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NEWS & NOTES - 5 April 2009 - Passion Sunday (Palm sunday)

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'NZ CATHOLIC' - No. 313, April 5 - 18 2009

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

In this issue .. Caritas helps Maasai fight land injustice ... Priest a symbol of Indonesian govt harassment ... Easter Mass times ... Rite III - Right or Wrong?: General absolution proved popular in Taranaki ... Advertising Feature: 2009 Eucharistic Convention

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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A voice for justice in every sphere
The Press | 4 Apr 2009 | | | Released: 11h. 9min. ago | Page: 51
Pat Matheson was a woman of paradox. She was a strong character who would argue her views forcefully, yet many Canterbury women admired her gentle support. She was an outspoken critic of directions in the Catholic Church but remained faithful and loyal...

`Heavenly gift' of Otumoetai College students
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3796768&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
04.04.2009
St Thomas More Catholic Parish in Mount Maunganui has been awarded the ultimate gift before Easter with the creation of frames to hold the 14 Stations of the Cross. Twenty senior students from a technical skills class at Otumoetai College spent five weeks hand-crafting the frames from environmentally friendly produced hardened pine.

Bobo helps explain the reason for Easter
Taranaki Daily News — News — 3 Apr 2009 — Page 3
More than 2500 school kids took a dramatised tour through Central Baptist Church this week, where they watched Jesus live, die and rise again, all in the space of 35 minutes.

Faith healers more popular than God
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2311203/Faith-healers-more-popular-than-God
Kiwis who believe the words of fortune tellers and faith healers out-number those who have no doubt that God exists, a survey suggests.

St Joseph's packed for Max Clegg's funeral (photo)
http://tinyurl.com/cqy899
Upper Hutt Leader
A great tree has fallen in the forest of people, mourners were told at Max Clegg's funeral last Wednesday.

Blue school goes green for charity (photo)
North Waikato News
http://tinyurl.com/cwr3cb
For a school that is ususally a sea of blue, St Anthony's Catholic School enjoyed a change of colour last month.

Children’s voices raised in prelude to Easter
The Press | 2 Apr 2009
The voices of more than 500 children rose to the dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch yesterday. Pews were packed as children from 12 Catholic schools sang four hymns to celebrate the coming of Easter.

Slumming it for charity (photo)
Newslink
http://tinyurl.com/dj726z
Sleeping under tarpaulins and cardboard boxes - that's how students and pupils of St Peter's College, Gore, spent the night to raise awareness of Burmese refugees on the Thai border.

New Zealanders are becoming less religious, survey shows
Press Release: Massey University
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0904/S00021.htm
There has been a sharp rise in the number of New Zealanders with no religious affiliation, new research shows.

NZ can play a role in facilitating dialogue over West Papua, says religious leader
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=45654
A West Papua religious leader and academic says the New Zealand government could perform a role in facilitating dialogue over Indonesia’s troubled Papua region as it did for Bougainville back in the early 1990s.

Faithful companion helps Sister do her good deeds
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2305637/Faithful-companion-helps-Sister-do-her-good-deeds
Sister Eleanor Corston has an unusual best friend and constant companion. The Christchurch nun has a medical condition that means she can see only about a metre away, and she needs to be constantly accompanied by her five-year-old golden retriever-labrador guide dog, Kyla.

Nuns' arrival to be remembered at Catholic city school milestone
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2305827/Nuns-arrival-to-be-remembered-at-Catholic-city-school-milestone
The doors of Sacred Heart Girls' College in New Plymouth were first opened in September 1884. The 125th jubilee will be celebrated later this year, and organisers are hoping for a big turnout of old girls.

Sacred Heart Girls mark 125th jubilee
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=10534
Sacred Heart Girls' College, New Plymouth is celebrating 125 years of Catholic education for girls in Taranaki - 1884 to 2009 - on September 25 and 26, 2009.

