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Dear readers:

This is last 'News & Notes' for 2013. I will start again in the first
or second week of January.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and all God's blessings.

Mike Leon

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'NZ CATHOLIC'
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'NZ Catholic' - Issue 431, December 22 - January 25 2013
http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz
In the Christmas issue: Catholics now NZ's biggest religious grouping
... Kiwis give more than $1m for Philippines ... Working in the spirit
of St Vincent de Paul ... 18 pilgrims enjoy southern Road Retreat ...
College top scholars 2013 ... 2013 in review ... NZ woman remembers
her 'uncle', the pope ... Sister develops de Chardin's thought ...
Bumper Christmas and holiday crossword ... Art used in archdiocese to
build faith

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
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Christmas 2013
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Church leaders' message: Christmas presence
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176002
Auckland church leaders say we need to look past Santa - and even the
traditional nativity scene - to discover the greatest gift of all

Joint effort to bring cheer to needy families (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/285991/joint-effort-bring-cheer-needy-families
Volunteers at the Dunedin Combined Christmas Foodbank have been
working hard to bring Christmas cheer to hundreds of Dunedin's most
needy families this week.

World-class rendition of Messiah paves way for church milestone (photo)
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=82TB7DZQYHI4&linkid=db50e397-bfc4-4832-ac68-9797f8474cab&pdaffid=lHpOEO%2bSMqBuhcDzMicNAQ%3d%3d
Many of the south's best musicians joined forces with world-renowned
bass, Dunedin-born Jonathan Lemalu, and his Croation-born wife,
mezzo-soprano Sandra Martinovic, to bring Handel's Messiah, the story
of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ, to life on
Sunday.

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The gentle feminist (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/9534123/The-gentle-feminist
Amy Jackman talks to Wellingtonian of the Year Sister Marcellin Wilson
about setting up a homeless women's shelter, supporting controversial
social laws and surfcasting.

John Dew: Clear picture needed of nation's most vulnerable
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11175340
Each holiday season, regardless of which political party is in power,
we hear from all sections of society about the need to reduce the road
toll. The road toll is a relatively depoliticised tool. By contrast,
the question of the measurement of child poverty is complex, hard to
understand and has become a highly polarised matter...

A year to forget (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/9530016/A-year-to-forget
It is four months since the severe earthquakes that shook Seddon and
the wider Marlborough region, and almost six since the devastating
winds ripped through the Awatere region, but the effects are still
being felt by the community. Sven Herselman looks at how they are
rebuilding their property and their lives as a new year approaches.

Language teacher involved in many roles (photo)
Waikato Times Weekend
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=1GRQDJTATO82&linkid=68d72f60-8b5e-489d-b94a-4fb45bdba844&pdaffid=lHpOEO%2bSMqBuhcDzMicNAQ%3d%3d
Hamilton's Martin Weren was a dedicated secondary school teacher. He
died suddenly and unexpectedly, aged 56, when working at Hillcrest
High School on Sunday, December 8. Some 700 paid respects at his
funeral at the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin.

Holy pokies dispute
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/9544507/Holy-pokies-dispute
Churches are divided over the sinfulness of pokie machines, with some
dioceses applying for grants from pokie trusts while others denounce
them as evil.

Vatican documents translated in Tongan spread Church teaching
http://www.dfwcatholic.org/vatican-documents-translated-in-tongan-spread-church-teaching-75391/.html
A priest from the Polynesian country of Tonga has translated two
Vatican documents into his native tongue, so as to deepen the faith
life of his compatriots. Fr. Folamoelao, who is serving as chaplain to
the 9,000 Catholic Tongan migrants in the Auckland diocese of New
Zealand, released his translations of the Compendium of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church and of Pope Francis' first encyclical, "Lumen
fidei," at the close of the Year of Faith.

Enduring need for foodbank
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/9533977/Enduring-need-for-foodbank
At the end of its third year the Temuka Combined Churches foodbank
continues to give out food parcels to those in need. The five churches
involved are: Temuka Baptist, St Joseph's Catholic, Trinity
Presbyterian, St Peter's Anglican and St Mark's Methodist.

Religious role ends for St Joseph's (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/9526468/Religious-role-ends-for-St-Josephs
St Joseph's Church in Douglas St. Timaru was deconsecrated during a
service on Sunday.

Final decision on ex-Catholic brother's extradition reserved
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11174026
A final decision on whether a former Catholic brother could be
extradited to Australia to face 252 child sex abuse charges has been
reserved. The Commonwealth of Australia wanted Bernard Kevin McGrath,
66, extradited from New Zealand to face the allegations.

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News of the Schools
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Marian Catholic School, Hamilton East: Hamilton East residents fed up
with synthetic high shop
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9528723/Hamilton-East-residents-fed-up-with-synthetic-high-shop

St Joseph's School, Queenstown: New playground for Queenstown school
(photo) http://www.scene.co.nz/new-playground-for-queenstown-school/314168a1.page

St Patrick's College Silverstream: College support a happy surprise
(photo) http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/9524278/College-support-a-happy-surprise

St Peter's, Cambridge: Kids' trail helps (photo)
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=ZGHEZ2CFBY33&linkid=e8581e12-118d-4fcd-8939-e3127787fbc5&pdaffid=lHpOEO%2bSMqBuhcDzMicNAQ%3d%3d

Verdon College, Invercargill: Proud mums ready for Challenge Wanaka
(photo) http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/9532857/Proud-mums-ready-for-Challenge-Wanaka

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://inspirationaltv.net

Celebrating
Matthew 1: 18-24, a reading and commentary by Sister Stephanie Kitching.

