Whanganui parish bulletin
18 February 2018
1st SundAY OF LENT

Readings for this week: Gen 9.8-15, 1 Pet.3.18-22 Mk 1.12-15
Thank you for your prayers in preparation for my time in hospital. All has gone well. All I have to do is to follow the physiotherapist’s advice.
The story of Noah and the flood reminds us of baptism. As the water covered the earth and destroyed all evil, so baptism wipes out original and real sin. The earth emerged in a pristine state and was re-populated with the animals and humanity. When we emerge from the font we are made clean, adopted as sons and daughters of God.
Many priests will use the Apostles’ Creed during Lent. It’s similarity to the questions asked at baptism remind us that we are baptised, and that some will be baptised at the Easter Vigil. These people need and want our prayers and support as during Lent they undertake the final spiritual preparation for baptism.
We who are already baptised will be undertaking the penances, fasting and almsgiving which will heal us of our sins and faults and prepare us to renew our baptismal vows at Easter.
A suggestion: for some reason we tend to leave confession until the end of Lent. Why not examine your life now, go to confession and then work to avoid the predominant sins in your life.
Father John.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Romans 8:31b-34 Mark 9:2-10
Jesus quite often told stories that were not factually true but pointed his followers to enduring truths. If we take next week’s first reading literally, then we’re being given an extremely cruel God to believe in – a God who wanted Abraham to slaughter his own son. Scripture scholars agree that a prophet probably composed this story more than 2,700 years ago in the northern part of Israel where child sacrifice was common among the pagan peoples. Even some Jewish kings made their children "pass through the fire" – meaning they sacrificed them to the pagan fertility gods.
It’s quite possible that faithful Jews were taunted by their pagan neighbours: "We love our gods more than you love your God. We sacrifice our children to them." This is the background against which to reflect on the story of Isaac. The author is saying we love God no less than the pagans loved their gods and, just as Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac, we, too, would sacrifice our children if God asked us to do so. But the enduring truth is that our God is a God of love and life, not death.
Most Scripture scholars also believe that Mark's transfiguration story is not factually true but uses imagery from the Hebrew Scriptures to present Jesus as the fulfillment of the Chosen People’s hopes and dreams. Mark has Jesus standing transfigured between Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the prophets - the ‘law and the prophets’ was a phrase used in the Hebrews Scriptures for the Bible. Mark’s enduring truth is that
"Jesus is God-among-us" and in living by Jesus’ values spelled out in Scripture we are fulfilling all that God asks of us - “This is my son…….listen to him.”
JB Kendall rsj

Our People

St. Mary’s 1 Campbell St, Ph. 345 3872 Office hours: 8.30am—3pm Jo Boult Parish Secretary Holy Family
22 Tawhero St,
*holyfamily@xtra.co.nz
St. Anne’s
47 Raine Street

Father John Roberts 0276346877

Fr. Marcus Francis
PP 021 02283349

Fr. Adonis Rancho (Fr. Don Don)
021 02735829

Norma O’Connor
Parish Assistant
Hospital Chaplain
027 2334557

Jane O’Connell
Convener of Care & Concern Team 348 9303
348 9303

Kevin Foley
Chairperson of Liturgy
345 0542

*info@catholicparishwhanganui.org.nz www.catholicparishwhanganui.org.nz

Faithsharing Groups
WOMEN’S FAITHSHARING
There will be no meeting this week.
FAITHSHARING
Rosary and Scripture
Wed. 10.30am
St Mary’s Meeting Room.
All welcome.
Mother’s Combined
Parishes Prayer Group
We will resume next year.
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

Social groups
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
Holy Family Conference meet on the 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month at 4.45pm. ph: Kevin Foley on 345 0542. Or 345 0161.
St Annes/St Marys Conference meet 1st and 3rd Wed of month at 5pm. Contact Marianne Vine 3450281
HOLY FAMILY CRAFT GROUP
Meet weekly on Thursdays at 9.30am. For further information phone Shirley on 344 6365
ST MARYS CRAFT GROUP
Meet every second Sunday of the month in St Marys Church foyer 2-4. Contact Marianne 3450281 or Richelle 3452652.
LADIES GUILD GROUPS
St. Anne’s
Meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Ring Kay Wilkinson
Ph. 343 3367
MAINLY MUSIC
Contact Anne 3446569 Facebook:Mainly music-st annes
FOCOLARE
Monthly meeting on 4th Sunday of month at 1.30 at Anne’s Place, 58 Bedford Ave, Ph: 3454709
All Welcome

