Sunday, December 10, 2023


NZ CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE


** The Catholic Enquiry Centre's second blog post on the meaning of Advent is now online. Click to read. 

** Last night's episcopal ordination of Bishop Richard.Laurenson of Hamilton

** With (Friday) the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, here's an article about it from the Catholic Enquiry Centre.

** Bishop-elect Richard's ordination as Bishop of Hamilton is on Friday. In preparation, today he publicly renewed his Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity,

** Members of our NZ Catholic Bishops' Committee for Interfaith Relations attended this  sixth national Religious Leaders Forum in Auckland yesterday.

** We're in no doubt it's Advent: here's the display in the National Liturgy Office area of the NZCBC Secretariat. Ka pai Catherine!

** This Friday was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the National Liturgy Office published significant resources for the day. The office notes that in some quarters there is confusion about this solemnity, and points out that the Catholic Church teaches that Mary was conceived by normal biological means in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, but God acted upon her soul, keeping it "immaculate" ...

** In an article in NZ Catholic, Archbishop of Wellington Paul Martin, SM, St Joseph's Levin parish Priest Fr Dennis Nacorda and Auckland Vicar for Maori Manuel Beazley reflect on their participation as the New Zealand Catholic Church's representatives at the Synod on Synodality in Rome in October

** Listen to Jane Maisey, David Moxon and Jelvine Cortez talking with Fr John O'Connor reflecting on the scriptures for today, the First Sunday of Advent.

** Bishop-elect Richard making his priestly farewells today to his parish of All Saints by the Sea Papamoa Coast, ahead of his episcopal ordination as Bishop of Hamilton on Friday.

** With today the beginning of Advent, the Catholic Enquiry Centre has started a series of blog posts about this important season. This first one is about the meaning of the word. Read it here:

** During Advent, we prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth through prayer and reflection....  Amid the four weeks of Christmas preparations, the National Liturgy Office has practical ways to observe the holiness of the season every single day.

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'NZ CATHOLIC' 

Full text articles: https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2023/ 

In issue no. 675  December 3 - 16, 2023: UK firm to assess NZ safeguarding (GCPS Consulting) ... Reclaiming the early Church's identity in synodality ... Synod hui starts with leadership, inclusive community (Dunedin diocese) ... Changes for Dunedin cathedral sanctuary ... Editorial: Charity from others ... Catholic mental health professionals forge network ... Christchurch Catholic health professionals group established ... Married Catholic priests - a debate among young people ... Gaudate Advent and Christmas carols ... Top scholars 2023 ... Housing Trust celebrates 40 years of service (Monte Cecilia)... Auckland Diocesan Pastoral Council 50 years of work described as "spectacular success" ... Valued religious sisters "fondly farewelled (Srs Mary Chanel Hardiman, Pauline Moloney) ... Another step on the path to priesthood (Deacon Matthew White).

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Joy Cowley's 'heart is full' as hundreds attend playground blessing
Hundreds of people, including about 140 children, turned out for the blessing of the Featherston playground which now bears author Joy Cowley's name ...

NEWS OF THE SCHOOLS

Embracing opportunity at St Joseph's School (text and video)
St Joseph's School (Invercargill?) put student wellbeing at the heart of all they do. With this in mind, a lot of awesome mahi has taken place relating to Physical Education, curriculum integration, physical activity and play ...

The farmer who bankrolled an $80m south Auckland school
Bay of Plenty Times 6 Dec 2023
(This article is behind a paywall. It is accessible via PressReader through the public library).
Savory Construction is nearing completion of St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, a new $80 million Auckland school for hundreds of pupils, due to open in February, funded partly by a $122m gift said to be the single largest donation from a New Zealand person. The huge endowment came from a late low-profile Auckland farmer. Howard Plumley became enormously wealthy selling cityfringe property yet lived frugally ...

The college's website: https://www.ignatius.school.nz/

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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B)  


Today's Mass (mislabeled as "Second Sunday of Lent) is celebrated by Father Pat Breeze SM at the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Onehunga, Auckland. It can be viewed at: 

Sunday Mass is also broadcast on Shine TV (Freeview channel 25) at 2 pm  and live streamed at: 
https://www.shinetv.co.nz/videos/live  (only viewable in New Zealand). 


New Zealand Commentaries on the Readings for the Sundays of the Year: 

Homily Studio (podcast)
Sunday 10 December 2023: Join Anglican bishop Sir David Moxon & Catherine Gibbs, co-director of the National Liturgy Office, in conversation with Fr John O'Connor reflecting on the scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Sunday homily for the Second Sunday of Advent by Fr Anthony Trenwith (podcast): 

Your Catholic Corner (podcast)
A 30-minute reflection and commentary on the Sunday readings by Julie South.
Waiting in hope: Advent, through Isaiah, Peter and Mark

Marist Laity NZ. Living The Word:  2nd Sunday of Advent Year B – Prepare the Way

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


Philippines Church says terrorism won't stop religious dialogue
Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines said on Friday that religious leaders remain committed to "continuing dialogue" after an attack on a Mass by Muslim terrorists on Dec. 3.

New Christmas song aims to raise support for Christians in the Holy Land
A song by a Bethlehem resident made in connection with a London-based band has been praised by Pope Francis as Christmas approaches. Youstina Safar, a student at Bethlehem University, has collaborated with the band Ooberfuse on the song Hear Angels Cry ...

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EMPLOYMENT 
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Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised on the Website of the Education Gazette: 

Vacancies at Caritas Aotearoa: 

Job vacancies in the Catholic dioceses of ...


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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND


The six dioceses:

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New Zealand Catholic 
Periodicals & Newsletters
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'NZ Catholic' is a national newspaper published by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland. https://nzcatholic.org.nz/

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. 'Kete Korero'. 

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

Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 'Inform'  
https://chchcatholic.nz/?sid=25 (Latest news - Latest Inform)

Catholic Diocese of Dunedin. Newsletter

NZ Catholic Education Office Newsletter 'Kotui'

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

St Columban's Mission Society. 'The Far East' 

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul NZ. 
https://www.svdp.org.nz/resources/  Newsletters. News in Brief:  

'Tui Motu Interislands'. An independent Catholic magazine. 
https://tuimotu.org/   Scroll down to Articles, Explore More

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Facebook
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NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference

Catholic Discovery NZ (Catholic Enquiry Centre)

'NZ Catholic' newspaper

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Catholic Theological College

Holy Cross Seminary

Marist Seminary, Auckland NZ

Society of St Vincent de Paul NZ

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News of the Church 
in NZ and the World
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