6th march 2016
fourth SUNDAY OF LENT.
Readings THIS WEEK:
1st: Joshua 5. 9a, 10-12 Food for the Israelites
2nd: 2 Cor. 5. 17-21 Reconciliation.
Gospel: Luke 15. 1-3, 11-32. The Prodigal Son
Readings for next week: ; Isa. 43. 16-21 Phil. 3. 8-14.
John 8. 1-11.

REFLECTION FOR WEEK FIVE OF LENT.
Fifth Sunday of Lent, Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11 In next week’s Gospel reading we have the account of the woman “taken in adultery”. No information is given about her circumstances, not even her name. Common sense tells us that there has to be a man involved who is also guilty of adultery. But for some reason it is only the woman that the Scribes and Pharisees bring to Jesus at the temple where he is talking to an assembly of listeners. In actual fact, they are not really concerned about justice or otherwise for the woman. It’s Jesus they’re after. Their aim is to catch him out on his attitude to the Law of Moses. If he condemns the woman, he contradicts himself by denying her the mercy he preaches and thus makes a laughing stock of himself and his message. If he says she shouldn’t be stoned to death, he is proposing an action that is contrary to the Law of Moses. If he says she should be stoned, he is contravening the Roman Law which did not allow Jewish people to execute anyone. Either way, they’ve got him!
However, Jesus avoids the trap by giving an answer they don’t anticipate. He starts writing on the ground. Exactly what he wrote and why we will never know because the Gospel simply doesn’t tell us. But, in response to their persistent demands for a legal opinion, he invites whichever one of the Scribes and Pharisees is without sin to throw the first stone. They very quickly and quietly move off! The woman is freed from the burden of condemnation. She can go forward with a strong sense of her own worth and the realisation that she has encountered the mercy of God in the person of Jesus.
Pope Francis says: ….’Pardoning offences becomes the clearest expression of merciful love and, for us Christians, is an imperative from which we cannot excuse ourselves……… [this Lent] let us listen to the words of Jesus who made mercy an ideal of life and a criterion for the credibility of our faith: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.’ JB Kendall rsj

CHUGGING ALONG TOGETHER: Our goal is working together and we have had good success this week. St Mary's School Gala, Relay for Life with a strong team from our parish participating, Our schools are becoming more involved in the weekday Masses. We have had many bereavements and our condolences to those families who have lost a dear parent or friend. We have many sick, some with broken limbs, they are obvious, but others with sickness that are working on the inside and sometimes not so physically obvious.
Thanks to those who have comforted the sick and the bereaved this week. It’s been a meeting marathon this week with Sub committee meetings. Youth and Family, Liturgy, Music, Eucharistic Ministers next week, and our normal prayer activities.
We have had weddings, and Baptisms, and our congratulations to the newlyweds, Farrah Lee Couper and Bryce Jellyman. We had some Baptisms. Congratulations to Gabriel, Brody, Corina, Shontay and Ariana Dixon. Elsie Dunlop.
Next week I will be away from Thursday, a meeting in Palmerston then a joint over the Kepler Track. We are not in the league of the Flying Scotsman that is back on the tracks yet, but we are building up steam, and chugging along with prayer and Gods Grace and your support, so thanks to all the stokers who are contributing to God's work. Fr Brian
There was a oops on Saturday. Sorry. Three things happened, a priest forgot and a member of the congregation rang him to see if the priest was alright, another person said let’s do a liturgy of the word and celebrated this and some others !!!!!! Thanks. Fr Brian
WELCOM newspapers available in the foyers this weekend

Our Churches & People
Holy Family
22 Tawhero St, Ph 344 4076
*holyfamily@xtra.co.nz
Office hours
St. Anne’s
47 Raine St, Ph. 343 6696
*st.annes.wanganui@xtra.co.nz
St. Mary’s
1 Campbell St, Ph. 345 3872
*info@catholicparishwhanganui.org.nz
www.catholicparishwanganui.org.nz
Office hours: 8.30am—3pm
St. Patrick’s
29 Egmont St, Patea.
Ph.06 2738241
*stpatspatea@xtra.co.nz
St. Francis de Sales
cnr Wilson & Brassey Sts
Waverley
Fr. Brian Carmine
Parish Priest 027 7656266
Pa Steve Hancy 347 7275
027 2423161
Fr. Adonis Rancho (Fr. Don Don)
021 02735829
Father John Roberts
Pastoral Care of Sick, Elderly
& Bereaved (027) 634 6877
Fr. Des Levins
Retired 344 7462
Norma O’Connor
Parish Assistant
Jo Boult
Office Manager
Pat Rhodes
Holy Family Secretary
344 1160 020 40325086.
Jane O’Connell
Convener of Care & Concern team
348 9505
Ian (Bones) Smith
Acting Hospital Chaplain
344 6569.
Mary Anne Elliot & Sean Ryan
Prison Chaplain
(027) 600 0662
Gerard Lynch
Chairperson of Leadership/Finance Team
342 3811.
Kevin Foley
Chairperson of Liturgy
344 0542.