Liturgy – Caring for the Earth Now & for the Future
Sunday 18 February, 4 – 5pm
Tui Motu Group
Wednesday 21 February, 7 – 8.30pm
with Rita Cahill rsj
A Way with Words: Writing for Wellbeing
Writing is an expansive process. It opens you up & helps complete your inner cycle. Writing therapy can be used for: expression; understanding old hurts; dreaming; meditation etc. This workshop will use a number of processes to invite you to unlock unfinished business & build awareness, in a safe environment.
Friday 23 February, 6 – 9pm
Saturday 24 February, 9am – 5pm
with Fliss Newton & Jacque Aldridge
To register please call Pam on 3455047 ext 3 or email pam.hopper@sosj.org.au
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

EXPLORING FAITH GROUPS
EVENING: Monday 7.30pm - 9pm
Holy Family Meeting Room
MORNING: Tuesday 10.15am - 12.15pm
St Mary's Community Room
The topic will be “Stages of Faith"
Hosts: Mary Wood 344 3552,
Nancie & Brian Quigley 347 8177
Jo Smillie 345 0609 (Morning Group)
Led by Sr John Bosco Kendall rsj
You're all welcome to attend.
For more information ring one of
the above numbers.

MARAE TIME
at Te Rau Oriwa Marae.
The Drop-in Centre is open 9-1pm every Monday to Thursday.
Nau Mai, Haere Mai . All Welcome.

Bishop speak:
Check out Bishop Charles’ facebook page www.facebook.com/BishopCharlesDrennan to see his letter to all Yr 13 students about Euthanisai and Assisted suicide.
Also, see the latest WelCom for Bishop Charles’ push for our provincial towns and city centres, and the dio website https://pndiocese.org.nz/ for a homily he gave in Melbourne last weekend.

This year Confirmation in the Catholic Parish of Whanganui will be celebrated by Bishop Charles Drennan on Sunday 9 September at the 6pm Mass. Registration by teenagers 14-15 years of age, as well as any adults who have previously not been confirmed, is invited to the Parish Office. Teenagers who have not been baptized need to contact Fr Marcus Francis. Participants who have not received First Reconciliation or First Communion likewise need to get in touch with Fr Marcus ahead of time.

MEAT RAFFLE - Cameron Daignault has tickets to sell for a meat raffle. This is to help get the Cullinane College rowing squad to Twizel for Maadi Cup in March.
For $20 your get 1 entry per week for 10weeks. If your number is drawn you win a $50 meat pack from Chef's Choice. We have 7 tickets left. If you would like to support Cameron can you please text or ring him on 027 6716929 to secure a ticket or grab him after Mass. Thanks for your support.

First Reconciliation /First Communion
If you would like your child to be part of this years program please register with your school or fill out an application form from the office.

#

“Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society – St Patrick’s Branch 400 Fourth Quarterly Meeting: 4.00pm, Monday 19 February 2018 in the Gathering Area, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 197 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North.
Visitors or anyone interested in becoming a member are most welcome.
Enquiries to Kevin Frost, Secretary, Tel (06) 3577844 or email kfassociates@xtra.co.nz”

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

ST. ANNE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Principal: Karl Zimmerman
DRS: Jo Gichard.
Raine St. Wanganui East
Ph: 343 8389
Email: office@stannes.school
Thank you for the return of our surveys and those that attended interviews. The start of a new school year is critical and building goals together for your child helps us to focus on what is important for their learning journey.
This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday with a mass Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday.
During Lent we are invited to take time to consider how we can change aspects of our lives to be more like Jesus.
Also just a reminder that our school website has a live calendar that you can access at any time. This is a public calendar and is updated.
Karl Zimmerman
Principal

Parishioners are encouraged to go online and take advantage of a resource provided by Fr John O'Connor of the Christchurch Diocese. It is to be found at: http://foodforfaith.org.nz/
Many parishioners speak of the need to update and uplift their faith and knowledge of it. This is an excellent way to accomplish that along with the other helps available to parishioners on a weekly basis in the bulletin and elsewhere.

