7 june

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.

   Readings: Ex 34, 4-6. 8-9; 2 Cor 13, 11-13; John 3, 16-18.
 
The Lord, is a God of tenderness and compassion
After successfully completing a few months of Easter experience in a locked room, the Ascension of Christ into heaven opened the door of heaven. The Holy Spirit then rushed to us as if He got us back in his home like the prodigal son. Today God bestows singular grace to us that the complete God head fills his presence amidst us with kindness and compassion beyond all telling.
Moses encounters God’s kindness, compassion, tenderness and faithfulness at Sinai in good times and bad times with Israelites. What Moses and Israelites experienced and gone through is tremendous and their whole life was guided by it. For them it was miss and hit the presence of God. May I have an opportunity to explore the loving relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are eternally one in their loving relationship.
It is the Spirit the Lord Comes down and takes flesh in the womb of Virgin Mary, the word brought by the angel. When Mary raised her concern, the angel said to her, “the Spirit of the Lord will overshadow you and you will conceive and bear a son and will name him Jesus.” God the Father in His tender compassion becomes one of you and me. He is a tremendous lover of you and me. In His love he is moved with compassion to be with us in our weakness and sickness. So that we may stand up and be counted to His love in response.
Now this Son who was born by the will of God, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit; now after his resurrection as promised returns to his Fatherhood to send the Holy Spirit to be with us always.
God continues to raise his people after his heart in every age, and in our age too. Andrea Tornielli records his conversation with Pope Francis in a book, “The name of God is Mercy.” Pope Francis visiting the prison in Palmasola, Bolivia, 2015 made a profound statement about himself saying, “standing before you is a man who has been forgiven for his many sins …” It is truly striking to hear a pope say these things about himself. He has experience God’s mercy; he has seen God’s mercy in action through other people and their life changed for good.
1) We need to respect ourselves and respect others.  Our conviction that the Triune God is present within us always should help us to esteem ourselves as God’s holy dwelling place, to behave well in His holy presence, and to lead purer and holier lives, practicing acts of justice and charity.  This Triune Presence should also encourage us to respect and honour others as "Temples of the Holy Spirit." 
 2) We need to be aware of God as the Source of our strength and courage. The awareness and conviction of the presence of God within us gives us the strength to face the manifold problems of life with Christian courage.  It was such a conviction that prompted the early Christian martyrs being taken to their execution to shout the heroic prayer of Faith from the Psalms: "The Lord of might is with us, our God is within us, and the God of Jacob is our helper" (Psalm 46).  
3) We need to see the Trinity as the model for our Christian families: We are created in love to be a community of loving persons, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in Love. From the day of our Baptism, we have belonged to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  How privileged we are to grow up in such a beautiful Family! Hence, let us turn to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in prayer every day.  We belong to the Family of the Triune God.  The love, unity and joy in the relationship among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit should be the supreme model of our relationships within our Christian families.  Our families become truly Christian when we live in a relationship of love with God and with others.
4) We are called to become more like the Triune God through all our relationships.  We are made in God’s image and likeness.  Just as God is God only in a Trinitarian relationship, so we can be fully human only as one member of a relationship of three partners.  The self needs to be in a horizontal relationship with all other people and in a vertical relationship with God.  In that way our life becomes Trinitarian like that of God.  Modern society follows the so-called “I-and-I” principle of unbridled individualism and the resulting consumerism.  But the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity challenges us to adopt an "I-and-God-and-neighbour" principle: “I am a Christian insofar as I live in a relationship of love with God and with other people.” 
Like God the Father, we are called upon to be productive and creative persons by contributing to the building up of the fabric of life and love in our family, our Church, our community and our nation.  
Like God the Son, we are called upon to reconcile, to be peacemakers, to put back together that which has been broken, to restore what has been shattered. 
Like God the Holy Spirit, it is our task to uncover and teach truth and to dispel ignorance. (Trinitarian spirituality:
                                                                                      Fr Ephrem

Fr Ephrem is offering Mass every weekday from the prayer room in the presbytery
at the following times
Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri 9.30am        Thurs 7pm           
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 and those whose anniversaries occur around this time; Brendan Murray, Ngaire Durkin, Stjepan Kuzmicich, Brian Vincent and Patricia Reynolds.
We also remember our leaders and all those involved in providing essential services.

                                                  
                                       Heading towards Alert Level 1                       
 
MOVING BEYOND 
Interesting news that anytime soon we should be moving into Alert Level 1.

Regardless, the Ministry of Health is still recommending ongoing care with hygiene and behaviours when out in public and at gatherings, especially among people who may be unknown to you. While it does look like the virus may be contained, we have to have regard for those with health issues and compromised immunity, as well as other at risk groups and individuals!
We will update you on what Alert Level 1 means for us regarding use of our Churches as soon as the situation becomes clearer.
Here’s hoping that so many of the kind and caring contacts and activities that many people have been undertaking over past months in the parish and wider community will continue in some way as we move into our Winter months and beyond.
 
