13th august 2017

​1 kings 19, 11-13; Rom 9, 1-5; Matt 14, 22-33
One of the results of growing older and striving to live by faith is that my views of God have changed. As a child, God was like my father in the flesh – quiet, aloof, seemingly uninterested in my day-to-day life, and quite able and willing to punish me when I needed correction. God wound up the world like an eight-day clock and, as it ran, he went off to other more interesting things, leaving the world to itself. Stereotypes and confused views of God die hard and it has taken me a lifetime to overcome this childish faith.
Living daily in the sacred writings certainly challenges our warped or one-dimensional views of the nature of God. Elijah had faced off with the false prophets and God had shown that he alone is God by sending down fire and consuming the sacrifice in front of the people. He is told that he should "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by." God is powerful and he will again demonstrate that power. God was in a tiny whispering sound. Elijah saw God as the God of power and might. Do not look for God only in demonstrations of power. He is also in the weak, the tiny.
God gives, gives, and then gives. As the saying goes, he gives until it hurts. Everything we have comes from God and he does not give grudgingly. The spirit of Jesus who gave himself for others. He is Lord of heaven and earth.                                                                                                                Fr Ephrem
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.

Just a friendly reminder to keep an eye on your personal belongings. Don't leave your bag unattended and be aware of and greet those around you.  If there is someone unfamiliar or you may be concerned about, approach one of the welcomers or one of the regular Mass goers you know and make them aware. 

Mass of Obligation – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Tuesday 15th August
 
9.00am – St Anthony’s Church                      9.30am – St Patrick’s Church
9.30am – Holy Cross School Hall                  2.00pm – St Patrick’s Church
6pm – St Patrick’s Church

 An invitation to Altar Servers and all Youth of Holy Trinity Parish
Come and celebrate the feast of the saint of altar servers St. Tarcisius at the 5pm Mass at Holy Cross on the 20th August, followed by light refreshments in the Holy Cross Parish Centre. This will be a good opportunity for the young people in the Parish to gather. Please put the date on your calendar.
 

Update - Holy Cross Church Roof Repair
Good news! The electrician has been in and we can use all the heaters again in the Church! Thank you very much to those parishioners who lent their oil fin and convection heaters to be used while the main ones were out of action.

St Anthony’s School Year 7 & 8 camp fundraising bake sale and sausage sizzle
after Mass on Sunday 13th August. 
It will be held on the deck at St Anthony's School. We are raising money for Tui Class school camp
in September. Thank you for your support of our students

Parish Bake Sale - Sunday 20 August after Mass at Holy Cross Church
There will be a Bake Sale following Mass on Sunday 20 August in the foyer of Holy Cross Church run by Year 7/8 students from Holy Cross School. Proceeds go towards the students' fundraising for the school camp later on this term. Expect cakes, cupcakes, muffins, biscuits, slices and sweets to tempt you after mass! There will also be rosary beads for sale, lovingly made by the students from recycled materials. Many thanks for your support.


News & Views Deliverers – your copies for ready to be collected from the back of the churches. Thank you

Mass rosters for Holy Cross and St Patrick’s Churches will be out next weekend.

Legion of Mary - Reunion Tea Party - We are excited to invite all Legion of Mary Active and Auxiliary members to join us at Holy Cross Church Chapel on Saturday 9th Sept 2017, 10.30am

Calling on young New Zealanders to share their voice with the Vatican
Young  New Zealanders are bein g called to share their views about life, faith, and their experience of Church through  an  online  survey  published  today  by  the  New  Zealand  Catholic  Bishops.   The  Catholic  Church  is launching a nation          - wide survey for all youth. The survey is part of an inte            rnational effort by Pope Francis to better understand the lives, attitudes and concerns of young peoplearound the world, in the lead up to the Synod on "Young people, faith and vocational discernment" in Rome, October 2018.New Zealanders aged 16 – 29  years old are encouraged toanswer the survey and tell their friends about it and share  the  link  with  their  networks.The  survey will  go  live  on  23  July  and will  run  for  five  weeks,  with the closing date for responses midnight on Sunday, 27 August 2017.
The survey will be found at https://www.facebook.com/voicetovaticanNZ  and on the home page of the
New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ website: http://www.catholic.org.nz