ST. Marcellin School
Principal: Maia Williams
Acting DRS: Maia Williams
Totara St. Wanganui.
Ph: 349 0023
Email: stmarcellin@welearn.school.nz
E te whānau whakapono, tēnā tātou.
By the time parishioners read this message we would have completed our first full week of learning. And what a week! On Monday, we started our learn to swim programme. On Shrove Tuesday, we gathered as a school to pray with Fr Don Don for the people of Tonga, to make ashes from the palms of our last Palm Sunday and our Lenten Intentions, and ended with yummy pancakes baked by Nani Merle and Matua Simone. On Wednesday, we gathered as a parish community to receive our ashes and so be it to 'Repent and believe in the Gospel'. On Thursday, PAT assessments started and after school the teachers journeyed to Jerusalem as a pre-visit before our school trip later in the term. On Friday, we rested LOL! Māori performing arts started and the winning house JOSEPH, got to wear mufti as their PB4L-SW reward. Manuia, Maia Williams.

Diocesan Young Catholics
Nau mai haere mai hoki mai ra! Welcome! Are you new or know someone who will be new to our faith community here in the Manawatu? We would like to meet you and welcome you personally! The Youth and Young Adult Office is situated at 33 Amesbury Street, behind the Cathedral on Broadway! Join us on our Facebook pages Diocesan Young Catholics and PN Catholic Young Professionals or Manawatu Catholic Tertiary Students. We have a Youth House called Te Ahi Kaa and we run regular events there. Your contact for Manawatu Catholic Tertiary and Young Adult Chaplaincy is Nick Wilson nwilson@pndiocese.org.nz or 021822814.

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
Principal: Jacqui Luxton
DRS: Cath Daignault
30 London St. Wanganui
Ph:343 1227
Email:school@stmarys.ac.nz
What a busy start to the year. We had a great turn out to the Intermidate BBQ last week, with families coming to meet each other. This week we had a good Ash Wednesday liturgy that was run by our Liturgy Team. This was their first liturgy they have been involved in this year and did a good job.
On Thursday we had a great turn out of parents to our meet the teacher interviews.
Our PTA are busy organising our Gala. GALA IS ON THE 15th MARCH. We would love your help. If you have any items to donate to white elephant (no clothes or electronics) we would be super grateful. Also if you would like to donate prizes for the spinning Jenny, donate baked goods or help out with other donations we would be really appreciative. On Sunday February 25th we are having Mass on the grass at 11am at school. You are most welcome to join us, bring your chair, picnic rug and stay for a picnic lunch.

Lenten Seminars
Wednesdays 7pm held at Te Rau Oriwa Marae
21 Feb Catholic Church and sex
28 Feb Pope Francis-what is he doing?
7 March Latin Mass, Vatican II Mass- what is the difference?
14 March Ordination of Women?
21 March Salvation for the non- baptised?
28 March The Easter mystery
All are most welcome.

Tindall Foundation
The Diocese of Palmerston North, in conjunction with the Catholic Charities Foundation of Palmerston North, the Tindall Foundation and Catholic Social Services, is seeking applications from parish groups, agencies and Church organisations.
We are especially looking for new applications that support families and social services in the areas of early years, youth development, budgeting, literacy, Maori/cross-cultural, housing, and community service and development.
Application forms and criteria for funding are available from the parish office or the Diocesan Office, Private Bag 11012, Palmerston North – Attention: Mrs Wendy Silver, telephone 06 354 1780 ext 833, email wsilver@pndiocese.org.nz
or you can download a copy of the application form from the diocesan website
https://pndiocese.org.nz/news-and-events/application-for-funding/
Applications are to be sent to reach the Diocesan Office by 31 March 2018.
Allocations will be made on 17 April 2018.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES: Miha Maori Patea Waverley RECONCILIATION:
St. Anne’s Tues 11.30am,Sat 9.30 Sun. 1 Kaiwhaiki 11.00am Sun 1 & 3 9.30am Sun 2 & 4 9.30am St Annes Sat. 9.00—9.20am
St Mary’s 9.30am & 6.00pm Sun. 3 St Mary’s 9.30am Wed 2 & 9.30am Wed 1 & 3 9.30am St Mary’s Fri 11.00—11.40am
Holy Family Sat. Vigil: 5.30pm Sun. 4 Jerusalem/Ranana 10.00am Holy Family Sat. 5.00-5.20pm
(Hiruharama)
ST MARYS CHURCH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

