Wellington Cardinal celebrates 50 years of priesthood

Wellington Cardinal Thomas Williams will celebrate his golden jubilee of priesthood and 30 years of being a bishop this Sunday 20th December.

Events will begin on Friday 18th December with 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral and a clergy gathering.

On Sunday 20th December the Cardinal will celebrate 10am Mass at the Cathedral, which will be followed by a get-together with family and friends.

Cardinal Williams, 79, was ordained in Rome in 1959. He became the Archbishop of Wellington in 1979, on the 20th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Just over three years later he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

The Cardinal has studied in Dublin and Rome. He has worked in Samoa and as well as being Archbishop of Wellington has held a number of national appointments in the New Zealand Church. He is well known inside and outside the Church as an active Christian leader involved in a wide range of social issues.

In 2000 he was awarded the Order of New Zealand by the Governor General.

A book “In His Own Words” was published as a tribute to Cardinal Williams in 2004 on his 25th anniversary of being a bishop.

Cardinal Williams participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

The Pope accepted his resignation the same year and the Cardinal now lives in retirement on the Kapiti Coast. He still has a number of international responsibilities and is a member of three Vatican bodies.

His successor, Archbishop John Dew, says this weekend is a significant anniversary for Cardinal Williams, the Church of Wellington and New Zealand.

He says, “I am sure the whole Church of New Zealand would want to join me in saying thank you to the Cardinal and to wish him congratulations and every blessing on 50 years of faithful priesthood”.

Catholic bishops oppose licence for Early Medical Abortions

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are writing to various government ministers to oppose and express their concern about the possible granting of a licence to dispense Mifepristone (Mifegyne® RU 486) with Misoprostol for the purpose of procuring Early Medical Abortions (EMA).



The Hamilton Family Planning Clinic has requested the licence which, if granted, will enable RU 486 to be used with Misoprostol to procure an abortion without the need for surgical intervention.



Fr Michael McCabe, Director of the bishops’ bioethics agency The Nathaniel Centre, says granting the licence for this or any of the Family Planning Clinics in New Zealand would effectively turn them into abortion clinics.



“This represents a major departure from their stated purpose and would inevitably make abortion easier to procure at a time when there is widespread agreement that abortion numbers in New Zealand are already far too high,” he says.



“Hamilton Family Planning’s proposed procedure for administering Mifepristone and Misoprostol could also place women at risk, as they will abort unsupervised at home”.



Of particular concern to the bishops is the dispensing of RU 486 and Misoprostol to girls under the age of 16 without their parents’ knowledge or consent.



“Such a scenario is at odds with other areas of law where parents can be held responsible for their children’s actions and medical care. Parental consent is required for minor medical interventions, but not for a procedure that has distressing and severe side effects, and the possibility of long term mental health consequences,” says Fr McCabe.



“Of further concern is the number of well documented side effects, with even promoters of the drug acknowledging that it is still too new to ascertain the long term consequences on future pregnancies.”



“In 2008 nearly 18,000 New Zealanders were killed by abortion. To make abortion even more available and to equate it with other means of family planning is a backward step in terms of reducing the numbers of abortions in New Zealand”.

THE RU486 PETITION

The Family Planning Association (FPA) is applying for a licence for their Hamilton office to administer RU486, a drug used to induce an abortion.

As citizens are we for LIFE or DEATH
for women and the unborn?

One of the methods available to us, as concerned members of the public living in Hamilton, Waikato and Coromandel, is to gather signatures opposing the granting of a licence to the Hamilton FPA allowing it to use RU486.

The petition will be posted to the Abortion Supervisory Committee, who has the jurisdiction to grant, or deny, the necessary licence. It will also be sent to the Select Committee, the parliamentary body which is responsible for the ASC.

It seems that Hamilton Family Planning is a test case. Should that licence be granted we can expect that other Family Planning branches throughout NZ would also apply to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for a licence.

