​Dear sisters and brothers,
 
It is quite a change from gearing up to overcome some great and small not so good habits. I have those, but in this Year of Mercy, I need to be comforted, and I suspect many of us do. I imagine that each of us is experiencing something that is difficult, at some level, perhaps on several levels. That can result in a kind of tiredness, even a spiritual tiredness. Even our lack of progress or the large number of good things we "fail to do," can discourage us.
Comfort, in the form of an assurance of the Lord's love for me, is what I need now. My wounded, worn, fragile, sometimes grieving or disappointed, stretched and not very outstanding self, needs comforting from one who understands and has been accompanying me all along the way. There is nothing more comforting than being known and loved as we are. My gratitude can then become a fire that draws me to pray, "Make my heart like yours"
The Transfiguration is one of those moments of comfort, which Jesus offered to his disciples, to prepare them for what is ahead. "He revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses ... that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples and that he might show how in the Body of the whole Church is to be fulfilled what so wonderfully shone forth first in its Head."
                                                                                                                 Father Ephrem
 
 
POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR PRAYER
For 24 hours over the first weekend of March, responding to an initiative of Pope Francis, dioceses around the world will hold a time of prayer for the blessing of God on the Year of Mercy.
 In our own Archdiocese the Cathedral will play a major part in this action. Beginning 5.30pm on Friday 4 March, through till the 5.30 Vigil Mass on Saturday 5th, the cathedral will be open for prayer. 
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the chapel throughout the 24 hours and the main church will be open for private devotions such as the Stations of the Cross. It will be necessary to ensure the presence of at least two people throughout this time.
Holy Trinity Parish will be responsible for 11am – 1pm on Saturday 5th.
 Of course you are welcome at any time during the 24 hours.  There will be a sign-up form in the Foyer of each Church for you to commit to a half OR one hour slot – or even longer.  Come with a group of friends, bring the family; see this as an action for Lent. Pray with Pope Francis who assures us that God forgives everyone, he offers new possibilities to everyone, he showers his mercy on everyone who asks for it. 
Let the Year of Mercy echo its joyful welcome throughout the world.

The season of Lent is a favourable time to listen to God’s word and to practice the works of mercy. Let us not waste this season of Lent!    (Pope Francis Message for Lent 2016)

Holy Cross Church – Sunday Mass time Survey   
 Don’t forget you only have till Monday 29 February. 
Thank you to all those who’ve returned their survey forms so far.
 Voting forms for those who attend Sunday Mass at Holy Cross are available in the church foyers of Holy Cross Church and St Patrick’s Church, online www.holytrinity.parish.nz  or from the parish office at [email protected]      

Lent timetable Holy Trinity: Stations of the Cross
St Patricks and Holy Cross – Friday 7pm
St Anthony’s – Friday 5.30pm
St Patrick’s - Weds 6 – 7pm Adoration and reconciliation followed by Mass
The  Sisters  of  St. Peter  Claver  are  holding  "  RARE  and  BEAUTIFUL  "  on  Saturday 5th  March  2016  at  their  Convent  grounds  1  Mersey  Street,  Island  Bay.  (corner of  Melrose  Road  and  Melbourne  Road )  from  9am  to  12pm. 

 
 St Patrick’s Church – Please do not park in front of the emergency exits or Church garage.  Your co-operation in this is much appreciated
Flat urgently wanted:  responsible pensioner seeks 1 or 2 bedroom flat with small outdoor area, keen gardener.  Miramar/Broadway area. Ring Bev 388 5821.

Lenten envelopes and calendars available in the church foyers.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 18-20 March
A retreat weekend for those whose lives have been touched by abortion.  An opportunity for healing to any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. All enquiries are strictly confidential.   Contact Wendy Hill [email protected]  or 027 2549222 www.rachelsvineyard.org.nz
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES STREET DAY APPEAL Thursday 25 FEBRUARY 2016
Collectors are needed in Wellington, Kilbirnie and Petone. If you are able to give an hour of your time to help, please phone Vivien on Ph 385 8642 or
email [email protected]

St. Anthony’s Preschool Playgroup: Come and join us…we meet every second Friday during term time from 1pm until 2.55pm in the Gascoigne Room, St Anthony’s Church. Bring your preschooler/s along for a play and class visits to St Anthony’s Kiwi class for our four year olds. We would love to meet you!
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES STREET DAY APPEAL Thursday 25 FEBRUARY 2016
 Collectors are needed in Wellington, Kilbirnie and Petone. If you are able to give an hour of your time to help, please phone Vivien on Ph 385 8642 or
email [email protected]

