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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. Important information for participation in Parish Masses, commencing on 6 & 7 June: All members of Holy Trinity Parish can rejoice, as the New Zealand Catholic Bishops have said, that we are able to take these first steps towards returning to some semblance of normality. The Parish Pastoral Council has carefully considered the advice of the Bishops in establishing protocols and practices that will enable us to safely recommence Sunday worship, through a Vigil Mass and two Sunday morning Masses. Our start date coincides with the Feast of the Holy Trinity, on 6 & 7 June. Here are the protocols that apply during Alert Level 2 (the Council acknowledges that they may seem severe, but these are the Ministry of Health requirements, as applied by the Bishops and to our Parish circumstances):
If you have not already registered for Mass attendance or to volunteer, please do so now by clicking on this link https://forms.gle/d3qFRao9beKh6Xz6A or contact the Parish Office ([email protected] ; 04 388 6953). Please help anyone you know without access to the internet; with their permission, you can register them. Acts 2, 1-11; 1 Cor 12, 3-7. 12-13; Jn 20, 19-23 A Promised Fulfilled: The Spirit Of The Lord Is Upon Us! Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. After a period of fifty days of rejoicing over the resurrection of Christ, we have come to the definitive end of Easter Season. Pentecost is a feast which occupies a very important and prominent position in the Church’s history and liturgical calendar. This is because it serves as the bridge between Lenten/Easter Season and Ordinary Time of the year. A great number of scholars have suggested that the feast of Pentecost marks the beginning of the church. Today marks the actual beginning of the church’s missionary endeavour. Given this, what we celebrate today is equally the birthday of the Holy Mother Church. So it suffices to say, happy birthday to all the faithful! The principal actors or agents in today’s celebration include the Lord who today has fulfilled his promise, the Holy Spirit who has heard the voice of Jesus and made himself available, and finally, all believers who with open minds and hearts have welcomed the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we celebrate today a great feast, when Christ filled and equipped his church with the power of his Spirit and sent us out into the world to bring peace, unity, joy, forgiveness, love and eternal life to all humankind. The first reading of this Sunday tells the story of how Christ eventually fulfilled his promise to his disciples who faithfully heeded the injunction, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the advocate comes” (Acts 1, 5). Therefore, today’s celebration is that of a promise fulfilled, and the reward of faithful obedience and steadfastness in prayer. Like the early disciples, every true believer has been empowered specially by the Holy Spirit. We have been refilled with a new unction for function and therefore, must like them also, welcome and appreciate the various gifts made available to us by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Dear sisters and brothers, one must be careful in exercising or claiming to have received this gift by fabricating and learning all forms of “junk and mock speeches” that cannot be understood, interpreted or explained by anyone. The danger inherent in this is, sinning against the Holy Spirit. We must note Jesus’ warning: “Any sin against the Son will be forgiven but…against the Holy Spirit will not” (Mt 12, 31-32). It is important therefore that we grasp very well Paul’s teachings on the issue of gifts and speaking in tongues in Cor 12 and 14. It is a gratuitous gift from God and does not come through learning and practicing. It was not given to them to boost their ego, for their own personal or selfish interests, or to break away and found their own Churches. Instead, it was given to them to pass on the message of eternal life on to others. In the second reading of today, Paul makes a very important statement: “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.” What this means is that it is God himself that enables us through the gifts we received today to recognize the lordship of Christ, as Christ equally tells us: “No one comes to me except the Father draws him” (Jh 6, 44). Recognizing the lordship of Christ is one task that was very difficult for Satan the tempter, because, he was without the Holy Spirit. The obvious fact is that when Paul uses the phrase “say Jesus is Lord”, he is not simply referring to the literary pronouncement of the lordship of Jesus as one could easily pay lip service to it. Instead, what Paul means by “say” here is, making Jesus the Lord of one’s life. The spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom 8, 15-16). In the gospel we see the synergy of the Trinitarian God in action, each doing and completing His action. They operated as though they were involved in a relay race where each hands over the baton to the other. However, in spite of this hand over, none of them becomes passive. To say others are passive at a time could amount to one falling victim to the heresy of millenarianism as did Joachim of Fiona who thought that there were three eras, each dominated by a particular member of the Trinity while others went to bed or into passivity. Jesus says “as the Father sent me so I am sending you, receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit