8th May 2016

Today we celebrate the feast of the ascension and we have Luke’s account of Jesus leaving the disciples, his final words and gestures to them. Jesus’ departure does not cause the disciples to be anxious, instead we are told that they return to Jerusalem and praise God in the Temple. For Luke, this is a celebration of the mission to come. Luke’s Gospel begins in the Temple and there it ends in anticipation of the Church’s mission, a mission that was meant to be rooted in prayer and service.
We might pray these words of St Teresa of Avila today:
Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on the world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH MASS - 10AM SUNDAY 22ND MAY
AT ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE HALL
We will be celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday Mass together at St Patrick’s College Hall.  
For those who are unable to be at this Mass, there will also be the 5.30pm Vigil and 8am Mass at St Patrick’s Church.
There will be morning tea available afterwards at the back of the hall, so please bring a plate of food to share.

Wonderful Mother
 
God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And he moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes he placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
He gave that dear mother to me.
 
Pat O’Reilly
Come join the fun of the quiz!
Mark the date in your diary.
Saturday 21st May 7.30pm for 8pm start at the Seatoun Bowling Club. $10 entry on the night. With John Ashby as quiz master extraordinaire, it’s bound to be a great night out. Get a team together or join one on the night. Sure to be an enjoyable night out with the Parish Community.

"The Alpha course starts 7.30pm Tuesday 10 May in the Gascoyne Room at St Anthony's. 
We will start with desert, see the video and finish with discussion. 
Topics covered include: Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can we have faith?
 Why and how can I pray? 
A fun, relaxed time to ask questions. Everybody is very welcome."

As part of the Year of Mercy, Sr Elizabeth Julian will be giving a presentation
 at St Patrick’s Church, Kilbirnie 7pm Thursday 26th May 2016
The topic is: The Works of Mercy: Biblically Speaking
Pope Francis has asked us to practise the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
 during the Year of Mercy.
This presentation will look at biblical examples of these works and what they might say to us today.

 
 
 
 
Working Bee – St Patrick’s Church. 
We are planning a working bee for 4th June, anyone with a concrete mixer and an ability to lay a concrete slab will be greatly appreciated.  If you can hold a shovel or a duster please make yourself available and let me know – David Hyland 021971792
St Catherine's College
Open Days
Tuesday 31 May and
Tuesday 16 August
11.30am - 1.00pm and 6.30pm - 7.30pm
For more information or queries please contact the School Office by phone, 04 939 8988 or email [email protected].  Website: www.stcatherinescollege.school.nz.

You are invited to join St Vinnies in Seatoun/Miramar or in Kilbirnie: 
The St Vinnies groups meet once a month to pray together and to decide on how to help and who to visit when people are in need in our community.
If you want to join  Kilbirnie Conference, or for more information, contact Margaret Bearsley on 021 344 356 or [email protected] (next meeting Thursday 12 May). If you want to join the Seatoun and Miramar Conference, or for more information, contact Brendan Quirk on Ph 3889708 or [email protected] (next meeting Monday 9 May).
St Patrick’s Church
On Sundays Readers, Ministers of Eucharist to gather in Church foyer with the priest 5 minutes before Mass begins to ensure all are present and there are no mix-ups.

The May issue of News and Views is out now. Collectors from St Patrick’s please collect your copies from the back of the Church for distribution.

Readers of Prayers of the Faithful  please move to the lectern at the point in the creed “ I believe in the Holy Spirit” so you are ready to begin on time, remain at Lectern until priest has finished the concluding prayer.

St Patrick’s College, Wellington Open Day  St Patrick’s College, Wellington, is holding an Open Day on Sunday 12 June from 1.30 to 4 p.m.  Prospective students, parents, and friends are very welcome to tour the College during the afternoon.  If you wish to enrol your son at St Patrick’s College for Year 9 in 2017 please submit his enrolment application by Friday 29 July 2016.  When enrolling you need to complete an Enrolment Application form, and provide the College with either a copy of your son’s birth certificate or passport as well as a signed preference form from your local parish priest. Please contact Mrs Parkinson at St Patrick’s College on 939-3070 ext 231 or email [email protected] if you require further information.

