Sunday, December 24, 2017

Dear Readers,

This is the last Kiwicath News & Notes for 2017. I will restart the newsletter in January when there is something to report.

Every best wish and all God's blessings for a Happy Christmas.

Mike Leon

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'NZ CATHOLIC' 


In issue no. 531, December 24 2017 - January 27 2018: Parishes to get euthanasia bill letter from bishops ... Six hundred walk the capital for life ... Dr Rocio Figueiroa: Digging deeper into 'Amoris Laetitia' ... Victoria Ning: Walking for Jesus on the Camino ... NZ year in review (two-page photo spread) ... Bill Kilgallon: NZ abuse inquiry likely to include churches ... Top scholars 2017 ... 'Young caring men' raise $12k for bishop's charity ... 2018 clergy appointments ... Mt Tabor communities' blessed story.

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
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Church leaders' Christmas message: It's a matter of faith
Church leaders say our annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is a reminder that life has a meaning beyond our knowledge and understanding. This is their combined Christmas message ...

Large congregation expected for midnight mass at the Basilica (photos, text, video)
Midnight mass always drew a large congregation but Father Tony Harrison remembers the days when 500 packed into the Basilica in Invercargill for the service in the 1970s-80s.

Sainthood set to boost tourism at remote river settlement Jerusalem near Whanganui (photo)
Wanganui Chronicle
Suzanne Aubert is likely to become New Zealand's first saint. Better known to many by her cleric name Sister Mary Joseph or Mother Aubert, she was a Catholic sister who started a home for orphans and the under-privileged in Jerusalem, on the Whanganui River in 1885.

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News Of The Schools
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Alleged Sacred Heart Girls' College arsonist's name revealed (photo)
The name of one of two women charged with arson in connection to a fire that gutted a block of classrooms at Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton can be revealed.

St James' Catholic School (Palmerston North): Singing students spread safety messages with police  (video)
After a cop karaoke video was a smash hit earlier this year, Manawatu police decided it was time to put their voices to the test once again to spread Christmas safety messages. 

St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui: Last week of Christmas Appeal, final push for Tauranga foodbank (photo)
The pressure and stakes are especially high at the Tauranga Community Foodbank. During a recent visit, the Bay of Plenty Times met 9-year-old Austin Manning and teacher aide Catherine Robson from St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui. The pair were dropping off the school's contribution to the foodbank.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV


Matthew 1:18-24 The ancestors of Jesus Christ
A reading and commentary by Sister Stephanie Kitching.

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THE FIFTEENTH STATION PODCAST


Episode 122 — Christchurch, Christ's prayer, Christianity and Christmas fun (December 18, 2017)

In the final episode of 2017, there is cause for celebration, but also cause for concern. In New Zealand, Catholics welcomed the appointment of a new Bishop of Christchurch. But there was also fear that attempts to legislate euthanasia might be successful in the country, though there are many hurdles before that can happen. In Europe, Pope Francis is wondering aloud if the Lord's Prayer might be confusing people, while the new Polish leader wonders how Christianity might again shape Europe. But when it comes to pure fun, our Anglican friends seem to have it sorted, with a toboggan ride in an English church. Just another fun Christmas episode of The 15th Station. Wishing all our listeners and your loved ones a happy and holy Christmas.

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CRUX - Edited by John L. Allen Jr. and Inés San Martin


** Pope Francis in 2017: Chronicles of a 'Peace Pope,' and odds and ends

People expect popes to be savvy political operators, able to wave a magic wand and make all the world's problems disappear. That's a completely unrealistic vision, of course, but that doesn't stop popes from trying, and Pope Francis perhaps more than most...

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NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC PERIODICALS & NEWSLETTERS (UPDATED JANUARY 2017)

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

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. 'Kete Korero'. https://issuu.com/search?q=%22kete+korero%22

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/

NZ Catholic Education Office. School News Update  http://www.nzceo.org.nz/news/ UPDATED NOVEMBER 2017

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/

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NEW ZEALAND COMMENTARIES ON THE SUNDAY READINGS

Fr Frank Bird sm. Living the Word: Sundays of the Year: Reflection Guide - http://livingtheword.org.nz

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

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FACEBOOK

The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand

'NZ Catholic' newspaper

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Holy Cross Seminary

Marist Seminary, Auckland NZ

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NEWS OF THE CHURCH IN NZ AND THE WORLD







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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

Vacancies in the Catholic Overseas Volunteer programme, contact: volunteers@caritas.org.nz 

Links to job vacancies in the Catholic dioceses of ...