Kapiti GPs, the Catholic Church and letters from red necks
The Dominion Post
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2300723/Kapiti-GPs-the-Catholic-Church-and-letters-from-red-necks

Christians to carry Cross to Newtown on Good Fri
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00398.htm
For Christians in south-central Wellington, this year’s Easter celebrations will have a new flavour, with the inaugural inter-church Good Friday “Way of the Cross” pilgrimage to Newtown on 10 April.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** Hidden Strength **
Sister Mary Scanlon reflects on Lent and living alone

** Praying in the Garden **
A reading and discussion of Mark 14:32-42 with Dr Raymond Pelly and Rev. Frank Nelson at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK' - http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

** Is there a difference between you and your cat? (Christians and evolution) ... It Has Begun (President Obama on abortion and stem cells) ... "Six hours nineteen minutes right ascension ..." (NZ-ers' religious affiliations) ... Blood on your Hands (joint efforts to reduce abortions) ... Syncretism and inculturation (the view from Africa) ... More questions than answers (fundamentalist Christians and the Catholic Church)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Vatican speaking for voiceless global poor
(In this article, John Allen also reports from the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators

Let’s begin with a pop quiz: Which of the following headlines about Pope Benedict XVI does not belong in a list of recent events which became a cause célèbre? A. Pope lifts excommunication of Holocaust-denying bishop B. Pope says condoms make AIDS worse C. Pope increasingly ‘isolated,’ insiders claim D. Pope emerges as voice of the poor in economic crisis ...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EVENTS

Eucharistic Convention - Friday 17th April - Sunday 19th April 2009
Westlake Boys High School, 30 Forrest Hill Road, Takapuna, North Shore, Auckland
Full details and booking:
http://www.eucharistic-convention.com/p_2009/p_2009_menu.htm

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

Adult Formation Co-ordinator, Catholic Diocese of Hamilton
http://hn.catholic.org.nz/cdh/Our_Place.html
Details in 'NZ Catholic' April 5 - 18 2009 p.23, and from the pastoral team leader, Chanel Centre, tel. (07) 856 6989; e-mail: peterr@cdh.org.nz Applications close 17 April 2009.

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NEWS & NOTES - 29 March 2009 - 5th Sunday in Lent

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Caritas Seeks To Be Heard On Overseas Aid Policy
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00311.htm
Catholic development agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is participating in Friday's multi-party summit on the future direction of New Zealand's overseas aid policy.

Years of St Dom's remembered (photo)
Feilding Herald
http://tinyurl.com/cdbfz9
Nearly 40 former pupils of St Dominic's School were among the crowd that gathered on Saturday for the Feilding launch of a book which has been in the making for about four years.

Church curtains set on fire
Kapiti Observer
http://tinyurl.com/d2td7e
St Patrick's Church, Paraparaumu, came within minutes of burning down on Monday after someone set fire to curtains inside.

Young Catholics celebrate their faith (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/47609/young-catholics-celebrate-their-faith
Last year's World Youth Day, an event that brought the Pope and many thousands of young people to Sydney had an echo in Mosgiel on Saturday.

Top students eye future (photo)
Whangarei Leader
http://tinyurl.com/d5aqbl
Pompallier Catholic College's head prefect could be the next New Zealand top cop if all goes as planned.

Indoor bowls back (photo)
Kapiti Observer
http://tinyurl.com/cz6jm9
St Patrick's Indoor Bowling Club celebrated its 50th year as a club last season, enjoying great successes.

Gardeners share common ground
Horowhenua Mail
http://tinyurl.com/cdvv7o
Sister Loyola Galvin, a Catholic nun in her 80s, and landscape gardener Ben Hoyle, 31, will both be guest speakers at the Kapiti coast sustainable Home and Garden Show.

Little School enjoys huge support from its wider community (photo)
http://www.localmedia.co.nz/petoneherald/stories/ph250309/ph250309-NEWS-%20san%20antonio%20+pic%20352%20subbed%20medium.txt.htm
The Petone Herald
Named in honour of Saint Antony of Padua, the patron saint of fishermen and sailors, the school was founded by the fledgling Italian community at Eastbourne in 1936. Today, with a school roll sitting at just 21, the school maintains the close-knit community feel on which it was originally built.

Diamond day for Paeroa couple (photo)
Hauraki Herald
http://tinyurl.com/cj272s
Bernard and Joyce Creed have celebrated 60 years of marriage.

ING investments freeze leads to investigation
http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/ing-investments-freeze-leads-investigation-2579235
The Commerce Commission is investigating ING and its co-owner the ANZ Bank, after 8000 New Zealanders had their investments frozen. One is New Zealander Dennis Catchpool, who had a big responsibility to invest nearly half a million dollars on behalf of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea.


