25 november 2018

Dear brothers and sister, this weekend the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King or King of the Universe as it is said. This feast of Christ our King brings us the end of the Liturgical year 2018. And next week we will begin our new liturgical year 2019.  This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in his encyclical letter “Quas Primas” The title of which was “Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Regis.” We Christians believe that Jesus Christ has dominion over all creatures by essence and by nature. Jesus the word of God is united  (Consubstantially) with the Father, has all things common with Him, and therefore has necessarily Supreme and absolute over all things created. From this it follows that to Christ angels and men are subject. Christ is also King by acquired, as well as by natural right for He is the ‘Redeemer’ of the World. Another proof of his kingship is that “All power and authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. (Mt.28:18)
We have travelled a long way since the first Sunday of Advent 2018. Christ has been with us as the invisible companion of our faith journey leading us, guiding us, protecting us and encouraging us all. I hope and believe that during this faith journey we have grown and become matured Christians. This growth in our spiritual life will help us to rejoice as we celebrate the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the feast of Christ the King.                                                                    Fr Gregory
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.

Holy Trinity Parish Manager – Gerard Birss. We welcome the appointment of Gerard as the new Parish Manager this week. He will be working with our parish leadership team and the parish council to revitalise our parish and will make himself known to you over the coming weeks. Please make him feel welcome and introduce yourself when you see him.

Advent  
Advent is a season of hope, expectancy and, particularly in the last nine days, preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.
Colour adds beauty and with floral and lighting atmosphere waits for new life. Joyful music, carols with symbols in display doubles the joy. The wreath and candles with Jesse Tree telling the story Jesus coming into this world makes the season to look forward to. I encourage you to build a crib and light a candle in every household and pray, especially from 15th – 23rd December leading up to Christmas.

PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS.   Holy Trinity Parish is planning a novena from 15 to 23 December as prayerful preparation for Christmas. It will be held at St Patrick’s at 7pm and will be a Mass followed by a cup of tea.
We thank the people who have already volunteered to take a part in running these Masses. 
However there are still gaps to be filled

• We need a pianist / keyboard player for 18th, 19th 21st
• We need  a reader for  17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
• We need Eucharistic Ministers for 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
• We need  someone to run the cup of tea on 17th, 18th, 19th.20th.21st

A cultural group or a family group or a sports team or a Parish group or a school group could choose to take one of these days to participate together.  Please phone Tricia O’Donnell  934 3179  or email her [email protected]  for more information or to say Yes! I want to help!  Please!   Please!!!!

Holy Trinity Parish Catholic Book Club – Sunday 25th November:  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]

Christmas Appeal 
St Vincent de Paul Society  Seatoun & Miramar Conference
Today we start a three week donation appeal to you for food items, toiletries, treats and gifts to be placed in or beside sign-posted bins in the foyer any time of the week when the Church is open.  You might even like to make up a hamper.
On Friday 14 December 2018 our team of drivers and helpers will deliver the boxes of food and items to over 50 families in the district.   If you wish to provide a gift could you please wrap it and place a note as to the age and gender the gift would suit.
A brief note for you suggesting ideas for donating items or making up hampers are available in the foyer.  This collection is a practical way we can reach out to bring Christ’s love to the homes of our neighbours who are really struggling and for whom this extra help will alleviate their burden.
Please note: Last collection day will be the Sunday 9th December. (Contacts: Clare Maddock, ph 388 8548; Brendan Quirk ph  388 9708)
 
Are you a child who would like to take part in the St Patrick’s Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve??   Would you like to do a reading, read a prayer of the Faithful, carry the offertory, take part in a play?  We need your help to make this Mass happen.  If you volunteer, you will be given help to do your best.  Please phone Clare Lundon the Mass Organiser 0212278363  or Patricia O’Donnell St Patrick’s Liturgy Chairperson  934 3179.
 
Looking for  musicians for the St Patrick’s Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm.   We are looking for a guitar player and a piano player or keyboard player and other instrument players to make music for the children to sing Christmas carols.  If you would like to make joyful music for the children, please contact Clare Lundon the Mass organiser 0212278363  or Patricia O’Donnell St Patrick’s Liturgy Chair  934 3179  for further information.
 
