages/Youth-for-Family-and-Life-YFL-New-Zealand/292888828797

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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

Eucharistic Convention 2010
April 9-11 Westlake Boys High Auditorium, Takapuna, North Shore, Auckland Convention Website:
http://www.eucharistic-convention.com/q_2010/q_2010_menu.htm
Convention Social Networking Site: http://eucharist.ning.com

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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 ]