14 july 2019

​
30:10-14; Col. 1:15-20; Lk. 10.25-37
A Scribe asked Jesus a very basic religious question: “What should I do to inherit eternal life?”   In answer to the question, Jesus directed the Scribe’s attention to the Sacred Scriptures.  The scriptural answer is “love God and express it by loving your neighbour in action.”   However, to the scribe the word “neighbour” meant another Scribe or Pharisee – never a Samaritan or a Gentile. Hence, the Scribe insisted on further clarification of the word “neighbour.” So, Jesus told him the parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable clearly indicated that a “neighbour” is anyone who needs help.   Thus, the correct approach is not to ask the question “Who is my neighbour?” but rather to ask, “Am I a good neighbour to others?” The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us that God not only gives us His commandments in Holy Scriptures but that they are also written in our hearts so that we may obey them and inherit eternal life with God. In the second reading, St.  Paul reminds us that just as Christ Jesus is the “visible image of the invisible God,” our neighbours are the visible image of Christ living in our midst.  The final command of Jesus, the Heavenly Good Samaritan, given during the Last Supper was: “Love others as I have loved you” because the invisible God dwells in every human being.
With whom do we identify ourselves when faced with similar situations?  Lawyer was interested with inheriting eternal life or other characters in the Gospel such as anonymous man who was robbed, beaten and left half dead, or brigands, or priest, Levite, or Samaritan or finally to the inn keeper?  Perhaps as praying and missionary disciple, we need to identify ourselves with Samaritan who was not only moved by another person’s distress but stopped, nursed and paid for all the expenses. Instead, being charitable, he took unconditional and uncalculated risk for a stranger.           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.

Do you see a colourful ribbon in your church?
Over the last few months, and again last week, there has been publicity about survivors of sexual abuse placing colourful ribbons around and near churches. 
Our catholic bishops have discussed this - they would like to reiterate their support for abuse survivors to be able to place ribbons at church gates or fences as part of a valid and important way to work through their healing process. Removing the ribbons can be viewed as deeply disrespectful to survivors/victims and can be retraumatising. 
Our bishops ask parishes to be respectful of this process and suggest it is an important opportunity for us all to accompany survivors/victims through this journey. 
If anyone in our parish of the communities have any doubts about something they find around the church, we advise them first to talk to their priest.

Young Adults: The Seatoun young adults community invites you to attend Mass at St. Anthony's Church, 66 Falkirk Ave, Seatoun on Thursday the 18th of July at 6.30pm.  We will provide dinner at our home, 66a Falkirk Ave afterward.  Please contact Georgia on 0226704422 if you have queries.  Come along to meet new people and share in community!


 Safeguarding training. For those who weren’t able to make the training session in May on Safeguarding there are three more sessions at 5.30pm at the Catholic Centre (Level 1, room 2)
 Please note updated dates.
•           Tuesday 23 July       10.30am – 12pm
•           Thursday 25 July       5.30pm – 7pm
•           Tuesday 6th August   5.30pm – 7pm         
 Please make sure you attend one of these if you are involved in the following ministries and have not attended
- Children’s Liturgy
- Trainer Altar Servers Roles
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion to the Sick
- Sacramental Programme Leaders
If you are not able to travel into town, you are welcome to join the meeting by ZOOM Conference from your computer at the above time and date. To do this they need to send Brendy your email address and parish you belong to and you will be sent the login details. Contact Brendy Weir Safeguarding Adviser, Archdiocese of Wellington (04) 496 1768 or 021 1958 307 b.weir@wn.catholic.org.nz

People in Need? St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference welcomes parishioners   to   let   us   know   confidentially   if   you   or   someone   needs   assistance   in   the Miramar/Seatoun/Strathmore area.   Our group visits people who are in hardship, sickness, loneliness or housebound, in order to share God’s love and compassion and see if we can assist in any way, even as simple as having a coffee and chat (Contacts: any of our members listed in the Church foyers).
If you wish to donate to assist your local Conference purchase food, clothing, house items etc for families in most need in the eastern suburbs, please consider making a direct online donation to our account which is:-BNZ Kilbirnie, St Vincent de Paul Seatoun & Miramar Conference, A/c No. 02 0576 0017 817 006, reference "Donation". If you want a receipt of the donation for tax purposes, do please contact our Treasurer, Trish Herzog, ph 04 388 3842. 

