Lead Stories
WelCom Office
WelCom August 2024
The latest version of WelCom is available to read here
Catholic Church welcomes final report of New Zealand Royal Commission on Abuse in Care
The long-running Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was made public after being formally tabled in Parliament on 24 July 2024.
The Royal Commission spent six years holding hearings and investigating events from 1950 until the present day.
Honouring 70 years of priestly service: Bishop Owen Dolan’s milestone anniversary
On July 25 2024, Palmerston North diocesan and parish staff and local clergy gathered to honour Bishop Owen Dolan’s extraordinary 70th anniversary of priesthood.
Students drive innovation for restricted licence journey
An innovative app designed by a group of Sacred Heart College Napier business students is poised to revolutionise the path for students to gain a restricted driver’s licence. The students are collaborating with Victoria University of Wellington to develop the app.
He Hīkoi Whakapono: A Journey of Faith
This month our Hīkoi Whakapono | Journey of Faith, takes us to the parish of St Mary of the Angels Central Wellington. The parish includes St Mary of the Angels Church on Boulcott St, one of the major churches of the city, and St Joseph Church, Mt Victoria.
News
Tributes flow for Willie Leota
A huge gathering assembled at St Patrick’s College Wellington Assembly Hall last month to farewell much-loved and respected First XV rugby coach, Willie Leota.
Treasured new Mission House blessed and opened for Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt
At 6am on Saturday 20 July, Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt school community gathered at dawn to celebrate the opening of our new Mission House and the blessing of the kaitiaki gifted by Mana Whenua.
Archbishop Gábor Pintér appointed Pope’s representative to Aotearoa New Zealand
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Gábor Pintér as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Aotearoa New Zealand. The appointment was announced on 27 July 2024, in Rome.
International News
New Synod working document released
The newly released working document for the Synod on Synodality offers inspiration, while revealing the journey is far from over in realising the fullness of the Church’s mission.
Care for creation requires true conversion
In his message for the 2024 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis has appealed for humanity’s conversion so we acknowledge the disastrous effects of war and set ethical limits on the development of artificial intelligence.
Call for two-state solution in Holy Land
Wrapping up their annual Synod in Baghdad, the Chaldean bishops of Iraq expressed their deep concern over the impact of the war in Gaza on the entire region, and reaffirmed a two-state solution as the only way for a lasting peace.
Diocesan News
Catholic Foundation grants
The Archdiocese of Wellington’s Catholic Foundation Board has restructured the focus of the grants it makes available to the archdiocese community, towards spiritual growth and development.
Fr Craig shares overseas journey with parishioners
Fr Craig Butler, parish priest for the Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katoria Ki Whanganui, recently spoke to parishioners at St Mary’s Parish Centre about his experiences in Rome the Synod on Synodality and travels that followed.
New Vinnies Palmerston North Conference President
During a special time at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit midday Mass on Friday 3 May, Kevin Frost was installed as the new Conference President for Palmerston North, taking over from Rose Semmens. Two new members, Rick Field and James Kissell, were also commissioned.
Features
‘We teach who we are’
More than 700 educators and people involved with Catholic education gathered for the National Catholic Education Convention in Wellington in June.
A treaty that is always speaking
Public debate around Te Tiriti o Waitangi has provoked a strong Catholic response.
Under the auspices of the Ko Te Tiriti Mai rāno: The Treaty Is Always Speaking. A Covenant for the Generations hui,nearly 70 people gathered at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay over a weekend in July, to consider Te Tiriti in its religious dimensions.
Standing with migrant workers
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a founding member of the Migrant and Refugee Oceania Network, advocating for the dignity of migrants and refugees throughout the region.
Reflections
Remembering St John Paul II’s inspiring evangelisation
Pope Francis is often quoted as having said, as a Catholic community, we are less living in an era of change than a change of era. I personally agree with this observation.
The other boats
Mark’s Gospel tells of the occasion when, responding to Jesus’ instruction to ‘cross over to the other side’, the disciples ‘took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him’. [Mk 4:35; Jerusalem Bible]
Gospel Reading: Sunday 4 August 2024
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – John 6:24-35
24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
Young Church
Catholic Foundation tertiary study scholarships
The Archdiocese of Wellington’s Catholic Foundation continues to promote its scholarships to students for tertiary studies. However, the Board has moved the availability of its scholarships from 1st year tertiary students to 2nd and 3rd year tertiary students.
NZ young Catholic leader meets Pope at international youth ministry congress
Around 300 delegates from bishops’ conferences and international movements from 110 countries met in Rome, from 23 to 25 May, to take part in the 2024 International Youth Ministry Congress. Organised by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, the event marked five years since Pope Francis published his document to young people, Christus vivit: Christ is alive.
Award for distinguished contribution to Catholic education
Tom Silverwood was awarded a prestigious Laureate Award for a distinguished contribution to Catholic education at the 2024 New Zealand Catholic Education Convention held in Wellington in June.
What's on
Preparing for the Season of Creation
Two workshops organised by the Integral Ecology Committee of the Archdiocese of Wellington EJP Commission, are being held this month to prepare for the Season of Creation: 1 September to 4 October. Everyone is welcome.
Archdiocesan programme for lay support begins 2025
Applications are now open for the archdiocese’s new one-year adult formation programme that will begin next year. Entitled, ‘Called and Equipped’, the programme is designed to support and encourage lay people serving in parishes.
Date and events – what’s on
To list events free, email welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz with event name, date, time, location and contact details. Saturday 3 August Fill the World with Love – Music for the Soul and Spirit,…