Dear readers:

As next Friday is Christmas Day, this is the last Kiwicath News and
notes for 2015. I will restart the newsletter in the second of third
week of January, when there is something interesting to report.

God bless, and a very happy Christmas to you all.

Mike Leon

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'NZ CATHOLIC' - December 20 2015 - January 23 2016

Website: http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NZ-Catholic/262886647205656
Full text articles: https://goo.gl/Svluba

In the final issue for 2015: Bishop Pat Dunn: G.K. Chesterton and
Santa Claus ... Three ordained together for the priesthood ... Prison
charity looks for support - and a dishwasher ... Chch's Bishop Barry
'looking brighter' ... SVDP initiative popular with prisoners ... John
Kleinsman: All single mothers are saints ... Liturgy: Tabernacle place
not exactly prescribed ... Pope Francis: his 2015 papal year in review
... Photo feature: Holy doors open around the country ... site of
Jesus' baptism is peaceful now ... Book review: Valley of Faith:
Sisters of Mercy in Pawarenga 1927-1990 ... Two loved missionaries die
three days apart ... Dorothy Coup: 50 years with Catholic media end.

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FROM THE SECULAR MEDIA

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DEAR READERS:
When you open one of the Press Display links below, you may be offered
a choice between 'Press Reader' and 'Press Display' as your reading
option. Always choose 'Press Display'. Mike L

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Christmas 2015
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Let your Christmas light shine on others: the Christmas message of the
Auckland Christian communities
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11563280
Tomorrow, the Sunday before Christmas, in churches and homes the world
over, people will be lighting the fourth candle in the Advent wreath.
In this centuries-old tradition, over the four Sundays before
Christmas, the lighting of the candles of the Advent (from the Latin
'to come') wreath symbolises the waiting and expectation as we look to
the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

RNZ. Sunday Morning (9:40). Peter Bray - Christmas in Bethlehem
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201783572/peter-bray
New Zealander Brother Peter Bray FSC is the vice-chancellor of
Bethlehem University. The Catholic university was founded in 1973 and
has been closed 12 times since then by Israeli military orders - the
longest of which was for three years. Peter Bray reflects on Christmas
in Bethlehem and how the birth of Jesus is marked in a city under
occupation.

Timaru woman claims she has found the star the wise men followed (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/christmas/75214872/timaru-woman-claims-she-has-found-the-star-the-wise-men-followed
A Timaru business tutor claims she has identified the star of
Bethlehem, but scholars are less certain.

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Travelling seminarians visit (photo)
Franklin County News
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=XT3660QPMNV6&linkid=9c40e6ae-0aeb-4f24-8952-3d93cfd86bad&pdaffid=lHpOEO%2bSMqBuhcDzMicNAQ%3d%3d
St Patrick's Catholic Church in Pukekohe was visited by eight members
of the Ponsonby Holy Cross Seminary recently as they cycle the length
of New Zealand. The 'Vocations Tour' of Father Michael Gielen and
seminarians Issac Franson, Cirilo Barlis, Tien Phan, Matthew Gibson,
Tony KingArcher, Fadi Boless and Thomas Park are cycling the 33-day
journey from Cape Reinga to Bluff. The seminarians are studying to
become priests and hope to promote vocations to the Catholic
priesthood.

St Peter's College, Auckland: James Guthrie-Croft says sport helped
him beat his disability (photo)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11563773
James Guthrie-Croft has defied the odds to become one of New Zealand's
rising sprint sensations. He was diagnosed with the motor learning
disability dyspraxia aged five after his teacher recognised he had
significant co-ordination issues and had a "gait"...

New principal excited to start at school (photo)
Ruapehu Press
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=1DFGK7XWR7S7&linkid=6e9796f4-38a4-4972-af44-75321ba00f90&pdaffid=lHpOEO%2bSMqBuhcDzMicNAQ%3d%3d
Steve Autagavala has joined St Patrick's School, Taumarunui.

Roncalli College, Timaru: Timaru youth councillors ready to make the
most of their opportunities (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/75222845/timaru-youth-councillors-ready-to-make-the-most-of-their-opportunities
Timaru's youth councillors say they look forward to representing youth
from 2016. The 12-member council will meet for the first time on
February 3, and four of its appointed members attended a council
meeting on December 15 to see their adult counterparts in action.

