Kete Korero February 2012

ketekorero

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HAMILTON

FEBRUARY - APRIL A.D. 2012

We want to hear from You New Editor for Kete Congratulations to Jessica Jackman on her appointment as the new Editor of the Kete Korero.

Baptised and raised in St Joseph’s Parish, Fairfield, Jessica was educated at the parish school and attended Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hamilton where she was the Special Character Leader in 2008. In 2009 she took a gap year to volunteer for the diocese with the Catholic Youth Mission Team, working with young people in schools and parishes. Currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in French at Waikato University, Jessica also took part in the pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Madrid last year. She has a passion for writing and is excited about this opportunity to use her talents for the Glory of God. We would like to thank Cynthia Piper for all the hard work and effort she has put into the Kete over the last 5 years. We wish her well in her new role with the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Greg Schmidt, Diocesan General Manager.

Kete Korero is a magazine by you and for you. We want to know what you love, what we could do better and what ideas you have so we can make it even better.

Email, write or phone us and let us know what is happening in your parish and school or what you thought of this issue.

Kete Korero Magazine c-/ 51 Grey St, P.O. Box 4353, Hamilton East 3247 Tel: 07 8566989, Fax 07 8567035 Text 0212284438 Email kete@cdh.org.nz.

Please keep any contributions to less than 500 words and supply any photographs separately, in digital form if possible.

Deadline for the next issue is April 15th . Please contact the editor at least 3 weeks before the deadline if you are planning to contribute.

Kete Korero is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

Sponsorship and advertising: David Barrowclough, c-/ Chanel Centre Tel: 07 8566989 Fax 07 8567035 email: cdf@cdh.org.nz Printed by APN Print, Wanganui Tel: 063490849 0800111500 Email: wanganui@apnprint.co.nz

What’s in a name?

The late Bishop Max Takuira Mariu explains...

‘Kete’, a kit, is the traditional flax woven basket which has a multiplicity of uses. ... In traditional lore, the orators often described knowledge in terms of ‘kete’, e.g. nga kete wananga, the various branches of knowledge.

‘Korero’ is a word used with a whole array of meanings and nuances. Loosely translated it means speech, talk, a story, written or spoken.

Combine the two words and there is a rich flavour to the meaning of the phrase kete korero, baskets of talk, news from all around the diocese. The secret of Kete Korero is you never know what is in it until you peer in and see what is there. Of course, people have to put things into the basket to make it worthwhile for others to look into it.

Na to rourou na toku rourou ka ora ai tatou.

‘With your kit of food and my kit of food, we will have life’.

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This Issue...

Bishop’s Message

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n December 2011 the New Zealand Bishops travelled to Rome to meet with Pope Benedict on our five yearly ad limina visit.

Early on we met with the Holy Father as a Bishops’ Conference but were able to address him individually about the situation in each diocese. In particular I spoke to him about the redevelopment of our Cathedral and the presence of a contemplative order in the diocese.

An ad limina visit is literally “to the threshold of the Apostles”, ad limina apostolorum, and while in Rome I had the privilege of praying and celebrating Mass at the Tombs of St Peter and St Paul. It was an uplifting experience.

Pope Benedict addressed the New Zealand and Pacific Bishops on 17 December. He emphasised the need for a “new evangelisation” in countries which were once strong in the practice of the faith. To encourage this, Pope Benedict has proclaimed the “Year of Faith”, which will begin on 11 October 2012, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The documents from this council contain a richness and beauty which is yet to fully unfold in the life of our Church. As part of our diocesan preparation for the Year of Faith, we hope to offer an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the council documents at a parish and diocesan level.

As we wait for an announcement of an appointment for the coadjutor Bishop of Hamilton, I thank you for your prayers, ask you to continue praying that the coadjutor, whoever he may be, will be given the grace to accept the call to shepherd the people of this diocese.

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Gisborne Rebuilds

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Whakatane Sister’s Vows

God bless you Yours sincerely in Christ

Denis Browne BISHOP OF HAMILTON

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Stepping up for 2012

And more...

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Gisborne Rebuilds Last year we reported on the reconstruction of St Mary Star of the Sea in Gisborne. The parish church, built on its present site in 1995, suffered from what came to be known as the leaky building syndrome and was in urgent need of repairs.

After many months of planning, work started at the beginning of February 2011. Eleven months and 1,6 million dollars later, on 3 December 2011 at 3pm, Bishop Denis Browne re-dedicated the church building in the presence of civil and religious authorities, workers and the parish congregation.

From the Artist...

The Crucifix

Michael Pervan The Studio of John the Baptist The Stations of the Cross came to the Studio coated white and in need of a little love. We restored the odd finger and head and, as planned, painted them into full life colour.

I hope the effect is that the children in the parish (and the child in the adult parishioners) may from time to time get lost in the wonder of them.

Never let the memory of the Passion be lost or overshadowed.

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The Ninth Station: Jesus meets His Mother. These stations were painted by the Studio of John the Baptist.

I had the privilege of restoring the twelfth Station of the Cross in St Patrick’s Cathedral at the Studio of John the Baptist some years ago and took the opportunity to carve a new corpus (body) from it for St Mary Star of the Sea. It looked so peaceful and full of strength and the promise of new life, not redolent with the ugliness of death nor preoccupied with the horror of it. The promise of resurrection is already evident in this crucifix.

Pa Yvan speaks...

Against all odds, we the people of St Mary, Star of the Sea, trusted in the Lord and have been able to fix and enhance the House of the Lord here in Gisborne.

The parishioners showed great patience and commitment through the eleven months of work on the church building and I am truly and deeply grateful for their endurance, with using St Philomena for our liturgies and Masses, especially in the cold winter months with the “jet engine” sound of the heater.

Through the hard work, the strong support in prayer, finances and support of many people of our community and further afield, even as far as Europe and the Americas, we were able to hand over to Bishop Denis the repaired and enhanced church building that he happily re-dedicated on Saturday 3 December 2011 at 3pm.

On Sunday 4 December, we celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass during which our kaumatua, Jack Taitua, said a blessing prayer in Te Reo and Pa Yvan sprinkled the carvings and tukutuku panels from the Lowe St church that have been reinstated around the baptistery and in the vicinity of Our Lady’s prayer corner.

The new Crucifix, painted by the Studio of John the Baptist

The actions and words of these special liturgies make this building a sacred place given over entirely and perpetually to Christian worship. As for the entity of any wharenui on a marae, which is calling for attention and respect, so does this dedicated sacred place call for a great and profound reverence because the Lord Jesus Himself dwells in this special place. His hope and expectation is to see and meet all those who belong to Him and His family sharing His Presence in the mystery of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our life in Christ.