** The Catholic Church, Abortion and Aids ***

Pope's condom-ban won't stop spread of Aids
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=10432

Editorial: The flat earth church
The Dominion Post
http://tinyurl.com/csq8vd

Letters to the editor
The Dominion Post 26/03/2009
http://tinyurl.com/c8sukc

Vile attack on Pope (letter to the editor)
The Press, 25 Mar 2009, Edition 2, Page 12.

Pope puts education ahead of condoms
Hawkes Bay Today — A06 — 25 March 2009

Pope no aid to sufferers
Northern Advocate — 6 — 25 March 2009

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** We must die to live **
A reading and discussion of John 12:20-33 with Kathryn Mciver and Fr Thige O'Leary at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK' - http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

How do we reduce teenage pregnancy? Advertise abortions on television! (a UK proposal to allow abortion and condom advertising on prime time television)

"‘No TV and No Beer Make Homer something something" (Lent: It’s not that I haven’t tried – I really have!)

Raise the Alarm (on President Obama's visit to Notre Dame University)

Injustice on my doorstep, hope in the Eucharist (a Liberian refugee in West Africa)

Tora, tora, tora!!! (reaction to the reactions to Pope Benedict on Aids)

Q&A from South Brisbane (Fr Peter Kennedy and St.Mary’s Church)

What difference does a piece of paper make? (the quality of marital and nonmarital relationships)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Liberation theology African style

After the pope ended his Africa swing on Monday, my wife and I remained in Cameroon for most of this week, pondering the impact of the trip and taking stock of the African church. The experience reinforced an impression I’ve long had, and here it is in a sound-bite: What African Catholicism has to offer the global church is liberation theology without the hang-up over ecclesiastical authority.

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

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NEWS & NOTES - 22 March 2009 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

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'WEL-COM' - A newspaper for the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses

http://www.welcom.org.nz

News
Good Sams restore St Joseph ... Palestinian supporters 'barred' ... New understandings of the Treaty of Waitangi

World News

Columns
Editorial: bushfires bring us to Eucharist ... The year of Paul - the pastoral letters. Kieran Fenn FMS ... Archbishop's column: Letter from Lyon. Archbishop John Dew

Schools
Ss Peter and Paul's tops wearable arts ... Marist St Pat's takes the prized Swindale ... Viard barbershop excels in pan-Pacific contest

Features
Hope for Treaty peoples ... A prayer of faith, hope and love for the victims of the Australian fires ... Preachers waiting at the banquet of Holy Wisdom

Wellington
Labyrinth reopens at Hutt Hospital ... Newtown People's Market a regular ... 160th anniversary of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

Palmerston North
Talking to young people about seeing God everywhere ... Cullinane College leaders ... Recession doublespeak. Bishop Peter Cullinane

Reflection on the Sunday readings for the Sunday in Lent Year B

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Stations of the land : poems and images linking a railway journey to the devotional discipline of the Stations of the Cross (reviews), by Rev. Stuart Flinn and Msgr Tim Hannigan
Music in the Air : Song & Spirituality, Win/Spr 2008; n.26:p.16-18
A list of libraries which hold this periodical can be found at:
http://innz.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=570090

Groups walking for the planet (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/45069/groups-walking-planet
In the first co-operative campaign in more than a decade, churches throughout the South Island are mobilising to express their commitment to the environment.

Legal option after bullying
Girl suffered for months
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2280966/Legal-option-after-bullying/
A family is considering legal action against St Mary's College in Wellington after a girl was bullied for so long that she lost 12 kilograms, spent three weeks in hospital and had to move to another school.

Diamond day for Paeroa couple (photo)
Hauraki Herald
http://tinyurl.com/cj272s
Bernard and Joyce Creed have celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Students learn to help others
The Marlborough Express | 17 Mar 2009 Page 10
Service to others does not always come easily, but St Joseph’s School pupils are learning its value early. The children last Tuesday gave some of the produce they grew in the school’s organic garden to the owner of Gustos restaurant, Gareth McGlynn,...

Throw your hands in the air (photo caption)
Taieri Herald
http://tinyurl.com/creoaj
150 young Catholics gathered at Mosgiel's Holy Cross Centre for the Christ-fest youth gathering.

