18 november 2018

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Words will not pass away.”
Jesus words will never pass away, in spite of tribulation. What does Jesus mean that heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will not pass away? The Bible consistently warns us that this World will not last forever. This statement was in the context of end times’ prophecies and the eternal nature of Jesus’ words: “My words will never pass away.” This means that trusting Jesus is wiser that trusting anything in this world. We all of us know that to “pass away” is to disappear or to be no more. This refers to the physical heaven and earth- the material world and all it contains- but not the Spiritual or Souls of the inhabitants of those places. Scripture is very clear that people will outcast the current material universe, the current universe will be replaced by another that will never know the contamination of Sin.
The Prophet Isaiah foretold the passing away of heaven and earth, too. “All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and heavens rolled up like the scroll; all starry hosts will fall like withered leaves from vine like shrivelled figs from the fig tree(Is 34:4) The Lord assures His people that even as the heaven and earth are passed away, His Salvation is secured: The heaven will vanished like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies, But my Salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fall.
Knowing that heaven and earth will not pass away gives us perspective in life. This world in not our home, our real home is a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Our aim therefore, should be to reach this new heaven and this new earth.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Fr Gregory
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.

Please pray for our children as they prepare for First Holy Communion.
 
We congratulate our children from St Patrick’s Church for their First Holy Communion today: Star Va’aua   Te Ariki Va’aua   Karlos Namana     Orna Van Eyssen      Lesieli Foliaki.

Sunday 18 November 2018. Pope Frances' 2nd World Day of the Poor.  “let us love, not with words but with deeds” 2017 World Day of the Poor theme. Pope Francis calls on Christians around the world to serve people on the margins with practical assistance and to deepen our connection with people living in all forms of poverty.  As a parish, we will be offering your donations on the day to the  annual Christmas Emergency Food Appeal of the Seatoun & Miramar Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society.  
Please bring along a non-perishable food item on Sunday 18 November 2018 such as dry pasta and rice; canned fish, canned veges and fruit; beans and chickpeas; cereal; canned and packet soup; toothpaste and toothbrushes; sanitary items; soap and deodorant.  There will be a signposted box in the foyer of each of our Churches where you can leave your donation.  May God bless you for what you do.

NOVEMBER PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD:  As November is the traditional month for special prayers for our loved ones, parishioners are asked to write the names and place them in the box in the Church or give them to the priest.  Envelopes are available in the foyer. Because of the large number of names, we will only print anniversaries or recent.   All names will be remembered in Masses offered during November.
 

 
Holy Trinity Parish Catholic Book Club – meeting next Sunday 25th November:  Explore the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness of the Catholic faith through its great books! At Holy Cross Church Parish Centre, 6-7pm. Light supper will be provided. Connect with fellow passionate Catholics for like-minded discussion. For enquiries, contact 3882-840 or [email protected]

Are you a child who would like to take part in the St Patrick’s Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve??   Would you like to do a reading, read a prayer of the Faithful, carry the offertory, take part in a play?  We need your help to make this Mass happen.  If you volunteer, you will be given help to do your best.  Please phone Clare Lundon the Mass Organiser 0212278363  or Patricia O’Donnell St Patrick’s Liturgy Chairperson  934 3179.
 

Looking for  musicians for the St Patrick’s Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm.   We are looking for a guitar player and a piano player or keyboard player and other instrument players to make music for the children to sing Christmas carols.  If you would like to make joyful music for the children, please contact Clare Lundon the Mass organiser 0212278363  or Patricia O’Donnell St Patrick’s Liturgy Chair  934 3179  for further information.
 

"REAL CHRISTMAS CARDS".  St Vincent de Paul Society  Christmas cards will be on sale soon in our Church foyers  after Sunday Masses at Holy Cross, St Anthony's and St Patrick's churches, same price as last year's.   Religious-theme cards "Keeping Christ in Christmas", $2.50 per pack of 5 cards with envelopes. Proceeds to our local St Vincent de Paul Conference activities in the eastern suburbs.   Contacts: Holy Cross Church (Julian Knap, ph 970 3905), St Anthony's Church (Andrew Monahan, ph 021 772 350), and St Patrick's Church (Frank Quirke, ph 387 4977).
 

14 x blister packs of Oticon size 13 hearing aid batteries
and 2 x digital battery testers to give away
These have been kindly donated as they are no longer needed. If you have hearing aids and could use these or know someone who can, please contact the office. 3886 953 or [email protected]
 

2 Columban Calendars to give away!
Two Columban Calendars have been very kindly donated by a parishioner.
If you would like one of these please contact the Parish Office 3886 953 or [email protected]  
First two responses will receive the calendars.
 

 
ONLY 40 CALENDARS LEFT available through the office $12 each
or from Bernadette at St Patrick’s Church
 You can either put your money or cheq (made out to Holy Trinity Parish) in an envelope with your details and pop in the collection basket, or email, phone or drop into the Parish Office.
Alternatively pay by internet banking to Holy Trinity Parish 02-0536-0185031-00 and use CALENDAR as the reference. When you have paid, email the office [email protected]  with the following details:  the amount paid, the number of calendars ordered, which Church you will collect your calendars from or if you would like to collect them from the office. Once payment has cleared, the Calendars will be left for you in the back of your chosen Church or in the office for you to collect. 