Let us keep in mind this reality and give thanks for such a great and marvelous taonga and gift.

Nga mihi nui e arohanui. Ma te Atua e manaaki Pa Yvan+

The Twelth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross.

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Clockwise from top left; Star of the Sea, Side view of Church, Sanctuary and new Crucifix, Stained glass windows at the back of the new church.

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NZ Bishops Meet the Pope At the end of last year Bishop Denis, along with the other Bishops of New Zealand, gathered in Rome for their Ad Limina visit. Jessica Jackman reports...

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sually every five years, the ad limina visit is an opportunity for Bishops to meet with the Holy Father and officials in Rome and report on the state of the Church in their dioceses. It is also a reminder that we are a part of the Universal Church; One, Holy and Apostolic, united under the Holy Father.

The Bishops met with the Holy Father early on and spoke with him about the Church in New Zealand.

In particular Bishop Denis spoke to the Holy Father about the joy of the new foundation of the Tyburn Monastery in our diocese and informed him about our progress with the new translation of the Roman Missal. The New Zealand Bishops also visited various offices in the Vatican and spoke with officials about many and varied topics, from the new evangelisation to the National Seminary.

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The New Zealand Bishops met with the Holy Father.

On 17 December Pope Benedict addressed the New Zealand and Pacific Bishops. He sent his greetings to the people of each diocese asking the Bishops to “please assure them of my prayers for their growth in holiness and of my affection for them in the Lord.”

In his address, Pope Benedict gave thanks for the many blessings in each of the dioceses since the last ad limina visit. He also commented on the challenge of secularism, of living in a society where there is no place for God. Pope Benedict wished to assure us that ‘ultimately, Christian faith provides a surer basis for life than the secular vision; for “it is only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of humanity truly becomes clear” ( Gaudium et Spes, 22, 1965).’

With the upcoming Year of Faith, Pope Benedict also challenged the Bishops to focus on the new evangelisation, a response to the loss of faith in traditionally Catholic countries. Pope Benedict insisted that “the new evangelization is not an abstract concept but a renewal of authentic Christian living based on the teachings of the Church. You, as Bishops and Pastors, are called to be protagonists in formulating this response according to local needs and circumstances in your various countries and among your peoples.”

For a link to Benedict’s address, go to our diocesan website; www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

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Vatican II 50 Years On In October this year we will celebrate 50 years since the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Controversial and misunderstood, this council has profoundly marked the Church over the last half-century.

Mons. Des McArthy explains...

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n October 11 1962 Pope John XXIII officially opened the Ecumenical Council we know as Vatican II. In his opening address, Pope John spoke about his concern that the Church update itself; aggorniamento was the word he used; he wanted the Church to belong better to this age.

The shutters had been up since the Reformation; he wanted them down with the windows wide open so that light and fresh air could, as it were, blow through the Vatican again. He himself was looked upon as a breath of fresh air.

For the first time ever at an Ecumenical Council, Vatican II examined the very nature of the Church and promoted the biblical image of the Church as the people of God, rather than the aloof hierarchical view we were used to.

The first document published was Sacrosanctum Concilium, on the Sacred Liturgy; public worship.

The dramatic change here was the moving away from Latin and adopting the vernacular; henceforth the Mass and the Sacraments would be celebrated in our own language.

One very significant happening at this Council before the end of the first session (8 Dec 1962) was that Cardinal Suenens, Primate of Belgium, supported by Cardinal Montini (shortly to succeed John XXIII as Pope Paul VI) proposed that a special document on the Church in the Modern World be prepared and promulgated. Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations) was thus presented at the fourth and final session of the council in November 1964 and voted in unanimously by the over 2000 Bishops present. It is 110 pages in length, by far the longest of all the 16 documents presented. To me, this informative and magnificent document has never been given the prominence it deserved.

In its 2000 years of history the church has had 21 ecumenical councils. That is worth remembering when you ask if Vatican II has been successful.

No one council is a complete answer. The church is forever having to renew itself and adapt to the challenges of the age in which it lives.

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Scene from the opening of the Second Session of the Council.

Our age is very fast moving; in the last 50 years we have seen more changes in society in every area of life than in the hundreds of years that preceeded them and it will continue to be so. In today’s climate, religion is not the flavour of the month. There seems to be a growing atheism and a rabid materialism which often enough expresses itself in greed and less and less care of the poor. “Great traditions cast long shadows� someone wisely observed, referring to the wholesome influence of the Church morally, socially and culturally, on the building of western civilisation. However, the church does not escape being tainted by these pervading influences, ecumenical council or not.

Over the last 50 years our congregations have more than halved. There are less Priests and religious.

We no longer have Sisters, Brothers and Priests teaching in our schools. Parents in the 30s and 40s are mostly absent from Mass on Sundays, as are most teenagers.

On a positive note, let it be said that the church will survive and because of Vatican II and its documents, she is much more alive today than she was 50 years ago. The People of God have taken an active role in Parish councils and their rightful place in Liturgy, especially in the Mass. The Mass is much more alive and much more appreciated.

Want to know more about Vatican II? Visit our website: www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz for links and articles

New Bushwalk at Ngakuru Volunteers have been working hard to improve the grounds at the Tyburn Monastery in Ngakuru Steve Mcleod Reports...

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t has been three years since I volunteered as Project Manager at the Tyburn Monastery in Ngakuru, using my qualifications and skills in horticulture and turf management to improve the grounds and organising working bees. The Rosary, carpark and Calvary Hill gardens, which I designed and created, now show a display of God’s beauty for everyone to experience in the contemplative prayer life of the monastery.

Water lilies will be introduced to create better oxygen levels in the ponds and hopefully wild life and fish will be introduced. Ongoing working bees in the future will be organised to improve the beautification of the area, so when anyone comes to the monastery, they will able to enjoy a bush walk to the lake as part of their retreat and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Recently, a three day working bee was organised to build a bush walk on the Land Information NZ property adjacent to the monastery land and to Lake Ohakuri.

On Friday 13 January, Steve McLeod, Ian Fraser, Ben and Agnus Bergs (St Mary’s, Rotorua), Owen Kowaleski and Daniel Tustin (St Mary’s, Tauranga) started the day by attending 9.00am Mass and adoration. After morning tea, we started on the bush walk and created a big portion of the track, cutting through blackberry and into the contour of the bank, leveling off the track. Minus Ian Fraser on Saturday, we were joined by Anne Fredricsen of (St Columbus Parish, Frankton), her friend Diane Norton (Cambridge) and Adrian Holden (St Thomas More Parish, Mount Maunganui).

Chris, Steve, Walter, Ian and Anne at the working bee.

