NZ Catholic Newspaper

Pro-life message proclaimed in capital

Michael Otto — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 20:55:13 +0000

More than 1000 people walked through the streets of Wellington city to Parliament in the fourth national March for Life on December 5.

Many of the marchers had pink and blue balloons, and carried banners, with a variety of messages emphasising love and life — for mother and baby.

A 60-strong Mother of Divine Mercy group from Auckland sang and chanted throughout the march, and their enthusiasm was said to be contagious. The group raises its own funds to travel to the

marches each year.

At Parliament grounds, there were speeches from political and pro life figures, including Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action in the US, who spoke by video-link.

Ms Rose congratulated and encouraged the marchers, stating that “. . . how we treat the most vulnerable, what our laws fail to do, or what they do do for the most vulnerable, is the true measure of our greatness and our justice as a society”.

“. . . [I]f our laws do not protect that first human right, which is life, then we cannot have peace or justice in our society,” she said.

Ms Rose acknowledged that such pro-life public initiatives are carried out with grief in people’s hearts, because of the loss that abortion entails to many people involved.

“As you march now,” Ms Rose added in encouragement, “know that you are not marching alone. You are one of millions across the world . . . that are marching together for life.”

“Our movement is a winning one — this is the good news. Change is possible. I have seen this in the US,” she added.

Courage is required, voices have to be raised but, at the same time women facing abortion have to be supported, she said.

“Despite the critics, despite the attacks, we can be victorious, because we have the truth on our side and, ultimately, I believe we are on the side of love, love that comes from a God who created all of us in his image and likeness, who created every child in his image and likeness.”

Ms Rose suggested three key activities for marchers when they went home — educating those they know about the reality of abortion, staying involved in the pro-life cause in areas like advocacy and support initiatives, and praying “for a global transformation . . . that people can have a restored vision of humanity”.

Former MP Agnes Loheni, who was on the select committee that considered the Abortion Legislation Bill, told the marchers that, even though she was no longer an MP after both the election and the battle over the bill had been lost, “the battle continues today. I am no longer in Parliament, but I am out in the community, with all of you, because that is where the battle now continues”.

In a report on Family Life International’s website, Michelle Kaufman wrote that Ms Loheni said: “History has never looked kindly on governments that sanction the killing of [their] own citizens, and history will not judge the passing of this abortion legislation kindly.”

The FLI report added that Mrs Loheni concluded by giving a stark warning about anticipated restrictions on speech about abortion. Referencing the miraculous defeat of the “anti-free speech and the anti-freedom safe zones” in the Abortion Legislation Act, she noted that it was “likely that this will be raised again in this term of government”.

It “is only a short jump from banning speech outside an abortion clinic to banning speech that is anti-abortion”, she warned.

MP Simon O’Connor (National — Tamaki) told the marchers that he is “proudly pro-life”.

“I have fought against abortion, fought against euthanasia, fought against hate speech, and will never stop fighting,” he said.

But he acknowledged those women who had “made what is a terrible and hard decision”.

“To those mums who have chosen abortion, we stand with you, we love you, we support you. To the dads and the families who have put pressure, often on those young women, we ask you to actually stand with those women, and to love your child. To the fathers today — support those women, support them and your child, stand with them.”

Mr O’Connor looked forward to a time when people gathered at Parliament, not to lament laws that have been passed, but to celebrate a culture of life returning to this country.

FLI also reported that another speaker at Parliament was Giselle, a young mother, originally from Argentina, whose support network had failed her when she found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend, family, and medical staff, all told her that abortion was her best option. However, she chose to reach out to FLI’s Gianna’s Choice Pregnancy Options and Support, and was given all the encouragement and support she needed — especially by Dame Colleen Bayer — to give life to her son Noah. She explained that knowing she “was not alone” helped her to make her choice for life.

At Parliament’s grounds, a newly-formed group — ProLove — which provides packs of donated baby goods to mothers in need, explained their mission to the crowd. Situated in South Auckland, in just a few months the group has distributed 500 boxes of goods to mothers and babies in the local community, reported FLI.

A small group of counter-protestors followed the March for Life, as happened in Hamilton last year. They displayed signs at Parliament’s grounds.

Marches for Life are being planned for several places next year, including in Auckland and Hamilton in early March, in Christchurch and Whangarei in September, and in Wellington again on December 4, 2021.

FLI reported that about 200 people attended Mass at Saint Mary of the Angels in Wellington city on the Friday night (December 4) in preparation for the March for Life.

Both the Saint Mary of the Angels choir, and Mother of Divine Mercy Refuge Choir from Auckland, added to the prayer with their singing. Quoting Pope Francis, Auckland auxiliary Bishop Michael Gielen highlighted the value of every human being. “Human beings have inherent, irreducible value, but when a throwaway culture finds them inconvenient, it deems them ‘inefficient’ or ‘burdensome’; and they are ignored, rejected or even disposed of.”

