6th august 2017

​Today’s feast of the transfiguration of Jesus is one of those gospel events that steps out of the ordinary as does, for example, the account of the baptism of Jesus by John.  Both involve the presence of the divine and the divinely inspired.  I think of the transfiguration as something like “Advertisement for the coming the Kingdom of God.”  The event takes place near the end of Jesus’ public ministry and seems to act as a glimpse into the very near future -- Jesus’ death and resurrection.
 
Scripture scholar, Tom Wright, invites his readers to discover a parallel between this transfiguration moment and the crucifixion of Jesus.  It can be compared schematically this way:
 
TRANSFIGURATION                                                             CRUCIFIXION
Jesus revealed in GLORY                                                      Jesus revealed in SHAME
His clothes SHINING WHITE                                                  Clothes roughly STRIPPED OFF
Jesus with MOSES & ELIJAH                                                 Jesus with TWO THIEVES
Surrounded by SHINING CLOUD                                           DARKNESS covers the land
 
Our invitation is to acknowledge the glory in the crucifixion.  Our lives are filled with experiences that we could describe as transfigurations: think of the birth of a child; honours coming from the hard work of getting an education; truly enjoying the benefits of good health. The same glory shines through both real-life situations if we but let it in, and in so doing we let Christ in at ever-deeper levels of our lives.
 
Lord, help me to live into the reality of Christ’s life, death and resurrection in my own history.  Let me be more deeply aware of Jesus’ presence to me and to live into as well as out of that glorious inviting presence that you are to me.                                                                                                                                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.

Congratulations to our children in the Parish who celebrate Confirmation today at St Patrick’s 10am Mass with Cardinal John Dew.
 
Chimereuchem Elyana Kelechi, Chiemesia Diona Kelechi, Chidumnoro Kismet Kelechi, Sean Thomas Evans, Rociana Ropati, Lupe Ropati, Joshua Alexander Angelo, Laura Joan Blair, Anastasia Graham
Lauseana Kerschbaumer, Andry Bourke, Liaiina Lefale, Xanthe Rose Matilda Dickie, Adam Burns, Benjamin Finefeuiaki, Mounga Finefeuiaki, Liaiina Leafale, Zerlinde Tutuila, Sulia Tutuila, Tyla Walmsley,
Billy Proudfoot, Liam Balogh, Cassara Balogh, Dannielle Trangmar, Joseph Thurston, Coco Giera, Luca Giera, Riley Smith, Sophia Meech, Chloe Blades, James, Pink, Maggie Taylor, Shyla Prasad, Ricco Raymond,
Keira Delaney, Liam Delaney, Roman Harrington, Ella Hansen, Elijah Higgins, Aaron Mathew, Beatrice Noriega, Aryan Prasad, Angela Robert, Gerard Sera Jose (Red), Maria Sullivan, Gerard Sera Jose  Franz Tanel, Francis Tanel, Fatrick Tanel. 

Just a friendly reminder to keep an eye on your personal belongs. Don't leave your bag unattended and be aware of and greet those around you.  If there is someone unfamiliar or you may be concerned about, approach one of the welcomers or one of the regular Mass goers you know and make them aware. 

Mass of Obligation – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Tuesday 15th August
 
 9am – St Anthony’s Church                        9.30am – St Patrick’s Church
9.30am – Holy Cross School Hall                     6pm – St Patrick’s Church

Holy Cross School Miramar – Year 1 – 8
Open Morning Tuesday 8th August 9 – 11am
Information Evening Tuesday 8th August 6 – 7pm
All enquiries welcome 388-7189 [email protected] or visit our website www.hcm.school.nz

St Catherine’s College Open Evening Tuesday 8 August 5.45pm – 7pm at the college in Upper Bourke St, Kilbirnie. Places available in all Year Levels in 2018.  Scholarships available for first year students. College Office: 04-939-8988

 An invitation to all Altar Servers of Holy Trinity Parish
Come and celebrate the feast of our patron saint of altar servers St. Tarcisius at the 5pm Mass at Holy Cross on the 20th August, followed by light refreshments in the Parish Centre. This will be a good opportunity for all the altar servers from the Parish to meet each other. Please put the date on your calendar.

