10 june 2018

This weekend our readings present three main topics for our reflection: The nakedness of Adam; the sin against the Holy Spirit and the question about Jesus’ family (who are my family?) Though these three points do not appear to be related; they are if we consider these readings from the viewpoint of sincerity and our faith. Adam tells God that he hid because he was naked. This really is not about nudity; but this is about being exposed before God. Adam was revealed as proud. He wanted to be like God. His desires were more important than god’s will. He was disobedient.  Adam’s nakedness was even further revealed. It is sad, but we can look into the depths of Adam’s nakedness and see our own refusal to submit to God’s will as well as our own rationalization for anything we do wrong. (not owning our own sins).
What is the Sin against the Holy Spirit? The Scribes accused Jesus’ good work as coming from the evil. So, “refusing to see the holiness of God is the sin against the Holy Spirit. The Scribes claimed to be Spiritual but they were not. If there was anything spiritual at all, they would at least have recognized some form of goodness in Jesus’ work.
At the end of our Gospel reading we find Jesus was not afraid to expose who he was. Jesus was the Son of God. It was, therefore, his primary duty to do the will of God and not that of his family. The spiritual family is more important than the biological family. That is why Jesus says that all those who do the will of God are his family. This is what we Christians are called to do. We can become his mother, brother and sister only by doing the will of his heavenly Father.
Fr Gregory
Holy Trinity Parish Vision
We are a prayerful and diverse Catholic community in the Eastern suburbs of Wellington,
drawing strength from one another to grow and become fully alive as missionary disciples.
 

Archdiocese of Wellington 2018 Priest Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving
This will be held at St Patrick’s Church, Kilbirnie Wednesday 27th June 2018 at 11am.
All are welcome to join the priests of the Archdiocese at the Mass of Thanksgiving.
Please note: This will be the only Mass in the Parish on this day.

A reminder to all our parishioners, who are so generous of their time and resources.
St Vincent de Paul’s Street Day collection, is Friday, 15th June.
This is the major “fund raiser” for the year.
 

Caring and kind lady needed to provide company and assistance for an elderly lady in her family home.  Weekdays 3.30 - 6.30pm.  Help needed getting evening meal and helping her to change and ready for bed before family members take over.  This is a paid position in a comfortable home in central Miramar.  Phone or text Annie on 0274448716

Prayer of the Faithful led by  Fr James Lyons.  An interactive workshop on how to write and present general intercessions for the section of the Mass known as the Prayer of the Faithful. Tuesday 12 June  at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hill St, Wgtn. Workshop 7pm - 8.30pm. EVERYONE welcome. 
 


This is to inform you that the solemnity of Saint John the Baptist is being celebrated on Sunday 24th June. Please pay attention to the readings of the vigil and the Mass during the day.

St Catherine’s College Open Night is being held on June 11th at 6.30pm – 8.00pm 14 Upper Bourke Street in Kilbirnie. Come look around our wonderful college, meet the staff and students and enjoy a light supper provided by our PTA.  Any questions, please contact us on 04 939 8988 or email us at office@stcatherinescollege.school.nz.

Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants 2018
The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the upcoming World Day of Migrants and Refugees is
“Welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants and refugees.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference marks a special Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants on a Sunday close to World Refugee Day (20 June). This year, the Day of Prayer falls on Sunday 17 June 2018

Finance Committee Meeting – 19th June 7.30pm 
Holy Cross Parish Centre

For Engaged Couples A wedding is a day. Marriage is a lifetime. Prepare for your lifetime together by attending an Engaged Encounter marriage preparation weekend. Your next opportunity to attend a weekend is 14th and 15th July. For more information phone Simon and Kate on 801 6192 or go to www.cee-wellington.co.nz 

On the occasion of the Feast of St Anthony’s,
the Parish wishes the community of St Anthony’s a Happy Feast Day

Hospi Pyjamas for winter appeal. Please donate a pair of new flannelette pyjamas or make a monetary donation. Warm kids are healthy kids. Help Hospi keep our kids warm this winter! Wellington Hospitals Foundation is calling for brand new pyjamas for sick children both in Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital, and out in our community.
Why? Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital sees a significant increase in the number of children who are admitted to hospital over the winter months, and many of them come without a pair of pyjamas. For many Wellington families in need, the simple act of having warm pyjamas and heating their home is more than they can afford. A warm pair of pyjamas, to keep our children warm at night, can help prevent them from being admitted to hospital this winter.
How? All donated pyjamas must be brand new. Size 2-10, flannelette 2 piece pyjamas preferred. Pyjamas can be dropped off to the Receptions at: Wellington Hospital, or posted to: Wellington Hospitals Foundation, Wellington Hospital Private Bag 7902, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. To make an online donation whf.org.nz/donate and Hospi will buy a pair on your behalf!

Coats for the Homeless – 2018 Appeal. The Order of Malta is now running its 2018 appeal.  The coats are a good weight for Wellington’s cold and windy winter, suitable for both men and women and practical with deep pockets and Velcro fastenings.  The showerproof coats are hooded and open out well and can also double as a small blanket.  The coats will be distributed by the Compassion Centre in Tory Street and by Members of the Order of Malta. We are asking you for cash donations so we can buy the coats. We can now get two coats for $70. All donations to this appeal are tax deductible. Flyers with details on how to donate are in the church foyer.  Further information can be obtained from peterdamianwood@icloud.com or phone 021 325 884. Thank you.

