8 march 2020

Gen 12, 1-4; 2 Tim 1, 8-10; Matt 17, 1-9
We are on a pilgrimage
Dear sisters and brothers, the years of our life are hurrying by, each seeming shorter than the last. We are pilgrims on a journey from youth to age, from the cradle to the grave. In his dream-like poem The Lotus Eaters, Alfred Tennyson describes weary resignation, as one option we might take in light of the swiftly  passing years: “Let us alone. Time driveth onward fast,  Portions and parcels of the dreadful past.”
A heart full of faith and hope, the passing of the years can be seen in a more positive light. We have a destiny that does not end with death and burial, or cremation, if that’s what we choose for us. After this life, we trust we will emerge into a new kind life in God’s presence. On this earth we are pilgrims, like Abraham, moving toward the land of promise. Like St Paul, we try to deal with whatever problems and setbacks we meet along the way, with the help of the Lord. Finally, if we are faithful, we hope to be joined with Christ in glory, as the reward he has promised.
Hearing God’s guidance and taking it fully to heart, made Abraham the great pilgrim of faith. All his days were marked by listening, with openness to divine guidance. This makes Abraham “Our Father in Faith”, showing us the way towards Yahweh, the living God. His spirit can mark our lives too.
As St Augustine said so memorably: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord; and our hearts can never be at rest, until they rest in You.”                    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.
 

ADORATION  Thursday 6pm, Stations of the Cross 6.30pm, Mass 7pm.

As a preventitive measure due to COVID-19,
the following changes have come into effect:

• No communion on the tongue
• No handshake during sign of the peace – instead speak, bow, nod or smile
• All holy water has been removed from the church
• Please use hand sanisiter before entering the church

We appreciate your co-operation as we take a pro-active approach to this situation

A note for all Eucharistic Ministers There is hand sanitiser on the table near the altar in all churches. When going up to administer communion, please sanitise your hands first before handling anything.                                                                               Thank you

A reminder for members of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Committee that Session 2 of the Spirituality of Service programme is at 7.30 pm on Monday 9 March at Holy Cross school.

Missionary Discipleship  This was to have started during Lent, but due to the Coronavirus threat we have decided to postpone.  More information later.        John  027 232 8488

Lenten envelopes available in the church foyers

                                  Stations of the Cross: Lent 2020
at ST PATRICK’S CHURCH 6.30pm followed by Mass at 7pm

Thursday 12th March  -     Tongan Community (Manu Paasi)
Thursday 19th March  -     Samoan Community (Malia Falana’i-Andrews)
Thursday 26th March -      yet to be advised
Thursday 2nd April  -        Children’s Liturgy (Clare Lundon)
Lenten Mass – 27th February –3rd April 2020
6.30am Mass at Holy Cross Parish Centre
Monday – Saturday during Lent
Reconciliation will be available during Lent
from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday in each of the churches
St Patrick’s Church     every Thursday   6.20pm – 6.50pm    - 27th Feb – 2nd April  
Holy Cross Church      every Friday        9am – 9.20am         - 28th Feb – 3rd April
St Anthony’s Church   every Saturday   5pm – 5.20pm         - 29th Feb – 4th April
 

Come and join us. The St Vincent de Paul Society group in our Holy Trinity Parish is presenting our appeal for new volunteer members at our three parish  Masses 7/8 March 2020.  The presentation includes a representative from the Parish Pastoral Council and a member of our  St Vincent de Paul group.  Our mission is to  reach out to people on the peripheries of our parish and wider community, those in hardship, sickness, and loneliness.   We are especially encouraging new members from the St Patrick’s Church community Kilbirnie , where we don’t have any members. 
If any parishioners are interested in our mission right here in your own community, we are planning a coffee and information session on Sunday 15 March 2020 at 3pm in the parish centre underneath St Patrick’s Church Kilbirnie. (SVDP contacts: Brendan Quirk, 021 236 5695, and David Corcoran 027 521 1178).

