Lead Stories
WelCom Office
WelCom December 2024/January 2025
The 2024 Advent Calendar and the December 2024/January 2025 edition of Welcom are available here.
Treaty Principles Bill ‘divisive’ – Church leaders
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti, a nationwide protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, culminated in Wellington on 19 November where more than 40,000 participants walked from Waitangi Park through the heart of the city to Parliament grounds.
As the leaders of the Hīkoi arrived at Parliament, the march stretched back through the CBD to Taranaki Street. It is thought to be New Zealand’s largest-ever protest.
A heartfelt Mass of commemoration: honouring Pahiatua’s Polish children and their families
The 80th anniversary celebration of the arrival of Pahiatua’s ‘Polish children’ in 1944, took place from 1 to 3 November 2024. Events were held in Pahiatua and Wellington including a deeply moving traditional Latin Mass at St Mary of the Angels Church to honour the enduring legacy of the Polish children and their families who were brought to New Zealand towards the end of World War II.
Julia Lynch: A Dedicated Life
Exhibition at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata June to September 2025
The Gallery is on a nationwide callout for portraits of students painted by the renowned artist Sr Lawrence (Julia B) Lynch (1896–1975) for inclusion in this upcoming exhibition.
Preparing for Pope Francis’ 2025 Jubilee
One of the things that struck me when I was in Rome for the Synod in October were all the places that were undergoing renovation or restoration or repair in preparation for the Holy Year 2025, which will be begin on 28 December 2024. It is a reminder that so many people will be heading there on pilgrimage next year to celebrate this Jubilee Year of Hope.
News
Divine Renovation Open House: a nation united for parish renewal
The Catholic Parish of New Plymouth hosted the Divine Renovation Open House, an inspiring event, last month, that gathered over 200 people from every diocese across the country. The attendees included priests, bishops, and lay leaders, all united in their commitment to parish renewal and evangelisation.
Drowning in debt and rising seas
Caritas has released a new report exposing how debt and climate impacts are compounding vulnerabilities in nations like Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
Entitled ‘Weathering the Storm’, the report examines the tensions between debt and climate challenges in the Pacific.
Abuse in Care apology
On Tuesday 12 November 2024, survivors of abuse in care received a formal apology from the Government at an event in Parliament that was livestreamed across New Zealand.
The national apology was given by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, followed by a statement from the Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins.
International News
Archbishop of Canterbury resigns
The Church of England’s most senior bishop, Justin Welby, has resigned ‘in sorrow’, saying he had failed to ensure there was a proper investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago.
Synod priorities – time to implement
Pope Francis has published a note calling on local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality.
Church struggling in occupied Ukraine
More than two and a half years after the Russian invasion, the Church in Ukraine has lost more than half of the parishes in the occupied regions, says the new Greek Catholic bishop of the Donetsk exarchate.
Diocesan News
Rā Maumaratanga at Korokoro Catholic Cemetery
Gerard Duignan A ceremony of remembrance (of the dead) and recommitment (to the care of the place) at Korokoro Catholic cemetery drew a crowd, on Sunday 1 December, the day…
Caring for creation in the Hutt Valley
The urgency of getting more people involved in caring for, and protecting all of creation is increasing every year. In September, the Season of Creation was celebrated in the Hutt Valley in a number of practical ways.
Final Mass and closure for Sacred Heart Church Manaia
The first Catholic Church in Manaia, South Taranaki, was built in 1886 and served the local Catholic people until 1968, when it was demolished. In 1968 a new church was built and opened and continued to serve the Catholic community.
Features
He Hīkoi Whakapono: A Journey of Faith
This month we arrive at the end of WelCom’s now eight-year Hīkoi Whakapono: Journey of Faith, with a visit to the historic Pukekaraka – hill of the Karaka trees – a spiritual, cultural and community hub of Ōtaki.
Middle East war – an open letter
Emeritus Bishop Peter Cullinane wrote an open letter in October to the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the dire situation in the Middle East and the need for somebody to call the USA to account. Israel is getting its deserved criticism, he says, but the USA is getting off scot-free.
Life is to be lived in differences
Over the years I’ve observed that when a nation’s politics move away from the centre towards right or left extremities, it usually reflects a growing polarisation within its society. Leaders who arise during these periods tend to exploit and encourage this polarisation, first for political gain and then to maintain power.
Reflections
Advent and Christmas message
So often we come to this point of the year and we find it hard to believe that another year is coming to an end. We can look back on all that has happened and marvel at the moments of joy and delight and recognise the moments of struggle, sadness and challenge. All of this makes up the tapestry of our own lives and our life as a Church community.
Christmas: a way of hope to peace and love in the world
A new year has begun in the Church, and very soon the great festival of Christmas will be upon us. Once again, we will be invited into the great mystery of God’s love for us. A ‘love’, as St Augustine reminded us – whose quality makes us feel ‘as if we were the only one…’.
Looking ahead during Advent
In the Catholic Church Advent is a time of waiting. In our lives there will be many times when we are waiting for someone or something to arrive. It can be a time of unmixed joy, as when we wait for the homecoming of someone we love or wait for the great holidays we have planned.
Young Church
Polish sisters’ legacy honoured
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the arrival of 733 Polish refugee children in New Zealand in 1944, the Trustees of the Ogonowska Education Charitable Trust are pleased to announce the Trust’s 2024 Awards.
Students seek living wage for college ancillary staff
The living wage recognises all people deserve a fair wage for their labour, offering a way to lift people out of poverty. This is why, for our social action assessment in Sociology in our last year at school, we approached our Principal and Board of Trustees to support the Living Wage Schools Campaign.
Young entrepreneurs celebrate regional win
A group of Year 12 business students from Sacred Heart College Napier have won the Hawke’s Bay North Regional Finals in this year’s Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).
What's on
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is universally celebrated on 8 December. This year, because 8 December is celebrated as the Second Sunday of Advent, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to Monday, 9 December 2024.
Church Calendar
Key church dates for December, January and February
Christian perspectives on Treaty Principles Bill – participate
The Government is introducing a Treaty Principles Bill that ‘will seek to define in law the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi’. Even if the bill doesn’t become law, the conversations about it will influence how the Treaty is understood by many in years to come.