1st october 2017

Today’s liturgy talks about the freedom we have to say Yes or NO to God. But it also talks about the possibility of change. Through our sinfulness our initial Yes could become a NO. Through God’s grace an initial NO could become a Yes. For example we can examine the lives of Sts Francis of Assisi and Augustine of Hippo. Both of them had said no to God in their initial stage of life. They lived a life very unpleasant to God and men. Nonetheless, later on they were converted and changed their way of life and became very exemplary people and great Saints in the Church.  The teaching of Jesus indicates towards the Jewish leaders who said they would obey God and then did not. The tax gatherers and the harlots are those who said that they would go their own way and then they went God’s way. They ideal sons and daughters would be the ones who accept the father’s orders with obedience and respect and who unquestioningly and fully carry them out. But there are truths in this parable which go far beyond the situation in which it was spoken. It tells us that there are two very common classes of people in the world, the saints and the sinners. We have all of us met these people.  We could be one of them too. Sometimes we are seen as saying ‘Yes’ to God and Other times ‘No’. Here we learn that the Christian way is in performance and not promise and that the mark of a Christian is obedience graciously and courteously given.  In this week let examine ourselves in which class do we belong to?                                        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.

Mother Aubert’s Anniversary of Death – Sunday 1st October
When Suzanne Aubert died in 1926, her funeral was the largest ever witnessed for a New Zealand woman. Humble yet determined she had made an extraordinary impact on society, and thousands – from the upper echelons to the very poor - lined the streets of Wellington to pay their respects as her body was drawn through the city. For 66 years of her life she had brought hope and courage in our land of Aotearoa New Zealand to all especially to the needy. Today Mother Aubert continues to inspire us by her writings and example. Many of the social challenges and injustices Suzanne faced are still with us now. This anniversary prompts us therefore to ponder deeply our response to the social, health and educational needs of Māori, Pākehā and indeed all those who today call New Zealand home.  Suzanne Aubert founded the Sisters of Compassion in 1883 and still today the Sisters continue her pattern of service founded on faith, love and compassion. Please pray today for the Sisters and may our nation be blessed   through   further   vocations   to   the   Sisters   of   Our   Lady   of Compassion.

Feast of St Francis of Assisi
Our Capuchin Fathers and the Lay Franciscans are celebrating the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, their founder, on the 4th of October 2017.
There will be the Transitus of St Francis (passing away) on the 3rd of October 7pm at
St Patrick’s Church Kilbirnie followed by a light supper in the church meeting room.
The Solemn Holy Mass will be on Wednesday 4th October 2017 9.30am at
Holy Cross Church Miramar followed by the blessing of the animals (please bring your pets) and a cup of tea/coffee in the church centre (back of the hall).
We welcome you all to come and celebrate with us the Feast day of our Founder.
Please note: this will be the only Mass in the Parish on this day

Holy Cross Happy Hour – Weds 4TH October following the Capuchin cup of tea from approx 11.30am onwards in the Parish Centre. Seniors are reminded of our next happy hour. A friendly game of bingo and a shared lunch. Bring a plate. All welcome.

Annointing Mass at St Patrick’s Church has been changed to Wednesday 11th October at 11am due to the Feast of St Francis.

MEMORIAL MASS FOR FR DES MOOSMAN
 ST PATRICK’S CHURCH SAT 28st OCTOBER 10.30AM
A memorial Mass for Fr Moosman, former parish priest at St Patrick’s in the 1990s and who is well known to many parishioners, will be held at St Patrick’s Church Saturday 28st October at 10.30am. Please join us

Do you want to hear something really magic?  Sometimes we may wonder how great it would be if the scriptures came to life today and a miracle really happens. That would make us sit up!
Well it did. On Thursday 21 there was some concern that with the absence of our president Brendan it would all fall to bits and we would not have enough supper and so on.
You remember the loaves and fishes? Well it did happen.
At the gathering and after I saw the face of Jesus; even though he did look like an old man,
Then the table for supper! Talk about an overload. I was able to take a plate of the leftovers to health benificiaries for morning tea the next day and at lunchtime on Friday there were many boys at St Pats who could be seen sharing some of the left-over. That’s what I call real communion. Thanks to everyone: the clergy, the choir, the reader who stood in at short notice, the servers , the mystery cooks who seemed to make the miracle happen and all those attended from all over the Wellington area.

