1st May

​The Living Word
Dear sisters and brothers, there arose division of opinion among the followers of Christ. To seek unity, they gathered to pray, listen, and discern.  Should Gentiles follow the same laws as Jews in the Christian movement?  Who are we?  Identity questions send us back to our roots and into our future to ask:  what really matters?  What is at the centre?  What is at the periphery?  How is the Spirit leading us?
The Council of Jerusalem was the first of many.  A council's task is not primarily one of moulding a compromise that all can accept.  The deeper issue is identity.  Where is the centre?  Does it hold us together? Pope Francis announced a synod on the family.  Catholics around the world responded to questions, the bishops travelled to Rome twice for deliberation.  They did not meet online.  As in the first gathering of Christians, they met face to face.  Looking back over this long history, Pope Francis observes in Amoris Laetitia "The Joy of Love"
There are two ways of thinking which recur throughout the Church's history: casting off and reinstating.  The Church's way, from the time of the Council of Jerusalem, has always been the way of Jesus, the way of mercy and reinstatement. The way of the Church is not to condemn anyone forever; it is to pour out the balm of God's mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart
. For true charity is always unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous.  We seek to understand the world as followers of Christ.  God, you are the first to reach out.  You love us where we are found wanting.
Father Ephrem
SURVEY ON MASS TIMES FOR HOLY TRINITY PARISH
Please make sure you’ve survey returns are in by Sunday 1st May 2016. Thank you to those who have already returned their surveys but it is important we receive as many responses as possible. Your views will provide information which will enable the Parish Council to make informed decisions. Please take care to only identify ONE preferred Mass time on the weekend and other weekdays you wish to attend Mass.
Available in Church, on the website or via email.
Deadline for returning form: 1st May 2016
 

HOLY TRINITY PARISH MASS - 10AM SUNDAY 22ND MAY
AT ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE HALL
We will be celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday Mass together at St Patrick’s College Hall.  
For those who are unable to be at this Mass, there will also be the 5.30pm Vigil and 8am Mass at St Patrick’s Church.
There will be morning tea available afterwards at the back of the hall, so please bring a plate of food to share.

As part of the Year of Mercy, Sr Elizabeth Julian will be giving a presentation
 at St Patrick’s Church, Kilbirnie 7pm Thursday 26th May 2016

The topic is: The Works of Mercy: Biblically Speaking
 
Pope Francis has asked us to practise the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
 during the Year of Mercy.
This presentation will look at biblical examples of these works and what they might say to us today.


 
 
 
 
Holy Cross Happy Hour
Weds 3rd May from 11am
in the Parish Centre.
Seniors are reminded of our next meeting. Come join us for bingo.
Please bring a small plate of finger food to enjoy with our tea/coffee. All welcome.

 
 
 
Come join the fun of the quiz! Mark the date in your diary.
Saturday 21st May 7.30pm for 8pm start at the Seatoun Bowling Club. $10 entry on the night.  With John Ashby as quiz master extraordinaire, it’s bound to be a great night out.
Get a team together or join one on the night. Sure to be an enjoyable night out with the Parish Community.


 
Working Bee – St Patrick’s Church
We are planning a working bee for 4th June, anyone with a concrete mixer and an ability to lay a concrete slab will be greatly appreciated.  If you can hold a shovel or a duster please make yourself available and let me know – David Hyland 021971792
 
St Patrick’s Church
On Sundays Readers, Ministers of Eucharist to gather in Church foyer with the priest 5 minutes before Mass begins to ensure all are present and there are no mix-ups.

 
Thank you to the St Patrick’s altar servers who turned up for training on Thursday.

Flat wanted:  responsible pensioner seeks 1 or 2 bdrm flat with small outdoor area, keen gardener.  Miramar/Broadway area. Ring  Bev. 388 5821.

Planned Giving Receipts
Planned giving receipts are now at the back of the Church you normally attend. If you wish to collect yours from another Church or have your copy emailed to you, please contact the office 388 6953 or [email protected]

The ANZAC day Service at St Patrick’s Church raised $209.80 to be donated to the RSA Society.
St Aidans Anglican Church in Miramar offer 8kgs of fruit and veg for $10. There is a one off $10 fee to register and from then you can place your order and payment on a Tuesday morning, and collect your produce in the afternoon.

Ever wanted to ask challenging questions about our faith? 
Alpha is a fun and relaxed course that has been attended by over 25 million people around the world.  We start with dessert and follow-up with a video.  The video leads into small group discussion.  Each night looks at a different aspect of the Christian faith.  Join us for the first of seven nights at 7.30pm on Tuesday 10 May in the Gascoigne Room.  To enrol text or call Ruth 0276700365 or Kim 0222426288.  Everyone is welcome. 

