8 december 2019

Mt 3, 1-12
Dear sisters and brothers, last Sunday we brought our awareness of God’s imminent coming among and within us. For this, we do not need to look beyond John the Baptist who came to bear witness to Jesus. Who do you consider bear witness to you of the gospel that God loves us: - a friend, a parent, a teacher, ...? Or to whom have we borne witness?
John the Baptist had the courage to be himself in the face of opposition. He was also a person who knew his own value, did not make exaggerated claims and was content with his mission. Can you recall times when you have been content to be yourself, without pretending to be more than you are? What was it like to have that freedom, even in the face of criticism from others?
John was ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness’ – announcing confidently to those in the wilderness that they must not despair because God’s grace may come to them at any moment. Have you had the experience of being in the wilderness, feeling lost? From whom did you hear a voice that gave you hope? Have been able to give hope to other people when they were in the wilderness?
“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” -Triona Doherty.                                                                                                                      
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.
 

As you know, there will only be one priest in the parish next year and so Mass times will change from the 26th December. The weekday Mass timetable is published at the end of this newsletter and the Weekend Mass Timetable will be made available shortly. A reminder there will be only 3 weekend Masses in the parish, a Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses  Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Parish Midnight Mass is at St Patrick’s Church this year.  If you would like to be a reader, take up the offertory, be a Eucharistic Minister  Please ring Patricia 934 3179 or email [email protected]. By December 10th Volunteers from our three churches would be wonderful!

If your children would like to participate in the St Patrick’s Children's Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm please let me know.  Clare Lundon 021 227 8363.

St Anthony’s School invites you to our Official Blessing and Opening of Te Aroha Block & Thank You Celebration Wed 11th Dec, 5.30pm We invite you to join Cardinal John Dew who will bless and officially opening our renovated Junior Block Te Aroha. Part of this celebration will be thank you for your support and contribution in 2019. Thank You Please RSVP by Monday 9th December to [email protected]

Christmas Mass Times 2019
 
St Patrick’s Church, Kilbirnie
Christmas Eve    5.30pm Childrens Mass
11.30pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass
Christmas Day    10am Mass

 
Holy Cross Church, Miramar
Christmas Eve    6pm Childrens Mass at Holy Cross School Hall
Christmas Day    9am Mass at Holy Cross Church

 
St Anthony’s Church, Seatoun
Christmas Day    10.30am Mass with Children
 
Please note: there will be no Novena in the parish this year

Christmas Confession
Cofession will be available at the following times in the lead up to Christmas
Wednesday 18th December          6.30pm – 7.30pm             St Patrick’s Church
Thursday 19th December              6.30pm – 7.30pm             Holy Cross Church
Friday 20th December                   6.30pm – 7.30pm             St Anthony’s Church
Sunday 22nd December                after 5pm Mass Holy Cross Church (till 6.30pm)

Can you help? Do you or anyone you know have a wheelchair they no longer need?
One of our parishioners is recovering from a stroke and mobility is an issue. Please contact the Parish office 388 6953 or [email protected]

Christmas Food Box Appeal 2019  -  St Vincent de Paul Society, Seatoun & Miramar Conference
 
This is week 3 of our annual three week appeal to parishioners for donated food items, toiletries, treats and gifts to be placed in or beside signposted bins in the Church foyer any time of the week when the Church is open.  You might even like to make up a whole hamper.
 
On Friday 20 December 2019 our team of drivers and helpers will deliver the boxes of food and items to over 50 households in the district. 
 
A brief note for you suggesting ideas for donating items or making up hampers is available on the pews and in the foyer.  This collection is a practical way we can reach out to bring Christ’s love to the homes of our neighbours who are really struggling and for whom this extra help will alleviate their burden.
Please note: Last collection day will be Sunday 15 December
(Contacts: Tina Quidilla 021 159 2412; Brendan Quirk ph 388 9708)

REAL CHRISTMAS CARDS  St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas cards are still on sale. Religious-theme cards "Keeping Christ in Christmas",  $2.50 per pack of 5 cards with envelopes. Proceeds to our local St Vincent de Paul Conference activities in the eastern suburbs.   Contacts:  Holy Cross Church  (Julian Knap, ph 970 3905),  St Anthony's Church  (Andrew Monahan, ph 021 772 350), and  St Patrick's Church  (Frank Quirke, ph 387 4977 and Bernadette Hyland).

The Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver will visit our Parish on 15th  December 2019 and will offer their Echo  after all Masses. There is no fixed charge or any obligation but  A donation for the missions would be most welcome”

Sending Love Christmas cards for people alone at Christmas. Many elderly people in rest homes do not get visitors or cards at Christmas. Please write a card for someone who might feel loney during the holidays. See details on the noticeboard Cards can be handmade or bought.  FINAL COLLECTION will be FRIDAY 29 NOV 2019  drop box for cards at all libraries and community centres. contact Margaret Davis 021 655 011 [email protected] or visit www.sendingloveco.nz

Women, Children and Families in Need! All funds raised through this year’s Cardinal’s Care Appeal will be directed to Catholic Social Services and used to support outreach, facilitation and capacity building
within communities across the Archdiocese. Catholic Social Services does and will continue to make a difference in the lives of countless children, women and families in need; but, it is your support that makes this possible!