Choose your own challenge (photo)
High Country Herald
http://tinyurl.com/d73d4z
South Canterbury primary schools are introducing new homework initiatives in a bid for better results outside the clasroom. Timaru's Sacred Heart Primary School has joined the trend.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** Gangster turned priest **
Part two of John Pridmore's story.

** We are loved **
A reading and discussion of John 3:14-21 with Kathryn Mciver and Fr Thige O'Leary at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC PODCASTS - http://station15.libsyn.com

'The Fifteenth Station' -

Sun, 15 March 2009
Station XV - Episode 19 - More popular than Obama?In this episode, we discuss one New Zealand bishop's response to the proposed 'three strikes' law, we talk about the terrible situation surrounding some excommunications in Brazil, we look at Pelosi and the Pope, we take a look at the events in South Brisbane; and is President Obama more popular than Jesus Christ?!?

'Familia'
1 March 2009 - Episode 6
This month’s edition of the Familia Podcast explores the following questions: - Why is there such a big divorce rate for couples who have sex before marriage? - Why do men represent Christ in a marriage when we are all meant to represent Christ in the world? - What is guilt and is it healthy? - Should someone with a serious medical condition take the Pill? - Aren’t NFP and contraception the exact same thing? - What is responsible family planning? - How candid should an unmarried couple be about sexual issues?

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

New and Improved (the spiritual life and the limits of technology) ... “Wait, I’m no missionary! I don’t even believe in Jebus!” (Aids and condoms) ... What a Man! (the Feast of St Joseph, Pope Benedict's name-day) ... Apostolicam Actuositem, I mean Actuositatem… (quotes from the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity) ... What’s up with that?! (Canadian Lent collection money for pro-abortion groups in Mexico) ... Lost Tradition (a new Website on lost Catholic practices) ... Rosemary McLeod needs a reality check (a reply to an article by RM on compassion towards children)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Benedict in Cameroon a tale of two trips

By the time this column appears, Pope Benedict XVI will have left Cameroon for Angola, beginning the second leg of his March 17-23 maiden voyage to Africa. I don't think I've ever covered a papal trip where the gap between internal and external perceptions has been as vast as over these three days.

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

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NEWS & NOTES - 15 March 2009 - Third Sunday in Lent

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Joy Cowley to share views on spirituality (photo)
Wairarapa News
http://tinyurl.com/ajl6tt
Author, poet and orator Joy Cowley is coming to speak at St Luke's Church, Masterton, to give an insight into her views on spirituality.

Shone in public service (photo)
The Hutt News
http://tinyurl.com/b2kfbn
Margaret Cosgrove, private secretary to Roger Douglas, had an unusual break that set her up for a career in the public service.

Expert to speak on Palestine and peace (photo)
Whangarei Leader
http://tinyurl.com/c3xocv
Is peace possible in Palestine? This question will be explored with a free talk in Whangarei. The event has been arranged by peace and social justice group Pax Christi, with the help of Trade Aid, Whangarei.

Call for coordinated response to recession
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2154762/Call-for-coordinated-response-to-recession
Church leaders and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services are calling for more coordination of responses to the growing recession, across all sectors. The council and churches have included the idea of a quarterly national forum in a paper they have sent to Prime Minister John Key.

St Paul’s College farewells principal
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/2248529/St-Paul-s-College-farewells-principal
After 30 years at St Paul’s College, principal Denys Marra is stepping down. He was officially farewelled at a service last week and although he’s looking forward to having time to play touch rugby with his 12 grandchildren, he says he’ll miss the students.

Caritas seeks openness and answers in review of NZ overseas aid
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00108.htm
Catholic social justice and overseas aid agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has asked Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully to open up his review of New Zealand’s overseas aid to public scrutiny, and to keep a strong focus on poverty elimination. In an open letter to the Minister, Caritas said a “review behind closed doors, with an unknown timeframe, and limited public comment as to its nature and purpose” did not match the party’s pre-election policy statement for a bipartisan foreign policy belonging to the public.

Man swapped as baby springs surprise on mum
http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/45977/man-swapped-baby-springs-surprise-mum
Helen Churchman received a "terrific" 88th birthday present yesterday. Fred George, a son she did not know she had until five years ago, flew from Boston in the United States to pay a surprise visit.

