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WelCom October 2024
The latest version of WelCom is available to read here
87-year-old Pope praises ‘dynamic church’
Pope Francis was received with open arms wherever he went on his recent Apostolic Journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania. It was his longest and most challenging trip ever, taking the 87-year-old pontiff 32,000 kilometres by air to four countries from 2 to 13 September.
He visited the country with the world’s largest Muslim population – Indonesia, with about 242 million – and the country with the highest percentage of Catholics outside the Vatican itself – East Timor, with some 98 per cent.
Church leaders renew apology in Royal Commission response
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops and leaders of religious congregations have renewed a ‘sincere and unconditional apology’ to people who suffered abuse in Catholic settings as part of an initial response to a national inquiry.
Human dignity the focus for Support Life Sunday 2024
Catholics are being encouraged to reflect on the infinite dignity of every person as the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand marks Support Life Sunday on 13 October.
Each year, the Catholic Church chooses a key theme for Support Life Sunday. The Vatican’s document Dignitas Infinita (On Human Dignity) is the focus for 2024.
Archdiocesan seminarian ordained to the diaconate
John the Baptist Kinh van Nguyen, one of the Archdiocese of Wellington’s seminarians, was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Friday 6 September by Archbishop Paul Martin sm, at Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, in Auckland.
News
NZ’s ‘baby bishops’ attend bishops’ school in Rome
Two New Zealand bishops, Richard Laurenson and John Adams, attended the Baby Bishops course in Rome, a formation programme for newly ordained bishops. The event ran from 15 to 22 September and gathered 267 new bishops from all over the world for training, reflection and dialogue on their roles within the Church.
Catholic bishops pray for soul of Māori King
The Māori King, Tuheitia Paki, crowned Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuheitia, died on 30 August 2024, at age 69. His death came just nine days after he celebrated his 18th anniversary as king of the Kiingitanga, or Māori king movement, established in 1858 to unite the Māori tribes.
Church leaders want Treaty Principles Bill voted down
More than 400 church leaders have signed an open letter to MPs calling on them to vote down David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill at its first reading.
International News
Vatican approves devotion at Medjugorje
In a highly anticipated report on the alleged decades-long apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, the Vatican’s doctrinal office has endorsed prudent devotion to Mary at the popular pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina but has withheld any declaration on whether the alleged visions are supernatural in origin.
Action needed on ‘modern slavery’ says Stella Maris
After a television documentary accused a Scottish fishing company of modern-day slavery, a Catholic charity is calling on Britain’s Home Office to do more to protect people in the fishing industry.
‘They are not eating our pets’
Religious leaders in Springfield, Ohio gathered in September to denounce false claims that Haitian migrants in the area were ‘eating pets’.
Rev Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church addressed the issue directly during a service, declaring ‘Haitians are not eating pets in Springfield’. His remarks came after former President Donald Trump made the unfounded, sensational claim during a presidential debate.
Diocesan News
Consultation Hui with Archbishop Paul
On Sunday 15 September 2024, Catholic Māori from around Te Whanganui-a-Tara met with Archbishop Paul Martin sm to discuss a range of issues relevant to whaanau and faith. Archbishop Paul was seeking counsel on a variety of matters including the relaunching of Te Kahu o Te Rangi and the care of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in our Catholic schools.
Māori language festival draws thousands to the streets of Heretaunga
Thousands of people from across the country gathered in Heretaunga Hastings over two days in August for Aotearoa’s first-ever festival – Toitū Te Reo – dedicated to celebrating te mana o te reo Māori, culture and the identity of Māori and wider New Zealand.
‘Oak Jubilee’ for centenarian sister
Sr Helena Fouhy csb was first professed as a Brigidine Sister on 8 September 1944 in the Randwick Novitiate, Sydney. So on 8 September 2024, the 80th anniversary of her profession, she was offered congratulations on her historic day.
It was a momentous occasion for Sr Helena as the first New Zealand Brigidine to reach 100 years of age and the first to celebrate 80 years of profession as a Brigidine.
Features
He Hīkoi Whakapono: A Journey of Faith
This month, our Hīkoi Whakapono | Journey of Faith, visits the parish of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | Te Ahurewa o te Ngākau Tapu. Geographically the parish encompasses Thorndon, Wadestown and north Wellington Central, although being the site of the Cathedral it is home to all in the Archdiocese of Wellington.
ACT Party welfare proposal ‘inhumane’
The parable of the Good Samaritan1 underscores the need to help those in need. The Greatest commandments2 – loving God and loving our neighbour – require similar humane attitudes and actions.
Respecting men, respecting life
The annual Support Life Sunday, promoted each October by the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, reflects the active work Catholics need to do to help people facing significant life decisions.
Reflections
The Mysteries of Light – Mihiteria Hikohiko
In October 2002, Pope John Paul II added The Mysteries of Light to the Rosary. His initiative was almost 600 years after the original set of Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries became the points of meditation in this classic Catholic devotion.
Gospel Reading: Sunday 6 October 2024
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Mark 10:2-16 2 Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ They were testing him. 3…
How do you go to confession when you haven’t been for years?
A recent enquirer said she felt uncomfortable confessing to her parish priest, who she knew well. The thought just made her cringe, especially when it had been such a long time since her last confession.
Young Church
Challenge 2000 marks 36th anniversary this month
Challenge 2000 began 36 years ago in October 1988 as a dedicated gospel-centred, social agency to respond to needs in Wellington, particularly those adversely affecting children, young people and their families. Almost four decades later, Challenge remains convinced that love works, the gospel works and being a community whānau works.
Life Teen Aotearoa Leadership Convention
‘Sanctuary’ was the theme for the 2024 the Life Teen Aotearoa Leadership Convention, held at Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt over the weekend of 30 August–1 September. Over 150 young people from across all six dioceses attended the uplifting weekend of Faith.
Growing and learning at St John’s College
A St John’s College Year 11 Horticulture class, who are doing a Level 2 unit on bedding plants, planted a large bed of white and blue pansies recently.
What's on
‘Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet’ – Matthew 22:9
World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the second to last Sunday of October, this year on 20 October. It is a special day that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity, and support for the Church’s mission efforts.
‘Open House’ – Friday 22–Saturday 23 November
Hosted by the Catholic Parish of New Plymouth at St Joseph’s and in partnership with the Diocese of Palmerston North and Divine Renovation, ‘Open House’ is designed to share with other parishes the missional parish journey the parish is on.
Church Calendar Dates
October: 2. Guardian Angels 4. St Francis of Assisi 7. Our Lady of the Rosary 18. St Luke 28. Simon and Jude 27. St Vincent de Paul. November: 1. Solemnity…