13 may 2018

Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 1:17-23; Mk.16:15-20
The Ascension of the Lord
 
The Ascension, for the disciples, was one of these moments of clarity and vision.  They saw something that they had never seen before.  And they were all amazed when Jesus had been raised from the dead, because no human had done that before. The readings today describe a wondrous event witnessed by the Apostles. By His own power, the Lord is taken to Heaven. In so doing, He opens the gates of paradise swing open again.
With the ascension our Lord’s time of earthly labor ended.  He suffered much, and was greatly glorified. We shall also participate in the glory of the Ascended Lord, if only we follow the way of the cross, the way of purification, self-denial, the way of exterior and interior sufferings. Christ's work of redemption was accomplished principally by his Passion, death, Resurrection, and Glorious Ascension into Heaven.
The Fruitfulness of the Ascension – Jesus does not return to Heaven to abandon us. He is more present to us than we are to ourselves. He is with us always to the end of the age (cf Matt 28:20), today in Eucharist.  By ascending to heaven Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide who makes each of us his dwelling place.  Jesus by ascending to heaven will draw all people to himself and make his disciples his co-workers in the harvest. Jesus by ascending to heaven will always make an intercession for all of us (Heb.7:25) and grant special power of prayer in his name (Jn 14:12). Jesus by ascending to heaven prepares a place for us. (Jn. 14:2ff).
The clear message from the ascending Lord is the imperative “go” with a mission to proclaim the Gospel, casting the demonic forces, healing the sick by laying the hands. Today too this imperative “go, you are sent” resounds and sends us to the peripheries of the society and our own peripheries to be instruments of good news and bring healing to the broken world.                                                                   
Fr Paul
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.
 

Happy Mother’s Day
may your day be blessed
and filled with love, joy and laughter.
 

Fr Ephrem celebrates his 25 years of religious life Monday 14th May.
Please remember him in your prayers and we congratulate him on his anniversary.

WEEKDAY MASS TIMES NEXT WEEK -  14 – 18 MAY
 
Next week Fr’s Gregory and Paul will be away on retreat, so some 9.30am Mass times have been altered by 15 minutes next week to allow Fr Ephrem to get between Masses.
Please note the changes below.
 
Monday 14th          9am         St Patrick’s Church
Tuesday 15th         9am         St Anthony’s Church
                              9.45am    St Patrick’s Church
Wednesday 16th    9am         St Anthony’s Church
                              9.45am    Holy Cross Church
Thursday 17th        9.30am    St Patrick’s Church
                              11.30am  St Anthony’s Church
Friday 18th             9am         St Patrick’s Church
                              9.45am    Holy Cross Church
 
Thank you for your co-operation in advance.
 

HOLY TRINITY PARISH MASS - 10AM SUNDAY 27th May
AT ST PATRICK’S CHURCH
We will be celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday Mass together at St Patrick’s Church. 
For those who are unable to be at this Mass,
there will be the 5.30pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick’s Church.
There will be a shared lunch in the hall following Mass to celebrate our Parish feast day and to celebrate 25 years of religious life for Fr Ephrem.
 Please bring a plate of food to share and leave in the meeting room.
Please note: These will be the only 2 Masses in the Parish on the 27th May  

Foodbank Appeal. St Vincent de Paul Society is running its six-monthly Foodbank Appeal on Saturday 26 May 2018, 11am-6pm, at Pak 'n Save Supermarket Kilbirnie to replenish emergency food supplies at our Newtown Centre for families in most need.  Parishioners are invited to shop on 26 May 2018 at Pak 'n Save Supermarket Kilbirnie and kindly donate food and toiletery items to the collectors from our parish in the foyer.  Contact is: Brendan Quirk, Seatoun & Miramar Conference, ph 388 9708.

A plea for warm bedding. St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference is assisting two large families in desperate need of blankets, duvet inners, sheets and pillow cases in good, clean condition, single and queen sizes.  If you can help, please contact Brendan Quirk, ph 388 9708.

Police Vetting for the Parish. We are updating our police vetting records. There are a number of groups that we need to complete vetting including; children’s liturgy, sacramental programmes, Legion of Mary and communion to the sick. If you are involved in these ministries and have not yet been vetted, please contact with the Parish Office.    

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

HOUSING SOUGHT FOR REFUGEE FAMILIES: Rental housing is needed urgently for two Wellington families: a family of eight and a family of six.  Both are in temporary living situations right now, while a number of agencies are urgently seeking permanent homes for them.  Can you help find an affordable rental home?  Please contact l.beech@wn-catholicsocialservices.org.nz if you can assist.

The Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver are holding an “ETHNIC DINNER with ENTERTAINMENT” on SATURDAY 19th MAY at 6.30pm  at  Polish  House (Dom Polski), 257 Riddiford Street, NEWTOWN (Corner of Riddiford and Rhodes Street.) Tickets are available from the Sisters OR at the entrance to the hall. Please bring your favourite Dish to share. Please, arrive a little before time as Dinner is served at 6.30 sharp. Admission $ 10,  5 to 10yrs $ 5,   under 5yrs – free Enquiries ph 383 8401
 

Wanted – Flat to Rent: Pensioner seeks a 1 bedroom flat to rent on the flat in Miramar or Strathmore. Ring Bev 388 5821

Go, you are sent… to manage your assets wisely.   Outcome (4f) The Archdiocese continues the Stewardship programme after reviewing it in the light of the Synod outcomes.