A 140th celebration of the Christian Brothers to Rattray Street Dunedin in 1879 will take place on the weekend of 9-11 July 2016.  Ex-pupils, partners, staff and wives of Old Boys from CBHS, St Paul’s and St Edmund’s are cordially invited to this reunion.  Registrations to Secretary G Morris [email protected] or Br G Donaldson 20A Grove St, St Kilda, Dunedin 9012, phone 03 456 5040.
  Copyright Workshop for those involved in liturgical ministry and finance. 
Archdiocesan representatives are offering a workshop for musicians, liturgy teams, PowerPoint editors and those administering payment for copyright licensing.   The presentation will explore issues associated with copyright and present an initiative that may offer all involved with parish liturgy ministry a positive option that solves the copyright nightmare and provides opportunity to access a range of resources for musicians. 
Join the team at either venue:
7:30 – 9pm Wednesday 9th March (Connolly Hall)
10 – 11:30am Saturday 9 April (Plimmerton Parish Hall). 

Altar Society of Holy Cross Church is a group of only 4 women, all of whom are over the age of 70 and we need help to keep Holy Cross Church clean and tidy.
More parishioners are needed to do this work. It only takes 1 – 1 ½ hours each week. CAN YOU HELP US? For information contact Margaret Mansell 388 2840 or Ann Nota 380 9332

Holy Hour
You are invited to a Holy Hour on Tuesday 23 February beginning at 7.30 pm in the Cathedral Chapel to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life.  This Holy Hour will include prayers, Scripture, times of silence and concluding with Benediction followed by supper.
Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples intending to be marriedat Pa Maria, Thorndon, Wellington.   Weekends in 2016 are 5 - 6 March, 
16 - 17 July, & 12 - 13 November Registrations close 2 weeks before. For more details www.ceewellington.org.nz   or phone Kate & Simon Olsen Telephone 801 6192, or [email protected] 

WANTED: VOLUNTEERS St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie Reader/Writers are needed for our senior students sitting internal NCEA examinations throughout the year. During the year students on our Special Assessment Registry require assistance to either read or help them with writing their exams.  If you are interested in volunteering your time for a few hours every now and then please contact [email protected] The Job of the reader:  As a reader you are the eyes of the candidate. The Job of the Writer: You are the hands of the candidate and it is your responsibility to write the answers given by candidate

Refugee Resettlement – a Collaborative Response  
 
Holy Trinity Parish has "opened its arms" to new refugees.   Parishioners responded wonderfully with compassionate support and volunteering to the appeal at all last Sunday Masses.  15 volunteers will assist over the next week in sorting household goods and preparing households for the 24 refugee families arriving in the Wellington region at the end of the month.  Cash donations totalling $2,000 were made across the Masses, of which $1500 has been used this week to purchase a wide range of necessities for the one refugee family that our parish is specifically supporting. The remaining $500 will be held by the parish and used for the next arrivals in a couple of months when a further appeal will likely be made.  Because parishioners' kind generosity last Sunday met the immediate needs, no further appeal will be made this Sunday 21 February 2016.  Once the new refugees have arrived in the region later this month, parishioners and volunteers can reflect on what we have learned from Holy Trinity Parish’s experience this time and from the good advice of Red Cross and Catholic Social Services about contributing to further intakes of new refugees. 
 
Please hold these new refugees in our hearts and prayers that they find love and justice in their new lives in the Wellington region.  Please pray also for their families and friends back in their homeland who still face danger, persecution and destruction.  

The Holy Father assures us that
“in welcoming the stranger we welcome God…and that in the outstretched hand of those who receive them, refugees can see the face of the Lord”.
 
 
 

​A word of encouragement ......
 
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart - keep believing in yourself and your special dreams.
 
There may be days when you get up in the morning and
 things aren't the way you had hoped they would be. That's when you have to tell yourself things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down, but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgement and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are, and you will also see yourself developing into the person you have always wanted to be.
 