Sister Loyola is the queen of all green
Bay of Plenty Times — A05 — 14 March 2009
She's New Zealand's Gardener of the Year and a sister of the Catholic church but at 86, Loyola Galvin could just as easily be crowned the nation's queen of the community garden. The sprightly nun was in Tauranga this week to give a Sustainable Backyards presentation on organic community gardening and her award-winning efforts to encourage novice gardeners...

Sex fears see school reject vaccine
Bay of Plenty Times — A05 — 12 March 2009
A controversial vaccine which protects young women against cervical cancer is being rolled out at Tauranga schools this week _ but one high school has declined the offer because of concerns it could encourage students to be sexually promiscuous.

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** Gangster turned priest **
John Pridmore ( http://www.johnpridmore.com ) tells his story. (This appears to be part one of a longer interview - ml)

** Making changes in ourselves **
Ash Wednesday and Lent at St Catherine's College

** Money isn't everything **
A reading and discussion of John 2:13-25 with Very Rev. Frank Nelson and Rev. Judy Wigglesworth at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

Don’t Just Sit There… (confronting today's secular and anti-religious society) ... With a loaded gun (abortions and embryonic stem cells in the news) ... The Study of Jesus (on taking a course in Christology) ... Three strikes and you’re…? (on sentencing violent offenders) ... Mindful violence (on reacting to injustice and evil) ... The Kreutzer (a play with a positive lesson on marriage)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Five reasons the papal trip to Africa is important

Whenever there’s big papal news in the air, my phone usually rings off the hook from media outlets in various parts of the globe. If the phone isn’t ringing, therefore, it’s a fairly reliable sign that the pope is currently flying below radar. On the cusp of Pope Benedict XVI’s maiden voyage to Africa, visiting Cameroon and Angola March 17-23, the silence from my phone is deafening...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

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NEWS & NOTES - 8 March 2009 - Second Sunday in Lent

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'NZ CATHOLIC' No. 311 March 8 - 21 2009

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

Nine candidates boost seminary roll ... Faith guides Joseph's work with at-risk youth ... NZ missionary priest's courage inspires yopung Kiwi ... Sister from Northland helping to change children's lives in the Phillippines ... Advertising Feature: De Paul House Family Support

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Teaching the basics (photos)
The Invercargill Eye
http://tinyurl.com/d7rz6r
Free cooking classes for parents and caregivers being run by Catholic Social Services and Verdon College are a vital service, the woman running the classes says.


Catholic Mom Takes on Social Networking
Creates Kid-Friendly Yoursphere.com
http://www.zenit.org/article-25282?l=english
Mary Kay Hoal, an American Catholic mother, has established Yoursphere - http://www.yoursphere.com -, a social networking site for children and teenagers of school age, that is monitored to prevent cyberbullying and to keep out adults who use networking sites to develop inappropriate relationships with children and teens. It aims to create a positive space online where children can share their interests, such as sports, academics, gaming, fashion and music, while interacting with friends who really are their peers (anonymity is not permitted). Future plans include opening Yoursphere communities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.


Cathedral reeling over approval for 46-storey tower
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10560374
The Catholic Church is reeling after plans for Auckland's tallest new apartment tower were granted planning approval. In the midst of one of the country's worst real-estate downturns, developer Gary Groves' Sanctuary Group got consent for his new Saffron tower, a 46-storey Albert St block of units next to the Catholic cathedral in the CBD.

Challenge accepted (photo)
Cambridge Edition
http://tinyurl.com/arxq4v
There wil be a lot of extra-sporty children occupying four of our schools following the recent Mayoral Cycle Challenge.

Care Centre Opens (photo)
Ruapehu Press
http://tinyurl.com/cnkhxq
Mayor Sue Morris and Sister Paula Cronin cut the ribbon at the new community care centre in Taumarunui's old Tuku St. hockey pavilion.

Final Service Planned (photo)
Queenstown Mirror
http://tinyurl.com/bqqlug
After 143 years, the curtain is about to fall on a visible Catholic presence in Naseby.

Mat, 5, takes on the world (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2000057/Mat-5-takes-on-the-world/
Competing against 1.8 million kids worldwide for the title of best Mathlete was child's play for St James Catholic School pupil Mat Marlow.

