Sunday, February 24, 2002

NZ CATHOLIC BISHOPS' WEBSITE http://www.catholic.org.nz

"The Catholic Church in New Zealand"/ "Te Haahi Katorika ki Aotearoa" is our Church's "flagship" Website. It is a mine of information about the Catholic Church in New Zealand and is regularly updated with links to other Websites of groups and organisations recognised by our bishops.

The Website now appears with a brand-new design, the work of Catholic Communications' technical assistant (and 'kiwicath' forum member) Julian Waters. It seems that the alphabetical Index to the whole site is not yet complete but there's plenty to see already, so please drop in and look round if you have not been in for a while.

THE CHURCH AND THE INTERNET

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications, headed by Archbishop John Foley, is the Vatican department responsible for research on the use of the mass media in the mission of the Church.

The Council has just published two documents about the Internet.

"Ethics and Internet" http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_\ doc_20020228_ethics-internet_en.html This document refers to a new form of discrimination - the "digital divide" - separating the rich from the poor on the basis of who can access the new information technology", and also to ethical questions raised by the violation of privacy, and copyright and the proliferation of pornographic and abusive Websites. However "we do not view the Internet only as a source of problems; we see it as a source of benefits to the human race. But the benefits can be fully realized only if the problems are solved." The benefits include broadening educational and cultural horizons, breaking down divisions between peoples, and promoting human development in a multitude of ways. The document concludes with some recommendations for the ethical use of the Internet.

"The Church and Internet" http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_\ doc_20020228_church-internet_en.html This document affirms that the Internet is relevant to many activities and programmes of the Church - evangelization, catechesis and other kinds of education, news and information, apologetics, governance and administration, and some forms of pastoral counselling and spiritual direction. The Internet also presents some special problems for the Church such as the presence of hate sites defaming and attacking ethnic and religious groups, among them the Catholic Church. Moreover "the proliferation of Web sites calling themselves Catholic creates a problem of a different sort. Church-related groups should be present on the Internet, and well-motivated, well-informed individuals and unofficial groups are entitled to be there as well." But Internet users who know little or nothing about Catholic doctrine are at risk of being misled by Web sites labelled "Catholic" which promote "eccentric doctrinal interpretations (and) idiosyncratic devotional practices".

The document recommends that Church leaders be told of the "need to understand the media, (and to) apply this understanding in formulating pastoral plans for social communications." Pastoral workers are encouraged to learn to use the Internet and to undergo appropriate doctrinal and spiritual formation "in order to witness to Christ." Educators and catechists are urged to offer, in schools and universities, courses and "more advanced training" to individuals preparing for professional media work. Parents are requested to guide and supervise their children in the use of the Internet. This includes making sure that filtering technology is used to protect from pornography, sexual predators and other threats." Finally, people of good will are cautioned to prudence in order to be able to see the Internet's capacity for good and evil, they are encouraged to be strong and brave in "standing up for truth in the face of religious and moral relativism," and to "temperance and self-discipline" in order to use this technology "wisely and only for good."

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"NZ's churches prepared for sexual abuse claims" NZ Herald 02.03.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=1090509&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general As churches throughout the world continue to be rocked by child sex abuse scandals and allegations of cover-ups, churches in New Zealand have been reviewing how they deal with similar complaints. The three largest - Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian, with around half a million followers each - have procedures to deal with complaints internally....

"The Order of Marist return to Mission Estate" NZ Herald 02.03.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=1090154 Stamping his gnarled Irish blackthorn walking-stick on the ground, Brother Martin Williams remembers the day, well over a decade ago, that a fellow brother foretold the future of their seminary at the Mission Estate in Napier. "We will all be gone," he said. "You'll be here to see it, but I'll be gone." Reflecting on that prophecy, Brother Marty - as he is known - sighs nostalgically and waves his stick in a wide circle to emphasise the grandeur of the place. He is here but, as foreshadowed, the Order is gone from the Mission...