On Saturday 21 January, Steve McLeod, Ian Fraser, Walter Hermans (St Michael’s, Rotorua), Adrian Holden, Chris Bong (Mount Maunganui) and Anne Fredricsen returned to finish off the bush walk. We also lifted a covert PVC pipe to raise the water level of the adjacent ponds for the water to flow down through the pipe to prevent stagnation.

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Called to be Saints If you think that you do not have a vocation, you are wrong. Every one of us, married, single, priest or religious has been called personally by Christ, for that is what a vocation is- not a career, a job, or a lifestyle, but a call.

We are all called by our baptism to be holy; to be saints. This is the universal vocation, the universal call to holiness. As the Second Vatican Council so beautifully expressed in Lumen Gentium, holiness is not just for priests, nuns, brothers and sisters, but for every one of us. It is for mothers, fathers, children, students and workers. Holiness is not about sitting in a chapel, looking pious, but loving Christ. Holiness is not snapping at a workmate who is being obnoxious. Holiness is offering up study and stress. Holiness is not losing one’s temper with a child who won’t go to sleep. Holiness is, as Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata insisted, about doing the ordinary things with extraordinary love.

In addition to this universal call to holiness, God calls each of us to a particular vocation, a specific way of living out our call to be saints. These are called ‘states of life’ and the Church generally names four; Marriage, Holy Orders, Consecrated Life and the Single Life. These states of life are not mutually exclusive and each vocation needs and supports the others to live out the baptismal call to holiness.

Your vocation is the state of life where God knows you will be not only happy, but drawn ever closer to him in the daily struggles and challenges that every vocation inevitably brings.

In this issue we celebrate recent jubilees, ordinations and first professions In following issues we will be taking a closer look at each of these vocations.

For more information about vocations look on our website www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

Celebrating Marriage On Tuesday 14 February people from around the diocese celebrated the vocation of marriage at the annual Valentine’s Day Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Couples anointed each other’s hands, re-affirming their love for each other. This joyous and moving annual event, organised by Anne and John Griffin, began in 2006 and is a way of recoginisng the value and sacredness of marriage.

Photos: couples enjoy themselves after the Mass

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Deacons Ordained Our diocese has been blessed with two new deacons.

Deacon Peter Richardson reports...

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n Sunday, 29 January, Bishop Denis Browne ordained Peter Spiller to the Sacred Order of Permanent Deacon. Bishop Denis was assisted by a number of priests and deacons. Peter’s ordination took place at the 10.30 am Sunday Mass at his parish, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, where he has been a cantor and reader for a number of years.

Deacon Peter Spiller with his family and Bishop Denis

Peter attended a discernment retreat in 2007 and commenced his three year formation programme in February 2009; in August that same year that he was sworn in as a district court judge.

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oe Rogers was ordained to the Sacred Order of Permanent Deacon on Sunday, 5 February

by Bishop Denis Browne, in his home parish of St Mary’s Rotorua. Joe is a dairy farmer from Atiamuri; and has in recent years been taking communion to the sick and is a committed supporter of the Tyburn Monastery at Ngakuru. His wife Irene has been a passionate supporter of Joe’s journey to the diaconate, and together they joined Bishop Denis on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop in 2010.

Congratulations Peter and Joe on your ordinations to the permanent diaconate.

Please continue to pray for these men as they generously serve the Church

Irene Rogers places a chasuble on her newly-ordained husband, Deacon Joe Rogers.

THE RIV BARS & CAFE

in the Clyde St shopping complex in Hamilton East has been purchased by seven long-standing Hamilton Catholic families.

The Riv menu caters for all tastes at very moderate prices go to www.theriv.co.nz for details.

Evening meals after 6.00 pm Mass are a speciality.

Phone: 0800 843 233 Email: cdf@cdh.org.nz

On Tuesdays, dinner meals normally costing up to $20 can be had for $10.

Great facilities available for re-unions, parties and the like.

Visitors to Hamilton from throughout the diocese are very welcome for coffee or meals any day of the week.

The support of the Catholic community is greatly appreciated.

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Jubilee Celebrations Mission Sisters celebrate 100 years of Service

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n 8 January, two Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions celebrated their Golden Jubilee of Profession in Hamilton: Sister Barbara Cameron of Kiwitahi, Morrinsville and Sister Margaret Mullin who is working in Rome. About a hundred family, friends and sisters gathered in the sisters’ chapel in Clyde Street to join with these two missionary women to celebrate this milestone in their lives.

Margaret and Barbara have both helped to shape the face of the Church in Aotearoa-New Zealand and beyond and they are to be congratulated for these 100 years of wonderful service to the people of God.

They both made First Profession in the convent chapel in Christchurch 50 years ago and then made their Final Profession in the Hamilton chapel on 6 January 1968. It was fitting that they returned to this chapel to celebrate their Jubilee.

Barbara worked for many years in secondary education in Hamilton and New Plymouth before becoming involved with formation among the sisters and moving to other work in the wider community. Her missionary outreach took her to Peru for over 12 years before she returned to New Zealand and to her present ministry of spiritual direction.

Margaret spent the first 15 years of her religious life teaching in primary schools in Hamilton, Auckland and around Taranaki. She then moved to Samoa where she served the people there for over 10 years. Back in New Zealand Margaret spent time working with refugees in Auckland and now she is again overseas working at our Generalate in Rome.

From left: Sister Barbara Cameron and Sister Margaret Mullin RNDM

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“In most of the missions I have worked we have relied heavily on Mass stipends to support ourselves. To have a name makes that part of the Eucharistic prayer where we pray for our dead more special. So I am grateful to receive Mass stipends.”

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Missionz, PO Box 12 322, Wellington 6144

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Golden Jubilee The first week in January was especially significant for Sr June Hickland as she gathered with twenty three Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. These sisters, former Novitiate companions, had come together from many parts of Australia and New Zealand to celebrate their Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession. Their time together was a time of memories, reflection and above all of gratitude for the invitation to religious life and for the many and varied opportunities made available over the years as members of the Josephite community.

Sr June Hickland on her Jubilee day with Srs Roseleen Moloney (Papatoetoe) and Frances Gaffaney (Temuka)

The sisters were joined by family and friends and many Sisters of St Joseph for the Jubilee Eucharist, celebrated in the St Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel. It was a time of joyful thanksgiving. Following the renewal of her vows each sister placed her lighted candle upon the tomb of Mary MacKillop, a moving experience.

While grateful for this wonderful experience Sr June is also looking forward to celebrating with her family and the sisters in the Aotearoa New Zealand Province in May of this year.

Sr June’s Hauroto Mission provides pastoral care for people living in the west coast area of the diocese.