Aquinas College, Tauranga: Aquinas student happy to be awarded $45,000
scholarship (photo)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11556469
An Aquinas College student has nabbed a prestigious $45,000
scholarship to attend the University of Otago.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV

http://www.inspirationaltv.net

The Christmas story (bottom video) narrated by young children.

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SOUNDS CATHOLIC - Christchurch Catholic Radio

http://www.chch.catholic.org.nz/?sid=3295

** December 13 2015
Featuring palliative care specialist, Dr Amanda Landers and
geriatrician Dr John Thwaites. They spoke to a receptive crowd about
the effect on vulnerable New Zealanders of legalising euthanasia.

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THE 15TH STATION PODCAST

http://station15.co.nz/

Episode 99 – Wall to (almost) wall Pope Francis (December 16, 2015)

It's fair to say Pope Francis is dominating headlines around the
world, so he's doing the same on The 15th Station. Whether it's the
opening of the Jubilee Door – and Year of Mercy – or his calling for
swift action in response to the Paris climate talks, Francis continues
to be a media rock star. And apparently he's also something of a
musical rock star, with a new CD launched featuring the Pontiff.
There's other discussion of music on this month's show, with James,
Don and Gavin wondering if there's such a thing as "objectively good"
Church music. Merry Christmas from The 15th Station family and we'll
speak with you all in January for Episode 100!

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'RESTLESS PRESS'

http://www.restlesspress.net

This week:

** Books Fit For The Bach - Lucy O'Donoghue

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JOHN L. ALLEN

https://www.facebook.com/JohnLAllenJr

John L. Allen is a Catholic columnist for The Boston Globe

Pope Francis was in his element when he opened the 'Door of Charity'
for the poor (photo)
http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/12/19/pope-francis-was-in-his-element-when-he-opened-the-door-of-charity-for-the-poor/

Years from now, records will show that the special jubilee Year of
Mercy decreed by Pope Francis began on Dec. 8, 2015, the feast of the
Immaculate Conception. If you ask the pontiff himself, however, he'd
probably tell you it really got underway on Friday. That afternoon,
Francis headed across town to visit a hostel for the homeless run by
Caritas, the main diocesan charity in Rome, in order to open a "holy
door of charity" ...

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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'
https://catholic-diocese.squarespace.com/back-issues

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

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

'NZ Catholic' newspaper
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NZ-Catholic/262886647205656

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
https://www.facebook.com/caritasaotearoa/timeline

Holy Cross Seminary
https://www.facebook.com/HolyCrossNZ

Marist Seminary, Auckland NZ
https://www.facebook.com/Marists

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NEWS OF THE CHURCH IN NZ AND THE WORLD

http://cathnews.co.nz/category/new-zealand/

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/?s=morning+catholic+must-reads

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

https://www.youtube.com/user/romereports/videos?sort=dd&flow=grid&view=0 (video)

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EVENTS

Hearts Aflame 2016 - Jan 1 to 10, Nga Tawa College, Marton
http://www.heartsaflame.org.nz
Hearts Aflame is a 10-day school of formation in Catholic theology,
philosophy, and spirituality, for Catholic young adults.

Lifeteen's Summer Camp January 26-30
http://camp.lifeteen.nz
Are you, or someone young that you know looking for something fun and
faith-related to do this summer? Lifeteen's Summer Camp is back for
2016. Summer Camp is for 13-17 year olds from around New Zealand, and
will be held at El Rancho, Waikanae from January 26-30. Contact:
lifeteensummercampnz@gmail.com or check out p.7 of this month's
Wel-Com

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EMPLOYMENT

Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington:

** Leader, Family and Youth Ministries
http://www.ocg.co.nz/job-detail/Leader-Family-and-Youth-Ministries/Wellington?ref=MHU56099OCG

** Leader, Parish Leadership Ministry
http://www.ocg.co.nz/job-detail/Leader-Parish-Leadership-Ministry/Wellington?ref=MHU56100OCG

Applications close Tuesday 22 December 2015.


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

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

Job vacancies in the Auckland and Wellington Catholic diocesan
agencies are on these pages:
Auckland: http://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/category/vacancies/
Wellington: http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/jobs