2 august 2020

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.
     
 Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

Boundless generosity of God: God gives freely and God gives in extravagant measure. 
Dear sisters and brothers, Isa 55:1-3. Speaks to the Israelites, who have known such a miserable existence during the time of Exile; the prophet holds out a vision of the messianic age. While the corn, wine and milk that is freely offered may refer in first instance to these foods in a material sense, the invitation to ‘come to the water’ echoes language associated in other parts of scripture with divine Wisdom (Proverbs 3; 8; Sirach 4; John 7:37-39).
This suggests that what is really on offer is a divine enhancement of life for which, in the depths of their being, most people thirst. All forms of spirituality, all techniques of prayer, seek to tap this source of life, which is the gift of God alone and which, like a perpetual spring of water, is freely given.
The episode of the Multiplication of the Loaves that forms the Gospel, Matt 14:13-21, looks backwards to biblical traditions about God’s generous provision of food, such as the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16; Numbers 11) and the multiplication miracle of the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:42-44); it looks forward to the gift of the Eucharist and, ultimately, to the final banquet in the Kingdom of God, of which the Eucharist is both foretaste and symbol.
In Matthew’s account what they particularly seek from Jesus is healing (in Mark 6:34 he ‘teaches’). When, despite his desire to withdraw, he accedes to their needs, they show no inclination to disperse. So, the disciples, functioning rather like ‘minders’ attached to a celebrity, urge him to send the crowds off to nearby villages to buy provisions for the night.
Jesus reacts to the word ‘buy.’ He will not send people away to buy anything – nor should his disciples (see the First Reading): ‘There is no need for them to go; give them something to eat yourselves. When the astonished disciples point out that they barely have enough for themselves, Jesus freely provides more than enough food for the whole multitude through the miracle of the multiplication.
Dear sisters and brothers, this is one of the more difficult miracles of Jesus to explain in terms of what might have ‘really happened’. Preachers are probably wise to keep away from such speculations – ultimately fruitless since we simply haven’t got sufficient information to ever know for sure. The fact that the tradition appears no less than six times across all four Gospels points to its theological significance in the early Christian tradition. It is on this that we should chiefly focus.
Central to the theological significance is the way in which the episode anticipates the institution of the Eucharist. Jesus’ gestures – ‘taking (the loaves)’, ‘blessing’, ‘breaking’, ‘giving’ – foreshadow those at the Last Supper (Matt 26:26). The Evangelist expects that readers will understand that when they participate in the Eucharist they are experiencing the same divine hospitality that the Galilean crowds in this ‘lonely place’ experienced from Jesus.
The miraculous feeding and the Eucharist which it foreshadows make clear that what God wants to do for humanity is simply be a most generous Host at the banquet of eternal life.
At the same time, since it depicts people being fed with real food, it is also ‘sacramental’ in the sense of bearing directly upon the problem of hunger still affecting so large a proportion of our world. The Lord who looked on the large crowd and took pity on them, looks with similar eyes upon our world and instructs us, as he instructed his disciples, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves’. God gives freely and God gives in extravagant measure.
In the words of Pedro Arrupe, ‘The Eucharist will never be complete so long as people still go hungry in our world’.                                          Fr Ephrem
 

Let us pray for all those who are unwell especially Hazel Kingston, Nesi Tan, Warren Stevenson, Eddie Wilkins, John Cairns-Cowan and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.
We also pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Anthony Khang Nguyen and those whose anniversaries occur around this time; Trish Reynolds, June Formosa, Leo Price, and Brian Pohem.
 
