21st august 2016

​Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved ... ... ... but will not be strong enough.” Luke 13
As I’ve prayed with this gospel, I felt a new sense of it. Jesus doesn’t answer the understandable question about whether the number who will be saved is “few” – a small number. He tells us not to worry about how many will be saved, but to focus on our own journey and to choose a path which is challenging. As many of who want to, can enter by this narrow gate. That is so comforting and consoling.
We can be saved through our perseverance in challenging faith journey. It does not take great things to do but be faithful in little things, confirm to the culture that is life giving.  We are the messenger of good news, the world desperately in need of God's message.  The Lord has opened the door of mercy for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are called to learn what God desires, "mercy, not sacrifice." We are steward of His good news, that is to be lived in our words and action in service to our brothers and sisters. By obeying Him we grow in His grace and holiness.  This is the narrow path that world refuses to enter through.
Jesus makes it clear that he, himself is the gate. When Thomas asks how we can know this way, Jesus simply said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” A personal relationship with Jesus will place us on the narrow way. In Jesus, everything else gets aligned in us. Desiring to be with him, excites desires in us to be like him, preparing us for the joy of being with him forever.
                                                                                                                                                             Fr Ephrem
HOLY TRINITY PARISH MASS - 10AM SUNDAY 18th September
AT ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE HALL
Mark the date in your diary as we come together to celebrate Sunday Mass together
at St Patrick’s College Hall.  For those unable to be at this Mass, there will be the 5.30pm Vigil at St Patrick’s Church. We will be having morning tea afterwards at the back of the hall, so please bring a plate of food to share.

YOUTH COORDIATION TEAM
The parish is in the process of establishing a Youth Ministry and is seeking to identify a small group of volunteers to assist in both the establishment and organisation of this most important function. We are currently in the process of identifying and employing a Youth Pastoral Worker in a 20 hour paid role to lead youth activities within our Parish. The role of volunteers in the Youth Coordination Team is to set guidelines, tasks and scope to both the Youth Pastoral Worker and the members of the Youth Ministry. Responsibility for the employment function lives with the Parish Priest and the accountability is through the Parish Pastoral Council.
Ideally we are looking for parishioners or other like-minded Christian members for this Youth Coordination Team. Youth is the future of our parish and if you can help or if you know of someone suitable who may be able to help the parish run a successful Youth Ministry then please contact Fr Ephrem or a member of the Parish Council for further details.

Available for purchase from the Parish Office 
Amoris Laetitia and Laudato Si
We have limited copies of each of these available in the office for $5 each.
If you would like to a copy of either or both of these, either pop in to the Parish Office, phone 388 6953 or email [email protected].
 

Volunteer needed as minute taker
for the Parish Council Monthly  Meetings
Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each Month in the Holy Cross Parish Centre at 7.30pm. If you would like more information or to register your interest please contact Fr Ephrem 387 2012
or the Chairperson, Barry Brook 388 8099

ST PATRICK’S CHURCH
The Mass roster to the end of September, and amended morning tea roster are available for St Patrick’s at the back of the Church. If you haven’t had your copy emailed to you, please collect one.  If you would like your roster emailed please email [email protected]

• A Super Gold card was left at Holy Cross Church
• A plate was left at St Patrick’s Hall after Confirmation.
• Woman’s watch was left in St Anthony’s Church

If any of these items are yours, please contact the Parish Office
 

"Where love and loving-kindness are together, God is in their midst."
 
St. Catherine’s College Service Initiative students would like to remind all parishioners of their willingness to undertake any tasks such as housework, gardening, window-cleaning, or grocery-shopping for those presently house-bound...for free, and cheerfully.  We would like to help anyone in need.  Please contact Fr.Ephrem or SCC Office, with your name and phone number.  We would be grateful for the prayers of our parish.   God bless.  
 

Interfaith (Catholic/LDS) Youth Event: Social Awareness and Political Responsibility Wellington  31st August -  September 2016. Starting at St Patrick’s Church Mass on the 31st August, over the two days together, the youth will have time for social interaction, shared devotional time, and noho marae at Takapuwahia. Their time together will also include a service project, educational tour of Parliament and an opportunity to meet with members and present youth concerns to them, and grow in social awareness and political responsibility in a collaborative project of LDS and Catholic Youth.

The 5 Love Languages:
“For love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. 
Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncross able, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life.”  It will be presented by 5 couples on Sunday 28th August 11.30am – 4.30pm at St Thomas More Church, 30 Worchester Street, Wilton.  It is important to come for the whole day.  A light lunch will be provided. For catering purposes please RSVP  [email protected]  by 19 August.

2016 ADW Young Catholic Leader programme will again be held at Forest Lakes Camp Otaki and will run between Saturday Dec 10 – Wedsnesday Dec 14.
The cost is $180 per student (incl GST) which includes accommodation, meals sessions, required materials and session manual. Registrations close Friday 18th November 2016. And is for students who are currently Year 12 but will be entering Year 13 in 2017. If you are interested in attending contact the Parish Office holytrinity.wgtn @xtra.co.nz for a registration form.

Caritas Social Justice Week – 11 – 17th September 2016
We all have a migration story: Fostering a Culture of Encounter
At a time when the number of international migrants is growing faster than the world’s population (according to the UN), the theme of migration for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ annual Social Justice Week is very pertinent. “We are also encouraging people to think about how we can all be more open to one another by listening to how we came to live in Aotearoa New Zealand. These might be very recent journeys or over generations. It helps us to know the story of our nation.” (Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn)

Catholic Foundation’s Scholarships are now open.
Application forms, conditions, and all the details are available on the website below.
Applications close 19 September 2016.
http://www.catholicfoundation.org.nz/scholarships.php

Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust
This has been endorsed by Cardinal John Dew especially as this is the year of Mercy. A letter to parishioners is available at the back of the churches. Please take a copy and see what a wonderful service this trust provides and how you can donate to this cause. 

Holy Hour - You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 23 August beginning at 7.30 pm in the cathedral chapel to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, Scripture, times of silence concluding with Benediction followed by supper.

Wellington Father’s Breakfast –
 Encouragement for Dad’s
Mon 5th September 7 – 8.30am Shed 6, Queen’s Wharf
You can book tickets or a table of 10 online at  http://www.theparentingplace.com/fathers-breakfast/
We place great value on the role fathers play in family and relish the opportunity we have to remind them of how important they are in the lives of their little people.
The Hibernian Society has embroidered sashes that are no longer used and wonder if descendants of the following names that are on the sashes would like them? M. V. COMBER, T. J. TILLER, J. J. TROY,   M. McELLIGOT,  H. McKEOWEN, P. RYAN , R. L. B. TAYLOR, J. McGASON. Please contact Ian Bailey (06)356 7517 [email protected]  if you want further detail.

The August 21– September 3 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Jesuit ordained at St Pat’s. Catholic schools need to take some calculated risks. Bishop and pupils share migration stories. Pope picks women deacons commission. The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on September 4.

Thanksgiving Mass for the Canonisation of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta,
9am, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington Saturday 10 September.
Veneration of the relic of Blessed Teresa will follow the Mass. 
Following this all are welcome to stay for light refreshments in Connolly Hall.  Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal John Dew.  All are welcome to attend. 
For more information please contact Sr Stephanius (04) 235 5373.