The Waikato Times reported on 24th Oct:
“The Waikato District Health Board is supporting Family Planning in their licence request. The Waikato DHB does not have the resource or facilities to offer women a medical abortion…..We are working with them to ensure all safety and medical requirements are met. We will back them up as a medical provider should it be required.”

Family Planning Hamilton are shifting in November to a much larger facility, probably 4x larger. Presumably it is because they expect to be granted the licence.




ABORTION STATS!

Approx 18,000 abortions in NZ per year

That’s about 4x the population of Hamilton since 1977 when the law was passed.

1,487 abortions in Waikato in 2008.



The petition will be available to sign in the foyer of the church over the next two weeks. You must be eighteen years old or over to sign. See Kate Baird if you would like a petition form to take away and promote.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

New Zealand Catholic bishops’ annual conference



The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) held its annual meeting in Wellington from 16-22nd October.



The NZCBC elected Archbishop John Dew (Wellington) as President, Bishop Pat Dunn (Auckland) as General Secretary, and Bishop Colin Campbell (Dunedin) as Vice-President, and confirmed the membership of its commissions for a further two years: Commission for the Church – Archbishop Dew, and Bishops Denis Browne (Hamilton) and Campbell, and Commission for the Church in Society – Bishops Peter Cullinane (Palmerston North), Dunn and Jones.*



The priorities identified by NZCBC agencies for 2010 were approved.



The bishops met with the executive of Te Rūnanga o te Hāhi Katorika ki Aotearoa, the Conference’s national Catholic Maori advisory body. Their priorities included developing relationships with other NZCBC agencies, promoting vocations for the priesthood and religious life among Maori, and increasing the participation of rangatahi (young people) at Mass. The appointment of a Maori bishop was also discussed.



The bishops met with Br Pat Lynch FSC, Chief Executive Officer of NZ Catholic Education Office, Fr Philip Handforth, Rector of Holy Cross Seminary, and Fr Trevor Murray, Director of the National Liturgy Office.



Fr Murray and the bishops did further work on liturgical texts and discussed the new Missal. It is in English and Maori and has been sent to Rome for approval. The bishops approved the catechesis on the new Missal, which will take place next year.



The bishops met with members of the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society, affirming the work being done and supporting new directions being considered by the Society.



They also affirmed the work being done by Apostleship of the Sea and met with some of its members, including National Director Garry Conway.



The NZCBC agreed that individual bishops will promote the Apostleship of the Sea on-call chaplaincy among their priests, and lay involvement in the apostolate. It was also decided that Sea Sunday, a day of prayer for seafarers held on the second Sunday in July, will be included in the Catholic Church’s National Calendar.



To celebrate the Year of the Priest the bishops agreed that parishes will be encouraged to celebrate priesthood and pray for priests in the week preceding Good Shepherd Sunday 25 April 2010. A prayer for vocations to the priesthood has already been sent to parishes. The bishops also decided to publish an essay on St John Vianney, written by Bishop Takuira Mariu SM.



A Mass will be celebrated in Hamilton on the evening of Sunday 18 April 2010 to mark the Week of Prayer for Priests, when the bishops will be in Hamilton for a Conference meeting.



END





Extra information about the allocation of responsibilities during the NZCBC elections:



Permanent Council – Archbishop Dew and Bishops Dunn, Campbell and Barry Jones (Christchurch)

NZCBC Finance Committee – Archbishop Dew;

Te Runanga O te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa – Bishop Jones;

Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania Executive – Archbishop Dew and Bishop Jones;

ICEL - Bishop Browne;

ICPEL – Bishop Campbell;

Good Shepherd College Senate – Bishop Dunn;

Good Shepherd College Finance Committee – Archbishop Dew, Mr Paul Bayliss;

Mixed Commission – Bishop Cullinane;

National Committee for Professional Standards – Archbishop Dew;

Prison Chaplaincy Services Board – Bishop Jones;

Interchurch Hospital Chaplaincy Board – Bishop Jones;

New Zealand Catholic Education Office Board – Bishop Cullinane;

Catholic Bishops Committee for Ecumenism – Bishop Jones;

Bilateral Dialogue with Anglicans – Bishop Jones;

Bilateral Dialogue with Presbyterians – Bishop Campbell;

Bilateral Dialogue with Methodists – Mr Peter Richardson;

Pontifical Mission Societies (liaison) – Bishop Owen Dolan (Palmerston North).







