6 october 2019

Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14; Luke 17:5-10
Dear sisters and brothers, in today's Gospel we hear Jesus teach about faith and service to God. The context is a continuing dialogue between Jesus and his followers about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus has just finished an instruction on sin and forgiveness. There are two related teachings that Jesus offers to his disciples when they cry out for an increase in faith. The first is the familiar reminder that faith, even just a little, will enable the followers of Jesus to do wondrous things. But this uplifting and inspiring teaching is quickly followed by the second teaching, a caution about knowing one's place in God's plans. The disciples of Jesus are to understand themselves as servants to God and his plans. Even when God works wonders through us, with our mustard seed-sized faith, we must not seek praise. Our participation in God's plans is God's grace to us—nothing more, nothing less. When we are graced enough to cooperate with God, the work we do is nothing more than our obligation to God as faithful stewards. And yet, our faith enables us to believe that what we have offered in service to God, as his servants, can be made to produce a hundredfold.
It is amazing thing to see God working through us. It takes minimum time to spend in the rest home to listen the lonely and elderly people. It is ordinary and so simple to just sit and talk with someone for a few minutes the. But there is grace in our spiritual and worldly immaturity. We can still recognise that God is at work. And once you get a taste of God working through you to bring joy to others, you are hooked.  There is no better feeling in the world. You have made his or her day.  You have given them hope of better tomorrow in the Lord.
The extraordinary month of mission calls to the awareness of our responsibility to continue the mission entrusted by Christ to his disciples to make centre of our lives. Through you and me the Church carries out the mission by virtue of our baptism. The missionary activity therefor, is not tied to the generosity of a few who are “sent” but, all the Church of God is in a state of mission. That is why, Paul’s reminder to Timothy of God’s gifts to make use of the salvation of many.
Will you go and visit someone today, who might be just lonely and waiting to be visited.  Fr Ephrem
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.
 

3 of our 4 new Parish Council members; Margaret Bearsley, Chrissy Saw and Patricia Lynch, will be commissioned by Fr Ephrem at the 5.30pm Vigil Mass on the 5th October.
 
Blessing to be said by all when new members have been commissioned
We pray to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to bless this Parish Pastoral Council
May God the Father deepen your faith.
May God the Son enthuse you with hope.
May God the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with love.
Amen.

 
2 Columban Calendars to give away!
Two Columban Calendars have been very kindly donated by a parishioner.
If you would like one of these please contact the Parish Office [email protected] or 04 388 6953

Holy Cross Happy Hour Weds 9th October from 11am  in the Parish Centre. Come join us for bingo. Please bring a small plate of finger food to enjoy with our tea/coffee. All welcome

St Patrick’s Church centenary Mass is on 17th November at 10 am.  Would you like to take an active role as part of the Mass?  Would you like to usher people at the beginning and / or at Communion ?  Would you like to read?  To read a Prayer of the Faithful?  To take part in the Offertory procession?  To be a collector?  We are planning now so if you are interested please contact Patricia O’Donnell at 934 3179 or [email protected]  by 8th October.

Does anyone do calligraphy?  I have 9 certificates to prepare for First Holy Communion children and need someone to do the lettering as my printing is awful  If you can help please email [email protected]

St Patrick’s Church desperately needs musicians.  Do you play the piano?  Is your child learning to play?  Would you be prepared to play one song at Mass on one Sunday or Vigil Mass on Saturday night? Help will be given before you play.  if you are interested please contact Patricia O’Donnell at 934 3179 or [email protected]

In the leadup to the St Patrick’s centenary Mass on the 17th November at 10am, we will include an interesting fact about the former Parish each week.
FACT  The first proper presbytery was bought from Mr David O’Donnell in February 1920. It was at 13 Naughton Tce and the land is now the netball courts at St Catherine’s College.

Volunteer to weed a garden for St Patrick’s Primary School We’d love a parishioner to sort the garden down the drive next to what was the video shop. The compost bin is full and it’d be good to have this dug into the soil.