The Season of Lent is the most appropriate time for celebrating the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE.
On Ash Wednesday, the people of God hear the solemn invitation, Turn away from sin and believe the good news. Offering reconciliation during Lent provides all the faithful an opportunity to be reconciled with God and their neighbour and so be able to celebrate the paschal mystery in the Easter Triduum with renewed hearts.

Holy Cross Happy Hour Weds 11th March 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

Holy Trinity Parish Pastoral Council Nominations
The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus (Evangelii Gaudium)
The Parish Pastoral Council is seeking nominations for new members for the Council.
The Archdiocese requires parishes to have a pastoral council in order for the parish to develop and to meet the spiritual, liturgical, pastoral and social needs of parishioners, and to enable the parish to evangelise and to play a part in the mission of the local and universal Church.
Our Parish Pastoral Council aims to be inclusive and diverse so that it is representative of all parishioners.
We seek parishioners to participate in a monthly meeting and carry out agreed tasks, who have access to email (as most communications between meetings are by email), and most of all who have a deep love of God and are willing to represent the "joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time" (Gaudium et Spes) in Holy Trinity Parish.
We ask you to prayerfully give consideration to nominating yourself, or someone else (with their permission), to join the Parish Pastoral Council. Commssioned for 3 years, this may be extended or reduced by agreement.
Contact the Parish Office, by email or phone or in person:  holytrinity.wgtn.xtra.co.nz , (04) 388 6953,  90 Miramar Ave . She can arrange a meeting to enable you to discuss the role and duties of a Council member, if you would like further information before making a commitment to join the Council. 

St Patrick’s Church morning tea roster.  Would you like to go on the roster for the Cup of tea after Mass at St Patricks 10.30 on Sunday? We would like volunteers to   (A)  organize and set up  (B)  bring a plate of food If you want to join us, please email  Patricia  [email protected]

Would you be prepared to take a turn running the computer at Mass at St Patricks on Sunday? 
Training provided.  A roster will be prepared. Patricia  [email protected]

Invitation to Togetherness Tour, Kotahitanga, March 2020
Voice of Islam team would like to invite you to be part of the Togetherness Tour, Kotahitanga, March 2020. The tour will start in Auckland, on the 29th February and will end in Christchurch, on the 15th of March. We will be travelling to different cities and holding talks and exhibitions on “What is Islam?”. Our aim is to create an opportunity for people to meet Muslims in their local community and create better understanding and harmony. We have been very blessed to have our friends, Tim Chambers (UK), John Fontain (UK) and Fahad Tasleem (USA) to be supporting us for the tour. They will do a short talk, followed by Q+A session and will meet with visitors.  7th March Johnsonville Community Centre, 3 Frankmoore Ave. Johnsonville
Exhbition Time: 5pm to 9pm Talk: 6pm to 9pm 8th March - Lower Hutt Mosque 14 Hunter St, Taita, Lower Hutt Exhibition Time: 5pm to 9pm Talk: 6pm to 8.30pm

40 Days for Life:  Be a sign of hope this Lent and help save lives!
February 26 to April 5 – Monday to Friday– 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday 8 am to Noon. Vigil runs on hour long slots. Two prayer volunteers are needed for each hour. You might be her last sign of hope or her first sign of mercy. To find out more and sign up for your prayer hour please visit  fli.org.nz/40daysforlife or call 021 231 7954
Plus one more chance to see the movie, Unplanned, Thursday 19 March 7.00 pm at St Theresa's Hall, Plimmerton.