"Prominent local Catholic priest" The Christchurch Press Feb 23, 2002 http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=020223006302&query=cat\ holic+and+zealand Prominent Christchurch Catholic priest Monsignor Thomas Liddy, who died at Nazareth House on January 20, aged 84, was a man of great spiritual depth. Born in South Canterbury, Thomas Liddy trained as a priest at Holy Cross College in Mosgiel. He was ordained in 1944 and served first as assistant priest at Ashburton...

"Changing face of New Zealand " NZ Herald 02.03.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=1090504 A snapshot of the 2001 census shows that more people in New Zealand are now overseas-born, the population is getting older, and non-Christian religions are becoming more prevalent. More than 2 million people said they were Christian, but there was a big increase in other religions. Islam disciples leaped 74 per cent in five years to 23,631, Hindu 56 per cent to 39,798, Buddhist 48 per cent to 41,634 and Spiritualism 64 per cent to 16,062...

Statistics New Zealand: Summary of Statistics from the 2001 Census http://www.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/pasfull/pasfull.nsf/web/Media+Release+2\ 001+Census+Snapshot+1+Cultural+Diversity?open

4. Increase in non-Christian religions Over two million people are Christian. The main Christian denominations are: Anglican (584,793 or 17 percent of people), Catholic (486,012 or 14 percent) and the Presbyterian group (417,453 or 11 percent).

Between 1996 and 2001 the number of Anglicans (-46,971) and Presbyterians (-38,895) decreased. Catholics increased by 12,900.**

The count of Anglicans exceeded that of the other denominations in all regions except Auckland (where Catholics were largest) and Otago and Southland (where the Presbyterian group was the largest).

At the 1901 Census only 1 in 30 people did not give a religious affiliation. Almost 4 out of 10 people did not specify a religious affiliation in the 2001 Census.

[** Between 1991 and 1996 the number of people identifying as Catholics fell by 5.1% - from memory, I think it was the first time the Catholic population decreased. The increase this time is about 2.7%. In due course no doubt the Church will purchase a detailed breakdown of the Catholic population figures from Statistics New Zealand which will reveal trends within age groups, e.g. whether the increase was among older people, or younger people or across the board. Mike L.]

Sunday, February 17, 2002

17 Feb 2002

*************************** Resources and Activities for Lent ***************************

"Doing as Jesus Commands": Commentaries on the readings for the Sundays & holy days of the year of Matthew. http://www.ake.quik.co.nz/termon This New Zealand liturgy resource site is published by Fr Bill Fletcher who is based in Otahuhu Parish. It features the Readings for every Sunday in Lent (and every other Sunday of the year), plus articles on the significance of Lent and liturgical suggestions for the season.

Fr John Stone, Parish Priest of Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, Balclutha publishes a short Sunday homily on the parish Website every week at: http://www.webfactor.co.nz/clutha-catholic

The "Lenten Reflections" feature at EWTN displays a calendar on which you click for a Bible verse, a short reflection, a Lenten Question and Answer, a suggested activity and a prayer for each day of the season. http://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/index.htm

Almsgiving is one of the three traditional pillars of Lenten observance (the others are prayer and fasting) and so our bishops - through their social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa NZ - sponsor an annual Lenten Appeal for which Caritas distributes envelopes to every parish. Donations to the Appeal support development projects in Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America and New Zealand. The New Zealand government subsidises Caritas' development work, so that every dollar New Zealanders contribute to the Appeal could be worth up to four dollars to the communities who receive the assistance. Detailed reports with photos of the Caritas Network's activities world wide are in Caritas's Newsletter at: http://www.caritas.org.nz/Update/28_summer_2001/index.htm

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Bishop's remains coming to Waikato " Waikato Times, 15 February 2002 The remains of Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, New Zealand's first Catholic Bishop, are being taken to sites he visited in the Waikato over the next few days. Bishop Pompallier's remains – including bones, handmade shoes, and a Maori necklace – have been brought to New Zealand after they were exhumed from a Paris cemetery. He worked in New Zealand from 1838 until 1868, founding the first Catholic church here, before returning to his homeland, France. His remains are scheduled to arrive at Rangiaowhia, east of Te Awamutu, on Sunday before being taken to Te Awamutu and Hamilton, where they will spend the night at Hui Te Rangiora Marae in Clarence St. On Monday, they will be taken to St Mary's Cathedral for a service at 12.30pm before heading to the Coromandel peninsula. After touring the country, Bishop Pompallier's remains will be interred at Hata Maria Church, at Motuti in the Far North near his original mission station.