we received today has in no way come to replace Christ. Rather, as he was with Christ, He has come to help us achieve what he helped Christ achieve. For example he has come to help us forgive the sins of one another, for without his aid we can do this. This is why having breathed the Spirit on his disciples, Jesus commissioned them as ministers of the Sacrament of Penance, “…whoever sins you forgive are forgiven…” This day therefore, the Spirit we have received commissions and empowers us to move out in full force yet, with wisdom and gentility in order to testify to the lordship of Christ. Today we have a new Pentecost. Let us therefore beckon on the Lord: “Send forth your spirit O Lord and renew the face of the earth. Fr Ephrem Pray Rosary: Month of May: within the cycle of a year, the Church unfolds the whole of the mystery of Christ, from his incarnation and birth until his ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of blessed hope and of the Lord’s return … In celebrating this annual cycle of Christ’s mysteries, the Church honours with special love Mary, the Blessed Mother of God, who is joined by an inseparable bond to the saving work of her Son. In her the Church holds up and admires the most excellent effect of the redemption and joyfully contemplates, as in a flawless image, that which the Church itself desires and hopes wholly to be (SC 102 & 103). May I call you to reflect our redemption through Rosary with Mother Mary in this holy month of May. Fr Ephrem is offering Mass every day from the prayer room in the presbytery at the following times Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri, Sat 9.30am Thurs 7pm Sunday 10.30am To join him live go to his Facebook page (Ephrem Tigga) If you would like Fr to offer Mass for yourself or a loved one, please contact the office by either phone or email Let us pray for all those who are unwell especially Nesi Tan, Warren Stevenson, Eddie Wilkins, John Cairns-Cowan and Graeme Adams and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community. We also pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially Michael Lynch and those whose anniversaries occur around this time; Ricky Popple, Matthew Manion and Margot Chrustowski. We also remember our leaders and all those involved in providing essential services. Covid 19 - St Vincent de Paul Holy Trinity Parish. our Holy Trinity SVDP Conference continues to reach out to many local people, within and outside our parish in the eastern suburbs, who may be isolated or vulnerable at this difficult time. 180 homes have been phoned or attempted to phone over the lockdown, following Jesus present amongst those who suffer or may be excluded from society. Should you know of any others who would appreciate a phone call or are in need of emergency food or winter bedding support, please contact: Tina Quidilla SVDP, ph 021 159 2412, email: [email protected] Do please continue to keep the sick, lonely, poor and marginalised in your prayers. Blessings to all callers, carers and helpers. Brendan Quirk, St Vincent de Paul Conference, Holy Trinity Parish. Here is a link to the fifth digital edition of NZ Catholic. I have also attached a cover graphic. Please share and forward as widely as you can. https://indd.adobe.com/view/23d41d66-f30e-439b-83e0-95cf162f4fdd Masses available on Television: Free to air telecast Shine TV Freeview channel 25, Sky Channel 201 Sundays – 2pm The Sunday Mass on Shine TV Channel 25 from Auckland Diocese has been warmly received around New Zealand by Catholics who don't have an internet connection to watch an Online Mass, and by many others, including people who were unable to go to Mass for health and other reasons even before Covid-19 stopped public Mass celebrations. Bishop Pat says: "Shine TV is now offering us a 45-minute slot (rather than 30 minutes) and have been impressed by the number of viewers which the broadcast Masses have been attracting. Perhaps this is one of the unexpected fruits of the pandemic experience?" Check the website: https://www.shinetv.co.nz/ St Catherine’s College Open Night Thursday 25th June. Tours start at 6pm. BOOK A TOUR: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ CODE: tqnwc St Mary’s College Open Day Tuesday 30 June For more information see the St Mary's College Website:stmw.school.nz. Enrolments are open for more information email: [email protected] Science Laboratory Technician St Mary’s College is seeking a highly organised, reliable lab technician who shows initiative, works well independently and with others in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. The position requires a mix of practical and administrative tasks completed on a daily basis. Chemistry Lab experience is essential. The job involves purchasing and preparing chemicals as well as maintenance and preparation of science resources to be used in labs and classrooms. An understanding of the Guidance to the Code of practice for School Exempt Laboratories, 2016, and current health and safety standards is an advantage. The position is part-time, in school term-time only, for 20 hours per week. Remuneration is aligned with the NZEI Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement and dependent on the candidates background and experience. Upholding the special character of St Mary’s College as a catholic mercy college and being able to work collaboratively as part of our high performing Sciences team. Applications close Friday 12 June 2020 at 12 noon.Please send a letter of application and your