“Jesus has called you here,” he stated. “It is his work first.”

He reminded the congregation of St Teresa of Kolkata’s words that “we are not called to be successful, but faithful”.

“Let us take hope, he concluded. “Allow him (Jesus) to use us in this March for Life.”

(Photo: The March for Life moves through Wellington’s streets: Photographer – Bianca Jago)

The post Pro-life message proclaimed in capital appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

Clergy and other appointments 2016

NZ Catholic Staff — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:04:11 +0000

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
Clergy appointments for 2016 have been announced for Palmerston North diocese and Wellington archdiocese.

PALMERSTON NORTH
Bishop Charles Drennan said these appointments will take effect in the last week of January.
Fr Brian Walsh, administrator of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit parish; Recently ordained Fr Bryan Buenger, administrator of St Joseph’s parish, Dannevirke and St Brigid’s parish, Pahiatua, including the communities of Eketahuna and Woodville; Fr Paul Byers, SM, the Catholic parish of Napier; Fr Marcus Francis, parish priest of St Mary’s, Palmerston North and St Brigid’s parish, Feilding, and assumes the role of vicar forane for Manawatu and Tararua; Fr John Jolliffe, SM, member of the pastoral team, St Peter’s parish, Wairoa; Fr Robin Kurian, IC, assistant parish priest at St Mary’s (Palmerston North) and St Brigid’s (Feilding) and co-chaplain to the SyroMalabar Community of the diocese; Fr Vaughan Leslie (on loan from Dunedin diocese), administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes parish (Palmerston North); Fr Manoj Mather, IC, assistant priest at the Catholic Parish of Hastings. He will take the position for a year, then return to Palmerston North to form a Rosminian Community with Fr Kurian. He is also co-chaplain to the Syro-Malabar Community.
Fr Sanjay Pradhan, assistant priest at the Catholic parish of New Plymouth; Fr Adonis Rancho, assistant priest at the Catholic parish of Whanganui; Fr John Roberts, priest in solidum of the Catholic parish of Whanganui, with particular responsibility for resthomes and hospital care; Fr Simon Story, parish priest at the Catholic parish of New Plymouth.
WELLINGTON
Cardinal John Dew appointed Fr David Gruschow parish priest of Otaki-Levin; Fr Maurice Carmody, parish priest of Plimmerton; Porirua East parish priest, Fr Pene Patelehio, assistant priest, Fr Tikoua Kautu; parish priest at Johnsonville-Newlands-Khandallah, Fr Peter Fitzgibbon and Frs Doug Shepherd and Sebastian Vandanamthadathil, VC, assistant priests of the pastoral area.
Fr Ron Bennett moves to Otari parish. Mary-Anne Peetz will be the lay pastoral leader there.
The new pastoral area, Wellington South, will have Fr David Dowling as parish priest. Fr Dennis Nacorda will be assistant priest. Msgr Gerard Burns, priest in residence at St Joseph’s.
Fr Tony Kearns, administrator of Heretaunga-Stokes Valley pastoral area and Fr Danilo Cipriano, priest in residence to assist with Filipino chaplaincy Masses; Fr Tony Kearns, administrator of Upper Hutt pastoral area and Fr Maleko Api, assistant priest and to assist with Samoan chaplaincy; Blenheim-Kaikoura-Picton pastoral area parish priest, Fr Pat McIndoe, CP, assistant priest, Fr Gilthus Mathias, CP, and lay pastoral leaders, Mrs Patsy Buttle; Nelson-Stoke parish priest, Fr Bill Warwick; Richmond-Motueka-Takaka parish priest, Fr Seph Pijfers and priest in residence at Motueka, Fr Pat Maloney.

The post Clergy and other appointments 2016 appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

NZ must be heard more, says cardinal

Michael Otto — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 04:07:20 +0000

by MICHAEL OTTO
WELLINGTON — The Church needs to have more cardinals from Oceania, says one of the prelates closest to Pope Francis.
Visiting Wellington from October 9-12 in his capacity as president of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said that during the conclave in March, there was a common feeling among the cardinals for a greater “internationalisation” of the Vatican.
“We need more Oceania cardinals,” Cardinal Rodriguez said in Wellington during a press conference with Catholic media on October 11.
He said Oceania is not Australia by itself, and the region has a wide variety of nations and peoples.

Cardinal Rodriguez blows a kiss to his listeners in Wellington on October 11, representing him passing on the Holy Father's love.

