14 april 2019

Is 50, 4-7; Phil 2, 6-11; Lk 22, 14-23, 56
Palm Sunday, with its palms, processions and readings, is one of the special days that can evoke strong emotional connections in our spiritual history, for those who have been in the church most of their lives. For those who are newer to Catholicism and Christianity, I suspect it still makes an impact because of its uniqueness.
I remember how unusual the palms seemed when I was a youngster. They were like nothing else I experienced in church or anywhere in my life—long strips of greenery, kind of chartreuse in colour, that we willingly accepted and then carefully protected on the way home, where they would be tacked behind a crucifix or religious picture or at the door way, in a prominent place in our home for the next 12 months.
Jesus’ triumphant entry into the village, amid hosannas and palm-waving, doesn’t allow us to reflect long on the admiration and approval the people had for him. In sync with Jesus’ retort that “even the stones will cry out,” it would be nice to bask in the moment for a bit; it would be pleasant to dare to think about how satisfying and rewarding that afternoon must have been—and how well-deserved.
But, almost immediately, we are taken beyond that scene into the rest of what Holy Week is about—the seriousness of the Last Supper, the trials, betrayals, torture and death. Some of those who true disciples were so excited must have legitimately been moved by Jesus and his power and his love.
We often feel holier than thou and wonder how they could have possibly been so fickle, so easily swayed, so rootless in our spiritual depth. But we also know how we turn our backs to the good and the righteous when we don’t have all the facts, and even sometimes when we do.
Let us linger a little longer amid the palm-wavers. Feel their excitement, their enthusiasm for Jesus and his message. Reflect on his miraculous works and his soul-deep love. And to pray that the reality of the joy that comes from worshipping him will sustain us through the dark times until Easter’s rising, each time we see the palms tucked beneath the cross in our living rooms.             
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.

Good Friday 3pm services in the parish. With the parish being reduced to 2 priests following Fr Gregory’s return to India it is now only possible to hold 2 Good Friday 3pm services in the parish. The Archdiocese has a directive that Holy Cross Church is to have minimal use due to the building being considered earthquake prone. Following discussion with the Leadership groups within the parish it has been decided not to hold one of these services in this building. We apologise for any inconvenience.     Fr Ephrem.

Easter Services:
Holy Thursday:         18th April  (no morning Mass at any Church)
St Patrick’s:               7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
 
Good Friday:           19th April 
St Patrick’s:            10am Stations of the Cross from St Patrick’s Church to All Saints, Hataitai
St Anthony’s:         10am Way of the Cross starts and finishes at St Anthony’s
3pm Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
at St Patrick’s and St Anthony’s Churches
 
 
Saturday Easter Vigil: 20st April
St Patrick’s:               8pm Please bring your own candle to the Vigil Mass and ensure that it has a protector to prevent wax falling on your hands, clothing or the floor
Easter Sunday:          21st  April
Holy Cross:               9am
St Patrick’s:               10am
St Anthony’s:          10.30am

Singers and Musicians:   There will be a practice on the next Monday 7-8pm, St.Patrick's Church, in preparation for Easter.  All welcome.

St Patrick’s Morning MassTuesday 16th April. Please note: Mass will be at 9am to give our priests time to get to the clergy prayer day at 10am.

Holy Thursday Mass Children who made their First Holy Communion in 2018 are invited to take part in the Holy Thursday Mass at St Patrick’s Church. Please contact Leona 021 165 5289
The children will process up to the altar and scatter petals. We will need petals on the day so could you please drop these off to the office on HOLY THURSDAY BEFORE 12PM.

Candles for Holy Saturday.
Please bring your own candle to the Vigil Mass and ensure that it has a protector to prevent wax falling on your hands, clothing or the floor.

Good Friday Holy Places Collection – This collection will be taken up on during the 3pm Solemn Commemoration of the Lords Passion .

Cleaning HOLY CROSS Church:  SOS from our elderly cleaning crew!!!! We desperately need more young people to clean our Church.This involves vacuuming the main part of the church approximately once a month. The more people we have the less often you will be needed. If you would like to help us please contact Ann Nota on 380 9332. Your time and help will be most appreciated. Thank you.

Wanted to rent. Young mother with 3 children looking for 3 bedroom house in the Eastern Suburbs up to $600 per week. Every care taken. Refs available. Contact Bev 388 5821

BULLETIN NOTICE: Palm Sunday Candlelight Vigil for the Unborn.  Sunday 14 April @ 7pm.  Come join caring people from all over Wellington in a peaceful prayer vigil outside Wellington Hospital where more than 1300 babies lose their lives to abortion every year.  We mourn their lives and pray for healing for all those impacted by the tragedy of abortion and for the conversion of clinic workers.  Riddiford Street, Outside Wellington Hosptial, Newtown

Archdiocesan North Island Chrism Mass – the Mass of the oils, Tuesday 16th April 7pm, St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori.

Celebrating 100 years since the first school building on St Catherine’s College site. High Tea 22 June 2019 from 1.00pm – 4.45pm Mercy Hall, SCC. $15. Registration required. Contact Sister Stephanie [email protected] or 0272458859


How to Think about Ageing: Insights from Disability Theology. You are invited to a lecture given by Dr Michael Mawson, University of Aberdeen which will reflect upon the relationship between ageing and disability. In particular, it will explore how insights from disability theology can contribute to richer and more concrete accounts of ageing and its associated complexities. Wed 17 April 7:30—9:00 (GBLT1) Government Building Law School Wellington.

