​Dear brothers and sisters, we hear in the gospel of this week that an Angel comes from God and tells Mary two impossible things are going to happen: The first was that Mary, who was an ordinary girl, has been chosen by God to become the mother of His Son, Jesus. Mary thinks this would be impossible because she is a virgin and not even married yet. But the Angel assures her that God has the power to do impossible things. And Mary believes accepts whatever is said by the Angel saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” The other surprise the Angel tells Mary is that her relative Elizabeth, who is too old to have child is also pregnant. Mary’s response to the Angel, which is also called ‘Fiat’ is an example of complete faith for all of us and obedience to God.
The story of Annunciation calls to our attention God’s wondrous action in human history. God chose a human person to give birth to his only Son so that all humanity would know God’s Salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our Salvation, thus Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. In the model of Mary, we pray that we will be people of faith who recognise God’s saving plan for us and are able to respond with obedience.  Fr Gregory
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.

Wishing you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and safe holidays.
We wish for you much joy and love, with a new year full of God’s goodness.
                                                                                  Frs Gregory, Paul and Philip

A big THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers across the Parish. 
We value your contributions and we couldn’t do this without you. To the Parish Council, the Finance Committee, to all those involved in the various ministries, committees, groups and any other way you give your time to help within our Parish, thank you very much. 

5.30pm Christmas Eve Mass roster for St Patrick’s Church
Ministers of the Eucharist: Eileen McDonald, Malia Foliaki and 3 volunteers
11pm Carols followed by 11.30pm Mass roster for St Patrick’s Church
Welcome / collectors   Ray and Adele Whelan
Readers 1 Patricia O’Donnell     2 Tony Meachem
Offertory   Norden Family
Ministers of The Eucharist: Carol O’Kane, Rae Dawson, Andrew Greening, Sr Jo Gresham, Malia Falanai-Andrews
10am Mass Christmas Day Mass roster for St Patrick’s Church
Volunteers please

HOLY TRINITY PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2018 Children in year 4 or older who have been baptised in a Catholic Church and would like to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion, are eligible to enrol. Enrolment forms are available in the church foyers, School Offices, the Parish Office or on the website www.holytrinity.parish.nz
All enrolment forms need to be completed and returned including a copy of your baptism certificate by the 18th February 2018 to the School Offices, the Parish Office or by email [email protected]

Please note:

• This will be the last newsletter till 4th February 2018
• The Parish office will be operating reduced hours over the holiday period to the 29th January 2018
• Please contact the Friary directly on 387-2102 for assistance during this time.

Found in Holy Cross Church a set of keys.
If you think these might be yours, contact the Friary 387-2102

Gascoigne Scholarship recipients 2017
Congraulations our recipents this year – Alan Mansell, Isitoki Paasi, Tuitu’u Paasi,
Lavinia Foliaki and Bridget Sullivan.
We wish them all the best for their studies in 2018

St Catherine’s College is looking for additional Directors to serve on the Board of Proprietors.  We are responsible for the major maintenance, capital works of the property and supervising, preserving and safeguarding the special character of the school.  We are looking for Directors with strong property, development, legal, marking/brand or accounting skills.  Please email Catherine Fyfe, the Chairperson, on [email protected]

 Holiday Opening Hours at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion. The Home of Compassion will be open during the Holiday Season. If you haven’t already been to see the Heritage Centre, Chapel and Resting Place of Suzanne Aubert, it is an excellent opportunity to visit these beautiful spaces. Saturday 23 December – Tuesday 26 December – closed Wednesday 27 December – Saturday 30 December open 10am-3pm Sunday 31 December – Tuesday 2 January – closed Wednesday 3 January – Saturday 6 January open 10am-3pm Sunday 7 January – open 12 noon-3pm
Regular hours through the year are: Monday to Saturday 10am-3pm Sunday 12noon-to 3pm The Cloister Café is open Wednesday to Sunday

The Dec. 24 – Jan. 27 issue of NZ Catholic is out now. Some headlines are: Parishes to get euthanasia bill letter from bishops. NZ abuse inquiry likely to include churches. ‘Our Father’ translation not on ICEL agenda yet. Clergy appointments in four NZ dioceses. The next issue of NZ Catholic will be published on January 28.
NZ Catholic’s office will close for the year at 1pm on Thursday, December 21. It will re-open at 9am on Wednesday, January 10. Any inquiries, please contact us on [email protected]. If you are unable to use all the headlines above, please select those that you can use. We have also attached an electronic image advertising our latest issue, which you may like to post on social media or on your parish website. Wishing you a happy and a holy Christmas and a blessed 2018.

