21 july 2019

Gen. 18:1-10; Col. 1:24-28; Lk. 10:38-42
Today’s readings are about hospitality and the necessity of listening to God before acting. Jesus welcomed and tended to the needs of all, reflecting in his actions the very hospitality of God. All four Gospels recount Jesus’ hosting and feeding the multitudes of people who came to hear his teachings. Today’s first reading describes how Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality to strangers was rewarded by God. The Gospel passage describes how Martha, a true child of Abraham, wanted to extend the traditional generous hospitality of her people to Jesus, the true Messiah, by preparing an elaborate meal for him, while her sister Mary spent her time in talking to him and listening to him. Presenting Martha as a dynamo of action and Mary as a true listener to the word of God, today’s Gospel invites us to serve others with Martha’s diligence after recharging our spiritual batteries every day by prayer - listening to God and talking to God – as Mary did. We are able to minister truly to the needs of others only after hosting God’s words in our hearts and minds.
Some people frequently question: is the time spent with God in prayer a time lost because it could have been used in service to others?  Do we really need to spend time in prayer or is commitment to the service of others is enough? In this confusion, a good number believe that there is really no need to set aside a time for prayer because one’s commitment to serve others is enough. As prayerful and missionary disciples of Holy Trinity Parish these questions are very apt to ask ourselves.  Good many times we too are confused whether to follow the example of listening Mary or active Martha.  What is important is to strike a balance.  At the same time let us keep in mind the word of God is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Ps. 119:105)                                                    Fr Paul
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.

Do you see a colourful ribbon in your church?
Over the last few months, and again last week, there has been publicity about survivors of sexual abuse placing colourful ribbons around and near churches. 
Our catholic bishops have discussed this - they would like to reiterate their support for abuse survivors to be able to place ribbons at church gates or fences as part of a valid and important way to work through their healing process. Removing the ribbons can be viewed as deeply disrespectful to survivors/victims and can be retraumatising. 
Our bishops ask parishes to be respectful of this process and suggest it is an important opportunity for us all to accompany survivors/victims through this journey. 
If anyone in our parish of the communities have any doubts about something they find around the church, we advise them first to talk to their priest.

St Anthony’s Church. To facilitate the use of the Church by St Anthony’s Primary School during the second term while their junior classrooms are being refurbished, there will be no blessed sacrament in the Church. This is done with the approval of Archbishop John Dew and in consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council.
                                                             Thank you for your co-operation and support.

Safeguarding training. For those who weren’t able to make the training session in May on Safeguarding there are three more sessions at 5.30pm at the Catholic Centre (Level 1, room 2)
 Please note updated dates.
•           Tuesday 23 July       10.30am – 12pm
•           Thursday 25 July       5.30pm – 7pm
•           Tuesday 6th August   5.30pm – 7pm          
 Please make sure you attend one of these if you are involved in the following ministries and have not attended
- Children’s Liturgy
- Trainer Altar Servers Roles
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion to the Sick
- Sacramental Programme Leaders
If you are not able to travel into town, you are welcome to join the meeting by ZOOM Conference from your computer at the above time and date. To do this they need to send Brendy your email address and parish you belong to and you will be sent the login details. Contact Brendy Weir Safeguarding Adviser, Archdiocese of Wellington (04) 496 1768 or 021 1958 307 b.weir@wn.catholic.org.nz
 People in Need?
 
St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference welcomes parishioners   to   let   us   know   confidentially   if   you   or   someone   needs   assistance   in   the Miramar/Seatoun/Strathmore area.   Our group visits people who are in hardship, sickness, loneliness or housebound, in order to share God’s love and compassion and see if we can assist in any way, even as simple as having a coffee and chat (Contacts: any of our members listed in the Church foyers).
 
If you wish to donate to assist your local Conference purchase food, clothing, house items etc for families in most need in the eastern suburbs, please consider making a direct online donation to our account which is:-BNZ Kilbirnie, St Vincent de Paul Seatoun & Miramar Conference, A/c No. 02 0576 0017 817 006, reference "Donation". If you want a receipt of the donation for tax purposes, do please contact our Treasurer, Trish Herzog, ph 04 388 3842. 