Life is a journey through time, filled with many choices - each of us will experience life in our own special way. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you wanted life to be, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the dreams that you know are meant to come true for you. You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
  Talofa lava ..... malo lelei                                                                          Father Sanele
 
 
Holy Cross Church – Sunday Mass time Survey   
 Have you filled in one yet? If you haven’t, you have till Monday 29 February. 
Thank you to all those who’ve returned their survey forms so far.
 Voting forms for those who attend Sunday Mass at Holy Cross are available in the church foyers of Holy Cross Church and St Patrick’s Church, online www.holytrinity.parish.nz  or from the parish office at [email protected]      

Lent timetable Holy Trinity: Stations of the Cross
St Patricks and Holy Cross – Friday 7pm
St Patrick’s Church Weds 6 – 7pm Adoration and reconciliation followed by Mass
Lenten envelopes and calendars available in the church foyers.

Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship Wellington
Come along and join us for our first meeting in 2016 on Thursday 18th February at 7:30pm for prayer, praise and social time in CONNOLLY HALL, Guilford Terrace, Thorndon (behind Sacred Heart Cathedral).
Theme: "Treat others as you would like them to treat you" Speaker: Melodie Nunns on “Working with at risk youth around Wellington" Want to know more? Ring John Taylor (04) 389-8915 or 021-107-8538 or [email protected]
Dove Wellington invites all women to their meeting on Saturday 20 February, between 1.15-3pm, at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington.  Our guest speaker is Sandra Kinney; who will be speaking about how “by the grace of God you have been saved through faith” (Eph 2:8).  It will be a wonderful time of nourishment, sharing and fellowship.  You are all most welcome.  Please contact Rachel Blackaby on  (04) 2332553 if you have any queries.

 Rosters: available at the back of Church
St Patricks – morning tea, counters and Mass rosters to end of March
Holy Cross – cleaning, altar servers & counters
Life Teen Holy Trinity - Sun 14th February. If you’re year 9 - 13 at college or aged between 12 and 19 come join us!!!  Mass at St Patrick's Church 5.30pm followed by dinner and Life Night finishing at 8.30pm

The  Annual Mission  Fair  of  the  Missionary  Sisters  of  St. Peter  Claver  on  Saturday   20  February  2016  from  10am  to  1pm  at St. Francis  de  Sales  Church  hall  and  grounds  Island Bay.  Goods for  the  Fair  &  donations  are  greatly  appreciated and posted  to  Missionary  Sisters  Of  St. Peter  Claver,  1  Mersey  Street,  P.O. Box  7312, Wellington  South.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 18-20 March
A retreat weekend for those whose lives have been touched by abortion.  An opportunity for healing to any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. All enquiries are strictly confidential.   Contact Wendy Hill [email protected]  or 027 2549222 www.rachelsvineyard.org.nz
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES STREET DAY APPEAL Thursday 25 FEBRUARY 2016
Collectors are needed in Wellington, Kilbirnie and Petone. If you are able to give an hour of your time to help, please phone Vivien on Ph 385 8642 or
email [email protected]

St Patrick’s Church Mix and Mingle Luncheon
11.30 – 1.30pm in the St Patrick’s Parish Centre 3rd Thurs of each month.  Couple $15 and Single $7 All age groups welcome. Ring Andrew on 386 1233 by Tues 16th Feb for catering purposes
St Vinnies in Miramar/Seatoun and in Kilbirnie:
You are invited to join the St Vincent de Paul Society either in Miramar/Seatoun 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 the Kilbirnie Conference, or for more information, contact Margaret Bearsley on 021 344 356 or [email protected]  If you want to join the Miramar/Seatoun Conference, or for more information, contact Brendan Quirk on Ph 3889708 or [email protected]

ST VALENTINE’S DAY  Cardinal John Dew invites you  to a Celebration 0f Marriage Sunday, 14th February 2016 at 7.00pm Sacred Heart Cathedral Hill St, Wellington Mass, followed by a celebratory drink with Cardinal John. Make it a romantic night out together, or make up a party of family and friends! For more information. please contact Pastoral Services at the Catholic Centre [email protected]  496 1719

St Catherine’s College invite all parents, caregivers and whanau to their annual Food, Faith and Whanau on Friday 19 February starting at 5.45pm. Come along and bring your picinic tea.  This will be an opportunity for you to meet other Whanau and connect with old friends. The Staff will be introduced and there will be time to mix and mingle with them. The 2016 Student Leaders will introduce themselves and provide games and face painting for children.   There will be 'experts' in a computer lab to show parents, who are uncertain about accessing the the parental portal. The BBQ will be up and running

Dear sisters and brothers,
Dear children, parents, teachers all the parishioners, Happy New Year and welcome to praise and glorify God in 2016.  More than ever we are loved, healed and sent by God to do the same.  It is our life time mission, especially in the year of Mercy.
 