An Abrahamic Celebration of the Year of Mercy will be held over two days in May:
Wednesday 18 May – an Abrahamic Panel (Jewish, Christian and Muslim speakers) on Mercy in our Sacred Scriptures, 6.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mt Victoria; and a multi-faith service day, putting the Works of Mercy into Practice, on Saturday 21 May from 9.30am, with lunch generously provided by the Wellington Islamic Centre.
For further information, please see the poster on the church noticeboard, or contact  Sister Catherine Jones  [email protected]  or Sharron Cole   [email protected]

Saturday 21 May Works of Mercy in Practice An opportunity to put into practice “the works of mercy” in a multi-faith service day: baking some sweet treats for the Compassion Centre; preparing hygiene kits and toiletries for the Homeless Women’s Trust and Men’s Night Shelter; outside jobs – clean up and planting; possibility of visit to rest-homes. Lunch will be generously provided by Wellington Islamic Centre. Venue: St Patrick’s Church centre, Kilbirnie, from 9.30 with 10am departure for outside jobs - lunch available from 12.45pm – through to mid-afternoon. contact: Sister Catherine Jones, smsm [email protected] Rev Jenny Chalmers [email protected] Sultan Eusoff [email protected] Dave Moskovitz [email protected] Ravi Mistry [email protected]

FOR EVERYONE! Vigil for Unborn. Saturday 21st May at St Anne's Catholic Church, Emmett Street, Newtown. Starts with Mass at 10 am. Followed by Exposition. Procession to nearby abortion site (Wellington Hospital). Return to church for Benediction. Please come: the unborn and their families need your prayers and loving witness. Followed by shared lunch.
St Aidans Anglican Church in Miramar offer 8kgs of fruit and veg for $10. There is a one off $10 fee to register and from then you can place your order and payment on a Tuesday morning, and collect your produce in the afternoon.

REFUGEE FAMILIES THANKS.
Thanks so much to all those who helped settle the latest group of refugees to Wellington on 22 April - from speaking at mass, organising deposit boxes, donating pantry items, picking up food, sorting, setting up house, providing flowers and fruit, disposing of rubbish - your work was truly appreciated and, most importantly, the outcome was a group of happy families.  Thanks also to those who have added their names to our list for future intakes.  Catholic Social services has let us know that: "What was evident at the welcome meal organised by Red Cross on Saturday was the happiness of the families, both those who came in February and in the last two weeks. It was lovely to see the children playing on the bouncy castle and adults and young people dancing and singing together".
At this stage, we have no information on when we will need to rally again - but we know that we will.  We'll be in touch as soon as we hear - it is very comforting to know that you are all out there and that those who can will respond positively next time!
Sincere thanks, Annette Bridgman on behalf of the Parish Refugee Settlement Team
PS: If you'd like to be part of this dream team contact Annette on [email protected] or 021 204 5993.  The idea is that the more people we have on our list, the more able we will be to keep responding so successfully without anyone having to do too much.

St Vincent de Paul Society Book Fair thank you.  Your Conferences in Holy Trinity Parish extend a very warm thank you to all parishioners and helpers who attended our six-monthly Vinnies Book Fair at St Anne's Church Hall Newtown on 2/3 May 2016.   It was a great success, displaying many new books, attracted good numbers of browsers, and raised over $6000 (the best ever) to go towards our services for poor, sick and lonely people around Wellington.  God bless you again.

Dove Wellington invites all women to our meeting from 1.15pm to 3pm on Saturday 21 May at Connolly Hall.  The theme for this meeting is, “The Way of Mary”.  The Catholic Church holds Mary as the Mother of the Church.  Through her, the Holy Spirit was brought into being the Son of God, our Saviour.  Through living a life of holiness, faith and surrender to the will of God, Mary is revered as a powerful woman of God.  This meeting will focus on the life of Mary and, how through our faith in God, we too can be like Mary.  If you are wanting to know more about how, then this meeting is for you.  Please contact Rachel Blackaby for any queries on (04) 233 2553.