Bishop’s statement on 2017 General Election  Our bishops have provided a statement which outlines principles and topics to consider when you are deciding how to vote in the upcoming election. You are encouraged to take one with you after Mass today. It is also available online at www.catholic.org.nz under ‘Bishops Statement’

This week’s reflection from the Catholic Bishops’ statement on the 2017 General Election: We want Kiwi children and mokopuna to grow up n a safe society. Moves to legalise ‘soft’ drugs and other substances – which wreak havoc in particular sectors of our society – are a deeply cynical and cheap way of side-lining a comples social ill that needs to be addressed creatively and resolutely. Drugs such as ‘P’ are rife in some areas, destroying individuals and family life. This curse needs to be tackled full on.    

XLT (eXaLT) Youth Worship Night Friday 18th August @ St Anne’s Hall, 7pm to 9pm.  Cool music, Eucharistic Adoration, Sacrament of Reconciliation, fun, food and fellowship.  Come with your friends! Open to Year 9 – 13 students and young adults.

FAB Note of opportunity to Art aspirants   Any 10-15 yr old who wants ANY art to be part of their life can participate free. 3 bursaries ($3000, $2000 & $1000) will be decided by your peers. 2017 closing date is 31 August.  Look, or ask your guardian to look, at www.ebis.school.nz for more info.
You do not have to attend EBIS (any yr 7 to 11 in Eastern Suburbs)-contacts on that website under ‘Franken Art Bursaries’. No entry fee, no costs to you or your parents

ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP… Archdiocesan Parish Leadership Vicariate are hosting a 2 day Enneagram Workshop at the Catholic Centre on 19/20 August, 9.00-4.30pm, $50.00pp.  Registrations to [email protected] before Monday 14th August.

St Catherine's College 2018 Scholarships Educating Young Women since 1950 
Apply now to [email protected] or phone 04 939 8988  Applications close 25 August 2017

Wanted – Flat to Rent: Pensioners seeks a 1 bedroom flat to rent with small outdoor area if possible, on the flat in Miramar or Strathmore. Ring Bev 388 5821

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington Come along and join us on Thursday 17th of August 2017 at 7:30pm for fellowship and prayer in CONNOLLY HALL, Thorndon. Speaker: Sister Marie Gore on “The benefits of gathering together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal” Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or email: [email protected] 

Confirmation & First Holy Communion Gifts Available: Order online at catholicgifts.co.nz or visit the John Paul II Centre for Life, 6 Parumoana St., Porirua (next to Caltex carwash!) where a small selection of stock is held. Fridays Noon to 2 p.m. or by arrangement 2378343.
 

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 19th August. 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. Relying on God's grace, join in this persevering prayer effort for our most vulnerable - especially the unborn - and those suffering from the tragedy of abortion. For more information contact Family Life International NZ PH: 2378343
 

Tindall Fund Applications for 2017 are now open. The priority is to fund groups committed to social, pastoral, charitable and educational needs in our region. Applications are judged on the basis of need, resource availability and the fulfilment of set Tindall criteria. Applications due Friday, 25th August 2017.
To apply for funding, and to see the criteria for applications please go the Archiocese website http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/quicklinks/support/tindall-funding/

 Please come and join us at the Wellington Dove Fellowship for Women. Sat 19th August at 1.15pm.Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace. Our speaker is Rebecca Millar who will be sharing her faith journey in which the Lord led her into the Catholic church, Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Dove Fellowship.  For further information contact Shura Price 04 3899938

2017 is the bicentenary of the founding of the Marist Brothers in France, 1817. To mark this occasion there will be a Mass held in the Cathedral on Sunday August 13, at 2.00pm, followed by afternoon tea. Former staff, students, relatives, supporters and friends of the Brothers, as well as current staff and students of schools where the Brothers have taught, are cordially invited.
 

St Mary of the Angels 7:00pm Tuesday August 15th 2017.  Second Vespers for the Feast of the Assumption. The liturgy lasts for 45 minutes and consists of Latin Gregorian antiphons, responsorial psalms and the plainsong hymn for the Second Vespers for the Feast. The setting of the Magnificat is by Palestrina. This will be followed by a short concert of liturgical music by the choir, including music by Palestrina, Schütz, Rachmaninov, Sir John Tavener, and James Macmillan.