St Patrick’s Church - A refresher course is offered to our Readers and Ministers of the Eucharist. Thank you to all who came to the refresher course last weekend.

St Patrick’s Church flower roster – If you are unavailable for your rostered week, please organise with one of the others on the roster to do a swap. There is an updated roster on the noticeboard at the back of the Church. There are gaps for the 8th Oct, 19th Nov and 7th Jan so if anyone is available to cover these days, just put your name in.
St Patrick’s Church rosary statue roster – A reminder that those who are on the roster to have the statue for the coming month are responsible for contacting the person who currently has it and arranging the transfer.
 
UPDATED MASS ROSTER FOR BIBLE SUNDAY – 29TH OCTOBER
updated roster for Bible Sunday included at the back of this newsletter.
Please check to see if you are rostered on.

A reminder to contact the office if any of your details change so we can update your records. Thank you to those who have passed on your new email addresses.

Refugees - Help required one last time, please.
Our two-year commitment to the settlement of former refugees in Wellington is nearing its end - there is just one last collection of goods required (October), and one house to physically set-up in December.  So, we are asking for you, our Parish, to please once again show your generosity and stamina as we pull together to fit-out the first home in NZ for a Mother, Father and their 9 year old daughter, in early October.  What we need, please:
(1) Cash donations are wonderful to allow us to purchase larger items such as a microwave and rice cooker and also cover any other items we don't collect; financial donations, including cheques to "Holy Trinity refugee collection", can be placed in a clearly marked envelop in any collection up to 1 October.
(2) We also need specific items to ensure the home is functional and pleasant from day one.  In particular we need: KITCHEN: pots and stock pot, cutlery and crockery, glasses, cups, rubbish bin, electric jug, rice cooker, serving spoons, electric blender/beater. BATHROOM/LAUNDRY: ironing Board, iron, washing basket and pegs; vacuum cleaner; broom, dust pan and brush and three new hot water bottles with covers.  TOYS, BOOKS, PUZZLES suitable to a 9 year old girl (but no soft toys, please). NO LINEN OR BEDDING is required a we collected surplus items last time.  Please leave any clearly labelled "refugee" donations in the Church foyer no later than Sunday 8 October, mid-day.

St.Catherines College Service group would like to thank parishioners for their prayers and support of this initiative.  The girls request some more service opportunities for the 2 weeks beginning Term 4, specifically for the following days and times: Tues 17 and 24 Oct (1 - 2.30pm) and Wed 18 and 25 Oct (9 - 10.15am).  As these are school days, the tasks need to be within the Kilbirnie/ Lyall Bay/ Miramar areas.  If you would like help with any tasks (eg, gardening, window-cleaning, vacuuming, etc ), please contact Bridget Sullivan (Ph.388-9001) and she would be delighted to organise this.  There will be a large number of girls available, so the more requests the better - please don't hesitate... perhaps your friend or neighbour could do with some help also.  Many thanks and God bless.  

Gascoigne Educational Scholarship 2017.  This scholarship is open to all ages groups who are present members of Holy Trinity Parish and are planning to study for 2018 and beyond at a tertiary level and who meet the qualifying criteria which are included in the terms and conditions. For an application form (including terms and conditions) email the parish office [email protected] download a copy from the website  http://www.holytrinity.parish.nz/  or copies available from the back of each Church.  Closing date: 31 October 2017

KIWI ATHLETIC CLUB, Opening and Enrolment for 91st Season ,4th October 5pm, Newtown Stadium. For college age to adults. Ideal for newcomers, winter coders, and returnees. Contact Peter Jack, 3886224.

If God exists, it changes everything!  Alpha talks are designed to engage guests and inspire conversation. They explore the big issues around faith and the basics of Christian faith, addressing questions like “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “How does God guide us".  The sessions are available again starting at 7.00pm at St Patrick's Church on Tuesday 17 October.  To enrol please call or text John Rogers 0272328488 or Kim von Lanthen 0222426288.  Feel free to bring a friend who may not be a member of the school or parish.

DOVE NOTICE for all women. Please come and celebrate with us our 25th anniversary of Dove Women's Fellowship Wellington at our meeting to be held on Saturday 21st October at 1.15pm. Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace. We begin our new Current of Grace season with guest speaker Sandra Kinney. For further information contact Shura Price 04 3899938

Advent and Christmas Liturgy Workshop – An interactive workshop with Fr Patrick Bridgman, looking at liturgies for the seasons of Advent and Christmas, including symbols and resources.  Registrations to[email protected] before 2nd October.  Workshop, repeated on Thursday 5th October 7-9pm, Lecture Room 1, Catholic Centre, 22 Hill Street, Wellington.  Saturday 7th October 10-12noon, St Theresa’s Parish Hall, 210 St Andrews Road, Plimmerton.