Holy Trinity Confirmation – Saturday 8th August 5.30pm St Anthony’s Church
Please pray for our children as they prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation
 
The following measures will remain till further notice:

• No handshake during sign of the peace – instead speak, bow, nod or smile
• All holy water has been removed from the church
• Please use hand sanisiter before entering the church
• Collection boxes to remain
• No morning tea after Mass
• If you are sick, stay home and contact your doctor or healthline

We appreciate your co-operation
 
Annointing Mass St Patrick’s Church
11am Wednesday 5th August

Parish Council Meeting – 5th August 7pm in the Gascoigne Room St Anthony’s Church
 
FEAST of ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mass time 
15TH AUGUST
This is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
10am    St Patrick’s Church
 

Altar server training
Any child/ren who are keen to train to be altar servers can contact Andrew Greening 380 6052 or 027 438 5393 and arrange a session. A parent or other adult must be willing to be present while the training is taking place.
 
Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.”
 
Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand invites you to remember the tragedy that is war, on this the 75th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6th) and Nagasaki (August 9th) in Japan 1945.  We ask you to pray for the prohibition of all nuclear weapons and to pray for peace in the world.
 

Home of Compassion Island Bay Winter film screening Gardening with Soul – 5 & 8 August 11am
Join us for the feature length documentary following a year in the garden with 90-year-old Sister Loyola Galvin. The film will be introduced by Sr Sue Cosgrove. The Cloister Café will be open for refreshments. Bookings are required – phone (04) 282 1953 or email heritagecentre@compassion.org.nz
 
Art, Contemplation, Action Retreat - 7-9 August 2020
Retreat Leader Raymond Pelly is an Anglican Priest with long experience in spiritual direction and prayer. “The ability of art to bring people to an experience of God is as powerful today as
at any time in our history.” In silence and through music, art and story, Raymond will invite us to explore our responses to God in the realities of life. Registration required, please contact spirituality@compassion.org.nz  or phone (04) 383 7769 for more information.
 

Human Love in the Divine Plan (Theology of the Body) - First intake in Wellington! Courses for Young Adults (ages 18-35 years) on September 5 & 6, and for Adults on September 19 & 20.  Venue: Challenge 2000, 1 Wanaka St, Johnsonville, Wellington. Early Registration: $40.00 (closes: 29 August). General Registration: $50.00. Contact 0220289737 or email info@marriageandfamily.org.nz. For information, visit: www.marriageandfamily.org.nz
 

Healing Service Fr John Rea will conduct a Healing Service on Tuesday 18 August in Our Lady of Fatima Church Tawa beginning at 7.30pm.  Please invite and bring those who need Jesus` healing.  All are welcome.  Enquiries:  Ph. 04  8198323
 

The pandemic has reminded us how we are all in the same boat. Realizing that we have the same concerns and fears has shown us once more that no one can be saved alone. To grow truly, we must grow together, sharing what we have, like the boy who offered Jesus five barley loaves and two fish, yet they proved enough for five thousand people.                             Pope Francis: Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2020
 
Below is a link to a vocations feature from the latest issue of NZ Catholic. This issue is on sale now at the back of Holy Cross and St Anthony’s Churches
https://indd.adobe.com/view/2bf843c1-7d59-4634-add9-a14781b7a3ef
 
Coast to Coast Rosary  On the 15 August the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven, our patronal feast, there is to be a Coast to Coast Rosary throughout New Zealand.  The main intention is to pray for the honouring of the gift of life.  So many lives are lost in abortion and euthanasia. 
We will pray in reparation and intercession for a culture of life to prevail in our society.  We will host an event on Saturday, the 15th August in the Blessed Sacrament chapel in the Cathedral at 3 pm followed by afternoon tea.  Everyone is invited.
Apply now – The Suzanne Aubert Tertiary Scholarship is open Tertiary students in the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North who are entering into their third year or more of study are invited to apply for a Suzanne Aubert Tertiary Scholarship. Each student selected receives $3,000 towards their third year of tertiary study. For more details contact Kevin Crighton at sisteam@compassion.org.nz  https://compassion.org.nz/latest-news/suzanne-aubert-tertiary-scholarship/  for application. Closes on 16 October 2020.
 