Walk By Faith: Deepening your faith People of different ages, backgrounds and professions have taken part in Walk By Faith.

Here some participants share their experiences...

“I really enjoy doing all the reading and reflection.... I am thrilled with some of the reading materials as they are taking me to exciting ‘places’; like opening up doors to new found treasures.”

“Walk By Faith provided me an opportunity to reflect on God’s presence in my life. The times when you wonder why [or] how can be explained when you understand and accept God’s presence.”

To find out more about this wonderful course that you can do in your own home at your own pace contact Cynthia Piper, 0800217411 or email cynthiap@cdh.org.nz

Walk by FaiTh Walk by Faith will help you to: • know and understand yourself better • deepen your faith • enrich your knowledge of Jesus Christ, the scriptures and the church • learn with others participating in the course For an enrolment form or further information contact your diocesan office or

NCRS, PO Box 12243, Wellington 6144 Tel: (04) 819 8385 Email: ncrs@catholicinstitute.ac.nz The programme is directed by the National Centre for Religious Studies on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

www.ncrs.org.nz ketekorero Feb- Apr 2012

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Bride of Christ F

or those who see religious vocations as a thing of the past, Sr Maria Mater Boni Remedii (formerly Leonie Riddick) is living proof that God is still calling young men and women to give up everything and follow Him. We last heard from Sr Boni Remedii, a young doctor from Whakatane, in 2010 when she left New Zealand to join the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, a community of active religious sisters, started in Argentina and now spread throughout the world.

The mission of her community is to follow Pope John Paul II’s call to “evangelise culture”. Along with the Institute of the Incarnate Word (religious brothers and priests) and a lay third order, the sisters work to spread the Word of God in diverse places such as Italy, Peru, Egypt and Kazakhstan.

Sr Boni Remedii receives her blue veil and a crown of roses.

On the 1st of November 2011, Sr Boni Remedii made her first vows in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. Coincidentally, this was the place where she first met the sisters. While praying at the Shrine in 2009, some of the sisters came in to pray. After a short but unsuccessful argument with God, she chased after them. Within 15 minutes of talking to them she knew it was where she wanted to be.

Sr Remedii promised “to live Chaste, for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven; poor, manifesting that God is the only true wealth for man; and obedient, even to death on the cross.” And received a blue veil, a sign “which proclaims that you belong entirely to Christ the Lord and are dedicated to the service of the Church”.

Sr Boni Remedii (centre, front) with the other sisters who made their first profession.

Please pray for Sr Remedii as she perseveres in her vocation, following Christ and bringing His Light to others!

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St Columba’s World Youth Day Legacy

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or many young people in our diocese, World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney is an unforgettable memory, but for the young people in St Columba’s Parish in Frankton, Hamilton, WYD08 was not just a one-off event but an experience which has left a lasting legacy in their Parish.

After sending a large group to WYD in Sydney, St Columba’s were looking for ways to help those who attended not only to keep the Faith, but to grow in their knowledge and love of Christ. As a result of this, two youth groups were formed; G-Force, a for years 7 and 8, and a high-school youth group.

Today both youth groups still meet regularly; G-force meet fortnightly on a Friday night to learn more about their faith while having fun. The high school group helps to lead G-Force as well as getting together once a month after the youth-led Mass.

Sustaining a youth group long-term is always a challenge so in 2010 the parish successfully applied to the Pipe Charitable Youth Worker Trust Fund to help fund a part-time youth worker. In 2011 and 2012, again with help from the Pipe Foundation, St Columba’s has been able to employ two part-time youth workers for 5 hours a week as well as a Children’s Liturgy Coordinator in the parish. In 2012, John and Christian de Vega have been employed to help bring the young people of St Columba’s to grow in their faith.

While youth group leaders are usually volunteers, having some paid positions has given St Columba’s long-term security. Even when key people move on, the paid positions help guarantee that the youth groups will continue. The paid workers are blessed to have the support of Fr Aherne, the Parish Council and a wonderful group of volunteers.

St Columba’s Parish is incredibly grateful and blessed to have received these grants from the Pipe Foundation, enabling them to serve their young people, now and in the future.

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World Youth Day in Sydney has had a lasting impact on the youth of St Columba’s Parish, Frankton.

“Pipe Charitable Youth Worker Trust Fund” History of the Fund.

The Trust was set up by Fr. Richard Pipe with funds bequeathed to him by his parents. John and Mary Pipe were very strong and committed Catholics.

Their hope was for all young people to have the opportunity to learn and value their Catholic faith which they themselves appreciated so much.

The Trust has gradually built up funds through donations from many individuals but especially from parishioners in Mt Maunganui, Te Puke and Whakatane, where Fr Richard has served as Parish Priest from 2001 to 2009.

The Aim of the Fund is to help parishes that cannot afford to employ a youth worker, or a pastoral worker dealing with youth and sacramental preparation.

How you can help the fund.

Because it is a recognised Charitable Fund, receipts can be given for tax purposes, some may like to contribute by way of a bequest in their will. All gifts and bequests should be made out to “Pipe Charitable Youth Worker Trust Fund” and sent to ‘Pipe Charitable Youth Workers Trust Fund’

c/- Fr Richard Pipe, 70 Grant Rd Opotiki

or c/- John Uden St Thomas More Parish 17 Gloucester Rd Mt Maunganui.

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Catholic Youth Office www.catholicyouth.org.nz

Welcome to the Catholic Youth Office page! We’d like to welcome Karen Whyte who has joined the team as the new Youth Co-ordinator. We hope you had as much fun this summer as we did when we road-tripped down to Hearts Aflame. We’ve got an exciting few months ahead, preparing for SetFree, the Diocesan World Youth Day Celebration. Check out the details on the next page and get there! It’s going to be amazing!

My name is Karen and I have been in NZ for nearly 5 months now. I have travelled all the way from the United States from the desert Arizona! I love to chat and am always up for coffee! I can’t wait to share my love for the Church with my new country.

Can’t wait to meet you all, God’s Blessings!

Hearts Aflame

Setting the world on fire: Caroline, Joanne, Jess and Tracey dress up for the final dinner

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his January Marton was overwhelmed with an influx of young and enthusiastic Catholics, including a large group of young adults from Hamilton Diocese, many of whom travelled with the Catholic Youth Office on an epic mini-pilgrimage to Hearts Aflame and back home again.

The EPIC Hearts Aflame Road-Trip: Taihape

Hearts Aflame gives young adults the opportunity to experience the Catholic Church in all her fullness and beauty. Young people travel from all around New Zealand enter into what can only be described as a MASS-ive, energizing, educational, 10-day Catholic conference. We come for Christ; to meet him, to give 10 days to the faith that many of us have known from a young age but not yet experienced fully. We experience reconciliation, theology, praise and worship, and Mass.