Oceania has only one cardinal — George Pell of Sydney — able to be an elector during a conclave to elect a pope. Having turned 80 in 2010, Cardinal Thomas Williams of New Zealand is ineligible.
Cardinal Rodriguez, from Honduras, is the coordinator for the commission of eight cardinals from different regions of the world advising Pope Francis on Church governance. The commission met with the Pope from October 1-3.
One of the things Cardinal Rodriguez signalled could change is time limits for service in the curia, which helps the pope govern the Church and which is the administrative apparatus for the Holy See.
“Those who are called to collaborate with [the pope] in the Roman Curia, are to serve, not make a career,” Cardinal Rodriguez said.
He suggested five or 10 year limits for service in Rome, and then a priest would return to his home diocese.
Having clergy stay for 30 years or more in the curia is “no good for the Church”, and this was a common sentiment in this year’s pre-conclave discussions by cardinals, he said.
Cardinal Rodriguez also suggested that [it] is “almost sure” that a new “dicastery” (department or congregation) for laity could be created in the Vatican. There are already such bodies for bishops, clergy and religious life, he noted. With lay men and women making up the vast majority of the Catholic Church’s members, it seems logical that they should have such a body in Rome, he said.
“Maybe that will be the line [from the commission],” he said, noting that the current Pontifical Council for the Laity cannot “legislate”, whereas Roman congregations can. Trimming back on the number of pontifical councils in Rome, of which there are 11, could also be favoured by the commission, he added.

The post NZ must be heard more, says cardinal appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

Likely NZ martyr centre of Year of Faith celebration

John Kleinsman — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 05:12:32 +0000

by KATE MAHONY
WELLINGTON — Archbishop John Dew has encouraged parishes in the archdiocese to plan something special to mark the Year of Faith.
Commemorating the courageous life and death of one of their own, Fr Francis Vernon Douglas, was Johnsonville’s Sts Peter and Paul’s response.
John Kleinsman, one of the team that coordinated the three-day event in late June, said commemorating the life and death of Fr Douglas was a way of highlighting someone who is a source of inspiration and a relevant role model for people living out their faith today.
The organisers wanted an event that would provide opportunities for prayer and reflection on what it means to hear the call to mission in the 21st century.
“The point of focusing on the life and death of Francis Douglas was as much about letting his life inform us and pose questions to each of us about being missionaries as it was about recalling the faith witness and martyrdom of a wonderful faith-filled and courageous man,” Dr Kleinsman said.

Nieces and nephews of Fr Francis Vernon Douglas, from left, John Douglas, Jo Benaki, Margaret Carson, Patrick Scullin, Maria McIElroy and Margaret Marshall.

The event included an opening liturgy celebrated by Archbishop John Dew in which a newly framed portrait of Fr Douglas was blessed before it went on display in the church. Other events included: parishioners Helen Rook, Steve Tamarapa, Miriam Vender and Ewen Laurenson sharing their personal understanding and practice of mission, a school Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Dew for St Brigid’s, Johnsonville, and St Benedict’s, Khandallah, and veneration and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Columban Fathers Michael Gormly and Patrick O’Shea spoke on mission. Members of Challenge 2000 decorated the church and provided an inspiring drama.
Members of Fr Douglas ’s family — including his nieces and nephews — came from as far as Auckland and Hawke’s Bay to the commemoration. The Filipino community, along with the Philippines Ambassador to New Zealand, Virginia Benavidez, took part in the Saturday evening Mass, which was also the celebration of the parish’s two patrons.
Dr Kleinsman said a personal highlight was the way the three days drew in so many different people. “It was an event that brought us together as a community of faith and made me feel so proud to be Catholic.”
See www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5d23/douglas-francis-vernon for more information.

The post Likely NZ martyr centre of Year of Faith celebration appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