C.V. to [email protected] with a cc to Head of Science, Trevor Keough at [email protected] Learner Support Assistant St Mary's College is seeking a self motivated well organised Learner Support Assistant who shows initiative, works well independently and with others in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. You will need to be able to relate to young people and have an enthusiasum for teaching and learning. Previous experience in this type of role would be an advantage. This position is a part time fixed term position for 20 hours per week starting in term 2 and finishing in term 4. Renumeration is aligned with the NZEI Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement and dependent on the candidates background and experience. The successful applicant will be supportive of the special character of St Mary's College as a catholic mercy college. Applications close Friday 12 June at 12 noon. Please send your cover letter and C.V. to Meg Doile by emailing [email protected] Embracing his cross means finding the courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time, abandoning for a moment our eagerness for power and possessions in order to make room for the creativity that only the Spirit is capable of inspiring. Pope Francis: Extraordinary moment of prayer, 27 March 2020 RE: Kahungunu Appeal Thank You! The poor remind us how we should live the Gospel Instead of feeling annoyed when they knock on our doors, let us welcome their cry for help as a summons to go out of ourselves, to welcome them with God’s own loving gaze” Pope Francis World Day of the Poor. On the 5th of May Catholic Social Services sent out the call across the Archdiocese to once again help us support Kahungunu Whānau Services to house nine households this month of May. Once again you responded with incredible generosity. Offers of complete house lots, beds, dining tables, linen, blankets, kitchen and household appliances and even money. We cannot begin to thank you enough, especially when we know that some of you are facing uncertain times ahead. The volume of gifts you have given was such that we almost ran out of storage. Fortunately the Wellington South Parish generously gave us a temporary solution while Kahungunu Whanau Services set up homes for their vulnerable whanau. This current appeal is now finished. Once everyone is settled into their homes we hope to share with you stories of what your generosity has meant to them. Stories from the men and women who finally have a place to call home and from the staff at Kahungunu who have committed themselves to finding those homes as well as working to sustain their tenancies. On behalf of the whole team at Catholic Social Services and our partners at Kahungunu Whanau Services we thank you. Thank you for hearing the cry for help as a summons to go out beyond ourselves, welcoming people with great needs with “ God own loving gaze”. E te A tua e manaaki ki a koutou katoa, Karen Holland Kaiarahi Catholic Social Services COVID 19 The country remains at Alert Level 2 and we are still all encouraged to maintain careful and safe practices which are appropriate to our particular situations. Life is beginning to return to our “new normal”. For some this may initially be a difficult time due to significant changes in circumstances. For others it may be a positive challenge or opportunity to develop things in a new or different way. Whatever lies ahead, let’s all remember the positive experiences and learnings we have had over our lockdown times. Here’s our challenge: Can we carry some of these experiences to our new and maybe better normal? Plus, of course, SPIRITUALITY – our prayer, reflection and meditation. As you’ll have seen, we’ve received the news that gatherings of 100 people are now allowed, with some conditions for minimising risk. So very soon up to 100 people at a time, who are able, not compromised by health conditions and feel comfortable to do so, may physically attend Sunday Mass, initially at St Patricks and Holy Cross churches. For those who cannot attend, there is still an option of live streaming as per the past two months and also a wealth of prayer and reflection opportunities for you to continue at home or with other people in your safe bubble. This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. We remember the call to the followers of Christ to accept the Spirit and be strong and constant in our witnessing of the Gospel. Dan Schutt has prepared a Novena for Pentecost accessible at: https://www.danschuttemusic.com/wordpressstore/pentecost-novena/ Make it all or just part and in your own time! Below links to a good reflection and prayers AND the bonus section in te reo Māori. https://www.nlo.org.nz/news-and-events/media-releases/feast-of-pentecost-31-may-2020/ Some links for Mass: https://www.facebook.com/fretigga https://www.youtube.com/c/MCSHWellington (Cardinal John) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsuh9V3w-WRG7yEAnAf_FA (P North) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqfwCqh8NbWENaNQHQGQbA (Hamilton) https://www.youtube.com/user/cathnews/videos (Australia) PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Please come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you now, as if you were already there and I unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen A few other links: Laudato Si Here are two rather thought provoking articles relating to Pope Francis’ document and his ongoing call to care for our earth:
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