5th march 2017

Dear brothers and sisters,  
Welcome to celebrate the season on Lent 2017. You know the purpose why we Christians celebrate Lent? Lent is the season of repentance and conversion, as the church anticipates her celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a season of preparation to be baptised and confirmed or renewing one’s baptismal promises at the paschal vigil of Easter. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days. Lent ends before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.
The Gospel of the first Sunday of lent, we see Christ in the desert struggling against evil. Through prayers and fasting he emerges victorious over the tempter. Surely this must stir something in us his followers. None of us can avoid this same struggle. We all are threatened by evil. At the beginning of Lent, the Church calls us to commit with renewed vigour to this struggle. What plans have we drawn up, and what weapons are we going to use?                                                                                                                                                             Fr Gregory
The first and last Friday of Lent are days 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.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE FORUMS – feedback deadline extendedThank you to all those who have sent in feedback regarding property. The deadline for final comments has been extended to the 7th March. If you haven’t already, there are the return boxes at the back of each Church or email the Parish Office [email protected]   

Lenten Mass – 1st March – 8th April
There will be 6.30am Mass at Holy Cross Church from Monday – Saturday during Lent.
Please note: this is an additional Mass during Lent and will continue while Fr Gregory is overseas.   
Stations of the Cross – Thursdays during Lent
Every Thursday at 7pm at St Patrick’s Church starting on 2nd March through to 6th April

Fr Gregory will be away from 9th – 23rd March.
During this time, the weekday Mass timetable for the Parish will be as follows:
Holy Cross Church - Friday 10th 9.30am & Saturday 11th 9am
St Patrick’s Church – Monday 13th 9am & Tues 14th 9.30am
St Anthony’s Church – Wednesday 15th 9am & Thurs 16th 11.30am
Holy Cross Church – Friday 17th 9.30am & Saturday 18th 9am
St Patrick’s Church – Monday 20th 9am & Tues 21st 9.30am
St Anthony’s Church – Wednesday 22nd 9am & Thurs 23rd 11.30am
Friday 24th March – timetable reverts back to normal weekday Mass schedule

Holy Trinity Parish Mass – 10am Sunday 12th March at Holy Cross School Hall
We will be celebrating Mass together at Holy Cross School Hall.  We look forward to seeing as many parishioners there as possible.  There will be morning tea available afterwards in the hall, so please bring a plate of food to share. For those who are unable to be at this Mass, there will be the 5.30pm Vigil at St Patrick’s Church.  Please note: These will be the only two Masses in the Parish that weekend.

There will be a music practice at Holy Cross Church 7.30pm on the 8th March for the one Parish Mass. Singers and musicians welcome

Lenten Appeal envelopes are available at the back of each Church

 St Anthony’s Church rosters have been emailed out this week. linen, cleaning, counters, morning tea and flowers.   

PLANNED GIVING: Your new sets of planned giving envelopes will be in the back of the churches next Sunday 12TH March. These sets start on the 2nd April 2017

Day of Prayer for Children: Sunday 5th March is the Day of Prayer for Children. This is an opportunity for the Church and wider society to reflect on the plight of and pray for children in New Zealand and around the world www.caritas.org.nz  for more information, or contact– either Roger on 04 496 1742 or Joe on 09 360 3028.

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.
Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington Come along and join us on Thurs 16th March at 7:30pm for fellowship and prayer in CONNOLLY HALL, Speaker: Michael Powell on DVD about “Following Jesus” Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or email: [email protected]

Come and hear Sister Gail Worcelo speak - ‘In the Spirit of Laudato Si’, the latest encyclical of Pope Francis ushering in a new ‘moment of grace’ for our world today. Gail holds degrees in Clinical Psychology & Christian Spirituality and divides her time between life in the monastery and teaching and leading workshops around the world. Tuesday 21 March 4.30 - 7.30pm  Te Wahanga Atawhai Mercy Centre, 15 Guildford Tce, Thorndon. RSVP Vaughan Smith, Sisters of Mercy, Thorndon  04 831 0300 or [email protected].  Light refreshments available.Contributions as koha on entry gratefully received.

Spirituality Seminar—Fr Eddie Condra We are not living an era of change but a change of era’ Pope Francis
Living in this time of rapid and radical change many seek to find some constant—a sacred thread which can assist us to weave our way through life.   Spirituality is that thread, empowering and transforming us to give meaning to change and to life itself. You are invited to come and explore.  Everyone is welcome. Each session will involve input, small-group discussion, a time for questions and period of meditation.March 7, 14 and 21: 7.30—9pm at SS Peter and Paul Church hall, Lower Hutt to register email [email protected] or call Megan 04 477 6827