Day of prayer sends 'wave' around the globe
Matmata Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/cw4ya7
A service to mark World Day of Prayer will be held this Friday at All Saints Church. This year's service has been prepared by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Papua New Guinea ...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** Understanding the Law **

Sister Stephanie Kitching chats to Nicky Darlow about her experiences aa a community law centre worker, pupils' rights advisor, and consultant to community groups

** Transfiguration **
A reading and discussion of Mark 9:2-10 and the painting 'The Transfiguration' by Wellington artist Michael Smithers, with Very Rev. Frank Nelson and Rev. Dr Ellie Sanderson at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

The Kreutzer (a play with themes of love, marriage, men and woman) ... Tolerance (tolerance as a tool of intolerance) ... “It’s a boy… and what a boy!” (designer babies) Heroic Suicide? (current movies) .. Lucienne Sallé (a laywoman in the Vatican) ... Preach it brother! (Archbishop Charles Chaput on Catholic faith and public policy in America.

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Benedict perfects the Q&A format

Ironically enough, forty years ago Joseph Ratzinger insisted that the dialogue is not really a legitimate Christian literary form. In his 1969 book 'Das neue Volk Gottes', the future pope observed that there’s no equivalent in Christian writing to the great dialogues of Plato, arguing that’s because, at its core, Christianity is not about dialogue with the world but rather kerygma, proclamation...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

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NEWS & NOTES - 1 March 2009 - First Sunday in Lent

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LENT 2009: 'Our Responsibility for Others'

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand - http://www.caritas.org.nz

The Caritas theme for the Lent Appeal 2009, beginning on 25 February, was inspired by Pope Benedict's 2007 encyclical 'Spe Salvi', where he writes, "Love of God leads to participation in the justice and generosity of God towards others. ... the love of God is revealed in responsibility for others."

Our Lent poster features children and young people from Papua New Guinea partner Mercy Works. Lent Resources have been sent to schools and parishes. More information and resources available for download....

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'NZ CATHOLIC' - No. 310 Feb 22 - March 7 2009

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

In the current issue: Catholic school says 'no' to cervical cancer jab ... Kiwi bishops plead with minister to respect frozen human embryos ... Making the rich list: Some abortion consultants cream it ... Religious orders for women seen as drifting to southern hemisphere ... Christchurch couple represent New Zealand at Sixth World Encounter of Families ... Advertising Feature: Caritas: the Lent Appeal 2009

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Time to quit chocolate and think of others
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10558520
From today devout Christian New Zealanders will be in tune with victims of the tough economic environment as they give up luxuries for 40 days and nights. Today, Ash Wednesday, is the start of Lent, a time of abstinence before Easter. Christian believers traditionally forgo luxuries or home comforts _ such as alcohol or chocolate _ before Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 12.

Last service for Catholic church (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/45408/last-service-catholic-church
One last hoorah is being planned for Naseby's Catholic church, which will be decommissioned on March 8. The church, which opened in 1906, was sold by the Dunedin Diocese to a Naseby builder through a tendering process last month.

"Together We Can" message from Church Leaders
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0902/S00333.htm
In a meeting held today at the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) in Wellington, Church Leaders of the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Salvation Army Churches expressed confidence that their combined social services and Church networks can be mobilised effectively to respond to the recession.

Sportsman laid to rest (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/northland/4860759a23016.html
One of the grand old men of North Harbour bowls, Pat Robertson, has died after a brief illness aged 77.

Donation to help dyslexic kids (photo)
http://tinyurl.com/af9fgr
A $9,735 gift from the Catholic Women's League to the Dyslexia Foundation will be used to help New Zealand's estimated 70,000 dyslexic school children.

A international day of prayer
The Leader Richmond-Waimea
http://tinyurl.com/av6wwd
People from more than 170 countries and many different traditions will join in World Day of Prayer services on Friday March 6.

Birthday bash at Baradene (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4858544a6497.html
In its 100th year of educating girls, one of Auckland's oldest schools deserves a bit of a celebration. Baradene College of the Sacred Heart has a whole calendar of centennial events lined up to mark the occasion.