 The key for St Patrick’s toilet is missing. The key for the toilet is missing from the sacristy. It is on a yellow tag and if you’ve accidently forgotten to return it, can you either put it back or give to the priest. Thank you.
 
St Anthony’s School - Tui Class will be spring cleaning the church on November 28th, 9.30 - 12.30. If you could spare, even one hour, we would love your help. Please email Denise ( [email protected]) or simply come along.
 
"REAL CHRISTMAS CARDS".  St Vincent de Paul Society  Christmas cards will be on sale soon in our Church foyers  after Sunday Masses at Holy Cross, St Anthony's and St Patrick's churches, same price as last year's.   Religious-theme cards "Keeping Christ in Christmas", $2.50 per pack of 5 cards with envelopes. Proceeds to our local St Vincent de Paul Conference activities in the eastern suburbs.   Contacts: Holy Cross Church (Julian Knap, ph 970 3905), St Anthony's Church (Andrew Monahan, ph 021 772 350), and St Patrick's Church (Frank Quirke, ph 387 4977).
 
14 x blister packs of Oticon size 13 hearing aid batteries
and 2 x digital battery testers to give away
These have been kindly donated as they are no longer needed. If you have hearing aids and could use these or know someone who can, please contact the office. 3886 953 or [email protected]
 
1 Columban Calendars to give away!
Two Columban Calendars have been very kindly donated by a parishioner and we have one left.
If you would like one of these please contact the Parish Office 3886 953 or [email protected] 
 
 LESS THAN 40 CALENDARS LEFT available through the office $12 each
or from Bernadette at St Patrick’s Church
 You can either put your money or cheq (made out to Holy Trinity Parish) in an envelope with your details and pop in the collection basket, or email, phone or drop into the Parish Office.
Alternatively pay by internet banking to Holy Trinity Parish 02-0536-0185031-00 and use CALENDAR as the reference. When you have paid, email the office [email protected]  with the following details:  the amount paid, the number of calendars ordered, which Church you will collect your calendars from or if you would like to collect them from the office. Once payment has cleared, the Calendars will be left for you in the back of your chosen Church or in the office for you to collect. 

St Anthony’s Bazaar 2019 - Sunday 17 February with a Vigil Mass the night before - Saturday 16 February at 5pm replacing the normal Sunday 10.30am Mass on the 17th. 
The team of St Anthony's would value your help, expertise and goods. Thanks to all those who completed the Bazaar forms last Sunday. To those who took them home, we look forward to seeing them brought back over the next week. If you missed the chance to offer your help please take one of the forms from the back of the church or email  Angeline -  angelineharrington.com with the offer of your help. Remember the motto of "many hands make light work!"

Go you are sent as members of the One Body 6(e) Parish leadership and mission statements reflect the ethnic diversity of the community.

Teaching Night @ St Anne's Hall, Newtown.  Hosted by Catholic Charismatic Renewal Wednesday 28th November at 7:30pm. Speaker: Ryan Santoso  Theme: How to participate in Praise & Worship.  Everyone is welcome

Carols in Parliament – The Council of Wellington Churches invites you to attend Carols in Parliament on Sun. 9 Dec. at 7pm. RSVP is essential (for Parliamentary Security reasons) by 1 December to e-mail  [email protected]

Home of Compassion Island Bay - Saturday 1st December     Eve of Advent – family day, 10am–3pm: 11am putting up the crib, followed by carol singing; nativity art and crafts; search out nativity rocks in Christmas treasure hunt. Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington, ph (04) 282-1953. All welcome.
Wednesdays 5 and 12 December   Take time out in Advent for contemplative reflection and prayer series led by Sr Sue Cosgrove. 10am sessions repeated at 7pm, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington, ph (04) 383-7769.

Greenstone Doors Annual Christmas Party is being held on 5th Dec 6:30pm-8:30pm at 106 Park Road, Belmont.  Join us for an evening of music, entertainment, wine, nibbles and rolling raffles. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from eventbrite.co.nz or contact us on 566 5037.

