12th march 2017

Dear brothers and sisters,
Before setting out for Jerusalem where he was to suffer a shameful and humiliating death, Jesus was transfigured in the presence of his disciples on Mount Tabor, And, his three disciples caught a glimpse of his glory. In glimpsing his glory, we glimpse our own glory as children of the Father and loved by him, and our lives too are filled with meaning and beauty. It is good for us to be here this morning in his presence. The work of the Lord says; “this is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him”.  Are we ready to listen to him?                                                                                                                       Fr Gregory
The last Friday of Lent is a day of fasting and abstinence
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.

Lenten Appeal envelopes are available at the back of each Church

Lenten Mass – 1st March – 8th April
There will be 6.30am Mass at Holy Cross Church from Monday – Saturday during Lent.
Please note: this is an additional Mass during Lent and will continue while Fr Gregory is overseas
.  
Stations of the Cross – Thursdays during Lent
Every Thursday at 7pm at St Patrick’s Church through to 6th April

Fr Gregory will be away from 9th – 23rd March.
During this time, the weekday Mass timetable for the Parish will be as follows:
St Patrick’s Church – Monday 13th 9am & Tues 14th 9.30am
St Anthony’s Church – Wednesday 15th 9am & Thurs 16th 11.30am
Holy Cross Church – Friday 17th 9.30am & Saturday 18th 9am
St Patrick’s Church – Monday 20th 9am & Tues 21st 9.30am
St Anthony’s Church – Wednesday 22nd 9am & Thurs 23rd 11.30am
Friday 24th March – timetable reverts back to normal weekday Mass schedule

St Patrick’s Day Mass
This will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Church Friday 17th March at 9am
There will be a cup of tea and Irish Cake to enjoy after the Mass
Please note: There will still be 9.30am Mass at Holy Cross Church

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Service at St Patrick’s Church 8pm
We need people to volunteer to take part in the Parish Holy Saturday Easter Mass at 8pm please
From each Church Congregation we need:  2 readers
                                                                      1 offertory carrier
                                                                      3 Ministers of the Eucharist
Please email me patriciao@clear.net.nz  or phone  934 3179  by 1st April  if you are willing  to take part. 
 

Your new sets of planned giving envelopes are now available
Please note: Your receipts for the 2016/17 year will be available by end of May.
If you would prefer to collect them from the office or from a different Church, contact the office. If you would like to join the planned giving programme, or wish to change from envelopes to automatic payments please contact the Parish Office for details.

Preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation is under way in Holy Trinity Parish. Parents/caregivers are requested to bring the children for each class. Parionshers are requested to pray for them.
St Anthony’s reconciliation will be 6.30pm Thurs 30th March at St Anthony’s Church
Holy Cross and St Patrick’s reconcilliation will be 6.30pm Thurs 6th April at Holy Cross Church

The St Catherine’s College Service Group is getting underway again, for its 3rd year and invites any parishioners to please contact Fr Ephrem 027 714 9660, the Parish office 388 6953 or St Catherine’s College 939 8988 with details of help required. We are an enthusiastic and reliable group of girls, keen to help with any task, free of charge like gardening, cleaning, shopping or helping at parish functions or working bees. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch as we’d love to come and help you. 


40 Days for Life 1 March to 9 April. Pray and fast for unborn children, abortion-vulnerable women in our community and abortion workers. 
Volunteers are needed to take shifts at the Vigil outside the hospital. To sign up, please visit fli.org.nz/40daysforlife or text “40 Days” to 021 231 7954. For more information, telephone 04 237 8343
Be a Sign of Hope - Midpoint Event for 40 Days for Life. 6-7 pm Sunday 19th March Outside Wellington Hospital on Riddiford Street. Unite in prayer at the half-way mark.
 

Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples intending to be married. 
Weekends in 2017 are 18-19 March, 22-23 July and 11-12 November. Registrations close 2 weeks before.
Venue: Presbytery, 301 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington. For more details go to the website at http://www.ceewellington.org.nz  or Kate & Simon Olsen 801 6192,   simonolsen@gmail.com

40 Days for Life - More than 13,000 preborn children are aborted every year in New Zealand. That is 36 Children every single day. Women are hurt – physically, mentally and spiritually. Men regret their lost fatherhood. 40 Days of Life is a local solution where people unite in prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities in order to end abortion. Please join your local 40 Days for Life prayer vigil March 1st to April 9th. Together, with God’s grace, we will bring about an end to abortion in New Zealand. Visit fli.org.nz/40daysforlife or ph 04 237-8343.
 

Thanks to all those who volunteered to collect for the Catholic Social Services Street Appeal on Thursday 23 February 2017. This year we raised $6,400.  This money will be used to help the agency in its work to assist former refugees settle in Wellington this year, and our ongoing work of assisting individuals and families in need.
 

Deaf Cafe - for Deaf and hearing impaired people.  Deaf Cafe is for anybody – just turn up. You can meet and chat with new people or catch up with old friends over a cuppa and cake and biscuits.  Deaf Cafe is free.  When: Wednesday 15 March.  Time: 10am to 12pm. At:  St Peter and Paul’s Hall, Lower Hutt.
 

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington Come along and join us on Thurs 16th March at 7:30pm for fellowship and prayer in CONNOLLY HALL, Speaker: Michael Powell on DVD about “Following Jesus” Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or email: jnjtaylor@paradise.net.nz
 

Spirituality Seminar—Fr Eddie Condra We are not living an era of change but a change of era’ Pope Francis
Living in this time of rapid and radical change many seek to find some constant—a sacred thread which can assist us to weave our way through life.   Spirituality is that thread, empowering and transforming us to give meaning to change and to life itself. You are invited to come and explore.  Everyone is welcome.
Format:  each session will involve input, small-group discussion, a time for questions and period of meditation
DATES:  March 7, 14 and 21 TIME:  7.30—9pm VENUE: SS Peter and Paul Church hall, Knights Rd, Lower Hutt to register email tepunatapu@gmail.com or call Megan 04 477 6827

Dove Wellington invites all women to our meeting from 1.15pm to 3pm on Saturday 18 March at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington.  Our guest speaker this month is Father John Rea; who will be speaking into our scripture for the year: Genesis 3:8-9.   We look forward to seeing you there.   Please contact Shura Price for any queries on (04) 389 9938.
 

Come and hear Sister Gail Worcelo speak - ‘In the Spirit of Laudato Si’, the latest encyclical of Pope Francis ushering in a new ‘moment of grace’ for our world today. 21 March 4.30 - 7.30pm Te Wahanga Atawhai Mercy Centre, 15 Guildford Tce, RSVP Vaughan Smith, Sisters of Mercy 831 0300 or office@mercy.org.nz.  Light refreshments available.Contributions as koha on entry gratefully received.
 

Parish Council Meeting 7.30pm
Wednesday 5th April at Holy Cross Parish Centre
Finance Committee Meeting 7.30pm
Tuesday 14th March at Holy Cross Parish Centre

If you would like to receive the newsletter by email contact the parish office holytrinity.wgtn@xtra.co.nz with newsletter in the subject line and you will be added to the list.

Please remember, if you move or change any of your details, please contact the parish office so your record can be updated Thank you.