Our St Vincent de Paul Society members are continuing their good works so here’s an update from them and a reminder of their details should you wish to help in anyway:
 
 
 
In our local eastern suburbs communities, many families are experiencing ongoing hardship from COVID-19, such as going short of food, losing their job, cut backs in hours of work, digging into savings, debt, and difficulty clothing and equipping kids back at school.   Do please continue to keep the sick, lonely, poor and marginalised in your prayers. 
Your SVDP Conference in Holy Trinity Parish is here to help in strict confidence if we know who needs help, "following Jesus present amongst those who suffer or may be excluded from society".  Should you know of any households in need of emergency food, winter bedding, clothing items or simple friendly support, please make contact with Tina Quidilla, SVDP   021 159 2412,  OR  [email protected]
 
KEEP PRAYING and REFLECTING
Most of the links to online resources, including Masses, provided in our newsletter in previous weeks are still available.  Including daily Mass:
with Fr Ephrem:  https://www.facebook.com/fretigga
from Christchurch:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbDyKPjjDeYWfpoz_hSDLfw
In addition, here is an interesting piece for some reading and reflection from our Vicar General, Msgr Gerard Burns: 
https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/adw_community/pandemic-and-religious-freedom/
Also an article from Mary Thorne in the current Tui Motu magazine:  https://tuimotu.org/a/jJyK8A9
Plus much great reading (including an article by Fr Joe Grayland) in Welcom, our Archdiocesan newspaper online at:
https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/adw_welcom/welcom-june-2020-issue-383/
An app, Bread for Today, developed by the Redemptorists, has a daily topical reflection.  Available from the App store or Google play.   
 
 
Friday 5.June was World Environment Day with the theme for 2020 being “Celebrate Biodiversity”. 
According to a United Nations report on biodiversity last year, around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction in the coming decades.  Loss of biodiversity has significant impacts on ecosystems, nutrition, livelihoods, and even health. 
UN also state:  "Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa – and now, a global disease pandemic – demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life, in which they exist.” 
See too: https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/biodiversity/en/
 
This is another reminder to think again about our response to Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si.   This link is to an Ignatian Examen on Reconciling God, Creation and Humanity.  It’s very good.   http://www.ecologicalexamen.org/    
 
 
“A Prayer for Our Earth” 
All powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
 
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
 
 
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.  Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.                                         (Laudato Si’, n. 246)
 
 
Thank you for your ongoing financial support for the parish over past weeks.   
A number of parishioners have moved to Automatic Payments or online giving. 
From this Sunday and onwards there will be a donation box inside the Church for your offering.  There will be no collection or procession during Mass.
 
 2020 Open Day at St Patrick’s College WELLINGTON Open Day is a chance for parents of Year 8 students to visit our College and learn about the opportunities and experiences that we offer across Years 9-13.  Due to the 100 person gathering limit we have changed our Open Day format this year from one large gathering to a number of smaller groups who will meet our Rector and receive a tour of the College.  To attend an Open Day1 hour tour of the College, bookings are essential.  For COVID-19 contract tracing purposes we will require your contact details when you make your booking.
How to Book a College Tour: Please make a booking by phoning the College on 939 3070 and advising which of the six tour options you would prefer:
Tuesday 16 June        11.30am–12.30pm OR 12.30pm–1.30pm
Thursday 18 June       11.30am–12.30pm OR 12.30pm–1.30pm
Friday 19 June            11.30am–12.30pm OR 12.30pm–1.30pm
 

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]

Joshua is on again. Come and enjoy fellowship with other men and share your Lockdown stories on Thursday 18th June 2020 at 7:30pm (Note: fellowship from 7:00pm for 7:30pm start) In CONNOLLY HALL, Guildford Terrace, Thorndon (behind the closed Sacred Heart Cathedral). Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready 027-356-9555 or email: [email protected]

Understanding what God is saying to us at this time of pandemic also represents a challenge for the Church’s mission. Illness, suffering, fear and isolation challenge us. The poverty of those who die alone, the abandoned, those who have lost their jobs and income, the homeless and those who lack food challenge us… The impossibility of gathering as a Church to celebrate the Eucharist has led us to share the experience of the many Christian communities that cannot celebrate Mass every Sunday. In all of this, God’s question: “Whom shall I send?” is addressed once more to us and awaits a generous and convincing response: “Here am I, send me!”                Pope Francis: Message for World Mission Day 2020

Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital PJ Appeal online. Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital is still running its annual PJ appeal for children who arrive without pyjamas. However, they cannot accept drop-off s of physical PJs because of their strict visitor policy but you can donate online to Hospi’s Virtual Jammies in June Appeal at www. hospi.org.nz, There is always a signifi cant increase in the number of children admitted to hospital in winter, and the community nursing teams also fi nd children in homes that are often cold and damp, raising the risk of asthma and other respiratory infections. And right now, many Kiwi families in our region face an uncertain fi nancial future, and there may be little leftover money to spend on extras like warm PJs.