February 21st

​Dear sisters and brothers,
 
It is quite a change from gearing up to overcome some great and small not so good habits. I have those, but in this Year of Mercy, I need to be comforted, and I suspect many of us do. I imagine that each of us is experiencing something that is difficult, at some level, perhaps on several levels. That can result in a kind of tiredness, even a spiritual tiredness. Even our lack of progress or the large number of good things we "fail to do," can discourage us.
Comfort, in the form of an assurance of the Lord's love for me, is what I need now. My wounded, worn, fragile, sometimes grieving or disappointed, stretched and not very outstanding self, needs comforting from one who understands and has been accompanying me all along the way. There is nothing more comforting than being known and loved as we are. My gratitude can then become a fire that draws me to pray, "Make my heart like yours"
The Transfiguration is one of those moments of comfort, which Jesus offered to his disciples, to prepare them for what is ahead. "He revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses ... that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples and that he might show how in the Body of the whole Church is to be fulfilled what so wonderfully shone forth first in its Head."
                                                                                                                 Father Ephrem
 
 
POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR PRAYER
For 24 hours over the first weekend of March, responding to an initiative of Pope Francis, dioceses around the world will hold a time of prayer for the blessing of God on the Year of Mercy.
 In our own Archdiocese the Cathedral will play a major part in this action. Beginning 5.30pm on Friday 4 March, through till the 5.30 Vigil Mass on Saturday 5th, the cathedral will be open for prayer. 
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the chapel throughout the 24 hours and the main church will be open for private devotions such as the Stations of the Cross. It will be necessary to ensure the presence of at least two people throughout this time.
Holy Trinity Parish will be responsible for 11am – 1pm on Saturday 5th.
 Of course you are welcome at any time during the 24 hours.  There will be a sign-up form in the Foyer of each Church for you to commit to a half OR one hour slot – or even longer.  Come with a group of friends, bring the family; see this as an action for Lent. Pray with Pope Francis who assures us that God forgives everyone, he offers new possibilities to everyone, he showers his mercy on everyone who asks for it. 
Let the Year of Mercy echo its joyful welcome throughout the world.

The season of Lent is a favourable time to listen to God’s word and to practice the works of mercy. Let us not waste this season of Lent!    (Pope Francis Message for Lent 2016)

Holy Cross Church – Sunday Mass time Survey   
 Don’t forget you only have till Monday 29 February. 
Thank you to all those who’ve returned their survey forms so far.
 Voting forms for those who attend Sunday Mass at Holy Cross are available in the church foyers of Holy Cross Church and St Patrick’s Church, online www.holytrinity.parish.nz  or from the parish office at [email protected]      

Lent timetable Holy Trinity: Stations of the Cross
St Patricks and Holy Cross – Friday 7pm
St Anthony’s – Friday 5.30pm
St Patrick’s - Weds 6 – 7pm Adoration and reconciliation followed by Mass
The  Sisters  of  St. Peter  Claver  are  holding  "  RARE  and  BEAUTIFUL  "  on  Saturday 5th  March  2016  at  their  Convent  grounds  1  Mersey  Street,  Island  Bay.  (corner of  Melrose  Road  and  Melbourne  Road )  from  9am  to  12pm. 

 
 St Patrick’s Church – Please do not park in front of the emergency exits or Church garage.  Your co-operation in this is much appreciated
Flat urgently wanted:  responsible pensioner seeks 1 or 2 bedroom flat with small outdoor area, keen gardener.  Miramar/Broadway area. Ring Bev 388 5821.