“Room wanted – 60 year-old male seeks a room in Lyall Bay/Kilbirnie (Eastern suburbs). Please call Mike on 021 0472 141. Thank you.”

2020 Columban Calendars available through the office $12 each.
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, 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: your name, 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. 
Bernadette Hyland will also have them available for sale at St Patrick’s Church.

Gascoigne Educational Scholarship.  This scholarship is open to all ages groups who are present members of Holy Trinity Parish and are planning to study for 2020 and beyond at a tertiary level and who meet the qualifying criteria which are included in the terms and conditions. For an application form (including terms and conditions) email the parish office [email protected] download a copy from the website  http://www.holytrinity.parish.nz/  or copies available from the back of each Church.  Closing date: 31 October 2019

Venerable Suzanne Aubert: A missionary who made NZ her home
At the beginning of the extraordinary month of Mission called by Pope Francis, we remember one of the great missionaries who came to New Zealand 150 years ago. Venerable Suzanne Aubert was just 25 when she responded to Christ’s call to leave her native country of France and travel to New Zealand. Her mission was to answer God’s call to bring the love of Christ to all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. She had a particular calling to serve Māori, and she became known to the tangata whenua as Meri Hohepa. She established the first soup kitchen in New Zealand still serving thousands of meals a year, homes for abandoned children and the severely disabled and a hospital to care for the sick and dying. Suzanne died here in Aotearoa New Zealand 94 years ago this week. For 66 years of her life she sought to reflect the compassionate face of Jesus to all she encountered.
Venerable Suzanne has already reached the second of four steps on her journey to sainthood. The findings of an inquiry held earlier this year to investigate an alleged miracle through her intercession are currently being examined in Rome. If Rome accepts that the miracle occurred through Suzanne’s intercession, she can be beatified, and thus universally acclaimed as a true and humble follower of Jesus, inspiring us on our own journey or hikoi of faith.
Prayer for the beatification of Suzanne Aubert
Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us that as often as we show compassion to the least of your brothers and sisters, we show it to you.
Hear our prayers that Venerable Suzanne Aubert, who loved the Māori people and devoted her life to the poor, the sick and the underprivileged, and whom the Church has declared to be one of your true and humble followers, may soon be recognised as a saint.     Amen.
He Īnoi mō te Hātotanga o te Kahurangi nei a Meri Hōhepa
E te Ariki e Hēhu Karaiti, nāu mātou i whakaako mēnā ka puaki atu mātou i te pūaroha mō te iti, arā, ngā tēina, ngā tuākana, ngā tuāhine me ngā tungāne, kātahi ka whakaatu mātou i te pūaroha ki ā koe.
Whakarongo mai ki ā mātou īnoinga ki a Meri Hōhepa te Wahine Kahurangi nāna i te aroha te iwi Māori. Nāna i awhi ngā tāngata pōhara, ngā tūroro, me ngā tāngata rawakore. Meatia tēna, kua karanga rawa atu te Hāhi i tētahi tāngata o āu pononga tapu, o āu tāngata māhaki hoki. Ā te wā tonu, mā te katoa e mōhio mai tōna Hātotanga.  Āmene.

Safeguarding training. For those who weren’t able to make the training session in May on Safeguarding there are 2 more sessions at the Catholic Centre (Level 1, room 2)
•           Tuesday 8 October   12pm                     •               Wednesday 9 October   7pm           
This training is compulsory if you are involved in any of the following ministries.  Please make sure you attend one of these if you are involved in the following ministries and have not attended.
- Parish Council   - Children’s Liturgy  - Trainer Altar Servers Roles  - Extraordinary Ministers of Communion to the Sick  - Sacramental Programme Leaders – Legion of Mary
If you are not able to travel into town, you are welcome to join the meeting by ZOOM Conference from your computer at the above time and date. To do this they need to send Brendy your email address and parish you belong to and you will be sent the login details. Contact Brendy Weir Safeguarding Adviser, Archdiocese of Wellington (04) 496 1768 or 021 1958 307 [email protected]
extra Safeguarding workshop on Tuesday 29th October, at 60 Knights Road, Hutt Central, we will gather at 6.45pm for a cup of tea/coffee and the workshop itself will start at 7pm. It’s at the Parish Hall, Te Awakairangi Parish, Sts Peter and Paul Church. Please contact me ASAP if you want to attend. My contact details are Brendy Weir Tel. (04) 496 11768 or email [email protected]

