24 february 2019

1 Sam 26, 2. 7-9. 12-13. 22-23; 1 Cor15, 45-49; Lk 6, 27-38
“We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God!”
Dear sisters and brothers, today’s gospel continues the discourse with the same seemingly paradoxical, even absurd, directives for his followers. He tells them to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them. He asks them to bless those who curse them, to turn the other cheek to those who strike them, and to let people take what belongs to them. Be merciful and forgiving, expect nothing, and “your reward will be great”
He says, “to you who hear...”. One would assume the hearing is intact for the great majority of people who were gathered, so why begin the discourse with that phrase? Perhaps Jesus is speaking to those who “get it ” whose world view had already been turned upside down. Those who were already living in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Love, understand that Jesus is talking about receiving our identity from God, rather than from how others treat us. “Nobody is going to take advantage of me” is not an identity we receive from God. Therefore, those who live in the kingdom are willing to risk being
generous, forgiving and vulnerable, as they draw from the Ultimate Abundant Source – God – the source of all generosity, forgiveness and vulnerability. They live without the protection of power, position,
privilege and righteousness. “We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God!” is how the song goes. Letting our light shine brightly, without fear of being snuffed out, ushers us into the kingdom of God now, not later. Teilhard de Chardin says, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” And what an adventure it is.                                                                                                                            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.

Cardinal John’s Pastoral Letter  Some of you may have missed the information shared after Mass last weekend regarding Cardinal John’s Pastoral letter.
We read a summary of the letter after Mass, have made an enlarged copy of the letter for viewing on the noticeboard in each of our three churches and emailed it to all on the Parish email list.   If you are not on this list and would like to be, please email the parish office.  In addition there will be a few printed copies available in the back of each church this weekend.     The pastoral letter is also available  on: www.wn.catholic.org.nz  and is summarised with links on cathnews.co.nz

Holy Trinity Workshop: Our Changing Parish “we all have a migration story” Come and explore the similarities and the treasures everyone’s culture brings. When Thurs. 21st March 7pm-8.45pm. Where St Patrick’s Parish Centre. Registrations by Mon.18th March with Chris Walkerdine  [email protected]

Annointing Mass St Patrick’s Church 11am Wednesday 13th March.

Holy Trinity Parish Catholic Book Club – Sunday 24th February:  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]

Ash Wednesday Timetable for the Parish 6th March 2019
St Anthony’s Church   9.00am  School and Parish
Holy Cross Church      6.30am  in the Parish Centre – Lenten Mass
                                                     (not imposition of the ash)                                 
                                       9.30am  at Holy Cross School Hall – School and Parish
                                       7.30pm  at St Aidan’s Anglican Church
St Patrick’s Church     11am     School and Parish
                                       5.45pm  Parish
Those who have blessed palms from last year, can leave them in the back of the church.
Thank you

St Patrick’s Parish/Church Centennial     
In November 2019 St Patrick’s parish/church Kilbirnie will celebrate its centennial. This is a huge milestone for the catholic community now within the parish of Holy Trinity. It is important that we recognise this important event with a centennial Mass and an invitation has been sent to check on the availability of Cardinal John to participate in this Mass.
A number of events need to be organised around this time and we need to establish a small committee of interested parishioners to facilitate these centennial events.
If you are able to assist in any way by providing your background knowledge of names, events, photographs, or published articles or just have an interest in helping co-ordinate these centennial events then please give your name and contact details to Marianne in our parish office. This is a great opportunity for you to become involved in a fun but hugely important parish activity.

Do you live in Miramar and attend the 5.30pm Vigil at St Patrick’s? Are you able to pick up an 85-year-old lady and take her to the Mass? If you can help, please give Rae a call 388 8807. Thank you. 

If anyone has old Columban calendars they no longer want, please leave in the foyer of the church. Thank you

Looking for a trustworthy, reliable and thorough housekeeper to join a lovely family of 5 in Maupuia. We'd require about 3 hours, twice a week (but more days can be negotiated), helping out with house cleaning, laundry and ironing. Start date 4 March 2019. If interested please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you. Teresa: [email protected] 021/0787519

The Wellington Young Adults Catholic Community House - Mary's Mantle- is presenting to you the opportunity to live in community. Living in the grand old former presbytery in the peaceful suburb of Seatoun we are a community of young Catholics seeking to live out our faith in a greater way. We do this through committing to daily prayer, shared meals and community nights of fun, teachings and mass, and we encourage and support one another (as families do) to seek Christ and to grow in holiness in our jobs and lives. Our place is home to all young Catholics and therefore we also strive to offer hospitality to all who pass by!
If living out your faith in community sparks your interest, consider if God may be inviting you to join us! If you are interested in finding out more (and you’re between the ages of 18 - 35) please give Chante a call to chat about all things ‘community!’ - on 0278113573. To all our Young Adult Catholic family, our place belongs to you too... our home is your home! If you are in Wellington, come stay with us, pray with us or share a meal!

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 26 February beginning at 7.30pm 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.

Alpha is an opportunity to explore life, faith and God in a friendly, open and informal environment This workshop ‘Alpha in the Catholic Context’ presented by Lorraine McCarthy(from Australia) is a must for anyone; wanting to know more, wanting to encourage family or friends back into the church, wanting to help make it happen in your parish, wanting to welcome people back into the church community, involved in R.C.I.A.            Feb 27 -1.30pm- 6pm and 7pm- 9.30pm at: St Joseph’s Mt. Victoria. Please register with Ann Williams [email protected] before Monday 25 Feb.