OPEN LETTER TO ALL M.P.s RE ABORTION now urgent. Upcoming Legislation intends to allow ABORTION UP TO BIRTH. Overseas experience indicates that will be the forerunner to debate on even worse atrocities for the unborn child, including “partial-birth” abortions, “after- birth” abortions, and infanticide. If you wish to add your
name to an Inter-Denominational ”Open Letter to all members of Parliament” email  [email protected]  you will receive a copy of the Letter by return. May God Bless our mutual efforts. Thank you, Don Brebner.

Vinnies Book & Fabric Fair Saturday 27 April: 8am – 4pm and Sunday 28 April: 9am – 3pm at St Anne’s Church Hall, 22 Emmett Street, Newtown The Vinnies Book & Fabric Fair is back once again. All books are $2 or less alongside fabrics and recycled haberdasheries from our very own Vinnies Re Sew.
The proceeds from the Vinnies Book and Fabric Fair go towards our Vinnies Welfare Programs. From providing food parcels and advocacy support to helping people move into their new homes, combating loneliness and upskilling members of our communities.
Interested in joining the Book Fair volunteer team? Contact [email protected] or call 04 389 7122.

Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations You are invited to join in the celebration of the Divine Mercy Sunday which is to be held on Sunday 28th of April at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, 301 Karori Road, Karori. The program will take place from 2.00 – 4.15 pm and will include Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Blessing of religious objects, and the Veneration of the Divine Mercy Image. Refreshments and nibbles will be served after the service.


With today’s celebration of Palm Sunday we enter a week that we call Holy Week. While every week is holy, in this Holy Week we face death. While some will simply look back two thousand years and recall the historic events of Jesus’ suffering and death, we Christians today make a decision to walk this path to the cross with Jesus. Not that we will necessarily die this week, but every one of us will face death in some way: uncertainly in a relationship, work and home worries, financial insecurity, anxiety about those we love. Each of these unwanted
experiences is a taste of death and very week is holy when we remember the cross of Jesus.
As a child I recall crucifixes hanging prominently in Catholic homes and classrooms. In recent years we seem to have thought it better to focus on the resurrection, egged-on by an emphasis on positive thinking urging us to look on the bright side of life. But our challenge is to recall that resurrection only makes sense for the one who has died, and death (because of the death and resurrection of Jesus) is no longer the problem in life or the obstacle to growth but the pathway to intimacy with God and others now and eternally.
And the Sign of the Cross, the best known of all Catholic prayers, even when signed in silence in a moment of need, is the most simple and profound of all prayers.
An Invitation: Take this week ahead, the journey to Easter, as a retreat in daily life. While you maintain all necessary family, work and social commitments, take time every day to sit with the crucifix. Feel with Jesus the pain of being betrayed and abandoned by friends and unjustly punished and crucified. Know that the crucifix is the reminder that our own struggles, anxiety and suffering when lived with Jesus, is our path to the abundant life we seek here on earth and for eternity.   Fr. John O’Connor      www.foodforfaith.org.nz

Ignatian Retreat Opportunity: Inner Peace in Friendship with Jesus. Christian Life Community Wellington invites you to attend an Ignatian First Spiritual Exercise retreat in daily life based on a programme developed by Australian, Michael Hanson SJ   Participants meet weekly, under the guidance of trained guides, to pray and share in small groups their experience of prayer. The retreat is open to all and will be held at the church of St Anne's Church, Emmett St, Newtown, Wellington, over five Thursday evenings - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May 2019  7:30 - 9:30 pm The cost (including materials) is $50, but sponsorship is available if the cost would prevent you for attending. To register or for further information contact Sarah Dench   04 9733 501  or  021 0814 4424  or [email protected]

New Zealand Catholic Medical Association DATE SAVER: Inaugural Meeting Saturday: 25 May 2019 10am -3pm at St Michael’s School Hall, 6 Beatrice Road, Remuera, Auckland -    Cost $25 per person. Will include Blessing and Holy Mass from Bishop Patrick Dunn and provide an opportunity for doctors and others involved in healthcare to find pastoral care, support, encouragement and faith development. We wish to extend an invitation to doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapist, counsellors, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, dentists, health administrators, lawyers and anyone who works in allied roles. Registration is required for catering purposes by 20 May 2019.Event details: newzealandcatholicmedical.co.nz/event Contact email:   [email protected]

Help share the heart of the Easter message on mainstream radio CBA has brought together some of NZ’s most respected Christian broadcasters to present the real Easter message on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport.
Two nationwide networks. Envelopes avail Phone 0900 80 222 to make a $20 donation or visit cba.org.nz/give

 Go you are sent …to your peripheries (7) Promote the work of the Marriage Tribunal.

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Daphne Hatchwell, Maria Arlukiewicz, Leonard Maxim, William Corkery, Peter Hopkins and Patrick Connolly. Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially John Rogers, John Cairns-Cowan and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.