Ōtari parish Lenten series: week 2
Whakarongo ki te tangi a Papatūānuku: Listen to the cry of the earth, We can make a difference Second session speakers: Professor David Frame, Victoria University Climate Change Institute and Stuart Henrys, Ōtari parishioner Thursday 12 March 7.30-9.00pm, St Thomas More Wilton, All welcome

JOSHUA MEN'S FELLOWSHIP Come and join other men for fellowship, prayer and a talk on Thursday 19th March 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).  Talk: Fr Peter Ewart SM, Joshua Wellington chaplain on “How men can grow to know a personal Jesus through Joseph”. Want to know more? Ring Steve Ready 027-356-9555 or email: [email protected]

About to get Married? Engaged Encounter Weekends this year are heavily booked. Weekends are 14 & 15 March ; 18 & 19 July ; 14 & 15 November at St Teresa's Presbytery, Karori, Wellington  For info Kate and Simon  801 6192 www.cee-wellington.co.nz 

Italian Mass St Francis de Sales, Island Bay 15 March 2020 at 2pm; followed by afternoon tea. Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand.

Living with an ICD? (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) The Heart Foundation is holding FREE information sessions run by Lin Coleman, Specialty Clinical Nurse in Heart Rhythm Management. 
You will have the opportunity to share your own experiences and ask questions. Whānau are encouraged to come along and learn more about your heart condition. 
5.30 – 7.00pm Wednesday 18 March 2020 Matairangi Room, ASB Sport Centre, 72 Kemp St, Kilbirnie               
Please register at icdinfo.eventbrite.co.nz or contact Annette on 04 472 2780 [email protected]

 “Creatively Experiencing the Sacred” Come and see how you can make use of over 350 videos on prayer and meditation. An Emmaus online video Prayer and Meditation library Workshop led by Sr. Anne Sklenars and Lynette Roberts-King at St Theresa’s, Plimmerton on Thursday 26th March. 7pm-8.30pm. Please register with Ann Williams at [email protected] or telephone 04 496-1706

Bring your children and your grandchildren to the Mission Expo. We have lots of activities and games planned especially for them. There is also a workshop for children where they can make and take home their own planter box, a bird nesting box or an insect hotel. To avoid missing out, please register with Ann Williams at [email protected]  or telephone 496-1783

The March 8-21 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Married priests issue still up for discussion. Cathedral meals help Hamilton’s needy. Burying Alleluia for Lent. Tips for Music Ministers. The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on March 22.

Catholic Social Services Wellington Hospital Chaplain Wellington Hospital Part time role 20 Hours per week Permanent part time. We seek a qualified person to work as a member of the Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Team. The Catholic Chaplaincy provides for the pastoral, spiritual, ethical and religious needs of patients and staff at Wellington Hospital. The successful candidate will come from a committed Catholic ministry background, demonstrate the maturity and resilience required to be a Chaplain. You will have undertaken ongoing formation and had at least two years of pastoral ministry. You will need a demonstrated aptitude for working in mental health. A commitment to ongoing CPD to become a registered healthcare chaplain with NZHCA is required.
Please send a cover letter, and CV to Karen Holland at [email protected]  APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 5pm, Friday 20th March 2020

With Peter, James and John we too climb the Mount of the Transfiguration today and stop in contemplation of the face of Jesus to retrieve the message and translate it into our lives; for we too can be transfigured by Love. In reality, love is capable of transfiguring everything. Love transfigures all! Do you believe this?
Pope Francis: Angelus 2nd week of Lent, 1 March 2015

“Marist St Pats RFC – 50TH Jubilee – You are invited to join with past and current players, coaches, managers and supporters over Queens Birthday Weekend. Friday 29 May to Sunday 1 June 2020. To register, and for more information, check out the webpage www.msprugby.co.nz “

Gluten-free hosts for parishioners with celiac disease
If you wish to receive gluten free host at Communion please advise the Parish Office [email protected]  (04) 388 6953 (this also includes weekday Masses)

Finance Committee Meeting   March 10th 7.30pm (Holy Cross Parish Centre)
Parish Council Meeting  April 1st 7.30pm (Gascoigne Room)

​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; Frank Mansell, Fr Patrick McCullough, Betty Krebs, Patrick Henehan, Doris Crowther, Margaret Handscomb and Aileen Murphy.