Focolare co-leaders speak in Wellington

Michael Otto — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:22:15 +0000

by SUSAN FOGARTY
WELLINGTON — While many Wellingtonians revelled in the recent rugby sevens, St Mary’s High School hall in Thorndon overflowed with people attending a public meeting of the Focolare Movement.
The meeting was the culmination of a weekend of celebrations, lectures and discussions, hosted by the New Zealand branch of the Focolare Movement. Members from throughout the country gathered to attend the series of events.
The public meeting began with local Focolare members sharing their experiences within the movement, explaining how it has changed their lives, allowing them to have Jesus as a central part of the way they choose to live.
“Through techniques of love and listening, I’m a better person,” shared Brenda. “I do everything for the love of God, for Jesus, and this extends to my workplace, too.”
The Focolare Movement is an international organisation promoting ideals of unity and universal brotherhood and sisterhood among all people. Although primarily Catholic, the movement has strong links to other religions, Christian and non-Christian.
Teacher, Chiara Lubich, founded the movement in 1943, when she and a group of friends chose to live the Gospel as a way of responding to God’s love, ultimately fulfilling the words from John’s Gospel, “Love one another, as I have loved you”. The concept of love is a constant in the movement.
The word Focolare, meaning “hearth” in Italian, was chosen because it evokes an image of a warm place where people can gather.
Worldwide, the movement has more than 2.4 million adherents, including 150,000 young people, in 182 countries.
The movement began in New Zealand in 1981 with the support of Cardinal Thomas Williams, and has continued to grow.
The highlight of the weekend were lectures from Focolare co-presidents Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti.
Her introduction to the movement was during her last year of law school in Rome, where she met a group of focolarini at the university. Upon completion of her studies, she became the first woman lawyer in the city’s court system. She later studied theology and canon law.
Giancarlo Faletti was elected co-president in 2008. In 1959 he encountered the Focolare movement and at the age of 25 decided to completely give himself to God in community life with a Focolare community.
The Wellington lecture and question time with Voce and Faletti was attended by more than 200 people, including a good number of younger people.
Archbishop John Dew’s introduction referred to the value and importance of the movement in New Zealand and worldwide.
“Amidst the current wave of secularisation, the Holy Spirit has bestowed some charisms for making the message of the Gospel ever new. Here in New Zealand I see that Focolare has understood the people and their needs, and they know how to act with imagination and courage,” he said.
The presentation was in Italian and attendees were provided with radios and headphones to tune in.

Maria Voce and Giancario Faletti in Wellington.

The main issues raised revolved around secularism and the role of God in the lives of modern people. Both Voce and Faletti were united in stressing the importance of the need for God in the modern world.
“As is happening in Australia, here too the influence of secularisation and multiculturalism has had a strong influence, and finding answers means working together.”
One of the strongest themes from both presidents and local Focolare members was unity, and how people can work together.
Maria Voce explained: “Our task is to establish small fires in the midst of the human family; small groups of people who are united in the name of Jesus. There might be only two people, but together, in a school, a hospital, a band, even on a cricket team. Two people only, a small fire.
“All these small fires at some point will meet up with the other fires. And then the fire will become larger and larger, even though we will never be exactly sure where the fire has caught on. One thing is certain: God is at work.”
This was the first visit from both Maria Voce and Giancario Faletti.
The next event is a weekend gathering of the Fololare community in Taupo from April 26 to 28.

The post Focolare co-leaders speak in Wellington appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.

Youth ministry in Wellington receives a shake-up

Michael Otto — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:01:15 +0000

by CALLUM TOWNSEND
WELLINGTON — Youth ministry in the Wellington archdiocese has received a shake-up, with a renewed focus on mentoring and training to be implemented from early next year.
A review document looking at resourcing across the archdiocese concluded funds ought to be channelled more towards supporting those already working with young people.
The project manager of a transitional team charged with enacting the review’s recommendations, Daniel Siave, said the review had consulted with all stakeholders involved in youth ministry in order to find the best way to allocate resources.
“I’m not denying that there [was] enough work there, but was the distribution fair for everyone is one of the questions the review was looking at,” he said.
The review proposed changes, not to the aims of youth ministry, but to the method of its delivery.
“The goals of Catholic ministry with young people are documented . . . We do not need to spend the time coming up with a new destination, but we do need to review our strategies,” the report said.
It identified the 11-30 age bracket as the area of youth ministry, which equates to just under 23,000 people across the archdiocese.
Mr Siave said a new-look team recommended by the review would be reduced to two and a half full-time positions with a greater emphasis on mentoring those involved in youth ministry across the archdiocese.
The team was due to start early in 2013, with a focus “much more on training and supporting those who are doing that ministry”.
A mentoring role would alleviate some of the difficulties associated with ministering personally to a group whose subsets ranged from school children to married couples with children of their own, Mr Siave said.
One key initiative suggested by the review was an internship programme aimed at involving young people in the running of youth ministry in each parish.
Previously the structure of the youth and young adult ministry was heavily centred on Wellington’s tertiary institutions.
Five full-time positions were shared between six to seven people, based at Victoria University’s tertiary chaplaincy or the archdiocese’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office.
“It was very centralised, when you think about the fact that the diocese covers from Kaikoura to Levin.”
Engaging communities was a key focus of the new youth ministry, and successful programmes such as the Young Catholic Leaders would continue through 2012 and into 2013, Mr Siave said.
“Community has been one of the things we’ve pushed a lot, I think community goes hand-in-hand with Christianity.”
The new team would continue to consult with stakeholders about how the review was being implemented, he said.

The post Youth ministry in Wellington receives a shake-up appeared first on NZ Catholic Newspaper.