"The Sisters of St. Peter claver are holding an "ETHNIC DINNER with ENTERTAINMENT on SATURDAY 14 MAY 2016 at 6.30pm at the Polish House (Dom Poliski) 257 Riddiford street, Newtown (Corner of Riddiford and Rhodes Streets). Tickets are available from the Sisters or at the entrance to the hall.
Please bring your favourite Dish. Important: Arrive a little before time as dinner is served 6.30pm sharp.
Admission: $10: 5 to 10yrs; $5: under 5yrs; Free. Enquiries 383 8401

Glimpses of Te Omanga is a moving, compassionate, and insightful collection of short stories and recollections with brilliant touches of humour, of the hundreds of people working in the Hospice movement.
I highly recommend this book as a valuable contribution to the current reflection around care of those approaching the end of life as well as the pastoral care of their families. It is The Year of Mercy in action. Copies are available from bookshops, or directly from the editor, Beryl Anderson [email protected] at $20 per copy plus $3 postage. All proceeds go to the Hospice movement.
 +John A Cardinal Dew,
           Archbishop of Wellington
                 April 2016

What are we doing on earth for Christ’s sake? Come along and hear Australian Jesuit, Richard Leonard, share through stories what it means to be Catholic in our time. His talk will pay particular attention to the challenges facing young Catholics today. Sunday 15 May at 4pm. Loaves and Fishes hall, cnr Molesworth and Hill sts, Thorndon. Soup and rolls served. Entry $10. Contact Catherine Gibbs for more information   [email protected]

Planned Giving Receipts
Planned giving receipts are now at the back of the Church you normally attend. If you wish to collect yours from another Church or have your copy emailed to you, please contact the office 388 6953 or [email protected]

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington Come along and join us on Thursday 19th May 2016 at 7:30pm for prayer, praise and social time in CONNOLLY HALL, Thorndon to hear our very own Joshua chaplain. Guest speaker: Fr Peter Ewart s.m. Topic: "Mary, Woman of Faith, Model of Charity" Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or [email protected]
 

Flat wanted:  responsible pensioner seeks 1 or 2 bdrm flat with small outdoor area, keen gardener.  Miramar/Broadway area. Ring  Bev. 388 5821.

DIRECTOR OPPORTUNITY St Catherine's College, is seeking new Board Members for its Board of Proprietors, for a term of three years.
The Board of Proprietors comprises seven members appointed on a rotational basis.  It is accountable for the property and Special Character functions of the College.  It works closely with St Catherine's College Board of Trustees which is accountable for the school governance and operations. 
St Catherine's College is an integrated Catholic secondary school for girls from Year 9 to 13, owned and administered by Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa - Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.  With an approved roll of 300 students and motto "Mercy and Wisdom" it has/is achieving impressive academic scholarship results.  Core College values are Te aroha Compassion, Te awhinitanga Service, Te tapu o te tangata Human Dignity, Te tika Justice and Te aroha ki te rawakore Concern for the poor, vulnerable and pupils.
The Board of Proprietors will later this year complete a capital building project for a brand new, additional Classroom wing to significantly enhance learning spaces and facilities.
If you would like to support the development and education of some of Wellington's outstanding young women and have experience in Governance, Property, Special Character, Finance or Education here is an opportunity to contribute your knowledge and skills. Expressions of interest with CV should be addressed to: Chair, Board of Proprietors, c/o St Catherine's College, PO Box 14076, Wellington 6241, marked "In Confidence".

From Pope Francis:
May the Church echo the word of God that resounds strong and clear as a message and sign of pardon, strength, aid and love. May she never tire of extending mercy and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort. May the Church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end:
"Be mindful of Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old"
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