It is a mini World Youth Day in Aotearoa New Zealand every summer.

This year we were blessed to celebrate the 20th year of Hearts Aflame. It was an honour to speak with the founders of Hearts, and to acknowledge them for their vision and dedication to forming disciples. This year’s theme ‘Set the World on Fire’ with the love of Christ encouraged all who attended to be courageous in their faith and to live and love God where ever they are and in whatever they are doing.

Refreshed, renewed and full of enthusiasm we look forward to an exciting year of both fun and formation events back in Hamilton.

Caroline Downey

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What are you doing on Palm Sunday Weekend?

Homework? Lazing around? We’ve got a better idea... join us and 179 other young people at Totara Springs, Matamata for SetFree!

SetFree is a Catholic Youth Festival. It started back in 2010 with 100 young people. Last year 200 guys and girls gathered for an awesome weekend of fun, friendship and the opportunity to draw closer to Christ and his Church and celebrate the Catholic faith alive in young people today!

SetFree is an AMAZING event. There is great music- this year Righteous B, the hip hop artist, is coming to perform all the way from the States- (look him up on YouTube). There’s heaps of free time to hang out with your friends and meet new ones- this year we have groups coming from Auckland, Christchurch as well as Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne and around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Here’s a chance for you to encounter Christ and get any of those Catholic questions that you have always been curious about answered.

If you are year 10-13 (sorry year 9, you’ll have to wait until next year!) you can come to SetFree- it will be held on the 30th March to the 1st April at Totara Springs. Be there!

Past Participants Praise SetFree!

SetFree was the best choice I have made in a long time, I made a tonne of new friends, came closer to God, had an AWESOME time and probably gained a kg (the food was excellent). Chris Padgett was so inspirational and motivational and I absolutely LOVED his talks they were ‘awesum’!!

It was an awesome time... met incredible people... bring on next year!

I gave my life to God at the second adoration, and it was amazing to be around so many others with different messages, and they were all on fire for Jesus! :) Amazing, amazing.

Check out our website www.setfree.org.nz to register. ketekorero Feb- Apr 2012

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Stepping up...

College Student Leaders for 2012

Aquinas College

Photo L-R: Joe Kirtley (Head Boy), Adele Dromgool (Head Girl), Mr Ray Scott (Principal), Nicole Schollum (Deputy Head Girl), James Cooper (Deputy Head Boy)

The Aquinas College Head Students this year are dynamic and spiritually motivated young Catholic leaders. They are proud of their heritage and use the college’s touchstones of Truth, Service, Prayer, Scholarship, Joy and Family to help with their decision-making. They have issued a challenge to the student body to get involved in school activities; to seek essential factors that will positively influence their thinking and personal development as Catholics.

They are keen to leave a legacy, and most importantly at the beginning of a new year, are prepared to lead by example.

Campion College The student leaders for 2012 were invested into their positions during the Investiture Mass on Friday 10 February. The Student councillors are a voice for the student body of the College.

The House Captains encourage the students in their house to take part in College activities and they also lead a house liturgy. The Prefects are role models and leaders for the College. They are appointed to the areas of special character, sport, culture and pastoral care. All leaders are expected to uphold the special character of Campion College; ‘In Christ we are alive’.

Campion College Student Council, House Captains, BOT Representative and Prefects

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St John’s College After a two-day leadership course and an application, voting and interview process, Justin Jang, Andrew Flanagan and Cory Miles have been chosen to be the head and deputy head students of St John’s College in Hamilton for 2012. They are looking forward to being Role models for the younger students and representing the College

Photo L-R: Andrew Flanagan (Deputy), Justin Jang (Head), Cory Miles (Deputy)

Sacred Heart Girls College

Photo L-R: Madeleleine Finch, Mahue Tarawa, Gabrielle Davis, Hannah Doherty, Lisa Louw and Melissa Hughes.

The Student Leaders at Sacred Heart Girls College for 2012 are: Hannah Doherty (Head Girl), Gabrielle Davis (Deputy), Melissa Hughes (Special Character), Lisa Louw (Arts), Madeleleine Finch (Sports) and Mahue Tarawa (Cultural).

This is a fantastic group of young women and we wish them well for 2012!

John Paul College Our student leaders have been selected and our congratulations and best wishes go out to them.

On Tuesday 14 February the school publicly acknowledged them in the Investiture Mass.

The leaders are; Head Boy - Viliami Taliauli Deputy Head Boy - Todd Foster Head Girl – Rebecca McMenamin Deputy Head Girl – Kelsey Horne We congratulate these students and our Captains, Prefects and House Captains.

John Paul College leaders at the Investiture Mass

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The Bishops’ Lent Appeal 2012: Called by faith to act with generous hearts

22 Feb – 8 April 2012

T

his year’s Lent Appeal, run by Caritas on behalf of New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops, challenges us to act generously in the face of suffering and poverty.

Last year, New Zealanders rallied round and gave almost $900,000 to the Lent Appeal, with 25 percent of that earmarked to support Canterbury earthquake recovery.

That long-term work of healing continues – but there continues to be so much need around the world. Caritas is charged by New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops to provide a compassionate Catholic response to poverty and injustice at home and abroad.

Your contribution at Lent supports work ranging from emergency relief in Sudan, to providing work opportunities for people in Tonga and Fiji, to advocating and educating for justice and peace in Aotearoa New Zealand.

New Zealand’s first Catholic Māori Bishop and former Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, Pīhopa Takuira Māriu, features in the Caritas Lenten reflection programme.

Illustration: Peter Lendvai.

Lenten reflection programme Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Caritas Lenten reflection programme offers an opportunity to reflect, alone or in a group, on the Lenten journey through the Gospels of Lent.

The booklet is available free from the Caritas website, or $2 from the Caritas office.

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Giving at Lent Look out for purple Lent envelope packs in your parish so you can donate weekly in Lent.

Alternatively, make a single, one-off Lenten contribution through the brown envelopes entitled ‘for ONE TOTAL Lent donation’.

Examples of Caritas’ work...

Working for the poor in Fiji People living on the edge of Fiji’s largest urban areas face uncertainty and great hardship.

Many left rural areas to come to cities looking for work. In informal settlements, they live in cramped conditions, surviving on inadequate income and without access to services such as health care and education.

Caritas is working with the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA) in Fiji to help informal settlers generate income from existing opportunities where they live. This includes growing fruit and vegetables, producing handicrafts, or selling products in local markets.

Lenten contributions help us and our partners respond quickly and flexibly where the need is greatest – even if the event does not make the main headlines.