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NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC PODCASTS

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LIGHT OF THE WORLD - Otago Catholic Access Radio
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http://www.accessradio.org/public/programme.php?uid=1218074856-834

2013-12-15 – Jill Bevilacqua presents a life of St John of the Cross;
Monsignor Whitmore introduces music, and Fr Robert Barron a
reflection, for the third Sunday of Advent, plus more from Timothy
Gallagher on Ignatian spirituality..

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SOUNDS CATHOLIC - Christchurch Catholic Radio
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http://www.chch.catholic.org.nz/?sid=3295

After a quiet period, the sounds Catholic team have uploaded six
episodes to their Website, four from December and two for January
2014!

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STATION XV
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http://station15.co.nz

Station XV: Episode 75 — Exhortations, Commendations and Affiliations
(December 16, 2013)

Pope Francis continues to dominate headlines around the world — and
discussion on the Station 15 podcast network — with his naming as
Time's Person of the Year and the release of his apostolic exhortation
Evangelii Gaudium. The Church in New Zealand has also been in the
news, with the release of Census data about religious affiliation
showing Catholics the largest Christian denomination for the first
time as "no religion" continues to soar ahead, and the NZ bishops
calling for people to be mindful of their attitude at Christmas, with
love of neighbour taking precedence over consumerism. There's also a
bit of fun around Pope Francis's other end-of-year awards. Happy
Christmas from the team at The 15th Station.

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'BEING FRANK' - New Zealand Catholic blogs

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

** Tackling the NZ Church #2 - The disconnect between church and school life

** Who gives your homily?

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC - John L. Allen Jr

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

A pope with no down time and an interview with the Vatican's financial reformer
http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/pope-no-down-time-and-interview-vaticans-financial-reformer

Not so long ago, the yuletide season at the Vatican meant calm. The
pope and the Curia went into semi-hibernation while hearing Advent
sermons from the Preacher of the Papal Household while the system was
on a basic hiatus, with no real drama rolling out of Rome until well
into January. In the Francis era, however, there's no "off" switch,
which makes me very glad I've been in Rome this week...

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NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC PERIODICALS & NEWSLETTERS

'NZ Catholic' is a national newspaper published by the Catholic Bishop
of Auckland. http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. 'Kete Korero'.
http://proudtobecatholic.org.nz/news-events/kete-korero/

Catholic Dioceses of Palmerston North and Wellington. 'Wel-com'
http://www.welcom.org.nz

Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 'Inform'
http://www.chch.catholic.org.nz/?sid=25

Catholic Diocese of Dunedin. 'The Tablet' http://www.cdd.org.nz/the-tablet

The Nathaniel Centre. The New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre. 'The
Nathaniel Report' http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/?sid=5

NZ Catholic Education Office. 'Lighting New Fires'
http://www.nzceo.catholic.org.nz/pages/resources/resources_lighting_new_fires.html

NZ Catholic Education Office. 'Good News and the News'
http://www.nzceo.catholic.org.nz/pages/resources/resources_good_news.html

Society of Mary. 'Marist Messenger' http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz

St Columban's Mission Society. 'The Far East'
http://www.columban.org.au/?MID=200510192652

'Tui Motu Interislands'. An independent Catholic magazine.
http://www.tuimotu.org/articles

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NEW ZEALAND COMMENTARIES ON THE SUNDAY READINGS

Living the Word - Fr Frank Bird sm http://livingtheword.org.nz

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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FACEBOOK

The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Catholic-Church-in-Aotearoa-New-Zealand/149916141686808

Auckland Catholic Youth Ministry
https://www.facebook.com/AKCYM

Bishop Patrick Dunn
http://www.facebook.com/bishoppatrick?sk=wall

Catholic Discipleship College
http://www.facebook.com/cdcnz?sk=wall

Diocesan Young Catholics, Palmerston North
http://www.facebook.com/DiocesanYoungCatholics

Youth and Young Adults Ministries, Christchurch
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CYT-Youth-and-Young-Adults-Ministries/95736474530

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NEWS OF THE CHURCH IN NZ AND THE WORLD

http://cathnews.co.nz

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/author/luke/

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/

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

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EVENTS

Hearts Aflame Summer School - January 3-12 2014, Nga Tawa College, Marton
Theme: Whom do you serve?
http://www.heartsaflame.org.nz/ha-2014/register/

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Job vacancies at the Archdiocese of Wellington are listed on
http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/jobs ]

[Catholic overseas volunteer vacancies are listed on the Vacancies
page of http://www.mahitahi.org ]

Sisters of Mercy Mission Coordinator - Auckland.
http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/
Details in 'Wel-com' November 2013 p.20, on
http://www.seek.co.nz/Job/mission-coordinator/in/auckland-auckland/25375906
and from Janne Pender, Ahead Associates Limited,
jannepender@aheadassociates.co.nz

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
Community Engagement Manager http://www.seek.co.nz/job/25561847
International Programmes Manager http://www.seek.co.nz/job/25561928
Operations support manager http://www.seek.co.nz/job/25561920
Details from the links above, in 'NZ Catholic' November 17 - 30 p.23,
and from Mike Hurdle or Catharina Vossen, contact@micahpartners.co.nz
tel. 04 499 4749

Pastoral care team member, Mercy Parklands, Ellerslie, Auckland
http://www.mercyparklands.co.nz
Details in 'NZ Catholic' December 22 - January 25 2013 p.23, at
http://www.mercyparklands.co.nz/?page_id=325 and from
pastor@mercyparklands.co.nz ; tel 09 579 7241 ext. 811 Applications
close 31 December 2013

Youth worker, Catholic parish of Greymouth.
Details in 'NZ Catholic' December 15-21 2013 p. 19 and from the
Catholic Parish of Greymouth, 40 High Street, Greymouth 7805. Tel: 03
768 5263 Applications close 17 January 2014.