Thank you to our community for supporting the Vinnies Book Fair. With your support we were able to raise nearly $5000 over the weekend. This money will be going towards the welfare and support services that Vinnies provides to the community through the Newtown hub and Parish conferences. Special thank you to the dedicated volunteers who turned up to set-up, run and pack-down the fair. We wouldn’t be able to do it without you all.  Missed the Book Fair? We’ll be back again at the end of April 2020!

What would Jesus do? Mission for a Fractured World.    Did Jesus really mean “love your enemies,
pray for those who persecute you”? Presented by Sr Laurie Brink OP, Professor of New Testament
Studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  15 Oct, 7-8.30pm at St Bernadette’s School Hall, Lower Hutt.  Please register by 9 Oct with Ann Williams on  [email protected]. koha would be appreciated.

Joshua Wellington showing movie “A Case for Christ” on Thursday 10th October at CONNOLLY HALL, Thorndon Be there at 7:00pm for a 7:15pm start. Supper provided. Koha taken up. Open to everybody.
next men’s meeting on Thursday 17th October at the same venue. Fellowship from 7:00pm for 7:30pm start.
Talk & practical: Fr John Pettit on “Contemplative prayer & Christian Meditation” Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready 027-356-9555 or email: [email protected]

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women Our next meeting is on Saturday 19th October 1.30pm at Connolly hall Thorndon.  Our speaker will be Lucienne Hensel on "According to Your Word".  Come for prayer, praise, fellowship and wisdom.  All women welcome. Contact Shura 021 072 4042

The final workshop for 2019 is on “ Liturgy of the Word with Communion” with Fr Patrick Bridgman, Archdiocesan Liturgy Advisor. 7-9pm,Thursday 24th October at Ss Peter and Pauls Church, Knights Rd. Lower Hutt. Everyone welcome. Please register with Ann Williams before Friday 18th October at [email protected]

Join us for a FREE Seniors’ Week event to talk about the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke, so you know what to do if you see or experience them. There will be a CPR demonstration Everyone welcome – free afternoon tea provided. Come along for a chance to hear from others and ask questions.    
Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre      Wednesday 16 October   1.30pm – 3.00pm                                        Strathmore Park Community Centre        Friday 1 November           11.00am – 12.30pm

”Each one of you has received a special grace, so like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others.” (1 Peter 4:10)

This is a season for undertaking prophetic actions. Many young people all over the world are making their voices heard and calling for courageous decisions… The young remind us that the earth is not a possession to be squandered, but an inheritance to be handed down. They remind us that hope for tomorrow is not a noble sentiment, but a task calling for concrete actions here and now. We owe them real answers, not empty words, actions not illusions.  Pope Francis: Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, 1 Sep 2019

Age & Work Workshop
Experiencing difficulty finding work after 55?  Maybe given up looking after many knockbacks? Working but keen to reduce your hours?  Working less hours than needed to pay your bills? Thinking about best time to stop paid work? Interactive workshop to share with other older people issues & strategies to address these questions Friday 18th October 2019, 10am -12noon, Kilbirnie Lyall Bay Community Centre, Bay Road Workshop facilitator Roger Tweedy who has a long involvement in ageing workforce issues & is a thought  leader around ‘work futures’.  Roger is also a supporter of a new service - www.seniorsatwork.nz

​Our prayers are with those who are unwell especially John Rogers, 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 and those whose anniversaries occur around this time including Vicentyna (Vicky)  Sobierajska-Watkins, Norman Paton, Moira Button, Danziel Kalolo-Apolinario and Glynn McArthy. ​