21 april 2019

Act 10, 37-43; Col 3, 1-4; Jn 20, 1-9
Alleluia!!! The Lord is Risen!!!
Assigning Peter’s speech to our Easter Sunday readings requires a lot of “fast forward”. There is no way Peter could have spoken like that on Easter Sunday. Like the other apostles, Peter was both scared and discouraged after the Good Friday experience and it took not only repeated manifestations of the risen Lord, but most especially the Pentecost experience, for Peter to have the courage to speak like that.
It is quite remarkable that Peter’s catechetical summary almost belabours one point: we are witnesses that he is risen. This is in fact the core of the early apostolic preaching, before distortions necessitated pastoral and theological clarifications. Their witnessing needed to be enabled by a twofold support: love and faith. Their love was there, which is why they were grieving, but their faith had been shaken by the Good Friday events. They hid in the upper room and some started to walk away, as the two Emmaus disciples did.
The same is clear in the gospel - Love is alive enough for both disciples to run to the tomb, but their faith had been crushed and finding that the tomb was indeed empty meant nothing to Peter. The beloved disciple’s faith had also been shaken, but his love led him to ponder and remember the words of Jesus. It was this love that awaken his faith. We need both love and faith. We know that faith is gift, but loving God and loving others can awaken in us the gift of faith.
Dear sisters and brothers, in his love God has redeemed and made us victorious from our sin. Today is the day to rejoice, shout and cry loud the song of Alleluia:
Alleluia, Jesus is Risen: Happy Easter                                         Fr Ephrem
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.

A big thank you
to all those involved in Easter preparations and services.
We appreaciate all your hard work.
We wish all Parishioners a happy Easter.       Frs Ephrem and Paul

If you would like Father to bless your home or your family
please send through your contact details to [email protected]

ANZAC DAY SERVICE 25th April    ST PATRICK’S CHURCH 11AM
On the day, bring a photo of loved ones to place under the altar during Mass.

HOLY CROSS CHURCH
Please only park in the designated parks.
The accessway to the presbytery at the back needs to remain clear at all times.
This applies to both weekend and weekday Masses.  

Thank you to those who turned up to help clean St Patrick’s Church in preperation for Easter.
You did a wonderful job and we are grateful for all your help.

Do you have any memories/photographs/information from the early days of our 3 churches?
Trisha would love to hear from you.
She is compiling a history of the churches in the Eastern Suburbs in relation to the upcoming centenary for St Patrick’s Church
Please contact her 04 934 3179 to share any information you have.
Thank you in advance

Safeguarding in our Parish – Thursday May 9th St Patrick’s Parish Centre 7pm
The Archdiocese will be running a workshop on the 9th May regarding the polcies, standards and code of conduct regarding safe pracrices within the Church.
Everyone is invited to attend but this is compulsory for certain groups including Parish Council, employees, sacramental programme, children’s liturgy, SVdP, Legion of Mary, and anyone who is engaged with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
Cup of tea at 6.45pm for a 7pm start.
RSVP 388 6953 or [email protected] by 3rd May

Cleaning HOLY CROSS Church:  SOS from our elderly cleaning crew!!!! We desperately need more young people to clean our Church.This involves vacuuming the main part of the church approximately once a month. The more people we have the less often you will be needed. If you would like to help us please contact Ann Nota on 380 9332. Your time and help will be most appreciated. Thank you.

Vinnies Book & Fabric Fair Saturday 27 April: 8am – 4pm and Sunday 28 April: 9am – 3pm at St Anne’s Church Hall, 22 Emmett Street, Newtown The Vinnies Book & Fabric Fair is back once again. All books are $2 or less alongside fabrics and recycled haberdasheries from our very own Vinnies Re Sew. The proceeds from the Vinnies Book and Fabric Fair go towards our Vinnies Welfare Programs. From providing food parcels and advocacy support to helping people move into their new homes, combating loneliness and upskilling members of our communities. Interested in joining the Book Fair volunteer team? Contact [email protected] or call 04 389 7122.

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 23 April 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.

Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations You are invited to join in the celebration of the Divine Mercy Sunday which is to be held on Sunday 28th of April at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, 301 Karori Road, Karori. The program will take place from 2.00 – 4.15 pm and will include Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Blessing of religious objects, and the Veneration of the Divine Mercy Image. Refreshments and nibbles will be served after the service.


How religion (our faith) and science work together. Free Workshop by Br. Guy Consolmagno SJ. Director of the Vatican Observatory. Wed 8th May. St Anne’s Hall, 22 Emmett St, Newtown. 1-4pm. RSVP by May3rd
Mary-Ann Greaney [email protected] or 04 496 1784 (Please leave a message.)
 

Say No to the Euthanasia Bill – Care Alliance Petition The Care Alliance has started a nation-wide petition to all MP’s urging them to vote ‘NO” to the End of Life Choice Euthanasia Bill.
Some of you have already taken the opportunity to sign this petition. If you have not yet done so, and you will be eligible to vote in next years election, you can still sign online: This petition has the full backing of the NZ Bishops.
Go to www.carealliance.org.nz and simply click on the “Sign the Petition” button. Your support for this

Wanted to rent. Young mother with 3 children looking for 3 bedroom house in the Eastern Suburbs up to $600 per week. Every care taken. Refs available. Contact Bev 388 5821

Ignatian Retreat Opportunity: Inner Peace in Friendship with Jesus. Christian Life Community Wellington invites you to attend an Ignatian First Spiritual Exercise retreat in daily life based on a programme developed by Australian, Michael Hanson SJ   Participants meet weekly, under the guidance of trained guides, to pray and share in small groups their experience of prayer. The retreat is open to all and will be held at the church of St Anne's Church, Emmett St, Newtown, Wellington, over five Thursday evenings - 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May 2019  7:30 - 9:30 pm The cost (including materials) is $50, but sponsorship is available if the cost would prevent you for attending. To register or for further information contact Sarah Dench   04 9733 501  or  021 0814 4424  or [email protected]

New Zealand Catholic Medical Association DATE SAVER: Inaugural Meeting Saturday: 25 May 2019 10am -3pm at St Michael’s School Hall, 6 Beatrice Road, Remuera, Auckland -    Cost $25 per person. Will include Blessing and Holy Mass from Bishop Patrick Dunn and provide an opportunity for doctors and others involved in healthcare to find pastoral care, support, encouragement and faith development. We wish to extend an invitation to doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapist, counsellors, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, dentists, health administrators, lawyers and anyone who works in allied roles. Registration is required for catering purposes by 20 May 2019.Event details: newzealandcatholicmedical.co.nz/event Contact email:   [email protected]

 Go you are sent to care for creation (8) Have bit sized chunks and reflections on care for creation after communion and in newsletters

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Henry Martin, , Mary Dykes, Ola Lis and Margaret Peters. Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially 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.