Our Faithsharing Groups
WOMEN’S FAITHSHARING
Wednesday 10am. Host is Moya Ericsson. 17 Lindsay Cres. Ph. 344 3137. All are welcome.
MOTHER’S FAITHSHARING
Rosary and Scripture
Wed. 10.30am
St Mary’s Community Room.
All welcome.
Mother’s Combined
Parishes Prayer Group
Fridays 1—2pm
17 Lindsey Crescent.
All ages welcome.
Men’s faithsharing
Fri. 7.00am. Contact Peter
ph. 342 5812 for venue.
LEGION OF MARY
Holy Family Church
Tuesdays @ 4pm. For more info contact Paul Daws, 344 4828
LADIES GUILD GROUPS
St. Anne’s
Meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Ring Kay Wilkinson
Ph. 343 3367
Holy Family
Meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month. For further information please contact Shirley phone on 344 6365.
HOLY FAMILY CRAFT GROUP
Meet weekly on Thursdays at 9.30am. For further information phone Shirley on 344 6365
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Holy Family Conference meet on the 2nd Monday of the month at 4.45pm.
For more information
ph: Kevin Foley on 345 0542.
Or 345 0161.
EXPLORING FAITH GROUPS: EVENING: Monday 7.30pm-9.00pm Holy Family Meeting Room
MORNING: Tuesday 11.00am-12.15pm St Mary’s Community Room
This week we will be exploring: ‘What Lent means to me’. Hosts: Mary Wood 344 3552, Nancie & Brian Quigley 347 8177 Jo Smillie 345 0609 (morning group) Led by Sr John Bosco Kendall rsj You are all welcome to attend. For more information ring one of the above numbers.

DVD Evening – The Dark Horse. Starring an extraordinary New Zealand cast, The Dark Horse is an inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, brilliant but little-known New Zealand hero and chess champion, Genesis Potini. Wednesday 16 March 6.30pm, Koha. Supper provided.
Exploring ECO- Spirituality Group Thursday 17 March, 7 – 9pm
Liturgy: Mercy – the Nature of God Sunday 20 March, 4 – 5pm, No registration necessary.
Working with Nature; sanity in the face of a huge Challenge. It is personally both rewarding and challenging to work for a healthy environment. This workshop looks at where the passion for environmental work comes from and also how to avoid burn-out as a passionate environmentalist. Thursday 24 March, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Koha with Marian van den Belt.
To register please call Pam on 3455047 ext 3 or email pam.hopper@sosj.org.au

14 Hillside Tce,
Whanganui
P (06) 345 5047 ext 3
ssjoseph@xtra.co.nz
www.ssj.org.nz

Are you feeling unwell or lonely?
You can borrow our beautiful statue of Mary to assist you in your prayer time. Contact Kathy Orsborn ph.348 0030 and she will deliver it to you.

MARAE TIME
at Te Rau Oriwa Marae. The Drop-in Centre is open 9-1pm Monday to Thursday.
Welcome- Meditation—come and be still, every Tuesday morning from 10am-11am. Baby sitting offered morning only.

MAINLY MUSIC.
St. Anne’s Church Raine Street. Monday at 10am.
Ph. Anne 344 6569.

Mass of Oils bus to Palmerston Tuesday 22 March- leaving St Marys 5.15pm sharp. Please register ASAP in church foyer-or contact the Office. Suggested cost $15 per person.

MONDAY FRIENDSHIP MEAL FUNDRAISER: 3 or 4 trailer loads of chopped dried pine firewood for sale. $50.00 per household trailer load. The proceeds will go towards the ongoing costs of providing the Friendship meals. Please contact Angela at 343 8103.
HOLY HOUR 6 MARCH: At St. Mary’s 2.30pm– 3.30pm. Your opportunity to spend a precious hour with the Blessed sacrament. Rosary– Chaplet of Mercy– Benediction hymns.
ANOINTING MASS at St. Anne’s on Tuesday 8 March at 11.30am followed by a shared lunch.