"Maori energy successfully harnessed " Otago Daily Times 13 Feb. 2002 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=13Feb2002&obje\ ct=ECA06B3520NC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Most Pakeha New Zealanders have woken up to what has been evolving around them in the Maori renaissance, writes Pat Lynch, chief executive of the Catholic Education Office, even though some are still being dragged screaming and kicking into facing the new realities. There is much room for optimism ...




FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

"NZ Catholic" No 131, February 24, 2002 http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

"Priest dogs brewery sign " Embarrassing publicity generated by Tauranga priest Fr Frank Eggleton has prompted a brewery to dismantle signs declaring, "In dog we trust"...

"Crowded schools may be required to have selection criteria " Catholic schools with growing pressure on their rolls may have to introduce enrolment schemes.... [Related Links: NZ Catholic Education Office ... Ministry of Education documents on enrolment schemes: Draft enrolment schemes for schools; Information for parents]

"Ashes shared by Catholics and Anglicans " Colour and sound graced the pillars of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch during an ecumenical liturgy for Ash Wednesday, recommended by the Anglican Roman Catholic Commission.. [Related Link: Catholic Diocese of Christchurch ]

Think Page for Young Adults: Lent: Making some room for God! What are you gaining from this Lent? The perfect Love of God the Father! So here's where preparing for Lent starts because our lives tend to be very busy and very full of "stuff". So if we make a bit more room for the Father in our lives he sees our effort, and he repays even the tiniest acts with his grace a hundred fold...

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Bishop Pompallier The Christchurch Press Feb 21, 2002

Sir--Some correspondents seem concerned that the return of Bishop Pompallier's remains to New Zealand is at odds with Maori traditions of respect for the dead, citing the move by Maori to recover heads (mokomokai) from museums and other places abroad.

The move to return his remains was initiated largely by Catholic Maori, with full support from the French authorities and the Church both here and in France. Mokomokai are blood whanau, whereas Catholic Maori regard Bishop Pompallier as karanga matua -- father in name -- and themselves as his adoptive whanau.

Bishop Pompallier lay unforgotten in an obscure cemetery outside Paris for over 130 years. Those who have continued to visit and maintain his grave are the adoptive whanau, the bishops and people of New Zealand, who can pay him no greater respect than to claim and honour his remains.

Lyndsay Freer Communications Director for the Catholic Church, Auckland, February 13

WEB TV (Archdiocese of Wellington)

CatholicTV.Net http://www.catholictv.net Modern Messiahs: Life as a Parish Priest: * Seph tells us about his training for the priesthood * Fr Bernie Hehir cuts to the chase * Fr Chris Skinner interviews Fr Peter Roe on his time as a Marist priest * Fr Jim Lyons talks about his work as a parish priest

LAYPEOPLES' ORGANISATIONS

Lamb of God Community Newsletter, March 2002 http://www.rc.net/newzealand/lamb_of_god/Chronicle/mar2002/index.htm

EMPLOYMENT

Personal Secretary to the Catholic Bishop of Hamilton Full details in 'NZ Catholic' February 24 2002 p.21, and from Naomi McGowan tel. (07) 838 2079 ; e-mail: naomim@mlc.co.nz Applications close Friday 8 March 2002

'NZ Catholic' Newspaper: Presenters The paper is recruiting paid presenters to promote 'NZ Catholic' at Sunday Masses and sign up new subscribers. Details in 'NZ Catholic' February 24 2002 p.21, and from Dennis Augustine, Promotions and Advertising Manager, PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1034; e-mail: catholic@iconz.co.nz

STATISTICS

A Website temporarily named "Catholic Church in North America (while the site's owner tries to think of a better one), has statistics of the Catholic Church in New Zealand and Milestones in the lives of our bishops, past and present: http://www.rc.net/org/ccita/diocese/cnz.html

Sunday, February 10, 2002

DEATH OF PRINCESS MARGARET

In a telegram of sympathy sent to Queen Elizabeth, Pope John Paul II on Saturday prayed for the soul of Princess Margaret, recalling the travails and fraility that marked her last years of life.