Healing Service - There is to be a Healing Service with Fr John Rea at St Bernadette`s Church 194 Naenae Rd, Naenae on Tuesday 22 Aug beginning at 7.30 pm.  All are invited. Bring especially those who need Jesus healing.

Retreat Day - Fr John Rea will conduct a Retreat Day in the Sacred Heart Cathedral chapel on Saturday 26 August on the theme of the Song of Songs.  This is open to all and will include the Mass of the day.  We will begin at 9.30 with morning tea and finish at 3.30 pm. Please bring something to share for lunch and a bible and pad.

St Dominic’s Catholic College at Henderson are celebrating their 50th Jubilee on September 15th and 16th. Registrations are now open on their Facebook page: St Dominic’s College at Henderson - 50th Jubilee OR on their website, www.stdoms.ac.nz OR contact the Principal’s PA Tina Allingham at [email protected]

The Missionaries of Charity cordially invite you to celebrate the Feast Day of St Teresa of Calcutta with Holy Mass on Tuesday 5 September at 9.00am at Holy Family Parish Church, Mungavin Ave, Porirua East.  Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal John Dew.  All visiting priests are welcome to concelebrate.  Light refreshements will be shared following Mass.
The Novena to St Teresa of Calcutta will start on Sun 27 August and continue until Mon 4 September.  Copies of the Novena are available on the website  www.motherteresa.org

“Current of Grace’ Conference “Celebrating the diverse fruits and family of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in New Zealand” When:  Friday 22 – Sunday 24 September 2017-06-23 at the Distinction Hotel and the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North Guest presenters include Bishop Denis Browne, Fr John Rea, Diana Ingle CCRNZ Chairperson.  Ann Brereton from ICCRS will share on 2017 Vatican report Pope Francis’s exciting new plans for us all! For further information and to register on-line visit www.ccrnz.org/register2017 contact Val Morrison Tel: 07 542 5537

Last Marriage Encounter Opportunity for 2017
Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend Fri 6th Oct – Sun 8th Oct being held for the first time at Silverstream Retreat, Lower Hutt. Book your place now free phone 0800 362 686

 
Evening Prayer, Adoration and Prayer for vocations every Wed 6-7pm at St.Patrick's Church.
Adoration Saturday at Holy Cross Church after 9am Mass
 

Social Justice Week: 10th – 16th September  Weaving bonds of belonging: Knowing our neighbours
“I wish to insist that love always proves more powerful. Many people… are able to weave bonds of belonging and togetherness which convert overcrowding into an experience of community in which the walls of the ego are torn down and the barriers of selfishness overcome.” – Pope Francis
Each year in September, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference promotes Social Justice Week. During this week we apply Catholic social teaching to one particular issue of social justice in New Zealand. This year the theme for parishes is Weaving bonds of belonging: Knowing our neighbours. Pope Francis highlights that many of the social issues we face today reflect a decline in social connectedness. This Social Justice Week, we invite everyone to take up the challenge to creatively reach out and weave deeper bonds of belonging in our whānau, our parish, and our wider community.
 

EXALT MUSIC CONFERENCE 2017 EXALT  is for all musicians, lovers of music, art, dance, film and photography to meet people who share the same passions and grow in their gifts given intentionally to them by God to beused for His glory, organised by the Diocese of Christchurch. 5.00pm Fri 20 October – Sun 22 October
St Bede’s College, Main North Road, Christchurch $159 per person, group discount available.    
Please contact Jessica Bond if you require financial assistance for your registration cost. Online registration and information:www.exalt.cyt.org.nz or Jessica Bond: [email protected] (Registration closes 15 Sept)

Lord, help me to remember the ‘least’ among us, and help me to ponder in my heart, how to cast my vote for the good of all.  Fr James Martin, SJ

Monthly Teaching Nights @ St Anne’s Hall, Emmett Street, Newtown As a follow-up to the recent Life in the Spirit Seminar, a series of teaching nights will be offered on the 4th Wednesday of each month, starting on Wednesday 23rd August, at 7:30pm.  Theme: Building a Life of Prayer.  Speaker: Lucienne Hensel.  Evening includes Praise & Worship, group discussion and fellowship.  Everyone is welcome!

The August 13 - 26 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Ending of Life report sparks media critique. Why is there not more theology in homilies? Presbytery becomes new emergency housing. Antiquated notion of priesthood harms Church. The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on August 27.