SETFREE YOUTH FESTIVAL 2016. 18-20 March.
Palmerston North Diocese are taking a group to this full-on weekend,
(run for us by the Hamilton Catholic Youth Team).
Theme - Merciful Like the Father.
Keynote speaker - David Calavitta.
Venue change this year – Papa O Te Aroha Marae, Tokoroa.
COST - $125 includes transport, food, accommodation.
www.setfree.org.nz
Register online here but save download a copy for our group organisers records.
facebook.com/setfreefestival
To join the Palmerston North Group/travel arrangements, talk with your local Youth Minister:
Fr Brian Carmine 06 345 3872 (Cullinane, Whanganui);

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MARIAN MOTHERS THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Our schools and young people
what’s up?

Cullinane College
Principal: Kevin Shore
DRS: Helen Dougherty
15 Peat St., Wanganui
Ph: (06) 349 0105
Email: office@cullinane.school.nz
www.cullinanecollege.school.nz
First off, many thanks for all of the prayers that were said for Lea Pelzers Mother-In-Law Maria who had her funeral in St Joseph's Chapel on the 26th. As part of our College community, we extend Lea and her family our deepest sympathies for their loss. On another note, please keep in your prayers the two students who leave today for their Marist Young Neighbours adventure. May they enjoy, learn and return renewed and enthused with ideas for service in our community. As well a huge thanks to those members of our wider community who supported St Mary's Twilight Gala on Thursday last week. It's good to see our Catholic Community supporting one another. This week is short in regard to activities. A number of our Year 13 students will be taking part in an OPC Course for the week. On Thursday our Year 13 History class will be visiting Parihaka. On Friday we have our Agriculture students taking part in the "Get Ahead" course. As usual we have our student-led Mass in St Joseph's Chapel on Friday at 10:45am. This week students from 12U will be hosting. Please come along and support them in this Faith opportunity. Finally, on Saturday and Sunday next week we will have a number of students taking part in the McVeigh Regional Debating Tournament for the region. All the best to those students.

CHOIR PRACTICE: for the Easter Services will start on Wednesday at 6.30pm. and continue to Easter. All welcome. For further information please ring Morag on 3458 2428.

St Patricks Day
Could anyone assist with providing afternoon tea for sing along in St Joseph’s Hall on Thurs March 17th. Please contact Kate Lynch 0272430430. Thanks to those who have already offered.

ST. ANNE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Principal: Karl Zimmerman
DRS: Jo Gichard.
Raine St. Wanganui East
Ph: 343 8389
Email: office@stannes.school.nz

It is fantastic to be back at school and we have been very busy at St. Anne’s over the past few weeks. This term we welcomed Hayley McKnight onto our team. We are very blessed to have her join our school. Some of the activities over the past few weeks included; Parent surveys and interviews, Hockey skills sessions for children, Swimming skills sessions at the Splash Centre each Monday and Wednesday for all children, Intermediate mountain biking and yachting, Art gallery and museum visits. We have also held a Commissioning Mass for our leaders and staff, a Powhiri for Fr. Don Don and also Religious Education development training for teachers, and an Ash Wednesday liturgy that helped us focus on this season of Lent.
Karl Zimmerman
Principal.

Congratulations: Ex students of St. Marcellin’s School, Ruhia Tamati who was named Head of Sport and Mitchell Millar as Head of Maori at Wanganui High School for 2016.
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Easter Office hours Close at 12pm Thursday 24 March. Open Wednesday 30 March. No Liturgy at Holy Family Easter Monday 28 March. Liturgy of the Word on Tuesday 29th March at Holy Family 9am No Mass at St Annes or St. Mary’s Tuesday 29th.

ST. MARCELLIN SCHOOL
Principal: Maia Williams
Acting DRS: Debra Benefield
Totara St. Wanganui.
Ph: 349 0023
Email:stmarcellin@stmarcellin.school.nz
‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’ John 6: 22-29 He mamae aroha: Tangihia rā ngā roimata e te ngaro atu o te kuia mōrehu a Sister Miriam Prior. E te Whāea Takakau, haere atu rā ki te ringa o te Atua okioki ai. We join with our faith community in remembering the blessings of Sister Miriam, and her willingness to support our children and staff to believe. Peace be with you, Amen. St Marcellin Vinnies have elected a new Leadership Team for 2016. President is Aigalelei, Vice-President is Hailey and Secretary is Hazel. We congratulate these students on being elected to these positions. I am keen to engage with my faith communities and hear what innovative ideas and developments they would like to see happen at St Marcellin. The kettle is still on… yours in Christ. Maia Williams

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
Principal: Jacqui Luxton
DRS: Cathy Daignault
30 London St. Wanganui
Ph:343 1227
Email: school@stmarys.ac.nz