Anti-Euthanasia submissions requested to oppose David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill. One sentence is enough, more is even better!  Closing date: 20 February, but please act as soon as possible to help protect Life Information: see www.parliament.nz under Parliamentary Business, then search for the Bill.

We pray for the members of our Parish families who have died recently especially John Fahey and those whose anniversaries occur at this time including Margaret Dennehy, Thomas Scott, Pepe Godinet, Karl Cobb, Ellise Thomas, John (Jack) Curry and Brian Jackson.  Our prayers are also with those who are unwell especially John Rogers, Graeme Adams and Steve Kuzmicich and for the wonderful people who are caring for the everyday needs of the sick in our Community.

 

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist announces to the people the “Good News” the long-awaited day of salvation is about to dawn upon them. He urges the people to ‘prepare a way for the Lord’. Does the Lord’s coming depend upon us? It is very clear that the Lord’s coming does not depend on our efforts. The Lord comes not because we love him but because of his great love for us sinners. So, the coming of Christ is a purification of life. And the World (we) need that purification. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, is also the part of our purification. People of Judea and Jerusalem flock to him and confessed their sins. Our Mother Church too calls us all for the purification (confession) of our sins. The sacrament of reconciliation is available at St Patrick’s Church at 7-8pm every day from 15th – 23rd December. Let us confess our sins and prepare the way of the Lord so that when he comes he may find us all worthy of his love.                                                                                                                                          Fr Gregory
Holy Cross Christmas Eve Children’s Mass 6.30pm                 
The parish finance committee and parish pastoral council have made a decision to hold the Miramar Children’s Christmas Mass on 24 December at the Holy Cross School hall.   This decision has been made after much prayerful reflection and consideration.  The reasons for the decision are:

• The overall earthquake rating of the Holy Cross church remains at 22% of the New Building Standards (NBS).  Although a large number of building elements are considerably better than previously thought (as the result of a review of the previous seismic assessment by an independent Engineer), the column foundations continue to have a low rating.
• The direction from the Archdiocese office is for minimal use of the Holy Cross Church, while it remains at this low rating.  The use of the church for a service of up 300 people, including children, does not come within minimal use.
• Although the Holy Cross Church has been used for the children’s mass in recent years, the November 2016 earthquake has brought the issue into focus.  Earthquake safety was also a focus of discussion at the recent Synod.
• We have both legal and moral responsibilities in the use of the Church which fall back on our parish priest and chair of the finance committee.
• The Holy Cross school hall has been selected as most appropriate due to its closeness and connection to the both our parish and school communities and also it has recently been re-assessed at 100% NBS.

The pastoral council and finance committees are currently investigating costings to strengthen and upgrade Holy Cross Church to 67% NBS or higher. Once these estimated costs are known this will allow for informed decisions to be made as to the future of this Church.
It is appreciated that moving the Children’s Christmas Mass is a break from past traditions but we ask for your prayerful support.
We are also aware that this change in venue increases the workload for those volunteers organising this Mass at the Holy Cross school hall. It would be much appreciated if some other parishioners could assist with these tasks as appropriate.
Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee (4 December 2017)

Holy Cross Childrens Mass at Holy Cross School Hall – Musicians needed.  If anyone is able to help out with the music for this Mass, if you could contact the Parish Office or David Sullivan on 388 9001.