Non-Residential Retreat,15-19 July, 9.30am - 4.00pm daily.  Pa Maria Marist Spirituality Centre, Thorndon.  For further information and/or to register please contact Brian Cummings SM at 021 703 580 or bgcummings@xtra.co.nz

The good Samaritan is Christ who draws close to the poor, to those who are in need. The good Samaritan is also you when, like Christ, you approach those who are next to you, and are able to see the face of Christ in them. It is a path of love and mercy: Jesus finds us, heals us, and He sends us to heal others. It is only permissible to look down upon someone if we are about to bend down and help them get up. We have no right to look down on anyone. Not with our nose upturned, like this, eh? If I look down from above it is in order to bend down and help someone to get up.
Pope Francis: Message to Youth Gathering in Rosario, Argentina, May 2018

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 16 July beginning at 7.30 pm in the Cathedral chapel to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, Scripture, singing, times of silence and conclude with Benediction followed by supper.

Holiday Accommodation  A middle aged Catholic gentleman from Key West, Florida will be visiting Wellington from Nov - Feb and is looking for accommodation in the Eastern Suburbs. You can contact him pyratebear@gmail.com or facebook Pedro J. Spencer

Fantastical, majestical Children's Neon Ball - Greenstone Doors Charitable Trust are hosting a special evening for children (and their parents) at the Dowse Art Museum in Laings Road Lower Hutt on Friday 19 July from 5-7pm.  There will be a photo booth, facepainting, crafts, dancing, entertainment and food and drinks! Tickets are $15 for one adult and one child, $25 for a family pass.  To purchase your tickets for this amazingly awesome night go to   https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/childrens-neon-ball-tickets-63318987797 or purchase your tickets at the door on the night. The event on eventbrite is called 'Children's Neon Ball'.  You can also purchase tickets by clicking on the event on our Facebook page 'Greenstone Doors'.

Summer in the Forest : a movie about Jean Vanier and his work  Jean Vanier is one of the "saints next door".  See this film and be inspired!      Roxy Theatre, Miramar 6.30pm Wednesday 24 July.  to book :   www.summerinthe forest.co.nz.    
 

Attention All Men - keep Saturday 27th July free for a 1-day Retreat: “Up from the Waters” hosted by Joshua Palmerston North and led by Fr Joe Grayland and Fr Robin Kurian at Our Lady of Lourdes, Shamrock St. Koha on the day to cover costs. Lunch and morning/afternoon tea provided. Contact John Hammond jo.mo.hamm@gmail.com or Steve Ready 027 356 9555 for more details.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje 9-24 October. A pilgrimage to Medjugorje can be life changing.  Respond to God’s gift of Our Lady’s presence among us in these times and join us for an unforgettable pilgrimage to the holy valley of Medjugorje.  Travel with Mir Pilgrimages who has visited the holy site over 40 times. Email: info@mirpilgrimages.co.nz or phone Patricia on 0274 219 064.

Need a, break' Good news "Parish to Parish for B & B" has been providing Catholic hospitality for 16 years, with catholic hosts opening their homes to fellow catholics for a small charge of $35 for one person, or $30 each for 2 or more, this is per night and includes continental breakfast. To obtain a directory of the hosts throughout New Zealand and Australia contact Marie Anderson, email  marie.ian@xtra.co.nz or phone 03 3595 541 Christchurch. The book including postage is $15

Kally Cunningham is a senior travel professional at helloworld Travel Lambton Quay.
In 2020 she is taking a group, with Insight Tours, to Oberammergau to see the 42nd performance of the Passion Play.
It’s an 11 day tour starting in Munich on 28 August with many inclusions and ending in Zurich. Day 7 will be watching the Passion Play in Category 1 seats. Pricing is from $6499 twin or $7299 for a single. Airfares are additional. Details can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://helloworld.co.nz/lambtonquay/Store/31/StoreEvent/105 If anyone had any further questions they could ring or email me at k.cunningham@helloworld.co.nz or 04 473 1199.