St Anthony’s Bazaar 2019 - Sunday 17 February with a Vigil Mass the night before - Saturday 16 February at 5pm replacing the normal Sunday 10.30am Mass on the 17th. 
The team of St Anthony's would value your help, expertise and goods. Thanks to all those who completed the Bazaar forms last Sunday. To those who took them home, we look forward to seeing them brought back over the next week. If you missed the chance to offer your help please take one of the forms from the back of the church or email  Angeline -  angelineharrington.com with the offer of your help. Remember the motto of "many hands make light work!"

Go you are sent to deepen your bicultural relationship 5(a)  The Archdiocese deepens its understanding of Te Ao Maori and embraces biculturalism as an integral part of all its activities and decisions

Au Pair-style job available in Kilbirnie - We are a family of 3 (plus pets), offering accommodation PLUS some paid hours! See noticeboard for the full advertisement and all the details. Starting 22nd November  Please email Laurian on [email protected] or call 027 5847170 if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.
 

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 20 November beginning at 7.30 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Sacred Heart Cathedral, to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, Scripture, a short homily, times of silence and singing and conclude with Benediction followed by supper.  All are welcome.
 

God’s answer to the poor is always a saving act that heals wounds of body and soul, restores justice and helps to live life anew in dignity. God’s answer is also a summons to those who believe in him to do likewise, within the limits of what is humanly possible. The World Day of the Poor wishes to be a small answer that the Church throughout the world gives to the poor of every kind and in every land, lest they think that their cry has gone unheard. It may well be like a drop of water in the desert of poverty, yet it can serve as a sign of sharing with those in need, and enable them to sense the active presence of a brother or a sister. Pope Francis: Message for the 2nd World Day of the Poor, 2018

The Nov. 18 – Dec. 1 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Armistice Day centenary marked by Hamilton Mass for Peace. Pro-life rosary crusade for NZ. Faith-based institutions in NZ abuse royal commission. $12.6m development to help homeless families.  The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on December 2.

Home of Compassion Island Bay
Saturday 1st December     Eve of Advent – family day, 10am–3pm: 11am putting up the crib, followed by carol singing; nativity art and crafts; search out nativity rocks in Christmas treasure hunt. Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington, ph (04) 282-1953. All welcome.
Wednesdays 5 and 12 December   Take time out in Advent for contemplative reflection and prayer series led by Sr Sue Cosgrove. 10am sessions repeated at 7pm, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington, ph (04) 383-7769.

Greenstone Doors Annual Christmas Party is being held on 5th Dec 6:30pm-8:30pm at 106 Park Road, Belmont.
Join us for an evening of music, entertainment, wine, nibbles and rolling raffles. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from eventbrite.co.nz or contact us on 566 5037.

Annual Harbour City Funeral Home Christmas Remembrance Service.
 
 Friday 7th December 2018 at 6.30pm Old Saint Paul's Mulgrave St, Thorndon. Everyone is welcome. 

National March for Life NZ 8th December: There are dangerous proposals to liberalise the abortion laws in New Zealand to remove all safeguards and to further endanger the lives of the unborn and harm their mothers and families. Parishes, groups, families and all people of goodwill are invited to March for Life Saturday 8th December. Gather at 2pm in Civic Square (101 Wakefield St) ready to walk to Parliament grounds. The spirit of the march is one of celebrating the gift of life and helping the vulnerable. We are mindful that many in our communities are suffering the effects of abortion in their families. Our message to our community is, you are not alone, there is support, there is healing, there is hope! marchforlife.nz or phone Michael on 021 825 955.
NZ Rosary Crusade  8th December: Presently the Law Commission is encouraging the government to liberalise the abortion laws. Our Parliament is also currently considering legalising Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. The time has come for New Zealanders, Catholics and non-Catholics to pray together for our nation. We must act now! On December 8th, New Zealanders will join together in prayer from various locations (including at the National March for Life on the lawn of Parliament) to pray the Rosary for Life and Faith. www.rosarycrusade.co.nz or phone Clare on 022 1912 886 or 03 359 2087

CARITAS GIFTS 2018  Caritas Gifts are a perfect way to show your friends and loved ones that you are thinking of them this year, while also making an important contribution on their behalf. Every single Caritas Gift purchased, also allows us to offer vital assistance and support where it is needed most.
The range of Caritas Gift options are split across four specific areas; Hope Fund - supports our development work    Life Fund - sustains emergency support   Peace Fund - promotes healthcare, human rights and justice
Learning Fund - supports education and environmental care
Each one provides vital funds, supporting a variety of Caritas programmes. All are focused towards creating positive and long-lasting changes in the lives of some of the most vulnerable communities relying upon our help.
For example, if you buy the gift of an Emergency kit from the Life Fund, the money you pay goes into that fund and is used to support emergency work where it is needed most.
 Or by purchasing a chicken or a goat gift, you will be supporting a community, helping to provide sustainable food options.
When you purchase a gift from one of these funds the money you spend supports that area of Caritas' work.
Even the smallest gifts make an incredible difference to those in need, whether it is $10 or $1000. Every Caritas Gift makes for a wonderful present to give family and friends while also helping to support the dignity of our brothers and sisters, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world.
Caritas gifts can be ordered now by calling us directly on 0800 22 10 22 or by visiting the Caritas website: www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-gifts  place your order by Monday, 10 December to ensure that your Caritas Gift is received in time for Christmas.

We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died especially Natalie Vincent and those whose anniversaries occur around this time.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Judy Chote, John Rogers and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.