"Saddened to learn of the death of her royal highness the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, I express to Your Majesty and to the royal family my deep sympathy at this time of sorrow," the pope said in the telegram, whose text was released by the Vatican's press office.

"Commending your sister to the God of all consolation and praying that she will find eternal rest beyond the travails of human life and the fraility she knew in recent years, I invoke upon all who are mourning her loss the peace which is Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead," the Pontiff said.

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Bishop's remains welcomed on to marae " The Kaikoura Star 6 Feb (photo) http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1093716a5440,FF.html He may never have visited Kaikoura during his lifetime, but Bishop Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier was still welcomed on to the Takahanga marae with a moving powhiri and Mass yesterday afternoon.....

"Honouring the right and just " The Southland Times, Saturday 9th February 2002 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1096749a1942,FF.html ["Religion and Life" column by Gore Parish Priest Fr Pat McGettigan on the detention of Afghan prisoners in Cuba and on the late anti-racism campaigner Michael Roche]

"Rare Books For Turnbull" NZ Book Council News Feb 8 2002 http://www.vuw.ac.nz/nzbookcouncil/latestnews.htm

Nearly 700 rare books, including several from the 15th century, have been placed on permanent deposit in the Alexander Turnbull Library by the present owners, the Society of Mary and the Archdiocese of Wellington. They include a wide range of material from early theological works to Roman Catholic liturgical books, as well as English literature, Latin and Greek classics, and early voyages and travel literature.

Formerly part of the Colin Library at the well-known Marist seminary and vineyard at Greenmeadows in Hawke's Bay, the books have been kept in storage in recent years.

Included in the collection are books that belonged to Wellington's first Catholic priest, Father J.J.P. O'Reilly, who came to New Zealand in 1843 and helped establish schools and churches, including St Mary of the Angels on Boulcott Street.

Most of the books are in their original leather or vellum bindings and include beautiful examples of the printers' and illustrators' art through the centuries. The oldest book is a collection of sermons by Saint Bonaventura, published in Germany in 1481.

Margaret Calder, Chief Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library, said 'I am delighted that this valuable and historically important collection will be preserved in the Turnbull Library and will be available to researchers in New Zealand.

The books are significant not only for their textual content as works of theology and literature, but as examples of the art and history of the book, and for the individual histories of collecting and ownership which each volume represents.'

Contact: Susan Bartel Email: susan.bartel@natlib.govt.nz

Sunday, January 20, 2002

INTER-FAITH DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD, ASSISI, 24 JANUARY
2002

Next Friday 300 religious leaders from around the world will assemble in
Assisi for a Day of Prayer for Peace at the invitation of Pope John
Paul. Prayers and documents about the Conference are on the Vatican
Website, here:
http://www.vatican.va/special/assisi_20020124_en.html

News of the Day will be reported by the religious and secular news
agencies with links on our bishops' Website at:
http://www.catholic.org.nz

You can tour the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi at:
http://www.sanfrancescoassisi.org/eng/index.htm (click "Site Map" for
the list of links)


SPIRITUALITY

'Medjugorje News'
http://www.medjugorjenews-nz.org/
A quarterly Newsletter edited by edited by 'kiwcath' forum member Paul
Farge
pfarge@ihug.co.nz )

In Issue 24, December 2001: The Medjugorje story ... Our Lady's messages
... From the editor ... Excerpts from Medjugorje press ... News from
and about Medjugorje ...The day Our Lady came weeping ....The last
homily of Father Slavko ...The Medjugorje testimony of Jim ... Our
pilgrimage to Medjugorje .... The seven virtues for parents ...
Medjugorje reacts to attack on USA ... The Spirit himself convinced me
... Risen Christ statue ... I have learned ... Colette's ministry ...The
secret of the rosary ... A beautiful gift for loved ones


FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Bishop's guiding light shines again for faithful' (photo)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\
D=586504

NZ Herald 14.01.2002

The father of New Zealand Catholicism had to battle suspicion and
controversy in his time. Andrew Laxon examines the life and trials of
Bishop Pompallier....