We are looking forward to our St Anthony's School Golf Day on Thursday 17 May at Miramar Golf Club. It is a great day and such a worthwhile cause raising money for new classroom furniture. Please promote this fabulous event at your workplaces and among friends and family. For more information, please visit www.stants.school.nz. For queries regarding registration or sponsorship, please contact James on 021 313 112 or Vince on 021 504 083

Publications for purchase: Tui Motu $7  NZ Catholic $4
Please note: there is no longer a box for this money at the back of St Patrick’s Church. This will now have to be put into the collection basket. There will be zip lock bags next to the publications that you can put your money in and into the collection basket.

Go, you are sent… to manage your assets wisely.   Outcome (4f) The Archdiocese continues the Stewardship programme after reviewing it in the light of the Synod outcomes.

April refugee intake – thanks to all who contributed! Wellington Catholic Social Services would like to thank everyone who contributed in April to preparing homes for 39 former refugees in 11 households, plus providing bedding to two additional family reunification households. 

When we allow ourselves to be caught up in superficial information, instant communication and virtual reality, we can waste precious time and become indifferent to the suffering flesh of our brothers and sisters. Yet even amid this whirlwind of activity, the Gospel continues to resound, offering us the promise of a different life, a healthier and happier life.                                                              Pope Francis: Gaudete et Exsultate #108, 2018

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY  13 – 20 MAY 2018
Dear Friends
 
As we gather in our parish each weekend for Mass other Christians are gathering in churches in our area for their Sunday worhsip. They are our neighbours, friends, people awe meet in the supermarket, perhaps even our relatives.
We gather separately because of events that happened centuries ago. We have moved on from wars among Christians, hostility and bitternes, to respecting one another and being able to honestly acknowledge the many things we have in common – at the heart of which is our shared belief in Jesus Chirst. We have also found many practical ways to work together for the common good of our community.
The feast of the Ascension this weekend makrs the beginning of the annyal Week of Prayer fo Chirstian Unity, which extends until Penecost Sunday next weekend. It is a time to reflect upon how we each might do some small thing for Chirstian Unity, prayer, reaching out to comeone from another Christian church, contributing to foodbanks supported jointly by churches, taking part in an ecumencal service.
Nothing is too small in the work of promoting Christian unity. We are restoring that fractured unity piece by piece, and each of us has one or more of the pieces to put in place.
John A Cardinal Dew
Archbishop of Wellington
Catholic Bishops Committee for Ecumenism

Prayer for Christian Unity
As people of the new covenant, sealed in the blood of your Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ, we turn to you, O God, for renewed strength to more faithfully
Witness the unity of your family.
We seek the healing touch of your mercy, O Loving God, glorious in your power,
that we might walk with greater trust the way of peace.
Help us to put aside the differences that do not matter, while honouring
the diversity that blesses your all-embracing love.
Move us forward, hand in hand, that your covenant of peace might be the cause of unity for your people and the whole world.
In the name of Jesus, who prayed that all might be one.              Amen.

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 19th May 2018. 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 those suffering from the tragedy of abortion. Five abortion workers around the world had a change of heart and left their work during the last 40 Days for Life campaign. Peaceful prayer and witness works. For more information contact Family Life International NZ PH: 237 8343

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Come along and join us on Thurs 17th May 7:30pm for fellowship and prayer in CONNOLLY HALL. Theme: What would you like to see happen at the monthly Joshua meetings? Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready (04) 970-7715 or 027-356-9555 or email: scjready@gmail.com

The Sisters of Compassion and the Catholic Parish of Wellington South invite you to celebrate the 183rd anniversary of Suzanne Aubert’s birthday.  Mass will be celebrated at 6pm on Tuesday 19 June 2018 at St Anne’s Church, Newtown.  Hospitality will follow in the church hall following mass.

Pentecost Sunday (20th May) the Sunday 7pm Mass at the Cathedral is the annual Mass to welcome new Catholics to the Archdiocese. All are encouraged to accompany to the Cathedral those who were baptized or received into the Church at Easter.

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

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women Our meeting is on Saturday 19th May at 1.15pm in Connolly hall, Guilford Tce. Thorndon. Speaker:  Shura Price, President Dove Wellington - "My journey guided by the Holy Spirit".
All women welcome for fellowship, prayer ministry available.  Enquiries: Shura 04 3899938

The Christian Brothers Past Pupils’ Association, Wellington, is holding its Annual Past Pupils’ Mass on Sunday, 20 May at the 10.30am Mass in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Hill St, Wellington.  Mass will be followed by lunch at 11.45am in Connolly Hall.  Our guest is Dave Olivier who will speak about his time as Principal of Christian Brothers College at Mount Edmund in Pretoria, South Africa.  Dave’s wife, Jenni, will also be attending.  Those interested in attending please contact Kevin McCormack on 478-6792.

Michael Mangan - Don’t Miss these Dynamic Workshops! Family Friendly Liturgies on Saturday 19th May, 2.15pm-4.30pm at Ss Peter and Paul’s Church Lower Hutt Time & The Purpose and place of music in the liturgy on Sunday 20th May, 1.45pm-4.00pm at St Theresa’s Church, Plimmerton. Michael is from overseas so a Koha would be appreciated but not compulsory. Michael Mangan, an Australian composer, teacher and music liturgist will be presenting these interactive workshops. Everyone is welcome. They will be of special interest to members of Liturgy teams, Children’s Liturgists, Musicians and Directors of Religious Education. Please register with Ann Williams by Monday 14th May, specifying which workshops you are attending at a.williams@wn.catholic.org.nz

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently including Patrick McCarry and Margaret Hayes and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Mary McKechnie, Betty-Leah Bolton, Maria Peters, Davis & Rose Joyce and Zofia Czochanska.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Graeme Adams and Steve Kuzmicich and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.