Holy Trinity Parish Catholic Book Club – Sunday 28th June:  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]

St Catherine’s College Gala Auction Come and join us for a wonderful night of fun, friendship and fundraising. 7 pm Thursday 1st August The Pines, 50 The Esplanade, Houghton Bay $30 per ticket (includes a complimentary drink) Items for auction include art, food and drink, accommodation, experiences. For tickets, email: [email protected]

Join the St Vincent de Paul Society Wellington team.
Job vacancy: Altar Bread Manufacturing Supervisor / Full-time
We are looking for a full-time Manufacturing Supervisor to join our team based at the Vinnies Welfare & Services office in Newtown, Wellington.
You will be leading a team of people with intellectual disability to cook, cut, sort, package and distribute altar bread to our customers throughout New Zealand.
You must be confident within your leadership, empathetic to your team's needs and knowledgeable of the manufacturing and food safety standards to efficiently run the kitchen.
Applications close: Wed 31 July  Contact: Millie at [email protected] for the full job description or find it on SEEK.co.nz

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 16 July 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.

Summer in the Forest : a movie about Jean Vanier and his work  Jean Vanier is one of the "saints next door".  See this film and be inspired!      Roxy Theatre, Miramar 6.30pm Wednesday 24 July.  to book :   www.summerinthe forest.co.nz.    

You are invited to a workshop on Transforming Parishes with the help of ALPHA- Wed July  24th 7.00pm at the Catholic Centre, Hill St, Wgtn Or join us via your computer by clicking on the link I can send you. Please register by Monday 22nd July at  [email protected] or ring  Chris Walkerdine   (04) 496-1706. 

Attention All Men - keep Saturday 27th July free for a 1-day Retreat: “Up from the Waters” hosted by Joshua Palmerston North and led by Fr Joe Grayland and Fr Robin Kurian at Our Lady of Lourdes, Shamrock St. Koha on the day to cover costs. Lunch and morning/afternoon tea provided. Contact John Hammond [email protected] or Steve Ready 027 356 9555 for more details.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje 9-24 October. A pilgrimage to Medjugorje can be life changing.  Respond to God’s gift of Our Lady’s presence among us in these times and join us for an unforgettable pilgrimage to the holy valley of Medjugorje.  Travel with Mir Pilgrimages who has visited the holy site over 40 times. Email: [email protected] or phone Patricia on 0274 219 064.

Today we are so taken, by excitement, by countless problems — some of which are not important — that we lack the capacity to listen. We are constantly busy and thus we have no time to listen. I would like to ask you, to pose a question to you, each one answer in your own heart: do you, husband, take time to listen to your wife? And do you, woman, take time to listen to your husband? Do you, parents, take time, time to “waste”, to listen to your children? or your grandparents, the elderly?                                         Pope Francis: Angelus, July 2016

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 20th July. St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. 10 am Mass. Followed by Exposition & Rosary Procession to pray outside of the Hospital. Ends at Noon with a shared lunch. All are invited. Come and pray for hearts to change and lives to be saved. Two heartbeats, two precious lives worth protecting: show we love them both. For  info contact Family Life International NZ PH: 021 231 7954

Go you are sent to develop a spirituality of service.(2) Develop many and varied spiritual practices outside of Mass e.g. adoration, variety of prayer modes

Chelsea Day Care Trust volunteers needed.  Chelsea Day Care Trust in Lyall Bay is a day care respite facility for those with memory loss/Dementia.  Chelsea Trust is a NON-PROFIT organisation currently with 12 members every day, some get dropped off by their families, but others are unable to get their own way here, so we are always looking for volunteer drivers to assist with picking up members. In the afternoons, members are taken for a little drive out somewhere to break up the day for them for about 30 minutes or so but often we are unable to take all our members because we don’t have enough cars.
We are always looking for volunteers for either driving, the odd cooking of lunch or just general assistance at the Club. We are open every day from 9am – 4pm. If you can help please contact Angela Gittings Care Manager, Chelsea Club 04-3877207

Join us on an unforgettable pilgrimage to Naju, South Korea to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Our Lady`s first weeping Tears of Blood with an opportunity to meet the visionary, Julia Kim in person.
Pilgrimage:   17- 22 October 2019.   For more information contact Chrissy on 021 233 6883 or  [email protected] 

We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Ken Masters and Gary Maddock and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Stephen Aranyi, Patricia Gallagher, Lizzie Gamble and Paulette Finlay. 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.