Care and concern: To arrange home visits in the Whanganui Parish, offering friendship, prayer and Holy Communion. Contact St Mary's office 345 3872 or Jane on 348 9505.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES: Miha Maori RECONCILIATION:
St. Anne’s Sun. 1 Kaiwhaiki 11.00am St Mary’s Sat. 9.00—9.20am
St Mary’s 9.30am & 6.00pm Sun. 3 St Mary’s 9.30am St Mary’s Thurs & Fri 11.30am—Noon
Holy Family Sat. Vigil: 5.30pm Sun. 4 Jerusalem/Ranana 10.00am Holy Family Sat. 5.00-5.20pm

Mass Times and Parish Diary

		ST MARY’S	HOLY FAMILY	ST ANNE’S/OTHERS
MONDAY 7th March		7.00pm Pro-life Rosary	9.00am Liturgy with Communion / 7.30pm Faith Exploration.
TUESDAY 8th March		12.05pm Mass	10.00am Mass with Rm 8 / 4.00pm Legion of Mary	11.30am St. Anne’s. / Anointing Mass followed by shared lunch.
WEDNESDAY 9th Mar.		12.05pm Mass	9.00am Mass. / 6.30pm Choir practice.
THURSDAY 10th Mar.		11.30am Reconciliation / 12.05pm Mass / Exposition / 5.00pm Reconciliation / 5.30pm Benediction	9.00am Mass / 9.30am Craft/Exposition	9.15am Nazareth Mass.
FRIDAY 11th Mar		8am to 12pm Exposition / 11.30am Reconciliation / 12.05 Mass	9.00am Mass	10.45am. Cullinane Mass.
SATURDAY 12th Mar.		9.30am Transferred to St. Annes.	5.00 Reconciliation. / 5.30 Vigil Mass	9.00am Reconciliation / 9.30am Mass

CARITAS LENTEN APPEAL: : If you are sending a one off white envelope please remember to include your name and address etc. so they know who it has come from if you require a receipt. You could use a coupon from the weekly envelopes. Week 4 Prayer: E te Atua o te Aroha, God of love, you have shown us that the path to reconciliation is through the expression of mercy and forgiveness. Guide us to lift up the dignity inherent in every peron, especially where it is not recognised by others. ************************************************************************ CHILDREN’S DAY: Every year on the first Sunday of March in Aotearoa New Zealand we celebrate a Day of Prayer for Children (Children's Day) to recognise how important children are to our communities. This year Sunday, 6 March is the day to celebrate the importance of children and pause to reflect on the way they are treated in New Zealand and around the world. For further information check out www.caritas.org.nz.
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St Marys Indoor Bowling Club Restarts on Thursday 7th April. Names in be 1.15pm.Games start 1.30pm. NEW MEMBERS VERY WELCOME. No experience required. So come along for a relaxing social afternoon. New members have up to 3 weeks to see if they enjoy the game and the company before having to join and pay a sub. Any further enquires contact Bernie Sheridan 3438554 or 021799629.
DEATH AND DEVASTATION IN FIJI: Please continue to prayer for the people of Fiji . The bishops, religious orders perishers and parishioners Caritas are all contributing in specific ways ). Please continue to pray for our island neighbours not just today, tomorrow, but next month and in the following years. God Bless . ( thanks for contribution from parishioner .

General business

Please keep in your prayers those of our parish and school community who are sick, lonely or going through hard times and need our help and comfort. Please pray for the happy repose of the souls of
RECENTLY DEPARTED: Sister Miriam Prior rsj;
ANNIVERSARIES: Mick Church (06/02); John (Jack) Dykes: Charlie O’Leary (28/02); Peter Bamford (04/03); Robbie Gembitsky (05/03); Mary Church (09/03); James Palmer (09/03);Molly Alexander (10/03);
MASS OFFERINGS: Deceased Sisters of Home of Compassion, their family members and Benefactors both living and deceased.

Mass offerings

For Sale: Uniden Phone System (base phone with answer system and 3 portables with range extender. 2 Computer monitors. 1 Fax machine. 2 antique chairs. Computer desk. See Cath in the office if your are interested in any of the above.

Need extra prayer??
The Prayer Vine will pray for you, your family and/or friends who need extra prayer. Any request is prayed for. Christian names only are used, so it is confidential. Please call either Maureen ph 3455480 or Barbara ph. 3425812

DID YOU KNOW – that on Friday’s at 11.00am at St Mary’s the Rosary is recited for our priests and all of our Parishioners. Have you thought about coming along and joining in in this special prayer. All are very welcome .