Calling all Young Adults
A Life Changing Seminar at St Thomas More Church, 1 Worcester St Wilton. 4 May – 8 June, 6 consecutive Wednesday nights from 7.30 pm – 9 pm.Enquiries and registration [email protected]  Ph. 9386655
Quiet Days with Suzanne Aubert:
10.30am-2.30pm, 5 May
Join the Sisters of Compassion for a day of prayer and reflection on the life of Suzanne Aubert at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, Island Bay.
Suggested offering including lunch: $30.  To register contact [email protected] or phone 383-7769 Quiet Days for 2016 are: 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October

Mary Potter Hospice –   Volunteer Street Collectors needed for 20th & 21st May
See notice at back of the church or sign up at [email protected]  

"The Sisters of St. Peter claver are holding an "ETHNIC DINNER with ENTERTAINMENT on SATURDAY 14 MAY 2016 at 6.30pm at the Polish House (Dom Poliski) 257 Riddiford street, Newtown (Corner of Riddiford and Rhodes Streets). Tickets are available from the Sisters or at the entrance to the hall.
Please bring your favourite Dish.
Important: Arrive a little before time as dinner is served 6.30pm sharp.
Admission: $10: 5 to 10yrs; $5: under 5yrs; Free. Enquiries 383 8401

After 10 years of consideration the Sisters of the Carmelite Monastery in Christchurch agreed to allow SUNDAY current affairs Producer and Cameraman Chris Cooke access to tell the story of their contemplative and cloistered lives.
The story screens in two weeks on the SUNDAY current affairs programme -  SUNDAY May 1st -  7pm - TVONE.
A unique rhythm of life is revealed behind the monastery walls, with the sisters speaking openly and frankly about how they came to be there and the joys and challenges of their consecrated lives.
A unique and very special story not to be missed.

Young Adults – Life in the Spirit Seminar
A Life in the spirit Seminar will be held in St Thomas More Church, 1 Worcester St Wilton from 4 May till 8 June, 6 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7.30 pm till 9 pm.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral Prayer Group in collaboration with the ICPE team from St Gerard`s Monastery will host this seminar.  See notice board for more details.
Enquiries and registration contact Merrin Webster at [email protected] or Ph. 9386655.

An Abrahamic Celebration of the Year of Mercy will be held over two days in May:
Wednesday 18 May – an Abrahamic Panel (Jewish, Christian and Muslim speakers) on Mercy in our Sacred Scriptures, 6.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mt Victoria;
and a multi-faith service day, putting the Works of Mercy into Practice, on Saturday 21 May from 9.30am, with lunch generously provided by the Wellington Islamic Centre.
For further information, please see the poster on the church noticeboard, or contact  Sister Catherine Jones  [email protected]  or Sharron Cole   [email protected]

What are we doing on earth for Christ’s sake?
Come along and hear Australian Jesuit, Richard Leonard, share through stories what it means to be Catholic in our time. Richard is an excellent communicator. His talk will pay particular attention to the challenges facing young Catholics today. This lecture is promoted by the Catholic Institute and Good Shepherd College.
Sunday 15 May at 4pm. Loaves and Fishes hall, cnr Molesworth and Hill sts, Thorndon.
Soup and rolls served. Entry $10.
Contact Catherine Gibbs for more information   [email protected]

Are you (or someone you know) a migrant working in New Zealand?
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand wants to talk with migrant workers who have faced unfair treatment at work in the past or currently AND people who have supported migrant workers facing issues around unfair treatment at work. We are doing a small qualitative research project aimed at helping us to know how community groups can better support migrant workers and how we can advocate for the protection of migrant workers in New Zealand. The interview will be completely confidential and should take about one hour. Participants will be given a $30 supermarket voucher as a thank you. We can arrange a place that suits you for the interview.  Please txt Cathy at 022 659 8942, free call 0800 22 10 22, or email at [email protected] if you are interested or if you have any questions by the 20th of June 2016.

Caritas thanks the many parishes and people around the country who have supported the Bishops' Lent Appeal this year. Your ongoing support enables us to continue helping communities to flourish by working to reduce poverty, striving for environmental justice, supporting indigenous peoples and responding to crises around the world.
 
To find out more about the difference your support makes to the lives of the most vulnerable, go online and read our Annual Report 2015 - www.caritas.org.nz. If you would like a hard copy of the report, please contact us during office hours on 0800 22 10 22 or email to [email protected]