Lenten envelopes and calendars available in the church foyers.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 18-20 March
A retreat weekend for those whose lives have been touched by abortion.  An opportunity for healing to any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. All enquiries are strictly confidential.   Contact Wendy Hill [email protected]  or 027 2549222 www.rachelsvineyard.org.nz
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES STREET DAY APPEAL Thursday 25 FEBRUARY 2016
Collectors are needed in Wellington, Kilbirnie and Petone. If you are able to give an hour of your time to help, please phone Vivien on Ph 385 8642 or
email [email protected]

St. Anthony’s Preschool Playgroup: Come and join us…we meet every second Friday during term time from 1pm until 2.55pm in the Gascoigne Room, St Anthony’s Church. Bring your preschooler/s along for a play and class visits to St Anthony’s Kiwi class for our four year olds. We would love to meet you!
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES STREET DAY APPEAL Thursday 25 FEBRUARY 2016
 Collectors are needed in Wellington, Kilbirnie and Petone. If you are able to give an hour of your time to help, please phone Vivien on Ph 385 8642 or
email [email protected]

A 140th celebration of the Christian Brothers to Rattray Street Dunedin in 1879 will take place on the weekend of 9-11 July 2016.  Ex-pupils, partners, staff and wives of Old Boys from CBHS, St Paul’s and St Edmund’s are cordially invited to this reunion.  Registrations to Secretary G Morris [email protected] or Br G Donaldson 20A Grove St, St Kilda, Dunedin 9012, phone 03 456 5040.
  Copyright Workshop for those involved in liturgical ministry and finance. 
Archdiocesan representatives are offering a workshop for musicians, liturgy teams, PowerPoint editors and those administering payment for copyright licensing.   The presentation will explore issues associated with copyright and present an initiative that may offer all involved with parish liturgy ministry a positive option that solves the copyright nightmare and provides opportunity to access a range of resources for musicians. 
Join the team at either venue:
7:30 – 9pm Wednesday 9th March (Connolly Hall)
10 – 11:30am Saturday 9 April (Plimmerton Parish Hall). 

Altar Society of Holy Cross Church is a group of only 4 women, all of whom are over the age of 70 and we need help to keep Holy Cross Church clean and tidy.
More parishioners are needed to do this work. It only takes 1 – 1 ½ hours each week. CAN YOU HELP US? For information contact Margaret Mansell 388 2840 or Ann Nota 380 9332

Holy Hour
You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 23 February beginning at 7.30 pm in the Cathedral Chapel to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, Scripture, times of silence and concluding with Benediction followed by supper.
Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples intending to be marriedat Pa Maria, Thorndon, Wellington.   Weekends in 2016 are 5 - 6 March, 
16 - 17 July, & 12 - 13 November Registrations close 2 weeks before. For more details www.ceewellington.org.nz   or phone Kate & Simon Olsen Telephone 801 6192, or [email protected] 

WANTED: VOLUNTEERS St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie Reader/Writers are needed for our senior students sitting internal NCEA examinations throughout the year. During the year students on our Special Assessment Registry require assistance to either read or help them with writing their exams.  If you are interested in volunteering your time for a few hours every now and then please contact [email protected] The Job of the reader:  As a reader you are the eyes of the candidate. The Job of the Writer: You are the hands of the candidate and it is your responsibility to write the answers given by candidate

Refugee Resettlement – a Collaborative Response  
 
Holy Trinity Parish has "opened its arms" to new refugees.   Parishioners responded wonderfully with compassionate support and volunteering to the appeal at all last Sunday Masses.  15 volunteers will assist over the next week in sorting household goods and preparing households for the 24 refugee families arriving in the Wellington region at the end of the month.  Cash donations totalling $2,000 were made across the Masses, of which $1500 has been used this week to purchase a wide range of necessities for the one refugee family that our parish is specifically supporting. The remaining $500 will be held by the parish and used for the next arrivals in a couple of months when a further appeal will likely be made.  Because parishioners' kind generosity last Sunday met the immediate needs, no further appeal will be made this Sunday 21 February 2016.  Once the new refugees have arrived in the region later this month, parishioners and volunteers can reflect on what we have learned from Holy Trinity Parish’s experience this time and from the good advice of Red Cross and Catholic Social Services about contributing to further intakes of new refugees. 
 
Please hold these new refugees in our hearts and prayers that they find love and justice in their new lives in the Wellington region.  Please pray also for their families and friends back in their homeland who still face danger, persecution and destruction.  

The Holy Father assures us that
“in welcoming the stranger we welcome God…and that in the outstretched hand of those who receive them, refugees can see the face of the Lord”.