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, HOLY TRINITY PARISH
Introduction Your St Vincent de Paul Society Conference in Holy Trinity Parish continues actively to gain strength from our fellow parishioners as missionary disciples and to reach out to the poor, sick, lonely and marginalised in the Kilbirnie, Miramar, Seatoun, and Strathmore communities.  In spite of the disruptions of COVID-19, new members have responded to the call to put their faith into action. They are joining in the Vinnies mission, adding to our group of eight core members and loyal band of 25 associate members and helpers now also serving the Kilbirnie area.
Drawing strength from one another as missionary disciples
We are so grateful to all the parishioners and other local donors who provided compassionate support in many ways for those in need regardless of their faith, race and situation –

• Many parishioners prayed regularly for the mission and members of SVDP and for people suffering in need in our local communities.
• Parishioners joined Cardinal John Dew and Society members in September 2019 at St Joseph’s Church, Mt Vic, to celebrate our annual memorial Mass for St Vincent de Paul, prayed for our mission in Wellington, and provided important spiritual growth to our efforts locally.
• Appeals by our Conference were immediately met by kind parishioners for much-needed food, blankets, clothing, time and effort, house effects and repairs, gardening, materials and cash donations, including through internet banking and the collection boxes in the Church foyers. 
• Our members made around 1120 visits or calls across the eastern suburbs, providing personal and material support to those in hardship, loneliness, sickness, in rest homes, to refugee families located throughout the eastern suburbs, and ex-parishioners in other parishes.
• Throughout the COVID lockdown in cooperation with Fr Ephrem and Marianne members and volunteers rang around 180 phones of parishioners, kept in regular touch with many, provided food and means of support to some, and reassured others feeling the stress of the difficult time.
• Caring donors of $6,000 to our Conference enabled the continued purchase of school uniform items, shoes, winter jackets, lunches, bus tickets, special tuition and activities directly for 135 students in most need at Holy Cross, St Anthony’s and St Patrick’s Primary Schools, St Catherine’s and St Patrick’s Colleges, and other local schools.  Since 2012, a total of 495 local students have benefited from $32,810 parishioner donations.
• 21 collectors from our parish assisted our regular SVDP Foodbank appeal in Nov 2019 at always supportive Pak’n Save Supermarket Kilbirnie, our Book Fair in Nov 2019, and our major annual Christmas food box delivery.
• Timely and generous donations of food, household items and treats by parishioners, Holy Cross and St Anthony’s Schools, and always supportive New World Supermarket Miramar, enabled delivery by 27 helpers of Christmas food boxes to 85 households with 230 people in hardship and/or loneliness.
• Personal visits continued to the needs of our precious elder parishioners, in rest homes and social housing units, for transport, gardening, and weekly support to Thursday Friends, Masses and funeral attendance.
• Several parishioners and a loyal benefactor outside the Church made anonymous donations to our Conference towards our total expenditure of $8,814 this year as their practical way to directly reach households and students in need in the eastern suburbs - “faith into action”.
• We continued the sale in the Holy Trinity Parish and our schools of 300 packs of religious-theme Christmas cards, assisted by the Legion of Mary, with the aim of “keeping Christ in Christmas”.

We maintained regular communications and gave thanks to our parish and communities through our prayers, personal contact, Parish newsletter, notices in the foyers, and end-of-Mass presentations.  Please help us to help others - we can help people in need if we hear discreetly who needs help or a friendly visit to show we care.
Brendan Quirk
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Trinity Parish, Eastern Suburbs, Wellington
“Reach out to all those in need, that they may feel the love of Our Lord and the compassion of their neighbour”.
 
Donations:   To support our assistance to families suffering hardship in the Eastern Suburbs, please pay online to:
St Vincent de Paul Society, Seatoun & Miramar Conference, BNZ Kilbirnie, Account No. 02 - 0576 - 0017817 – 06;
or contact Maria Pene, our local SVDP Treasurer, ph 022 428 0427, email: mpene20@gmail.co.nz