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MAORI TV - http://www.maoritelevision.com

1 March
Lost in Translation – Sunday March 1 at 8.30 PM
Mike King hits the road to find out about the Treaty of Waitangi, who signed and who didn&'t, and to talk to descendants who shed new light on events in 1840. Tonight: It&'s called the Manukau-Kawhia Sheet, because it was the version of the Treaty signed in these places, but there is a question mark over where the signings occurred. King tries to get to the bottom of this and explores the possibilities. From the old mission station at Orua Bay, King takes a water taxi to the place Ngati Whatua believe it took place. This episode looks closely at a prominent Catholic bishop of the time – Pompallier – an influential man some say may have discouraged some chiefs from signing.


4 March
E Koha o Whaea Irihapeti (NZ Documentary) - Wednesday March 4 At 8.30 Pm
A documentary profiling Sister Elizabeth, the last in line of the Bishop Pompallier ‘Sisters of Mercy' who, as a gift to her hometown of Pawarenga, organises an Easter celebration in the community hall. The sister has set up a display of their family trees, going back to the time of the early missionaries, and her hope is to give the people something many have lost – the connections with one another, and their whakapapa. But how will they react, and will her efforts give her the acceptance of her community?

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** New home, new beginning **
Sister Mary, on learning to live alone for the first time.

** Change, and be saved **
A reading and discusssion of Mark 1: 12-15 with Fr Thige O'Leary at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

Kids, We know we are your parents, but figure this stuff out for yourself (sex education in the UK) ... “Why aren’t we ascending into Heaven? Oh, right - the sins.” (Who has the better chance of going to heaven?) ... Waiting for the Silence to End (on radical feminism) ... Le Mercredi des Cendres (appreciating Lent in Moslem Africa) ... You’re fired! (the saga of St Mary's parish, South Brisbane) ... Legacy (a major youth event in Auckland)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

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

Social ministers long for unified Catholic voice

I spent part of this week at what is arguably the most courageous annual event in Washington, D.C. -- or the most quixotic, depending upon your point of view. It’s the “Social Ministry Gathering” sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which brings together more than 500 Catholic leaders for a week of issue seminars and knocking on doors on Capitol Hill.

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EVENTS

Wellington Eucharistic Convention - 2009
http://www.divinenet.org.nz/Convention.html
Sunday 1st March 2009
St Patrick's College Auditorium, Silverstream, Upper Hutt

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

St Patrick's College, Silverstream. St Patrick's College, Wellington.
College Chaplain
http://www.stream.school.nz ... http://www.stpats.school.nz
Details in 'Wel-com' February 2009 p.2, in 'NZ Catholic' Feb 22 - March 7 2009 p.22, and from Mrs Gerardine Parkinson, Rector's Secretary, St Patrick's College, PO Box 14-022, Wellington 6021; e-mail: gparkinson@stpats.school.nz Applications close 1 March 2009.

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NEWS & NOTES - 22 February 2009

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

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Lions club house tour takes on new theme (photo)
http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/43243/lions-club-house-tour-takes-new-theme

A firehouse, a courthouse and St John's Catholic school - all long since retired from their original purpose - will feature in the Cromwell Lake Dunstan Lions Club's Past to Present House and Building Tour later this month...

Time to look at values, say churches
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10557926
Church leaders say the economic crisis is an opportunity for New Zealanders to turn away from greed and give more time to their families.

Church Leaders Meeting to Discuss Social Impacts of Recession
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0902/S00235.htm
The leaders of the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic. Methodist, Presbyterian and Salvation Army Churches are meeting with the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) and the Council's Maori advisors to discuss the local social impacts of the global economic crisis.

Catholic school proposal damned
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4851983a6570.html
The Catholic Church has been accused of being arrogant and callous in proposing to build a new school in a rural area in the Wakatipu Basin.

Church finds no support for campus
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4849749a6570.html
A rural school campus is needed to ease space for the over-burdened St Joseph's School in Queenstown, the Catholic Church says.

That's my man (photo)
Rodney Times
http://tinyurl.com/bw8d2a
Fifty years ago, Josie Cox saw Michael Foy walking up Queens Street one day and told family members: "see that man over there, I'm going to marry him" - and she did.

Church for sale by tender (photo)
Central Canterbury News
http://tinyurl.com/c682rl
Coalgate's historic St Teresa's Church is expected to be sold for relocation on February 24...

Hokitika extends warm hand to priest (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4850733a6013.html
It has been a baptism of fire for Hokitika's new parish priest, Father Francis Joseph. Joseph, from India, is one of several priests brought in from overseas to make up for a shortfall in New Zealand clergy in the Catholic Church.