Mass Times and Parish Diary

		ST MARY’S	HOLY FAMILY	ST ANNE’S/OTHERS
MONDAY 19 Feb		NO MASSES	9am Liturgy / 7pm Pro Life Rosary / 7.30pm Faith Exploration
TUESDAY 20 Feb		NO MASSES	10.00am Mass / 4.00pm Legion of Mary	10.30am Jane Winstone / 12.05pm Mass
WEDNESDAY 21 Feb		NO MASSES	9.00am Mass	9.30am Patea Mass / 12.05pm Mass
THURSDAY 22 Feb		NO MASSES	9.00am Mass / 9.30am Exposition	9.15am Nazareth / 12.05pm Mass
FRIDAY 23 Feb		NO MASSES	9.00am Mass	10.45am Cullinane / 12.05pm Mass
SATURDAY 24 Feb		NO MASSES	5.00pm Reconciliation / 5.30pm Vigil Mass	9.00am Reconciliation / 9.30am Mass

Morning prayer through Lent—8.30am at Holy Family

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER:
This annual event hosted by the Combined Churches of Whanganui will be held at Central Baptist Church on Wicksteed St on Friday 2 March at 7pm. This year there will only be the one service. The theme is "All God's Creation Is Very Good". The Service suggestions have been prepared by the people of Suriname.

SACRISTAN : SACREDHEART CHAPEL (JANE WINSTONE MASSES)
The time has come to add another sacristan to this roster. This will enable us to provide for the future. These Masses are celebrated on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 10.30am. Would anyone interested please contact either Father John or Joan Egan. The latter is able to tell what is involved.
Many thanks.

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 DECEASED: Leanne Palamountain, Mike Davies, Cecelia Bullo’t, Patricia Lawrence, Marie Shackleton, Irene MacDonald, Ray Murdoch, Marion Bourke, Delphina Woon, Dorothea van Elswijk, Frances Gupwell
CONDOLENCES: ANNIVERSARIES: Ellen Connors (19/01), Stanley Connors (25/01), Alex Leone (11/2), Craig Shore (15/01), Doug Newick (18/01), Mary Ager (18/2), Bill Butler . Laurence Conder (14/2), Henry Gallagher (14/1), Joan Triplow (22/1), Maureen Hopkins (25/2)
MASS OFFERINGS: Mary Bradley (26/12), Souls of Sr Adrienne Whitehead and Ted Walsh, Pat Smith, John Fahey (18/12), Craig Shore (15/1), Doug Newick (18/1), Catherine Marsh, Edward Marsh, James Marsh (8/1), Brian Trillo (30/1), Ellen Connors (19/01), Stanley Connors (25/01), Alex Leone (11/2), Ray Murdoch, Warren Blain, Garth Bason, Fr Corcoran, Frances Gupwell, Patricia Osborne, Ray Walker, A Walker, Mark Walker

Mass offerings

St Marys Church work has began. There will be no access to inside the worship space until completion.
Please do not enter the Church Worship Space at anytime.
There is a worship space been set up in the meeting room at St Marys Church for those who would still like to come in and pray.
The meeting room is situated by the hall.

MAINLY MUSIC.
St. Anne’s Church Raine Street.
Ph. Anne 344 6569.
Mondays at 10am. Mainly music
Est.1990
A great morning to meet Parents and
Carers and Pre-schoolers.

PLEASE COLLECT
Could you PLEASE collect your planned giving envelopes and receipts!
They are ready for collection in the Church foyer.
Thank you for your ongoing and generous support.

Pilgrimages to the Holy Land (departing 29 April) and Medjugorje (departing June and October.) All pilgrimages accompanied by a chaplain. For Holy Land itinerary, contact Pukekohe Travel P: 09 237 0013; toll free: 0800 785 386. E: tours@pukekohetravel.co.nz. Medjugorje pilgrimages contact Mir Pilgrimages on 0274 219 064; E: info@mirpilgrimages.co.nz; Website: www.pilgrimage.nz

Are you feeling unwell or lonely?
You can borrow our beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima to assist you in your prayer time.
Contact Kathleen Orsbon
ph:3442245 and she will deliver it to you.

Need Extra Prayer ??
The Prayer Vine is made up of a group of 14 Parishioners who will pray for you or 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
The Prayer Tree details are- contact Merle Manson on 344 7652 after 5.00pm each night. Christian names only are used.

IMPORTANT:
If family members or a friend is
admitted to hospital or a rest home it is vital that you let the Office know so that we can arrange a visit by a priest or Chaplain or arrange for Holy Communion to be taken.
Thank you

Please note: newsletter items need to be in by Wednesday pm to make print that week.
Thank you.

Holy Cross Seminary
www.holycross.org.nz

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

Musicians, Singers, Cantors
We welcome you to join us in 2018. We always have room for you in our groups.
Please make yourself known to Jo at the Parish Office or talk to a group member.