Dates and events – What’s on

View key events for November 2024. To list your parish and school events free on this page, please email welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz with event name, date, time, location and contact details.

WelCom November 2024

To list your parish and school events free on this page, please email welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz with event name, date, time, location and contact details.

Friday 1 November – Saturday 30 November

Catholic Social Services Annual Appeal – bringing hope to communities since 1960s through social work, parenting programmes, Hospital Chaplaincy, Prison Chaplaincy, Seasons for Growth programmes, community facilitation and advocacy. See p 20 and visit catholicsocialservices.org.nz for more information.

Sundays 3, 10 November

‘Love is a Decision’ – Archdiocese marriage preparation course for engaged couples. Contact marriage@wn.catholic.org.nz for information.

Saturday 9, Sunday 10 November; or 23, 24 November; or 30 November, 1 December

Henare Walmsley, of Te Ngakau Tapu Church, Porirua, wants to share his knowledge of Māori musical instruments with you at a two-day wānanga where you will get to make three simple instruments, learn the art of sound, and compose a waiata. (See p 8 for details).

Sunday 10–Sunday 18 November

Papua Niugini Tok Pisin Wik – Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week.

Wednesday 6 November

Singing for Peace – Waiata Rangimārie | Sing for Peace featuring Hukarere and Iona girls’ choirs with choir master Boiboi Tevivi Daniel, 5.30pm to 6.30pm, St Columba’s Presbyterian Church, Havelock North. Koha for charity. All welcome.

Saturday 9 November

St Peter’s PTFA Car Boot Sale and Massive Plant Sale – 7.30am to 12 noon at St Peter’s College, 2 Holdsworth Ave, Milson, Palmerston North. Please join us.
‘Glimpses of God Through the Kitchen Window’ – Christian Meditation Community Day facilitated by Raymond Eberhard, reflection session and ‘awakening arising in everyday life’, 10am–3pm, Lyon Room, Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay. Bring own lunch. All welcome. Koha appreciated. Contact Anne Cave on 022-097-2939 or annecave@gmail.com for more information.

Sunday 10 November 

Mass with the new Apostolic Nuncio and Bishops, 7pm, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Thorndon. (See p 2).

Monday 11–Tuesday 12 November 

Wellington Catholic Social Services – Seasons for Growth: Companion Training in Children and Young People Programme, two-day professional development opportunity, 9.30am–4pm, NET Pasifika Hug, 2 Dudley St, Hutt Central. Cost $300 plus resources. Email Jess at seasons@wn.catholic.org.nz by 1 November to register.

Wednesday 13 November

Young People in Faith – first of two Wellington Abrahamic Council events in November. In conjunction with Pearl of the Islands Foundation, focus for discussion evening on challenges and aspirations of young religious people in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, 6pm, Connolly Hall, 10 Guildford Tce, Thorndon. (See details p 13).

Friday 15–Saturday 16 November

NZ Catholic Medical Assn – Catholic Medical Retreat, Home of Compassion, Wellington.
(See details this page.)

Friday 15 Saturday 16, Sunday 17 November

Sacred Heart and Redwood College Nelson reunion for past pupils and staff. Register at: redwoodsacredheart.com or contact Bernadette King-Turner at: SHReunion2024@gmail.com for information.

Saturday 16 November

International Day for Tolerance.

Sunday 17 November

World Day of the Poor. (See p 20.)

Wednesday 20 November

Sarah and Hajjar/Hagar – second of two Wellington Abrahamic Council events in November. Focus is on Sarah and Hajjar/Hagar, matriarchs of our three Abrahamic religions, 7pm, St Joseph’s Church, 152 Brougham St, Wellington. (See details p 9.)

Friday 22–Saturday 23 November

‘Open House’ – Divine Renovation event at The Catholic Parish of New Plymouth, 573 Devon St East, Fitzroy, New Plymouth. Begins 3pm, Friday, and concludes 4pm, Saturday. Visit divinerenovation.org/openhouse to register.

Saturday 23 November 2024

The Send – national ecumenical reanimation of Jesus’ Great Commissioning in Aotearoa New Zealand, on the Feast of Christ the King. Significant Catholic Young Church presence expected at this event, Mystery Creek, Hamilton. Visit thesend.org.nz for more details and promo video.

Sunday 24–Saturday 30 November

World Youth Day
Solomon Aelan Pijin Langguis Wik – Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week.

25 November–15 December

The Archdiocese Ecology, Justice and Peace Commission invite faith communities to host the video Stand up for Te Tiriti: Christian Perspectives on the Treaty Principles Bill. Visit wn.catholic.org.nz/about/commission-for-ecology/ejp-commission-activities for information.

Friday 29 November 

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 
XLT – night of music, worship, Eucharistic Adoration and more for teens and young adults, 7pm–9pm, St Anne’s Newtown.

Friday 29 November–Sunday 1 December

‘Don’t Miss the Mystery’ – residential Advent Retreat at Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay. Contact Tania Halliday at taniahalliday@challenge2000.org.nz to register.

Monday–Thursday 5 December

Archdiocese Young Catholic Leaders (YCL) Camp for students entering leadership positions in their colleges in 2025. 

Saturday 7–Sunday 8 December

Bake sale fundraiser for ongoing restoration work of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart after each weekend Mass.

Monday 16–Sunday 23 December

Cribs on Kāpiti – Nativity scenes nightly display, 7pm–9.30pm, Our Lady of Kāpiti Church, 1 Presentation Way, Paraparaumu. (See this page.)

Tuesday 14–Saturday 18 January 2025

Life Teen Aotearoa Summer Camp 2025 – hosted by Hamilton Diocese. Visit: lifeteen.nz/camp/summer-camp-info for information.

Friday 24–Monday 27 January 2025

Festival One – join the Palmerston North diocesan group heading to Festival One, the largest Christian music festival in Aotearoa, held at Hartford Farm, Karapiro. A wonderful opportunity to encourage up-and-coming musicians! Enquiries: please speak to your local youth minister or contact Nick at the Youth Office: nwilson@pndiocese.org.nz 

Friday 24–Sunday 26 October 2025

St Catherine’s College 75th Jubilee – Labour Weekend 2025. (See p 9.)