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 16th June. St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. Starts at 10 am with Mass. Ends at 12.00 p.m. Come-Pray-Sacrifice for the Unborn and a Culture of Life in NZ. For more information contact Family Life International NZ PH: 2378343

Life in the Spirit Seminar This seminar will be conducted at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Lower Hutt on seven consecutive Tues evenings 5 June - 17 July except for the 4th week which will be on Mon 25 June. Do you want to encounter Jesus on a deeper level? Come and be blessed.  information on the poster on the notice board.

Go, you are sent… to care for creation.   Outcome (8a) The Archdiocese considers “care for creation” as an integral part of all its activities and decisions.

Parish Registration forms are available at the back of the churches. If any of your details change or you haven’t yet registered with the parish, please fill in a form and put in the collection basket or email to the parish office. The form is also available to download on the parish website www.holytrinity.parish.nz

This Joshua meeting is open to both men and women. Come along and hear Chris Olsen speak about the “Open Home Foundation International as the hands and feet of Jesus in Africa and beyond” at CONNOLLY HALL, Guildford Terrace, Thorndon (behind Sacred Heart Cathedral) on Thurs 21 June at 8:00pm (Cuppa available from 7:30pm) Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready 027-356-9555 or email: scjready@gmail.com

A Caring Space We offer this breathing space for all who care for a loved one, a chance to step away for a few hours. An opportunity to gently explore, together with God, the way this role is changing your life, hopes, dreams and perspectives and above all the relationship with the one you care for.  Led by Gill Schaap and Veronica Parton at Challenge House, 1 Wanaka St., Johnsonville on Friday 22nd June; 11am – 2pm.  Cost $10. Please register with Veronica Parton 021 238 6675 or email vjpdap@gmail.com

Red Cross refugee support volunteer training. Thanks to everyone who assists with the preparation of homes for former refugees settling in the wider Wellington area. If you are interested in taking your involvement further to assist former refugee families directly, the next Red Cross refugee support volunteer training begins in July. Group interviews are on 25- 27 June, with six weeks of training beginning on 4 July.
For more information please phone the Red Cross 048050304 or see their website: https://www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/in-new-zealand/refugee-programmes/volunteer-help-former-refugees/

Matariki Stories. Speaking of Hope. Everyone is invited to this afternoon to consider what it means in our lives for the days to become lighter and brighter. Saturday 16th June 1pm - 3.30pm. Speakers Doug Avery author of the resilient farmer and Glen Colquhoun, celebrated NZ poet. You are welcome to remain for a time of reflection in the afternoon. 5.30pm the day closes with Evening Prayer. Email: retreat@compassion.org.nz

Suzanne Aubert Birthday Commemorative Mass. The Sisters of Compassion and the Catholic Parish of Wellington South invite you to celebrate Suzanne Aubert’s birthday at the annual Mass, celebrated by Cardinal John Dew. Please join us 6pm 19th June, St Anne’s church. Email: heritagecentre@compassion.org or 282 1953.
Donate a Food item for the Soup Kitchen - At the Birthday Mass there will be a collection of food items. Groceries which are especially useful to the the Soup Kitchen include tins of lentils (not baked beans), vegetables, fruit, soup, coconut milk, fish; dried goods such as coffee (fresh and instant), lentils, split peas, pearl barley.

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women Our meeting is Saturday 16th June at 1.15pm at Connolly Hall, Guilford Tce, Thorndon.  Speaker:  Emma Kim, Elijah House Inner Healing prayer minister on "From Hurting to healing". All women welcome.  Enquires: Shura 04 3899938

God is not afraid! He is fearless! He is always greater than our plans and schemes. Unafraid of the fringes, he himself became a fringe. So if we dare to go to the fringes, we will find him there; indeed, he is already there. Jesus is already there, in the hearts of our brothers and sisters, in their wounded flesh, in their troubles and in their profound desolation. He is already there.     Pope Francis: Gaudete et Exsultate #135

Burying a Poet: A photographic exhibition of the tangihanga of James K Baxter on display at the Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre from 1 June. Open Mon-Sat 10am-3pm | Sun 12noon-3pm. Email: heritagecentre@compassion.orgor Ph. 04 282 1953.

Matariki Stories. Speaking of Hope. Everyone is invited to this afternoon to consider what it means in our lives for the days to become lighter and brighter. Saturday 16th June 1pm - 3.30pm. Speakers Doug Avery author of the resilient farmer and Glen Colquhoun, celebrated NZ poet. You are welcome to remain for a time of reflection in the afternoon. 5.30pm the day closes with Evening Prayer. Email: retreat@compassion.org.nz

Quiet Days with Suzanne Aubert. An invitation to spend time resting and reflecting on an aspect of the life and vision of Suzanne Aubert.  Join us on 14th June, 10am - 2pm, Chapel, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. Simple lunch included. Registration is required. Email:retreat@compassion.org or Ph. 04 383 7769

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 16th June. St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. 10 am Mass. Followed by Exposition & Rosary Procession to front of Hospital. Ends at Noon with a shared lunch. Join in this persevering prayer effort for our most vulnerable -  unborn children - and an end to the culture of death. For more information contact Family Life International NZ PH: 237 8343

The Fernie organ at St Mary of the Angels - On Friday, 15 June 2018 at 7:30 PM there will be a pre-launch at St Mary of the Angels of a book about the design and building of the Fernie organ situated in that church. It is a fascinating insight into how the organ came to be built and the thought and ingenuity which was behind its construction.  At 8pm, Chris Hainsworth, a former pupil of Maxwell Fernie and currently the titulaire at Béziers Cathedral, will give a recital of French music selected to demonstrate the versatility of the instrument. You are very welcome to attend this important event.

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Hannah Standish, Pat Reynolds and Brendan Murray.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially John Rogers, Graeme Adams and Steve Kuzmicich and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.