In the Holy Land Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has supported emergency relief through Caritas Jerusalem in the past following various Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, such as the 2008/09 Gaza War. But in 2011, thanks to donor funds and support from the government’s New Zealand aid programme, we began supporting Caritas Jerusalem to extend its community health programme in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian people living under occupation face travel restrictions, checkpoint delays and intimidation daily, making it difficult to access health services.

In Aboud on the West Bank, a new mobile team visits three locations twice a month. The team provides education, support and raises health awareness. ‘The main aim is to change the lifestyle ... in order to prevent diseases,’ says Aboud clinic doctor Khaled Dhedel. Similar services are being extended in the Gaza Strip.

Flooding in the Navakai informal settlement, Fiji.

Photo: Peoples Community Network.

Home visit by nurse Rasha Khalal to Jihan Joarieh and her family near Aboud. Photo: Liz Sullivan/Caritas.

Together we can make a difference! ketekorero Feb- Apr 2012

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Nativity Play at Marian At the end of every year the Year 1 & 2 children of Marian School delight their parents and grandparents with a Junior Nativity Production.

This year a couple of the teachers got together and adapted the play “Hosanna Rock” portraying the true message of Christmas.

The teachers and children can be very proud of their very polished performance, amazing singing and fabulous costumes. The show was an outstanding success!

Scene from Marian School’s Junior Nativity Play

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What’s happening in your parish or school? Email kete@cdh.org.nz The Easter Story by Joy Cowley

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Catholic Kids' Corner

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Lent is the time when we get ready for Easter. Here are some ways you can get ready for Easter...

K ids!

Ask your Mum or Dad on Ash

Help Mary Magdalene find the empty tomb!

Wednesday to set out a glass jar for you with a small copy of the jellybean prayer taped to it.

Each day you can earn a jellybean of any colour, but don’t forget, you can’t eat them until Easter!

Lent is a great time to learn about the amazing Stations of the Cross! Your mum or dad can help you with this.

For now, help Mary Magdalene find the empty tomb.

PARENTS

Lent is a great time to engage your children on matters of faith in fun and meaningful ways.

Here is one great idea and you will find another great idea involving the Stations of the Cross on our website. www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz/kete Jelly Bean Prayer On Ash Wednesday set out a glass jar for each child with a small copy of the jellybean prayer taped to it. Each day the children can earn a jellybean of any colour. They cannot eat the jellybeans until Easter.

Each colour has special significance and a special way to earn them, for example; Yellow is for God’s light so bright - yellow jellybeans are earned for sharing God’s light through kindness to others.

You can make your own ideas based on ages and needs of your children, but you will find our list of ideas on the website.

Maze taken from www.sermons4kids.com

The Jelly Bean Prayer Red is for the blood He gave Green is for the grass He made Yellow is for the sun so bright Orange is for the edge of night Black is for the sins we made White is for the grace He gave Purple is for the house of sorrow Pink is for the new tomorrow A jar of jellybeans colorful and sweet It’s a prayer, a promise and a delicious treat.

Poem by Charlene Dickerson

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50 Years for St Pius X In March this year St Pius X Tokoroa will celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the opening of their church.

Jill Seerden Reports...

A bit of history...

I

n 1952 Bishop Liston instructed Fr Bradley of Mangakino to acquire land in Tokoroa. Two acres were donated by the Schuler family. On 1 January 1954 Fr Flynn arrived in Tokoroa and lived in Parishioners homes until a small presbytery was completed. When he left he was replaced by Fr John O’Connor. Mass was celebrated in the Community Centre and then in the Parish Hall which was opened in 1956. The church building was started on 29 April 1959 and many hours of voluntary work went into the building of the church. Mr Jelicit was the architect and Mr Graham Tough the resident carpenter. It took three years to build and the whole town of Tokoroa was thrilled to see the building. It was a family, parish and community effort with Catholics and non Catholics working together. Fr John O’Connor was known for walking into town on a Friday and gathering up people to help at the weekends.

One past parishioner shared her memories of growing up in Tokoroa and being involved in the building of the church. “My dad worked at the site each weekend, Mum helped with the morning and afternoon teas and us kids had a great time, playing with the other kids and at times Father O’Connor would get us together and help carry bricks. We just loved it ... they were some of the best days of my childhood.”

Fr Robert Steel said “I have a lovely memory of going to catechism class at Tokoroa Central School and Fr O’Connor telling us to come to Mass on Sunday and do special work for Our Lord. After Mass we had to form a line and convey bricks up to the site of the new church.

It was one of the most fulfilling work days my brother Bruce and I remember. We took pride in returning to the church last year knowing our significant contribution.”

After many months of hard work our new church was opened on Saturday 2 March 1962.

After Mass we had to form a line and convey bricks up to the site of the new church. It was one of the most fulfilling work days my brother Bruce and I remember.

We are very grateful to the following people for their generosity; Jack Nihill a well-known Cartage Contractor, donated the Italian marble altar; Terry Molly, the town dentist gave the Stations of the Cross, and Tangi Siely the two beautiful kneelers. Mrs M Butler gave a set of vestments, Les Teague, a local farmer, donated a cope and Mr K McCallum gave the Atiamuri stone. All the electrical work was done voluntarily.

Above and right: Building in progress.

Opposite page: First Mass in the new church; St Pius X today.

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The church was opened with a great joy and great pride by the parishioners and the whole of the Tokoroa community. Since then the parish has grown but also declined with the changing population in Tokoroa. In 1968 the tiny one roomed presbytery was replaced by our present presbytery. The Sisters of St Joseph lived in the convent on the church grounds from the 1970s until 1994. In 1987 we celebrated the opening of Papa O Te Aroha Marae and a year later Father Max Mariu was consecrated as the first Maori Bishop. 1995 saw the opening of Bishop Edward Gaines School and the ordination to the priesthood of Michael Gielen took place on 29 November 1997.

Today We have many groups within the church such as the Catholic Women’s League, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Samoan Society and the Catholic Maori Society who all contribute greatly to the parish and the wider community. Father Vince Jones is our Parish Priest assisted by Father Reno Alima. We share our priest with St Patricks, Putaruru. Rev Kerry Parker and Carey Taluata are our valued Deacons.

We are looking forward to celebrating 50 years of having our beautiful church on 3 March this year. We will meet up with many of you at his special occasion and we look forward to the future years as the Parish of St Pius X.

Fr John O’Connor, Parish Priest when the church was built.

MIR Pilgrimages

Upcoming Pilgrimage: Diocesan Pilgrimage

led by Bishop Denis Browne

International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) 6 - 24 June 2012 Dublin, Ireland See poster on Church noticeboard Register your interest now!