Sunday, January 13, 2002

BISHOP POMPALLIER'S RETURN

For the full background on our first bishop and the regularly updated itinerary of his return, please visit the NZ Catholic bishops' Pompallier pages at: http://www.catholic.org.nz/pompallier (click on the portrait to enter) or the home page at http://www.catholic.org.nz and click the "Pompallier" link there.

"Founder of NZ Catholicism returning to home shores " NZPA 10 January 2002 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1064980a1927,FF.html The founder of New Zealand Catholicism is about to return to home shores. The remains of Jean-Baptiste Francois Pompallier, this country's first Catholic bishop, arrive in Auckland on Sunday. The bishop's remains were exhumed from a Parisian cemetery in 1999 after years of lobbying by New Zealand Catholics, especially in the Hokianga where he first arrived in 1838.......

"Bishop Pompallier Arrives Home" IRN 13/01/2002 The man who brought Catholicism to New Zealand finally returns today, more than 100 years after his death. Bishop Jean-Baptiste Francois Pompallier's remains have been exhumed from his Paris grave, and will be taken to the Bay of Islands for his final resting place. He arrives in Auckland today. Catholic Church spokeswoman Lindsay Freer says Auckland Bishop Pat Dunn will accompany the remains to Whai Ora Marae in Otara this afternoon. She says Bishop Pompallier will stay several days in Otara before a large welcome mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday. Ms Freer says the Bishop will be taken on a hikoi around New Zealand, starting in Dunedin on January 24th.

WORLD CATHOLIC NEWS

During the week Elizabeth wrote:

> The Zenit News Agency is wanting new subscribers. > I enjoy receiving it just about every day and probably lots of you > do too, but I thought I'd send the latest one just so you could see > the sort of things it deals with. It might be too conservative for some, > but I quite like reading about items before they appear in, say > NZ Catholic or even occasionally the secular press.

Many people who have easy access to the Internet routinely go online at a quiet time every day to check for messages and then look at their favourite Websites. If you would like to include some of the Catholic world news sites in your daily schedule, please bookmark the NZ Catholic bishops' News Agency page at http://www.catholic.org.nz/newsagency.html (or go to the home page http://www.catholic.org.nz and click "News", "Catholic News Agencies".

There you will find links to Zenit world Catholic news service and, among other sources, ....

EWTN : http://www.ewtn.com/headlines.asp This service carries links to stories from several other news services, including Zenit and the Vatican Information Service (VIS), so it's a good place to start if you are pressed for time.

Catholic Telecommunications : http://www.cathtelecom.com/index.asp A news service of Catholic Communications Australia. Good for Australian and Oceanian Catholic News.

Fides Missionary News Service: http://www.fides.org/home-ing.htm Includes transcripts of interviews with Church workers in some of the world's most dangerous places.

News Now: Religion http://www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NewsNow/NewsFeed.htm?Section=NewsLink&Theme=Religio\ n World news of religion from the secular press, updated hourly.

NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS

[The items in this new feature are copied from the online catalogue of the medium-sized public library in my home town. My theory is that if a book is available in our local library, it's probably available in yours, or you can request it through interloan. ML]

A deserter's adventures / Dom Felice Vaggioli ; translated by John Crockett. Dunedin, N.Z. : University of Otago Press, 2001. The autobiography of Dom Felice Vaggioli (1845-1921), an Italian Catholic missionary in New Zealand in the late nineteenth century.

Christ for all people : celebrating a world of Christian art / edited by Ron O'Grady. Auckland, N.Z. : Pace Publ., : Orbis Books : Novalis : WCC Publications, 2001. Subjects: Jesus Christ--Art. ... Christian art and symbolism.

A book of saints / by James Cochrane. Cambridge : Galileo Multimedia ; 2001. 127 p. : ill. (chiefly col.), col. ports ; 23 cm. "The author has made a selection of the most important, the most famous or the most interesting saints of Christendom, and the entries are portrayed by artists from the early Middle Ages to modern times. Unusually, the entries are in date order so that through these concise biographies the reader can follow the unfolding history of the Church from the Apostles and early martyrs to the missionaries who took the gospel to the ends of the earth. The book includes a calendar of saints for every day of the year, and a list of patron saints."

