27 november 2016

​Malo e lelei and greetings to you all
You know that feeling of waiting for something or someone? It is a feeling of excitement or may be anxiety. For most people, waiting is not a very popular pastime, it can be seen as a waste of time.
If we allow it to, waiting can be a creative time, a time of high alert, where we may even be more aware of ourselves. Our senses heightened especially when we are waiting for important news or results or waiting on a loved one to call or to arrive.
Waiting is not always seen as a good thing but it can be a time for growth. And so, we enter into the season of waiting: Advent. The gospel reminds us to be alert and use this time to prepare.
What will our preparations be like? God is with us in many different ways; trying to catch our attention in the midst of our busy days. As we fight our way through the queues in the coming weeks, can we use 5 minutes or ten minutes to stop, be still to ask God to enter into our hearts and live once more.
May we have a happy and a holy Advent .....                                                                           Fr Sanele
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.

Life Teen Ministry is moving!
The Life Teen Youth Ministry warmly invite you to come and share in a final Mass and some refreshments on the 11th of December at 5:30pm at St Patrick's church, Kilbirnie, to thank the Parish for the 15 years of support.  We also take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us in so many ways over the years: for saying Mass, helping us with food preparation, giving rides to our youth, praying for us and encouraging us with words and smiles.  You have meant so much to us and we are so grateful for each one of you!
After careful prayer and discernment, we have decided to shift Life Teen to St Anne’s Church in Newtown and therefore become part of the Wellington South Parish from February 2017.  Life Teen has until now organised a mass at St Patrick's on Sunday evenings but St Anne's has an existing 5pm parish mass into which Life Teen can be integrated.  The move to St Anne’s also brings other important practical advantages and the more centralised location makes it easier for our teens that travel by public transport.
These 15 years in the Saint Patrick's and then Holy Trinity family have been full of blessings, fun and growth in the Catholic faith for hundreds of youth. Life Teen Youth Ministry in Kilbirnie was started in 2001 by a team of passionate Young Adults who wanted to share their great love of God with others.  Giant games of 'pass the parcel', sports, water fights, BBQs, mural painting and 24 hour bake offs for charity (to list a very few) have contributed to the fun and vibrancy of the group.  Life Teen spirituality is both Eucharistic and Marian, and focuses on deepening understanding of the faith, while at the same time encouraging a deep and personal relationship with Jesus.  We are hoping to still be able to collaborate with Holy Trinity Parish in the future as Wellington South Parish is only just over the hill.
Thank you again for all your support and we hope to thank you in person on the 11th of December at 5.30pm.
                                                                                                                                The Life Teen Leadership Group
The Holy Trinity Parish Council supports the move by Life Teen to Wellington South and fully understands the rationale for the shift. The Council is very grateful to Life Teen for the youth and wider activity brought to the Parish and especially St Patricks in Kilbirnie over the years. Parishioners are encouraged to continue to support and attend Life Teen events just over the hill.

Fr Ephrem will be away from the 1st – 20th December
attending the Capuchin Formation course in Manila.
In his absence, Fr Gregory will be acting Parish Priest. Thank you for your help.

NOVEMBER PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD:
As November is the traditional month for special prayers for our loved ones, parishioners are asked to write the names and place them in the box in the Church, or give them to the priest.  Envelopes are available in the foyer. Because of the large number of names, we will only print anniversaries or recent.   All names will be remembered in Masses offered during November.

Archbishops Christmas Appeal envelopes are available from the back of the churches.
Please fill in your details carefully and place in the collection basket. Thank you.

Christmas Novena 15 – 23rd December
 St Patrick’s Church 7.30pm
All are welcome to come join us praying a novena for the nine days leading up to Christmas Eve

St Patrick’s Children’s Christmas Eve Mass 5.30pm
if you have a child that would like to  actively participate in this Mass and the Play
please contact Clare Lundon –  (04) 934 2981

Thank you for coming end year Christmas Party.
On the behalf Mix & Mingle we like to say have a Merry Christmas And Happy New Year If you are going away, please take care we all look forward to you next year.
Yours Sincerely Andrew Greening. H 04 3861233 Or Mb 0274385393 Email [email protected]
Carol O'Kane H 04 9341316 Mb 0274521419 Email [email protected]

       Christmas Appeal.  St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference
Last week we started a three week donation appeal to you for food items, toiletries, treats and gifts to be placed in or beside sign-posted boxes in the foyer any time of the week when the Church is open.  You might even like to make up a hamper. On Friday 16 December 2016 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
We have placed a brief note for you on the church pews suggesting ideas for donating items or making up hampers.  More copies 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.  Clare Maddock: 388 8548

Happy Hour – Holy Cross Church
 
Seniors are reminded that the next Happy Hour will be on Wednesday, 7th December at 11:30 am.
This will be a Christmas Lunch, there will be no bingo. So come along and bring a nice lunch dish, and also a small gift (value $5) to exchange.
Hope to see you there- Margaret.
Thank you to Denise and the senior class (Tui) at St Anthony’s School for cleaning St Anthony’s Church inside and out. You’ve done a wonderful job and it is always much appreciated.  Well done.

St Anthnoy’s Bazaar 2017  -   This week it’s pre-loved kitchen items to sell at its White Elephant stall.  Please leave clean, usable items in the boxes provided in the church foyer.
Drop off day at St Anthony’s School – Sunday 11th December Rain or shine!
See notice at the back of the Church for details

Publication for sale in the Parish
St Patrick’s Church – Tui Motu $7 each and NZ Catholic $4 each 
Holy Cross Church – NZ Catholic $4 each

Columban Calendars available through the office  $12 each
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. 
or for sale at the back of St Patrick’s Church after Mass in November.
Andrew will be selling calendars from the cabinet at the back of the Church. Cash or cheque please. Please make cheques out to Holy Trinity Parish.

A time to explore a possible calling from God to become a Sister of Mercy. Single women are invited to attend an event at Mercy Centre, Thorndon, Wellington on Sunday 27 November from 11.45am – 5pm, lunch included. Bookings are necessary. Please contact Sister Stephanie on 04-8198312 or [email protected]. Come along and bring a friend!

Theology on Tap:  Sunday, 27th November, 6.30pm, the Arborist, 166 Willis St.  This month our speaker is Jack Leason, Chief Organiser of the new young-adult Catholic Worker House based at the Victoria University Campus. Jack is going to speak about his plans for the house, and how he hopes to reach out to university students in Wellington. We will also discuss ways in which all young people living in Wellington can be involved. This will be our last Theology on Tap for 2016, so please make a special effort to attend - remember everyone is welcome and bar snacks are provided!

Taizé Prayer service The Sisters of Compassion offer a Taizé Prayer service on the first Friday of every month. The next service is on 2nd December at 7pm-8pm , Crombie Chapel, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street (off Murray Street), Island Bay, Wellington. There is plenty of parking available and the Chapel is a short walk from the nearest bus stop by Dee Street on The Parade in Island Bay (route number 1). Phone 04 383 7134 or 04 383 7769 for information.

VOLUNTEERS sought for help with new mothers and their babies. If you are might be able to help please call Family Life Pregnancy Centre ph. 2378343.

"Challenge 2000 in partnership with the Society of Mary runs a one year programme of training, development and service, work placements, diverse experiences, and local and maybe international travel. The Gap Year offers College leavers amazing opportunities to develop all the elements necessary for a positive, successful and balanced life. There are only 8 places available. Applications close 2nd December 2016. The Gap Year starts Feb 2017.  For more information please contact Kitty McKinley on 477 6827 or email [email protected].