St Anthony’s School Year 7 & 8 camp fundraising bake sale and sausage sizzle
after Mass on Sunday 13th August. 
It will be held on the deck at St Anthony's School. We are raising money for Tui Class school camp
in September. Thank you for your support of our students

Parish Bake Sale - Sunday 20 August after Mass at Holy Cross Church
There will be a Bake Sale following Mass on Sunday 20 August in the foyer of Holy Cross Church run by Year 7/8 students from Holy Cross School. Proceeds go towards the students' fundraising for the school camp later on this term. Expect cakes, cupcakes, muffins, biscuits, slices and sweets to tempt you after mass! There will also be rosary beads for sale, lovingly made by the students from recycled materials. Many thanks for your support.

Legion of Mary - Reunion Tea Party - We are excited to invite all Legion of Mary Active and Auxiliary members to join us at Holy Cross Church Chapel on Saturday 9th Sept 2017, 10.30am

Calling on young New Zealanders to share their voice with the Vatican
Young  New Zealanders are bein g called to share their views about life, faith, and their experience of Church through  an  online  survey  published  today  by  the  New  Zealand  Catholic  Bishops.   The  Catholic  Church  is launching a nation          - wide survey for all youth. The survey is part of an inte            rnational effort by Pope Francis to better understand the lives, attitudes and concerns of young peoplearound the world, in the lead up to the Synod on "Young people, faith and vocational discernment" in Rome, October 2018.New Zealanders aged 16 – 29  years old are encouraged toanswer the survey and tell their friends about it and share  the  link  with  their  networks.The  survey will  go  live  on  23  July  and will  run  for  five  weeks,  with the closing date for responses midnight on Sunday, 27 August 2017.
The survey will be found at https://www.facebook.com/voicetovaticanNZ  and on the home page of the
New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ website: http://www.catholic.org.nz

Reminder: Housing Forum hosted by Cardinal John Dew and Bishop Justin Duckworth – Wednesday 9 August, Anglican Cathedral 6-8pm (light food from 5.45pm) all welcome

Bishop’s statement on 2017 General Election  Our bishops have provided a statement which outlines principles and topics to consider when you are deciding how to vote in the upcoming election. You are encouraged to take one with you after Mass today. It is also available online at www.catholic.org.nz under ‘Bishops Statement’

This week’s reflection from the Catholic Bishops’ statement on the 2017 General Election: We envisage a nation that stives to welcome and appreciate migrants as an integral part of our nation. We share the angst that migrant families experience when changes in policy deem them no longer wanted due to perceived shifts in the labour needs of our economy.   

FAB Note of opportunity to Art aspirants 
Any 10-15 yr old who wants ANY art to be part of their life can participate free. 3 bursaries ($3000, $2000 & $1000) will be decided by your peers. 2017 closing date is 31 August.
Look, or ask your guardian to look, at www.ebis.school.nz for more info.
You do not have to attend EBIS (any yr 7 to 11 in Eastern Suburbs)-contacts on that website under ‘Franken Art Bursaries’. No entry fee, no costs to you or your parents

St Catherine's College 2018 Scholarships Educating Young Women since 1950 
Apply now to [email protected] or phone 04 939 8988  Applications close 25 August 2017

Archdiocesan Parish Leadership Vicariate are hosting a 2-day Enneagram Workshop at the Catholic Centre on 19/20 August, 9.00-4.30pm, $50.00pp. 
Registrations to [email protected] before Wednesday 7th August.

Wanted – Flat to Rent: Pensioners seeks a 1 bedroom flat to rent with small outdoor area if possible, on the flat in Miramar or Strathmore. Ring Bev 388 5821
 

eConference Coming Soon Gospel leadership in times of chaos: the hope of Pope Francis
Join a challenging eConference streamed live free over the internet. Group participation will be facilitated by the Parish Leadership Ministry team and The Catholic Institute, Wellington. Thursday 10 August 12 noon - 4.30pm (NZ time) at the Catholic Centre, 22-30 Hill St, Thorndon, Wellington or at Our Lady of Fatima Church Foyer, Parata Street, Waikanae.  Registration attendance for the Wellington venue to Ann Williams [email protected]   For more information: www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/short-courses/eConference-2017

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington Come along and join us on Thursday 17th of August 2017 at 7:30pm for fellowship and prayer in CONNOLLY HALL, Thorndon. Speaker: Sister Marie Gore on “The benefits of gathering together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal” Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or email: [email protected] 

Saturday 12‒Sunday 13 August - Retreat: ‘Coming Home To Who We Are’, storytelling, deep listening, silent prayer and meditation, personal reflection, ritual, rest, silence and refreshment. Facilitators Joy Cowley and Pip Nicholls. Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. To register email  [email protected] or ph (04) 383-7769.