The story of Christian spirituality : two thousand years, from East to West / general editor, Gordon Mursell. Oxford : Lion, 2001. "This introduction to Christian spirituality through the centuries covers all the major traditions - East and West, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant, with special articles on key spiritual concepts, practices and movements that influence the way that people live their lives in response to God."

Tuesday, December 25, 2001

MASS TIMES

Auckland: http://catholic.org/newzealand/auckland/mainparish.htm Hamilton: http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/hamilton/mass.htm Palmerston North: http://www.catholic.org.nz/palmerston (Palmerston North diocese only has a single-page Website with contact details). Wellington: http://www.catholic.org.nz/wellington/wellington/Clergy/Parishes/parishes.html Christchurch: http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/christchurch (click 'Parishes' link) Dunedin: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mpeyroux/masstimes.htm (or possibly on the new diocesan Website at http://www.catholic.org.nz/dunedin )

VACATION E-MAILS

If you are going away this Christmas it may be useful to know that you can turn off messages from the 'kiwicath' forum without quitting altogether. To do this, you are welcome to write to me directly at leon@xtra.co.nz , and I will fix it for you (don't forget to write again when you come back, so you can start getting e-mails again) , or ...

* Open the 'kiwicath' home page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kiwicath/ and click on "Edit My Membership" in the right-hand column

* On the "Membership" page, scroll down to "Message Delivery". Click in the circle beside "No e-mail"

* Go down to the bottom of the page and click the "Save changes" button.

On the other hand, if you really want to quit 'kiwicath' altogether send a message to: kiwicath-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

BISHOP POMPALLIER

In mid-January 2002 the remains of New Zealand's first Catholic bishop, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier (1802-1871), are to be re-interred in this country. The New Zealand Catholic bishops' Website has a special feature on the life and times of Bishop Pompallier, the historic buildings associated with him, and the ceremonies of the return and reinterment at Hata Maria Church, Motuti, Northland. At http://www.catholic.org.nz click the 'Pompallier' link (bottom left).

WORLD DAY OF PEACE, JAN 1 2001

Pope John Paul writes a special message for this annual day of prayer for world peace. The message for the coming Day, "No peace without Justice. No Justice without forgiveness", is on the NZ bishops' Website. At http://www.catholic.org.nz click 'News', 'What's New' and the link is at the top of the page.

Written "in the shadow of the dramatic events of 11 September last", the message affirms that the foundation of true peace is justice, "completed by the forgiveness which heals and rebuilds troubled human relations in circumstances great and small ... Forgiveness is in no way opposed to justice, as if to forgive meant to overlook the need to right the wrong done. It is rather the fullness of justice, leading to that tranquillity of order which is much more than a fragile and temporary cessation of hostilities, involving the deepest healing of the wounds which fester in human hearts. Justice and forgiveness are both essential to such healing...."

LORD OF THE RINGS, PART 1: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING

http://decentfilms.com/reviews/lordoftherings1.html " There can be no more fitting tribute to Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring than to apply to it the words with which C. S. Lewis acclaimed the original book when Tolkien first wrote it: “Here are beauties that pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a [film] that will break your heart" .....”

The Decent Films reviewer cautions that scenes in the film are likely to be frightening for children under the age of ten, and Nat made a similar point. On the other hand, there's another way of looking at this aspect of the stories. This is from a review of the books (not the film): "A fearful dart across the Shire ends with a roaring fire and mushroom casserole at Farmer Maggot's. The Old Man Willow adventure ends with baths and thick mattresses at Tom Bombadil's. A brush with Black Riders is resolved by a good dinner at the Prancing Pony. The Dead Marshes, then stewed rabbit in Ithilien. Pippin's flight through war-torn Gondor, then cheese and wrinkly apples in the buttery at Minas Tirith. A stripe of hardship, flight, terror, is always followed by one of safety, plenty, hospitality. Scary, safe again. Scary, safe again...."