David Haas Workshops – David, a musician and composer of contemporary liturgical music, will present three workshops on 13th and 14th October in Wellington.  Please see flyer on the church noticeboard for more information.  Enquiries and registrations by 11 October to [email protected]
 

Sat 7 Oct Pilgrimage within Wellington: Srs Jo Gorman and Sue Cosgrove will lead a pilgrimage around Wellington to the places special to Suzanne Aubert. This will begin at Island Bay and will include following in the footsteps of the remarkable Suzanne Aubert. 9am-4pm, starting from Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay, Wellington. More information: [email protected]

Sat 14 Oct Invitation: You are invited to gather for the Karakia Whakatūwheratanga the Rededication of Our Lady’s Home of Compassion and the Blessing of the Final Resting Place of Ko te Kaurangi nei a Meri Hōhepa the Miha to celebrate the 125th founding of the Sisters of Compassion by the Venerable Suzanne Aubert.  6am-3pm, 6am-6.15am gather for the Karakia Whakatūwheratanga (Dawn ceremony) to commence at 6.30am, 11am Miha (Mass), breakfast and lunch provided, rsvp by 30 Sept: [email protected] or 383 7769.

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 0800 362 686
 

The Sisters of St. Peter Claver are holding a " MULTICULTURAL MISSION CONCERT " on Sun 15 October at 2pm to 4pm at St. Patrick's Parish Hall, Kilbirnie: $5.00 Enquiries: Sisters of St. Peter Claver, 383 8401.

YOU ARE INVITED TO A Silent Retreat with Bishop Basil Meeking Friday 20 - 22 October 2017 VENUE:  
Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Wellington The Society's annual retreat is held over three days.  People are welcome to  attend on a daily basis or to live in accommodation with all meals available at the Home of ompassion.  The Latin Mass will be offered on each day of the retreat, with Prayer of the Office, Adoration, and confession opportunities on Saturday together with inspiring talks from Bishop Meeking on each day of the
retreat. For further information please contact: Neil Coup: 04 589 6924              Mobile: 021 896924
Jan Curran:  07 838 2646            Mobile: 027 6128297 Email:  [email protected]

Wellington City Council’s Seniors’ Week 16 – 22 October You are invited to a Seniors’ Week Morning tea Bring your knitting or crocheting if you like! Venue :Seatoun Village Hall, 22 Forres Street, Seatoun
Date:  19 October 2017 Time:  10.00 – 12.00 pm  RSVP to Ana on 021 955 331 or [email protected]
 

2018 Columban Calendars available through the office $12 each.
 Calendars will be available for sale from next weekend. 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. 
 

The Compassion Soup Kitchen needs your support. October 13th - 14 Hours Homeless -everybody Deserves a Home. Sleep out to raise awareness and funds to create positive change for Wellingtonians experiencing homelessness. Go online to find out more and to register. Join Sister Lusiana, staff and volunteers at the Compassion Soup Kitchen participating in this event. Be with us and stand in solidarity with people who find themselves homeless.  http://www.14hourshomeless.org.nz/event/Wellington

October WelCom is out this week for Sunday 1 October.
 
Contents include:

•           Synod ’17 weekend, Wellington, 15-17 September ‒ Cardinal John Dew.
•           Rome shifts responsibility of liturgical translations back to national Conferences of Bishops ‒ Bishop Charles Drennan.
•           Suzanne Aubert celebration day 1 October and Sisters of Compassion celebrate 125 years.
•           Day Prayer to Respect Life, Sunday 8 October – Fr Neil Vaney.
•           World Mission Sunday, 22 October – Fr Bernard Espiritu.
•           WelCom’s Journey of Faith visits Upper Hutt Parish
•           Stories from dioceses, parishes, youth and schools.

 
​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Michael (Mike) Kerr and those whose anniversaries occur at this time including Angela Panettieri, Kevin Morris, Kathryn Dobbs, Walenty Sypula, Kenneth Bridie & Ken Lydon and Gilbert Raymond.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Graeme Adams and Steve Kuzmicich and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.