Confirmation & First Holy Communion Gifts Available: Order online at catholicgifts.co.nz or visit the John Paul II Centre for Life, 6 Parumoana St., Porirua (next to Caltex carwash!) where a small selection of stock is held. Fridays Noon to 2 p.m. or by arrangement 2378343.

Vigil for the Unborn: Saturday 19th August. St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. 10 am Mass. Followed by Exposition & Rosary Procession to front of Hospital. Ends at Noon with a shared lunch. Relying on God's grace, join in this persevering prayer effort for our most vulnerable - especially the unborn - and those suffering from the tragedy of abortion. For more information contact Family Life International NZ PH: 2378343

Tindall Fund Applications for 2017 are now open. The priority is to fund groups committed to social, pastoral, charitable and educational needs in our region. Applications are judged on the basis of need, resource availability and the fulfilment of set Tindall criteria. Applications due Friday, 25th August 2017.
To apply for funding, and to see the criteria for applications please go the Archiocese website http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/quicklinks/support/tindall-funding/

 Please come and join us at the Wellington Dove Fellowship for Women. Sat 19th August at 1.15pm.Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace. Our speaker is Rebecca Millar who will be sharing her faith journey in which the Lord led her into the Catholic church, Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Dove Fellowship.  For further information contact Shura Price 04 3899938

2017 is the bicentenary of the founding of the Marist Brothers in France, 1817. To mark this occasion there will be a Mass held in the Cathedral on Sunday August 13, at 2.00pm, followed by afternoon tea. Former staff, students, relatives, supporters and friends of the Brothers, as well as current staff and students of schools where the Brothers have taught, are cordially invited.

Healing Service - There is to be a Healing Service with Fr John Rea at St Bernadette`s Church 194 Naenae Rd, Naenae on Tuesday 22 Aug beginning at 7.30 pm.  All are invited. Bring especially those who need Jesus healing.

Retreat Day - Fr John Rea will conduct a Retreat Day in the Sacred Heart Cathedral chapel on Saturday 26 August on the theme of the Song of Songs.  This is open to all and will include the Mass of the day.  We will begin at 9.30 with morning tea and finish at 3.30 pm. Please bring something to share for lunch and a bible and pad.

St Dominic’s Catholic College at Henderson are celebrating their 50th Jubilee on September 15th and 16th. Registrations are now open on their Facebook page: St Dominic’s College at Henderson - 50th Jubilee OR on their website, www.stdoms.ac.nz OR contact the Principal’s PA Tina Allingham at [email protected]

The Missionaries of Charity cordially invite you to celebrate the Feast Day of St Teresa of Calcutta with Holy Mass on Tuesday 5 September at 9.00am at Holy Family Parish Church, Mungavin Ave, Porirua East.  Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal John Dew.  All visiting priests are welcome to concelebrate.  Light refreshements will be shared following Mass.
The Novena to St Teresa of Calcutta will start on Sun 27 August and continue until Mon 4 September.  Copies of the Novena are available on the website  www.motherteresa.org
 

We all need to go apart, to ascend the mountain in a space of silence, to find ourselves and better perceive the voice of the Lord. This we do in prayer. But we cannot stay there! Encounter with God in prayer inspires us anew to “descend the mountain” and return to the plain where we meet many brothers and sisters weighed down by fatigue, sickness, injustice, ignorance, poverty both material and spiritual. To these brothers and sisters in difficulty, we are called to bear the fruit of that experience with God, by sharing the grace we have received.       Pope Francis, 2014

“Current of Grace’ Conference “Celebrating the diverse fruits and family of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in New Zealand” When:  Friday 22 – Sunday 24 September 2017-06-23 at the Distinction Hotel and the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North Guest presenters include Bishop Denis Browne, Fr John Rea, Diana Ingle CCRNZ Chairperson.  Ann Brereton from ICCRS will share on 2017 Vatican report Pope Francis’s exciting new plans for us all! For further information and to register on-line visit www.ccrnz.org/register2017 contact Val Morrison Tel: 07 542 5537

Last Marriage Encounter Opportunity for 2017
Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend Fri 6th Oct – Sun 8th Oct being held for the first time at Silverstream Retreat, Lower Hutt. Book your place now free phone 0800 362 686

 
Adoration every Saturday at Holy Cross Church after 9am Mass