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

Catholic Enquiry Centre Newsletter. October 2001 http://www.catholic.org.nz/cec (This new Website's Newsletter is the successor to the evangelisation magazine 'EV 2000' which ceased publication last year.)

* Editorial: New York, New York * "I Took Communion for the First Time " * The Passing of Monsignor Maurice Ryan, co-founder of the Catholic Enquiry Centre * London Enquiry Centre: new publications * Our Catholic schools - navigators of hope. * Inward Mail of Late (brief accounts of the writers' journeys of faith) * Meet Moira Christenhusz, keeper of the records at CEC * Evangelisation News from home and abroad

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"The quiet rebirth of Catholic England : The Establishment has been rapidly transformed, but no one has noticed" The Times (UK) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,248-2001590523,00.html “As English is the natural tongue, so Protestantism is the intellectual and moral language of the body politic,” said John Henry Newman in his Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England. Not now, it isn’t. The great Victorian cardinal would not be turning in his grave, since he himself converted to Rome. But he would surely be surprised that, of our three main party leaders, two-and-a-half are Roman Catholic. And what is even more astonishing is that no one seems either to notice or care .........

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Parish Pastoral Worker, Immaculate Conception Parish, Stratford, Taranaki Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the parish secretary, stratcath@xtra.co.nz

L'Arche New Zealand: full-time live-in assistant, Paraparaumu (north-west of Wellington) Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from Angela Capes, angela@larche.org.nz

Prison Chaplain, Paremoremo Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 p.21 and from Eric Allen, Director, Catholic Family and Community Services, tel (09) 378 9650

Part-time Youth Coordinator, Society of St Vincent de Paul A salaried position promoting the Society to children and young adults throughout the central North Island. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 and from Society of St Vincent de Paul, PO Box 529 Rotorua. Applications close 12 January 2002

Diocesan Manager, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North The appointee will be responsible for all the administration functions of the diocese. Further information in 'NZ Catholic' 18 November 2001 p.20 and in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the Bishops' Office, Private Bag,11-012, Palmerston north. Tel (06) 356 1980. Applications close 22 January 2002

Sunday, December 16, 2001

Dear friends,

In this weekend's 'NZ Catholic' newspaper its Internet columnist Paul Freedman reports that he looked for holiday Mass times on the diocesan Websites, with mixed results. I decided to have a go, and here's the list, which I will repeat in next week's News & Notes, the last one for this year.

Auckland:
http://catholic.org/newzealand/auckland/mainparish.htm
Hamilton:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/hamilton/mass.htm
Palmerston North:
Palmerston North diocese only has a single page Website with contact
details.
Wellington:
http://www.catholic.org.nz/wellington/wellington/Clergy/Parishes/parishes.html
Christchurch:
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/christchurch (click 'Parishes' link)
Dunedin:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mpeyroux/masstimes.htm

God bless,
Mike Leon
'kiwicath' forum manager

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

St Vincent de Paul Society Newsletter. Summer/December 2001 http://www.svdp.org.nz/society_news/index.asp

Face of the volunteer continually changing ... Shop managers meet .... National Council seeking a qualified spiritual adviser ...... Hastings considers school scholarships ... National Training officer approved ... Government's tax discussion documents labelled "frightening" ... Nat. Council to write to WINZ about its polices ... News of the Conferences... Young Vinnies news and articles ... Vincentians visit Sri Lankan border areas ... the Kaiwharawhara powder magazine and its Vincentian designer ... Obituaries: Jean Whitnall, Joan Clark

'NZ Catholic' No 127, December 16, 2001 http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

'Church explores cut-price scheme for electricity' An effort is under way to use the muscle of Church agencies and institutions to get a better deal on electricity prices...

'French team to make television documentary on Bishop Pompallier ' Two members of a French film production house have been in New Zealand this month preparing for the return to New Zealand of Bishop Pompallier's remains. ...

'Programme helps youth affirm faith ' The Odyssey Experience, designed to help young adults deepen their Catholic faith, has been test-run in the Wellington archdiocese with great success....

