26th march 2017

Dear brothers and sisters,
The theme for our reflection today is “the cure of the blind man”. There are mainly two types of blindness. They are – “physical and spiritual blindness”. There are many forms of blindness besides physical blindness. We find very few people who are genuinely physically blind. But we all suffer from different forms of blindness like selfishness, insensitivity, snobbery, pride, complacency, prejudice etc. we all are affected by this spiritual blindness. Therefore, there is a great need of healing for us from Jesus. Who can heal us from these blindnesses?
Fr Gregory
The last Friday of Lent is a day of fasting and abstinence
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.

Lenten Appeal envelopes are available at the back of each Church

Lenten Mass – 1st March – 8th April
There will be 6.30am Mass at Holy Cross Church from Monday – Saturday during Lent.
  
Stations of the Cross – Thursdays during Lent
Every Thursday at 7pm at St Patrick’s Church through to 6th April

HOLY CROSS - 9.30am Mass 29th March will be held at Holy Cross School Hall
 as Fr Ephrem  will be baptising 2 of their children during the Mass. 

Preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation is under way in Holy Trinity Parish. Parents/caregivers are requested to bring the children for each class. Parionshers are requested to pray for them.
St Anthony’s reconciliation will be 6.30pm Thurs 30th March
at St Anthony’s Church
Holy Cross and St Patrick’s reconcilliation will be 6.30pm Thurs 6th April
at Holy Cross Church

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Service at St Patrick’s Church 8.30pm
We need people to volunteer to take part in the Parish Holy Saturday Easter Mass at 8pm please
From each Church Congregation we need:  2 readers
                                                                      1 offertory carrier
                                                                      3 Ministers of the Eucharist
Please email me [email protected]  or phone  934 3179  by 1st April  if you are willing  to take part. 

St Vincent de Paul needs some help;
We have a need for some long sleeved shirts and pants for a size 12-14 girl attending St Pat’s primary school in Kilbirnie. With winter coming on, some other warm clothes may well be needed.
If any parishioner with knowledge of St Pat’s primary school uniform requirements can assist could please contact Paul Franken 976 8338 [email protected] or another StVdP committee member

The St Catherine’s College Service Group is getting underway again, for its 3rd year and invites any parishioners to please contact Fr Ephrem 027 714 9660, the Parish office 388 6953 or St Catherine’s College 939 8988 with details of help required. We are an enthusiastic and reliable group of girls, keen to help with any task, free of charge like gardening, cleaning, shopping or helping at parish functions or working bees. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch as we’d love to come and help you.

St Mary’s College invites you to attend our open day Weds 31st May 8.30 – 10am or 10.45 – 12.20pm.
For further information refer to the noticeboard at the back of the Church
Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples intending to be married. 
Weekends in 2017 are 22-23 July and 11-12 November. Registrations close 2 weeks before.
Venue: Presbytery, 301 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington. For more details go to the website at http://www.ceewellington.org.nz  or Kate & Simon Olsen 801 6192,   [email protected]

The Annual Acies (Consecration Service) of the Legion of Mary will take place at St Joseph’s Church Mt Victoria on Sunday, 26th March at 2:00pm The celebrant will be Legion of Mary Spiritual Director Reverend Father Denis O’Connor. All Religious, active, auxiliary members and parishioners are warmly invited to attend and once again consecrate themselves to Our Blessed Lady in honour of the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord.
40 Days for Life - More than 13,000 preborn children are aborted every year in New Zealand. That is 36 Children every single day. Women are hurt – physically, mentally and spiritually. Men regret their lost fatherhood. 40 Days of Life is a local solution where people unite in prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities in order to end abortion. Please join your local 40 Days for Life prayer vigil March 1st to April 9th. Together, with God’s grace, we will bring about an end to abortion in New Zealand. Visit fli.org.nz/40daysforlife or ph 04 237-8343.

Age Concern Volunteer Visiting Service - Can you spare a rewarding hour a week?
Age Concern Wellington is looking for volunteers who are prepared to give an hour a week to visit an older person in their own home. Often elderly people feel lonely and isolated from the community. Having a visitor can make a real difference in the health and happiness of an older person and the visitor too can gain much from their  knowledge and experience. We have a number of clients in the Miramar area who would appreciate a daytime visit. If you can help please contact Monica Robinson, Age Concern, on 04 499 6646 or email [email protected]

 Volunteers needed to collect for the Stroke Foundation for 1 or 2 hours at either New World in Miramar or Newtown Friday 7th April.
If you can help, contact Robin Boldarin 027 209 7044 or 388 2647

If you would like to receive the newsletter by email contact the parish office [email protected] with newsletter in the subject line and you will be added to the list.

Holy Hour You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 28 March beginning at 7.30 pm in the Cathedral chapel to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, songs of praise, Scripture, times of silence and concluding with Benediction followed by supper.

Accommodation Needed For Refugee Family Lovely refugee family (mother with son and daughter) searching for 3 bedroom home to rent in our parish area.
 Excellent reference available from St Joseph’s parish. Please contact Amanda Calder on 4757994 or Francis Fanning on 3810900 if you can help.

Please remember, if you move or change any of your details, please contact the parish office so your record can be updated Thank you.

St Mary’s College Sevens team started an amazing journey less than two years ago when the team was first formed. In 2016 the girls won every tournament that they entered and are the current National Secondary School Champions. The win has earned the team the right to represent New Zealand at the Sanix World Youth Cup to be held in Fukuoka, Japan in April 2017.
The team needs to raise $30,000 before Easter and are working extremely hard to fundraise and for some families the amount needed to travel is a big challenge.
The team has set up a givealittle page so that you can be a part of our journey and help us to bring home an international title! Any amount no matter how small or big will be gratefully accepted.
 
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/stmaryswellington
 

The next Little Angels Playgroup at Holy Cross School will be Friday 7th April 1.45 – 3pm in room 11 & 12 at the School. Parents and caregivers are warmly invited to come and join in the fun. All welcome. Please contact Holy Cross School for more informaiton 388 7189 or [email protected]

Easter Services:
Parish Lenten Reconciliation: 6th April
Holy Cross:           6.30pm
 
Holy Thursday:    13th April  (no morning Mass at any Church)
Holy Cross:            7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
 
Good Friday:        14th April 
St Patrick’s:           10am Stations of the Cross
from All Saints, Hataitai to St Patrick’s Church
St Anthony’s:       10am Way of the Cross starts at St George’s
Holy Cross:            2.30pm (weather permitting) Way of the Cross
from Wexford Hill to Holy Cross Church
 
St Patrick’s & Holy Cross Churches:
 3pm Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
 
Saturday Easter Vigil: 15th April
St Patrick’s:          8.30pm
 
Easter Sunday:     16th April
Holy Cross:            9am
St Patrick’s:          10am
St Anthony’s:       10.30am