Where is Pope Francis taking us? The Catholic Church is changing, but where is Pope Francis taking us and where might we end up? Join visiting Fulbright Scholar and noted church historian Dr Chris Bellitto for a public lecture on this fascinating and topical question. Hosted by The Catholic Institute, the lecture will start at 5.30pm on Friday 19 July, in the ground floor lecture theatre in the Old Government Building, opposite the Beehive on Lambton Quay.  Call 819 8380 or email k.mody@tci.ac.nz to secure your seat. The Catholic Institute – where faith and reason meet.

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 20th July. St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. 10 am Mass. Followed by Exposition & Rosary Procession to pray outside of the Hospital. Ends at Noon with a shared lunch. All are invited. Come and pray for hearts to change and lives to be saved. Two heartbeats, two precious lives worth protecting: show we love them both. For  info contact Family Life International NZ PH: 021 231 7954

Go you are sent to the peripheries of society (1) Prisoners and prisoner re-integration-parish sponsorship and prayer, commit to practical actions and service (e.g. Arohata quilts, Volunteering for Seasons for Growth in prisons).

School of Ecumenism 2019 In Dunedin Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October 2019
Venue: BURNS LODGE at Holy Cross Centre 89 Church Street, Mosgiel, Dunedin
Jointly organised by  National Dialogue for Christian Unity Aotearoa New Zealand  Centre for Ecumenical Studies, Charles Sturt University Canberra Australia
Journey together towards unity We are called as disciples to belong together in just and inclusive communities, in our quest for unity and on our ecumenical journey, … “Arusha Call to Discipleship” Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, Arusha Tanzania, March 2018
CREDIT TOWARDS OTHER QUALIFICATIONS  This course is offered both for students seeking accreditation towards a theology/ministry degree and for others wishing to participate as audits.  On the successful completion of the course requirements students who seek accreditation will receive it from Charles Sturt University. Students may then apply to their university or college for credit toward their qualification.
 Those wishing to attend the course as audits are welcome to join the course. Audits attend all sessions, but no assignments are required.

Quiet Days with Suzanne Aubert. An invitation to spend time resting and reflecting on an aspect of the life and vision of Suzanne Aubert.  Led by Sr Sue Cosgrove. Join us on the new date of 12th July, 10am - 2pm, The Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. Simple lunch included. Registration is required. Email: spirituality@compassion.org.nz or Ph. 04 383 7769.

Chelsea Day Care Trust volunteers needed.  Chelsea Day Care Trust in Lyall Bay is a day care respite facility for those with memory loss/Dementia.  Chelsea Trust is a NON-PROFIT organisation currently with 12 members every day, some get dropped off by their families, but others are unable to get their own way here, so we are always looking for volunteer drivers to assist with picking up members. In the afternoons, members are taken for a little drive out somewhere to break up the day for them for about 30 minutes or so but often we are unable to take all our members because we don’t have enough cars.
We are always looking for volunteers for either driving, the odd cooking of lunch or just general assistance at the Club. We are open every day from 9am – 4pm. If you can help please contact Angela Gittings Care Manager, Chelsea Club 04-3877207

Join us on an unforgettable pilgrimage to Naju, South Korea to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Our Lady`s first weeping Tears of Blood with an opportunity to meet the visionary, Julia Kim in person.
Pilgrimage:   17- 22 October 2019.   For more information contact Chrissy on 021 233 6883 or  chrissy.teo@yahoo.com 

The July 14-27 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Catholic reaction to euthanasia bill second reading. Southern college ownership change after 90 years. Giving hope to pregnant students. Vatican document on confession secrecy.

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Adrian Pole and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Stephen Aranyi, John Murphy, Angela Marcic, Patricia Gallgher, Lizzie Gamble and Paulette Finlay. Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Gary Maddock, 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.