May God go with you (photo)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4848769a6000.html
The San Antonio may have retired from commercial fishing, but the boat - once used to pluck Wahine survivors to safety - was still one of the first in line for a blessing.

[The folowing story is not available on the newspaper's free Website. It can be read at the public library, and via the libraries' free Newztext service for borrowers]

Teens find fellowship and fun in churches
Bay Of Plenty Times — The Young Christians — A07 — 21 February 2009
Many teenagers enjoy legitimate sub-cultures with like-minded friends centred around anything from surfing to cars. One significant sub-culture that young people in the Western Bay belong to is that of the church, as Paul Charman found...

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INSPIRATIONAL TV - http://inspirationaltv.net

** The One Who Saves **
A reading and discusssion of Mark 2 1-12 with Fr Thige O'Leary at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

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THE FIFTEENTH STATION - New Zealand Catholic Podcasts

http://station15.libsyn.com

** Station XV - Sun, 15 February 2009 **
Episode 18 - Better late than never
In this episode, we take a look at the artistic actions of Fr Gerard Burns, the lifting of the excommunication of some of the Society of Saint Pius X's bishops and the fact that one of them doesn't believe the Holocaust happened, we talk about some missing abortion stats (you won't believe that one!), Obama and the Mexico City policy, and a nurse that got in trouble for offering to pray for a patient!

** Familia - Episode 5 - Sun, 1 February 2009 **
This month’s edition of the Familia Podcast features an exclusive interview with Dr. Tracey Rowland, the Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy and Continental Theology at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne. She is the author of a new book called 'Ratzinger’s Faith, the Theology of Pope Benedict XVI'. In this interview she discusses the history, Papcy and theological concerns of Pope Benedict XVI, exploring important issues such as liturgy, post-Vatican II dissent and his approach to Islam. If you want to know about Pope Benedict XVI then this is a must-listen edition of the Familia Podcast!

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'BEING FRANK'

http://www.beingfrank.co.nz

New Zealand Catholic Blogs. Some current topics ...

Catholic Triumphalism ... "Ah, you’ll do fine..." (on the child-parents in Britain) ... I couldn’t have said it better (Pope Benedict on the Holocaust) ... Not to be morbid, but make sure I have a Requiem (on making sure you have a Catholic funeral) ... Not sure what to make of this one (a homosexual civil union cermony in Erskine College Chapel) ... Collar and…something (dress code for New Zealand priests) ... Got that loving feeling? (What is love?)

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ALL THINGS CATHOLIC, by John L. Allen, Jr.

http://ncrcafe.org/node/507

Bioethics message lost in Vatican's "credibility gap"

How bad is the Vatican's image problem right now? Consider that recent weeks have seen CEOs taking corporate jets to ask for government bailouts; the governor of Illinois was tossed out of office in a bribery scandal, and his last-minute appointment to the U.S. Senate may not be far behind; three Obama nominees have embarrassed the administration by withdrawing under a cloud; Japan's finance minister quit after reportedly being soused at a G-7 meeting; the world's best baseball player has been caught taking steroids, and the world's best swimmer caught smoking a bong.

Yet even in that sorry context, Monday's New York Times saw fit to devote a lead article to the pope's communications woes. Managing to stand out amid this PR carnage is, in a perverse sense, a rather remarkable accomplishment ...

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WORLD NEWS OF THE CHURCH

http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz

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

http://www.youtube.com/vatican (news of Pope Benedict - video)

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EVENTS

Wellington Eucharistic Convention - 2009
http://www.divinenet.org.nz/Convention.html
Sunday 1st March 2009
St Patrick's College Auditorium, Silverstream, Upper Hutt

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EMPLOYMENT

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

[Vacancies for Catholic youth workers are advertised on the Vacancies page of Connect.org.nz: http://www.connect.org.nz ]

St Patrick's College, Silverstream. College Chaplain
http://www.stream.school.nz
Details in 'Wel-com' February 2009 p.2 and from Mrs Gerardine Parkinson, Rector's Secretary, St Patrick's college, PO Box 14-022, Wellington 6021; e-mail: gparkinson@stpats.school.nz Applications close 1 March 2009.