Patricia Parsons

Please contact: Ph: 0274 219 064 Email: info@mirpilgrimages.co.nz www.mirpilgrimages.co.nz

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Double Reason to Celebrate The Church of St Patrick’s Whangamata had a double reason for celebration on 20 November, 2011. First was the church’s 50th anniversary and secondly the blessing of the newly completed extensions.

Tony Wilson and Mons. Frank Eggleton Report...

I

n the 1950s a small Catholic community existed in Whangamata and the monthly Mass was celebrated on the front lawn of the Kennedy house opposite the present Whangamata Area School.

One priest, Fr James O’Connor, based in Waihi, said the drive over those hills kept him holy because it always frightened the devil out of him.

The Kennedy land was sold and on it a joinery workshop was built. The Parish Priest, Fr Don Hayes, purchased the workshop and some adjoining land in 1959 and over three years parishioners steadily converted it into a much loved rural church which was opened and blessed by Archbishop James Liston on 31 December, 1961.

Monsignor Eggleton said the permanent Catholic community in Whangamata has never been large, but it has always been steadfast. St Patrick’s plays host to a large number of Catholics over the holiday season and the church became far too small to cope properly. In 2010 it was decided by the Parish Council to redevelop St Patrick’s in honour of its Golden Jubilee in 2011. The challenge was accepted and vigorous fundraising was undertaken.

On 20 November 2011, the Feast of Christ the King, Bishop Denis, a large group of priests and over 300 locals and visitors joined us to celebrate the re-consecration of our church and to give God thanks for 50 years of blessings within the Catholic community of Whangamata “Today” Monsignor Eggleton said “Bishop Denis is with us to bless what has been accomplished. It is the fruit of the work of a wonderfully committed planning group led by Chris O”Connell, the unofficial clerk of works, Joe Hughes and his band of willing helpers.”

Thanks were also accorded to the many, many parishioners and friends of the parish who had contributed handsomely to the building fund.

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Opening Ceremony; Bishop Denis Browne lades the opening prayers. From Left, Mons. Frank Eggleton, Deacon Terri Sorenson, the Bishop and cross-bearer Tony Schomaker.

It was also an ecumenical effort in many ways.

The Community Church of Whangamata gave the Catholics a home for Mass while renovations were underway. And the Baptist Church pastor, Jim Orr was instrumental in setting up the overheads and sound system.

“We thank God for so many blessings over the last 50 years” Monsignor Eggleton said. “We especially thank God for the generosity of priests and the wonderful parishioners who have made St Patrick’s such a vibrant Catholic community”.

As is normal at Whangamata, the day was sunny, the singing was robust, the joy was infectious and the banquet, which followed the liturgy, could have fed another 300.

The cutting of the 50th anniversary cake, made by Anna Maria Slater, was fittingly awarded to church stalwarts Pauline and Joe Hughes.

On Christmas Day there were 324 at Mass.

Everyone was seated and comfortable. What a difference! What had been accomplished with so much effort was worth it. Thanks be to God and to so many generous people!

God is not deaf!

Fr Trevor Murray

A

s I prepare for Lent 2012, I am reminded of an encounter I had with my Form Two teacher of forty two years ago. He was passing through and dropped in to catch up.

Br John had taught me an enormous amount back in my old school days. In the intervening years, Br John has taught me much more. Still now, he continues to teach me important lessons about what it means to be called and loved by God. During our “catching-up session”, Br John told me how he had been invited to a Pentecostal Church Service in the small rural village where he lived and worked. He had enjoyed the experience. There had been lots of music, lots of singing and lots of praying. The people were welcoming and friendly; they made him feel at home among them.

However, Br John made some telling comments: “You know Trevor, these people must think that God is deaf! The music was so incredibly loud. The preachers were always yelling and shouting. It’s as if they think that they had to “raise the volume” just so God could hear them!” “The other thing I noticed was that the whole service was filled with “noise”: prayers, readings, singing, preaching, clapping. They seemed to spend the entire time speaking to God and very little time listening to him. The absence of silence was deafening!”

The lessons that Br John shared with me that day are profound: God’s not deaf! He can hear me perfectly well, even if I don’t utter a single word!

More importantly, I need to give God a chance.

Less time talking, more time listening!

They seemed to spend the entire time speaking to God and very little time listening to him. The absence of silence was deafening!

These reflections of Br John are particularly apt as we prepare for Lent 2012. As we enter this great time in the Church’s Year, let’s be mindful of how much “holy noise” we make. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking prayer, or scripture or singing or preaching.

What I’m suggesting is that during this Lent we make less “holy noise” and create space for more “sacred silence” – that place where God does the talking; we do the listening.

For some of us, this is going to be a big ask: less talk; more listening.

A big ask? – maybe. Impossible? – not at all. The great mystics throughout the centuries mastered the art of “less talk, more listening”. Sure, they didn’t get it straight away; it took them a lot of practice; but they had to make a start somewhere.

So, if you have not yet embarked on the road to becoming masters of “sacred silence”, why don’t you make a start this Lent. Remember the wise words of Br John: “God’s not deaf. He can hear me perfectly well, even if I don’t utter a single word!”

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Hospital Chaplaincy at Waikato From the Hospital Chaplains...

At Waikato Hospital we have four full-time and three part-time Chaplains with Catholic, ecumenical and Maori representation. There is a chaplain available to be with patients, family or staff at all times, with an ecumenical chaplain and a Catholic priest on call after hours.

Our Catholic chaplains are Father Gerard Boyce, Sister Maria Vaughan R.S.J. and Sister Carmel R.N.D.M. Sister Maria and Sister Carmel visit all Catholic patients who wish to see them, as well as having allocated wards as part of the Ecumenical Team. Sometimes someone is lonely when they are so far away from home and the chaplains are available to hear their concerns.

If you, or a family member or friend has been admitted to hospital, their name should appear on the list of Catholic patients. If we have not visited by the day following admission, ask the nurse to

contact one of the Catholic chaplains – it will be that your name has not, for some reason, made it to our list.

A Catholic priest is always on-call at Waikato Hospital. He should be called, especially when someone is very ill or dying. In these cases be sure to ask for “the Catholic priest” to be called. In other cases, the priest or “the Catholic chaplain” should be asked for.

While Mass is not celebrated in the hospital, Catholic patients can receive Holy Communion (and other sacraments) at any time. Many patients wish to make their communion on Sundays and this can be arranged through your nurse on Sunday morning.