The Bach Choir of Wellington.  Saturday 14 Dec 2pm at St Mary of the Angels - Boulcott Street. A Christmas Festival in collaboration with the Wellington Brass Band and featuring Christmas music for brass, choir & brass and choir as well as audience Christmas carols. What better way for the whole family to get into the spirit of the season! Tickets  $30/$25 conc  from Eventfinda, Marsden Books or at the door

ADVENT ONLINE. Sign up at www.foodforfaith.org.nz to receive daily email reflections every morning until Christmas.

Do you or someone you know need help with presents for the kids this year?  The SVDP Vinnies Welfare & Services Hub transforms into a toy shop over December. Make a booking to pick and wrap the gifts you would like for your children. We ask that people pre-book a ‘shopping slot’. Each slot allows 15 minutes to browse and choose the gifts.  Access Criteria -  be able to show a Community Services Card or benefit breakdown, and live within the Wellington City area (excl. Porirua & Hutt Valley), and be the parent or primary caregiver, and picking for children aged 0 - 16 years. (Vinnies contact: bookings can be made by: call 04 389 7122 or email  [email protected], or drop into level 1, 207 Riddiford Street Newtown)

Go you are sent to build community(12) Invite all faith-based groups/communities to come together to discuss ways of linking the generations.

National Treasurer The Society of St Vincent de Paul New Zealand is currently accepting applications for the role of National Treasurer. If you have a desire to join one of New Zealand's best known, trusted and respected not-for-profit organisations, please email [email protected]  for a full job description.

2020 Columban Calendars available through the office $12 each – STOCK RUNNING LOW!
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.

We must be courageous: lay low the mountains of pride and rivalry; fill in the ravines dug by indifference and apathy; make straight the paths of our laziness and our compromises. Pope Francis: Angelus 6 December 2015

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 recently and those whose anniversaries occur around this time. 

Holy Trinity Parish: Wellington Eastern Suburbs  Weekday Masses
and Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion:  2020  One Priest

Monday       9am                St Patrick's Church                       LOW & HC
Tuesday       9am                St Patrick's Church                       Mass
Wednesday 9am                St Anthony's Church                    Mass 
Thursday     7pm                St Patrick's Church                        Mass
Friday          9am                Holy Cross Meeting Room           Mass
Saturday      11.30am – 12.30pm       St Patrick's Church       Cofession 
Note: 
Monday:                    LOW & HC (Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion)
 
Tuesday:                  Mass attended by St Patrick’s Primary School followed by Holy Hour till 11.00am.
            4th Tuesday of the month, Maupuia Rest Home: Holy Mass 1.45pm
 
Wednesday:             Mass attended by St Anthony Primary School
            1st Wednesday of the month, Anointing Mass 11am at St Patrick’s.                      
            4th Wednesday of the month, Rita Angus: prayer service 2pm
 
Thursday:                Mass at 7pm (This will be the weekday evening Mass in the parish).
                                 Thursday Friends Mass during term time only (3rd Thursday of the month LOW & HC)
                                                            No replacement Mass during school holidays.
3rd Thursday of the month, Rita Angus: Holy Mass 11am
 
Friday:                       Mass
 
Saturday:                  11.30am – 12.30pm Confession, Holy Hour and Divine Mercy at St Patrick’s
 
                                       If Mass is needed at other times: LOW & HC 


14 November 2019
 
Dear priests and lay pastoral leaders
Thank you for all the proposals which I have received in response to the memo I sent to you in February about parish property assets, and specifically churches and presbyteries.
I am very aware that the process of preparing your proposals has not been easy, and that in some parishes it has been profoundly unsettling. You have had to deal with parishioners upset by the possibility of change, and I know this has taken a personal toll. You and the people have
responded in your very different circumstances to Pope Francis’ call in Evangelii Gaudium (n 25): “I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are…Throughout the world, let us be permanently in a state of mission.”
Between now and early February I will study and reflect upon the proposals. I may seek clarification or additional information from you during this time. My approach will be pastoral, looking at the possible effects on people of the changes being proposed. I will also look carefully at how one parish’s proposals might interact with those of neighbouring parishes, and the implications the proposals have together for the whole Archdiocese.
In February and March I will consult with my advisory bodies about the proposals. These bodies are the Council of Priests, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Te Kahu o te Rangi, and the Board of Administration. After Easter, which is in mid-April, I hope to be in a position to advise parishes of my response to the proposals, or to ask that further steps be taken, for example, discussion at regional levels in the Archdiocese.
When I consider the proposals I will not be making a decision to “approve” them. My response to a proposal will be expressed as “no objection”, “further work needed” or “opposed”. It is the parish’s decision to actually proceed with a proposal if I have no objection. Once the parish
decides to proceed, its decisions are subject to the Archdiocesan norms and approval processes.
While the proposals were being worked on in parishes there has been a hold on property proposals being presented to or decided by the Board of Administration. This hold continues until I have made a response to all parishes and have notified you that the hold has been lifted. This hold includes property decisions which may already be in the early stages of the Board of Administration’s processes.
We have not yet come through this difficult and unsettling process, but I would like everyone to now put aside differences and concerns and focus together on the great liturgical seasons and feasts of the next few months - Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. In doing this we have the opportunity to encounter Jesus and one another more deeply and be refreshed in our commitment to both community and mission.
Please share this letter with the groups in your parishes which have been working on the property reviews, and with all parishioners if you wish. There will be a similar article in the December Welcom.
With prayers and thanks for your work Yours sincerely

 John A Cardinal Dew
Archbishop of Wellington