HOLY TRINITY PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2018
Children in year 4 or older who have been baptised in a Catholic Church and would like to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion, are eligible to enrol. Enrolment forms are available in the church foyers, School Offices, the Parish Office or on the website www.holytrinity.parish.nz
All enrolment forms need to be completed and returned including a copy of your baptism certificate by the 18th February, 2018 to the School Offices, the Parish Office in Miramar or by email [email protected] 

Christmas Appeal - St Vincent de Paul Society Seatoun & Miramar Conference
Please note: Last collection is Sunday 10th December
Boxes for your donation of food items, toiletries, treats and gifts in the foyer of the churches.  You might even like to make up a hamper.  On Friday 15 December 2017 our team of drivers and helpers will deliver the boxes of food and items to over 50 families in the district. 
If you wish to provide a gift could you please wrap it and place a note as to the age and gender the gift would suit.
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. Clare Maddock: 388 8548

St Patrick’s Church Christmas working bee Saturday 16th December between 9 – 12pm. Parishioners are welcome to come and help us spurce up inside and outside the church in preparation for Christmas. Just turn up - many hands make light work.

For parishioners of St Patricks Church.  Roster for Christmas Masses
If you would like to volunteer to be a Minister of the Eucharist at the Children's Mass, Readers, Offertory , Collectors and Ministers of the Eucharist at the 11.30pm Mass or at 10am Christmas morning please contact Patricia O'Donnell at [email protected] or 934 3179.  Please contact me by 12 December.
 

Christmas Novena 15 – 23rd December - St Patrick’s Church 7pm

• All are welcome to come join us praying a novena for the nine days leading up to Christmas Eve
• Volunteers needed to run the cup of tea each night. Contact Leona 9733958 if you can help.

• There will be a priest available for reconciliation each night during the Novena.

St Patrick’s Children’s Christmas Eve Mass
If you have children that would like to be part of the Christmas Play, please contact Clare Lundon 021 227 8363.

News and Views  The last news and views for 2017 is ready to be delivered. A big thank you to all those who have been delivering during the year. Next issue out Feb

Assistance Needed for Craft Project I have available some peggy squares knitted by a special-needs lady. These need to be joined up into a blanket, which will be donated to charity. If this appeals to you, please contact Margaret Mansell, 3882 840. Wool is available, and project can be delivered.

Flowers for Christmas – St Patrick’s Church. If someone would like to volunteer to do the flowers for Christmas please contact Andrew 0274385393

St Catherine’s College is looking for additional Directors to serve on the Board of Proprietors.  We are responsible for the major maintenance, capital works of the property and supervising, preserving and safeguarding the special character of the school.  We are looking for Directors with strong property, development, legal, marking/brand or accounting skills.  Please email Catherine Fyfe, the Chairperson, on [email protected]

Fr Paul Martin SM has been appointed the new Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. 

A Double Bill of Music for the Season of Christmas at St Mary of the Angels. Sunday December 17th La Nativité Olivier Messiaen Performed by Bruce Cash  Pre-concert talk 1:30pm  Performance 2:30pm  Koha
Wednesday Dec 20th 7:30pm Gaudete  Verse anthems by Tomkins, Byrd & Gibbons with a world premier of Gaudete Ross Harris Especially written for this concert Palliser Viols Baroque Voices $30/$15

10 copies of Len Fifield playing the Southward Car Museum Wurlizer Organ have been generously donated to sell with all proceeds going to the Parish. CD’s - $20 each. Contact Andrew Greening at St Patrick’s Church if you would like to purchase a copy. 

Accommodation request: Three bedroom rental accommodation for myself and two daughters. We would be long term, exceptionally careful tenants with financial dependability. We are committed Catholics, active in many areas of Church life, which includes my role as a full-time teacher and Assistant Director of Religious Studies at St. Mary's College. Please contact 021 060 8650    [email protected]

Sunday 17 December. Family Day at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion. Join us to put up the crib in the Chapel at 12.30pm. Nativity activities for children will follow in the Heritage Centre.12noon - 3pm. Contact: [email protected] or (04) 282 1953 for more information.

Each Monday evening Christian Meditation Group.  Join us each Monday evening for an hour of Christian meditation in the ancient form of contemplative prayer.  All are welcome. 7pm, Crombie Chapel, Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street, Island Bay, Wellington. Ph. 04 383 7134 or 04 383 7769.

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.