Teaching Night @ St Anne’s Hall, Emmett Street, Newtown Hosted by Catholic Charismatic Renewal Wed 27th February at 7:30pm.  Speaker: Michael Powell Theme: Inner Healing  Evening includes Praise & Worship, group discussion and fellowship.  Everyone is welcome!

VISION DAY - Catholic Charismatic Renewal Saturday 9th March, 1pm - 4pm at St Joseph's Church, Mt Victoria. An opportunity for prayer groups and communities to come together for worship, sharing and inspirational talks. Guest speaker Diana Ingle, Chairperson of the National Service Group for Charismatic Renewal in New Zealand .All are welcome!

Lenten Prayer for Life: 36 pre-born children lose their life through abortion every single day of the year in New Zealand. Women are wounded physically, psychologically and spiritually.  Men regret their lost fatherhood.  Families are harmed.  Society suffers the consequences. Every person - born and unborn - is made in the image of God.  Unique.  Unrepeatable.  Loved by God for all eternity. This Lent all New Zealanders are invited to pray, fast and make reparation.
Participate by:

1. Praying daily. Registering your prayer commitment at fli.org.nz/lentenprayerforlife/and receive a free pro-life prayer booklet to assist you in your efforts.

Praying and being a peaceful witness to life outside a local abortion centre. To pray for an hour between 9 am and 4 pm on Wednesdays outside Wellington Hospital txt 021 231 7954 or email [email protected]

Lenten Prayer for Life: This Lent join us in prayer, fasting and reparation, especially for the 36 pre-born babies who lose their lives through abortion every day of the year in New Zealand. To find out more take a flyer or view the poster at the rear of the church. For all enquiries call 021 231 7954 or email [email protected]  Register your prayer commitment to fli.org.nz/lentenprayerforlife 

A Good Friday Liturgical Workshop on Thurs 14th March 14th  6.45pm-9pm at the Catholic Centre. This will be an interactive workshop, with Fr Patrick Bridgman, Archdiocesan Liturgy Advisor. Fr Patrick will help us unpack the symbolism and rituals associated with Good Friday. Everyone welcome. Please register with Ann Williams before Friday 8th March at [email protected]

'Stronger together for action on climate - Porirua' This series runs over three weeks each Thursday 7, 14, 21 March from 7.30 - 9pm. Venue: St Theresa’s parish hall,  210 St Andrews Rd, Plimmerton. All welcome. Each week there will be a special guest speaker followed by the opportunity for questions and reflection. There will be time for people to consider realistic action they could take in response to the challenge we all face. Contact: Catherine Gibbs    [email protected] or phone the parish office 04-2331279.

The Archdiocesan Commission for Ecology, Justice and Peace is seeking expressions of interest for membership of our four Committees.  The time commitment is to attend six evening meetings a year (including use of teleconferencing), a formation day, and to carry out the agreed work of the Committee. The four Committees are: •  Integral Ecology • Bicultural relationships  • Poverty  •  Parish communication and engagement
For more information, please email the Ecology, Justice and Peace advisor Lisa Beech 0212884388 [email protected]   by Friday 1 March.

The Feb. 24 – Mar. 9 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Minister’s Filipino-Catholic jibe ‘hurtful’. Tomorrow’s Schools demolition opposed. Does God will a diversity of religions? Family deal proposed for southern church.

Singing for Children. Young Angel Voices begins on Thursday 28th February at 4:30 for an hour, in the Choir Room, St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street. Boys and girls, aged 8 - 12 years old, learn great songs, to read music, and have fun with their voices, with Robert and Andrea Oliver. There's no audition, so just turn up and see if it's for your child. contact Robert: 0210 257 4375

Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.
Pope Francis: Misericordiae Vultus, 2015

Hiruhārama/Jerusalem pilgrimage. A wonderful place for spiritual healing and an essential waypoint on any Pilgrim’s journey. Join us to experience the place so significant in the Suzanne Aubert story. 9-10 March, contact Christine for details on 04 383 7769 or [email protected]
Contemplative Prayer Series. Fr Jeff Drane will lead this five-week seminar series that is practical and helpful to our everyday living. 13, 20, 27 March and 3, 10 April. 10am sessions are repeated at 7pm except on 13 March when there will only be a 7pm session. Chapel, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. To book please contact Ph. 04 383 7769.
The Influenza Pandemic 1918 - A Temporary Exhibition. The Sisters of Compassion mark the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. The pandemic came at the end of a devastating war and struck Wellington between November and December. Wellington had the highest death rate of the cities. The exhibition is open until 31st March 2019 at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Tue-Sat 10am-3pm; Sun 12noon-3pm. Contact [email protected] or (04) 282 1953 for more information.
Sunday Miha (Māori Mass). All are welcome. The first Sunday of the month will be a Liturgy of the Eucharist, all other Sundays will be a Māori Mass. 11am, Chapel, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. Ph. 04 383 7769.

Finance Committee Meeting  12 March 2019
Parish Council Meeting          13 March 2019

​We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Michael Taylor, Joan Dwyer, Apulu Manatua, Gerald Wynne, Teresa Czochanska, Mary Peters, Mary Martin and Poinisita Passi. 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.