NZ Pro-Life Rosary Crusade on 8th December at 3 pm. For more information on how to join or lead a Rosary group, see www.rosarycrusade.co.nz email [email protected] or phone 0221912886

The National March for Life NZ has been endorsed by the Catholic Bishops of NZ: Mark your calendars and prepare to join others on Saturday 8th December to celebrate the gift of life and send a message of love and hope to our community. Be a beacon of light for Kiwi families, mothers and the unborn! Gather at 2 pm in Civic Centre, 101 Wakefield St., ready to begin to walk to Parliament grounds. marchforlifenz.org.nz or phone Michael 021 825 955 
NZ Rosary Crusade and Patron Bishop Patrick Dunn invite New Zealanders on 8th December  to gather together in prayer in various locations (including at the National March for Life on the lawn of Parliament) to pray the Rosary for Life and Faith. If you are not coming to the March for Life please look up www.rosarycrusade.co.nz or phone Clare D. on 022 1912 886 or 03 359 2087 to find your nearest rosary venue. If there isn't one please consider arranging one in your town, suburb, church or home.

CARITAS GIFTS 2018  Caritas Gifts are a perfect way to show your friends and loved ones that you are thinking of them this year, while also making an important contribution on their behalf. Every single Caritas Gift purchased, also allows us to offer vital assistance and support where it is needed most.
The range of Caritas Gift options are split across four specific areas; Hope Fund - supports our development work    Life Fund - sustains emergency support   Peace Fund - promotes healthcare, human rights and justice
Learning Fund - supports education and environmental care
Each one provides vital funds, supporting a variety of Caritas programmes. All are focused towards creating positive and long-lasting changes in the lives of some of the most vulnerable communities relying upon our help.
For example, if you buy the gift of an Emergency kit from the Life Fund, the money you pay goes into that fund and is used to support emergency work where it is needed most.
 Or by purchasing a chicken or a goat gift, you will be supporting a community, helping to provide sustainable food options.
When you purchase a gift from one of these funds the money you spend supports that area of Caritas' work.
Even the smallest gifts make an incredible difference to those in need, whether it is $10 or $1000. Every Caritas Gift makes for a wonderful present to give family and friends while also helping to support the dignity of our brothers and sisters, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world.
Caritas gifts can be ordered now by calling us directly on 0800 22 10 22 or by visiting the Caritas website: www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-gifts  place your order by Monday, 10 December to ensure that your Caritas Gift is received in time for Christmas.

Parish to Parish for Bed & Breakfast Since the first book was printed 15 years ago, many hosts have suffered health problems, downsized their homes etc.as we urgently require more hosts in places all over the country, I would encourage anyone with a spare bedroom or two in their home, to come and join us. The accommodation does not have to be 5 star, just clean, comfortable and welcoming, also providing a light breakfast. The purpose of this book is aimed at providing catholic hospitality and making new friends. The hosts charge a small fee of $35 for one only person, or $30 per person for 2 or more per night. For further information please contact Marie Anderson on 03 359 5541 or email [email protected] 

THANK YOU – FRUITCAKES FOR KAIKŌURA  Many thanks to the parishes and groups of the North Island part of the Archdiocese of Wellington for your generosity in supplying 145 fruitcakes, which were sent as a gesture of love and solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Kaikōura for the second anniversary of the Marlborough earthquake.  These were distributed by local groups in Kaikōura, and acknowledgement has been received for the love and goodwill with which they were sent.  Huge thanks to the Society of St Vincent de Paul who supplied a van and driver and covered the costs of transporting the cakes to Kāikoura.

Stretch out your hand to us, Lord, and take hold of us. Help us to love as you love. Teach us to leave behind all that is passing, to be a source of reassurance to those around us, and to give freely to all those in need. Amen Pope Francis: Homily for the Mass for the World Day of the Poor, 18 November 2018

We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died and those whose anniversaries occur around this time.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially Judy Chote, John Rogers and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.