Hardly Christmas is over and in a week’s time it will be Lent to experience God’s merciful love, in spite of our unworthiness. It is a perfect time to do right thing. This is well reflected in both Jeremiah and Paul. And Peter had to bite humble pea from his expertise of fishing, at the knowledge of Jesus about fishing.
 
Believe in Jesus and obey his commandments, and you will never be disappointed.  His merciful love and guiding hand is there for those who listen and follow him.  If you follow Him you will never be disappointed.
 
“And they left everything and they followed him”, can you?                              Father Ephrem
 

Mass Times for Holy Trinity Parish.
All Masses both weekend and weekday except for the Holy Cross Sunday Mass revert back to the timetable as it was before Christmas.
These times are listed above.

Holy Cross Church – Sunday Mass time process
Further to last week’s announcement at Holy Cross Church regarding Sunday Mass times, we’d like to remind parishioners who attend Mass at Holy Cross Church that you are integral to this process so please play your part and select your preferred time for Sunday Mass.
Voting forms are available in the church aisle, and the church foyers of Holy Cross Church and St Patrick’s Church. In addition, an electronic version is available online www.holytrinity.parish.nz  or from the parish office at [email protected]        Voting commences Sunday 7 February and ends midday, Monday 29 February 2016.

News and Views out this weekend – collectors from St Patrick’s please collect your copies from the back of the Church next Sunday for distribution

If anyone has blessed palms from last year, if you could drop them to the Miramar Presbytery by Tuesday 9th Feb. 

Ash Wednesday Timetable
St Anthony’s – 9am in the Church
St Patrick’s – 9.30am
Holy Cross – 11am in the Holy Cross School Hall (no 9.30am Mass) and 7.30pm service in Holy Cross Church
Lent timetable: Stations of the Cross
St Patricks and Holy Cross – Friday 7pm
 
St Patrick’s Church Weds 6 – 7pm Adoration and reconciliation followed by Mass

 If you’d like to receive your copy electronically, email [email protected]  put newsletter in the subject line, and you will be added to the list.
Please remember, if you move or change any of your details, please contact the parish office so your record can be updated Thank you.

St Patrick’s Mass and morning tea rosters to the end of April will be available from next Sunday

We are excited to announce that Life Teen Holy Trinity will be starting back on Sunday the 14th of February. If you are year 9 - 13 at college or aged between 12 and 19 we welcome you to come join us!!!  Mass at St Patrick's Church 5.30pm followed by dinner and a Life Night finishing at 8.30pm
Altar Servers for St Patrick’s Church.
If you have done confirmation and first communion you can be an altar server. We are doing a Training Session On 11th February at 6pm in Church Please Contact Senior Altar Server Andrew Greening 3861233 [email protected]

St Patrick’s Church Mix and Mingle Luncheon
11.30 – 1.30pm in the St Patrick’s Parish Centre 3rd Thurs of each month.
Couple $15 and Single $7 All age groups welcome. Ring Andrew on 386 1233 by Tues 16th Feb for catering purposes
St Vinnies in Miramar/Seatoun and in Kilbirnie:
You are invited to join the St Vincent de Paul Society either in Miramar/Seatoun 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 the Kilbirnie Conference, or for more information, contact Margaret Bearsley on 021 344 356 or [email protected] (next meeting Thurs 11 Feb). If you want to join the Miramar/Seatoun Conference, or for more information, contact Brendan Quirk on Ph 3889708 or [email protected] (next meeting Monday 15 February).

ST VALENTINE’S DAY Cardinal John Dew invites you to a Celebration 0f Marriage Sunday, 14th February 2016 at 7.00pm Sacred Heart Cathedral Hill St, Wellington Mass, followed by a celebratory drink with Cardinal John. Make it a romantic night out together, or make up a party of family and friends! For more information please contact Pastoral Services at the Catholic Centre [email protected]  496 1719

Parish Council Meeting 7.30pm  1st Wednesday of every month
Finance Committee Meeting 7.30pm 2nd Tuesday of every month