>From the 'Think Page ' for young adults: "What am I here for?" Celebrating a birthday, my radiant wife and I went out for tea to a cute little Italian/Greek café. We got to know the hard-case waiter, who was originally from Yorkshire, and on a perpetual OE around the world. During our last conversation, I asked him if he had thought about what his life is for? His response perhaps typifies the state of people living a comfortable, three-meals-a-day-with-snacks-in-between, "First World" lifestyle: "I try not to think too deeply about things like that.".........

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Lifestyle pressures at heart of birthrate fall ' NZ Herald 12 December 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233404 New Zealand's birthrate is falling as money and time pressures force people to keep their families small. The average number of children for New Zealand women is now two, compared with 2.09 in 1992, says Statistics New Zealand [Includes comment by Catholic Communications Director Lyndsay Freer] ......

'Going eight Rounds for the good of the country (photo)' http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233403 As NZ's birthrate falls, Rebecca Walsh talks to a couple who have done their bit - four times the average, in fact. While New Zealand women have an average of two children, Helena and Rob Round bucked the trend and produced eight..........

'Grieving mates will not let murderers win ' NZ Herald 14 Dec. 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=233872 A hint of wartime spirit swelled among more than 20 Panmure RSA veterans, friends and family as they went to their second funeral service this week. The group, travelling on a free bus provided by Stagecoach, were on their way to join about 600 people gathered at St Joseph and St Joachim Catholic Church in Otahuhu yesterday to farewell murdered RSA president Bill Absolum......

'Special lessons teach spirit of Christmas ' Otago Daily Times 12 Dec 2001 (photo) http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=12Dec2001&obje\ ct=NAH1281217ES&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Christmas is about giving not receiving, and a Dunedin school is having a special lesson in giving. The St Francis Xavier School junior class raised funds and then bought children's presents to donate to Catholic Support Services.........

'Trio's long service honoured ' Otago Daily Times 15 December http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Dec2001&obje\ ct=NCG25D2643EC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Three Dunedin men have been awarded Orders of Merit by Paralympics New Zealand for the long service they have given to sports for the disabled. It was a Catholic priest who instigated a sporting association for the physically disabled in New Zealand. The late Fr Leo Close had represented Ireland in the javelin, shot put and discus in the first two Paralympics, in Rome (1960) and Tokyo (1964)........

'Lifetime of service from caring Christian Brother ' Otago Daily Times 15 December 2001 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Dec2001&obje\ ct=N9L48E3527IR&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Behind a somewhat imposing exterior, Brother Patrick Aidan McManus was genuinely kind, compassionate and understanding, his colleagues recall. The former principal of the Christian Brothers High School in Dunedin and St Kevins College, Oamaru, rose to become Province Leader of the Christian Brothers in New Zealand for 12 years before he stepped back to lighter duties..........

NZ Council of Christian Social Services : Pressure Is On Families In Lead Up To Christmas Scoop 10 December 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/47/4c/200112101115.a3639692.html Families using foodbanks will be under extreme pressure to go further into debt this Christmas, according to research released today. The Poverty Indicator Project, run by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, shows that of the 2100 households going to the foodbanks included in the Project, over half are in debt.....

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Parish Pastoral Worker, Immaculate Conception Parish, Stratford, Taranaki Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the parish secretary, stratcath@xtra.co.nz

L'Arche New Zealand: full-time live-in assistant, Paraparaumu (north-west of Wellington) Details in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from Angela Capes, angela@larche.org.nz

Prison Chaplain, Paremoremo Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 p.21 and from Eric Allen, Director, Catholic Family and Community Services, tel (09) 378 9650

Part-time Youth Coordinator, Society of St Vincent de Paul A salaried position promoting the Society to children and young adults throughout the central North Island. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 16 December 2001 and from Society of St Vincent de Paul, PO Box 529 Rotorua. Applications close 12 January 2002

Diocesan Manager, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North The appointee will be responsible for all the administration functions of the diocese. Further information in 'NZ Catholic' 18 November 2001 p.20 and in 'Wel-com' December 2001 p.19 and from the Bishops' Office, Private Bag 11-012, Palmerston north. Tel (06) 356 1980. Applications close 22 January 2002