Catholic Shop

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

494 Grey St Hamilton East Phone: 07 856 6486 www. rosamystica.co.nz Opening hours: 8.00 am - 4.00 pm Thur & Fri

- after Mass on 1st Sunday of the month and for special events in the Church calendar

LEAVING A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE

Miyoko Hammersley Hospital Chaplain

Sr Carmel Horan RNDM Hospital Chaplain

Deacon Joe Haumaha Prison Chaplain

Deacon Viane Perez Prison & Community Chaplain

The diocese has a number of Catholic Chaplains including:

Sr Maria Vaughan Hospital Chaplain

Prison Chaplains - 5, Community Chaplains - 3, Hospital Chaplains - 6, Tertiary Chaplain - 1, Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Chaplain - 1, and Seafarers Chaplain - 1.

This chaplaincy work is an extension of the local church reaching into our diverse and multi-cultural society providing spiritual care to people

Booklet Guide

available from your Parish or from

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, Chanel Centre, Hamilton Phone: 0800 843 233 Email: gregb@cdh.org.nz

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Catholics on Campus Caroline Downey

I

remember well the day that I arrived at Waikato University for the very first time. I was nervous but also quietly excited to be embarking on the adventure that is tertiary study! I was ready to step out on my own, to meet new people, to plunge into academia, and to have a whole lot of fun at the same time.

Half way through my first year of study I found out that there is a club on campus called WaiCath.

WaiCath is a club for University of Waikato students who are Catholic or interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. I found myself drawn to getting to know the people involved in Waicath because I found that in the diversity of campus life it can be hard to find people who are willing to profess their beliefs and values and stand by them. I have made great friends through WaiCath and greatly appreciate being able to feed my soul as well as my brain right on campus.

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WaiCath organises fun events like free BBQs after Mass (which is AMAZING when you are sick of the halls food!), movie nights and interesting lectures on topics you need to learn about to support your study.

Come and say hi to us this year! Fr Andrew, the University Chaplain, has an open door policy where students and staff can drop-in for confession, or just to chat at any time during office hours. He is in the Lady Goodfellow Chapel, opposite the rec centre on Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-4pm and on Tuesdays from 9am-11am, 2:30pm-4pm.

Contact us! email: waicath@gmail.com website: http://tinyurl.com/waicath or Look us up on Facebook under Waicath.

Assisi Charity Shop

all proceeds go to Atawhai Assisi Home & Hospital 158 Matangi Rd, Hamilton 371 Grey St Hamilton East (next to StudyLink right by pedestrian crossing) Phone:

07 856 4903

Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm

We welcome volunteers

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Ph 07 847 7995 Now at 34 King Street, Hamilton ketekorero Feb- Apr 2012

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The Question of God Today God is known through men and women who know him

R

eflecting on the last World Youth Day in Madrid, Pope Benedict commented on the incredible number of young people who came from all over the world, to encounter the Lord Jesus and to experience the universality of our Faith. Their presence brought light, not only to Madrid but also to the whole world and highlighted the search for God in every human heart. No one was able to remain indifferent; no one was able to think that the question of God is irrelevant for us today.

The Pope reminded us that we must never tire of proclaiming the need to begin again from God. Our world, with its widespread mentality that rejects every reference to anything that cannot be seen or measured, is incapable of preserving the dignity of humanity. The crisis we are experiencing today because of this mentality is “a crisis of meaning and of values before it is an economic and social crisis.

Those who try to live solely within the bounds of human wisdom, in what it can calculate or measure, become suffocated in the end.”

Deacon Peter Richardson

The question of God is really the most basic human question. It is a search for the truth we aspire to, and the happiness and freedom that our hearts yearn for.

Those who become aware of the question of God in themselves also become open to a hope that there is meaning and purpose to our lives in this world.

Those who try to live solely within the bounds of human wisdom, in what it can calculate or measure, become suffocated in the end.

In the beginning Christianity grew as a result of an encounter with an event, a person. It is no different today as the question of God is reawakened in meeting those who have the gift of faith – a living relationship with the Lord.

Lay people have an important role to play as their specific vocation is to pass on the gift of faith to those they meet. They are called to be witnesses of the relevance of God in every sphere of life – family, workplace, politics, and the economy. Because of the closed mentality to God in our world today we need to be even more obvious and continue to nourish our own faith and refocus our thinking and actions on God’s way.

Lay people have an important role to play as their specific vocation is to pass on the gift of faith to those they meet.

We as Christians experience the same daily anxieties and troubles as non-Christians but sadly many of us do not make God the central point of reference in our way of thinking and acting, in our basic decisions in life. The challenge then is to have a change of heart so that, wherever Jesus has called us to be, we may be “courageous witnesses of the God of Jesus Christ, living [our] baptism” so that God may be known in our world today through men and women who know him.

Adapted from Pope Benedict’s Address to the Pontifical Council for the Laity, November 29 2011 For a link to this address and more see www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

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A Pious Practice of Penance

M

Jamie Cox

any people frown upon the Church's pious practice of fasting. They think that fasting went away after the resurrection of Christ and is no longer relevant, but Jesus Himself says that His followers will fast once He is gone1. In fact, Jesus teaches that fasting, coupled with prayer, is acceptable and pleasing to God2, even giving instructions on how to fast, saying "Do not look dismal like the hypocrites, but look clean and refreshed." 3 The practice of fasting and penance has not left the Christian tradition, but rather is a daily part of a life lived in Christ.

“The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others.” 4 This opportunity for “conversion” presents itself never more strongly than in the season of Lent. In Lent we are asked to fast, to share in Christ’s sufferings and get rid of those things in our lives which distract us from Him. We can fast from food by eating less, by not eating between meals or by not eating the foods that we like. We can also ‘fast’ from other things which, while not bad in themselves, can distract us from Christ; for example television, excessive use of internet or mobile phones. The Church especially requires us to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, so that we might “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”.

Upcoming Courses: SC101 Introduction to the Old Testament Fri 9-Sat 10 March, Fri 23-Sat 24 March 5.30pm–8.30pm Fri 9.00am-4.00pm Sat St John’s College, Hamilton Taught by Cynthia Piper RE201 What Makes a School Catholic Thurs 12- Sat 14 April 9.00am-4.00pm John Paul College Rotorua Taught by Jan Ogilvy OP TH101 Introduction to Catholicism Mon 16 – Wed 18 April 9.00am-4.00pm St John’s College, Hamilton Taught by Cynthia Piper For more information contact Cynthia Piper cynthiap@cdh.org.nz

Secondary Sponsors

These forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the best preparation for Easter which “is not simply one feast among others, but the "Feast of feasts,"5, fifty days of joyful celebration of His victory over sin and death.

Let us then fast with Him who suffers, in order that we might feast with Him who saves.

References: 1. Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35 2. Matt. 17-21; Mark 9:29 3. Matt. 6:16-18 4. CCC 1434 5. CCC 1169

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