Angela Pyke

Communications Adviser

New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

apyke@nzcbc.org.nz

Tel 04 496 1725, Mob 021 611 052

Twenty seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. October 4th 2009

My dear Parishioners and all Visitors,

In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses the lax way that marriage was viewed in the society of His times.
A man could divorce his wife for a trivial reason or no reason at all, while his wife had no such right. When Jesus spoke as he did, He was striking a blow for women by seeking to restore marriage to the position it ought to have.
In today's world, if we believe that marriage is a partnership for life, we may be sadly wide of the mark. Quite often the prevailing attitude is for a relationship to be " for the time being" ----an association that can be melted and remade as the mood changes.
The Catholic Church has not compromised in her stance on marriage, but she knows that not every relationship can grow in love and compassion.
As Catholics we are called to live out our commitment to a deeper love whatever our vocation in life.Let us pray for those of our family and friends who suffer the pain of marriage separation.

October is the month when we honour Mary , the Mother of God with devotions each Sunday at 3.p.m.

May God Bless each and everyone of you,

Father Joseph.

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. 27 Sept 2009

My dear Parishioners and all Visitors,

Today's Gospel of Mark illustrates the symbolic nature of Jesus' teachings. By using shocking examples (cutting off one's feet, plucking out of eyes)--Jesus was ramming home a significant truth.
Eliminating sin from one's life requires drastic measures ----often it requires painful choices and life- changing action.

Sin is not simply a problem of behaviour. Sin separates us from God, others and our truest self---in short, sin is an offence against our Creator God and must be taken seriously. In this day and age, sin is regarded as a bit out-dated and totally at odds with modern society where "anything goes" and to behave sinfully is "not so bad!" To walk in the way of the Lord can be difficult.

Let us ask ourselves “where do I see the effects of sin in my life and in our world. Am I willing to change with God's help"?


May God Bless each and everyone of you,
Father Joseph.

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. September 20th. 2009

My dear Parishioners and all Visitors,

In today's Gospel we see a turning point in Jesus' Ministry. He is moving to Jerusalem and to the Cross and death.
His message had to be written in the hearts of His Disciples so that before He physically left this world, at least they would understand who He was and His message of salvation.for humankind.
The Disciples could not comprehend the triumph of the Cross nor the glory of the Resurrection even though Jesus had spoken plainly,---- they did not take in what they did not wish to see Jesus rebuked them for their preoccupation with earthly power---, they were way off the mark---they needed to be as little children trusting and dependent on God's love.and providence.
Today, Jesus asks us to develop the child like quality of dependence on God in the way we live. We all cling to our independence, seeking to be great and strong---"in control" of our lives. It is only when we acknowledge our total need of God and the loving care of those around us that we can take the first steps on the way to becoming truly "great"
in the Lord's service.

May God Bless each and everyone of you,

Father Joseph..

Celebrating . . .

. . . the Nativity of Our Lady . . .

and the 10th Anniversary of St Matthew's Parish's Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.

Sunday 13th September 2009.

with Spiritual Bouquet offerings . . .

. . . and a celebratory Birthday Cake with the Bishop!

(Watch out for the Picture gallery)

Pray for

Our 11 young Parishioners
preparing for their
Reconciliation,
Confirmation
and
First Holy Communion

Adam Nachowitz

Andrew Burns

Anna van Wijk

Belcita Biju

Christina Schipper

Clarissa Tan

Dave Wijaya

Kate Koslow

Lucas Willcock

Peter Wenzlick
Samantha Griffin

Catholic Bishops: Reconciliation should drive Justice Minister’s vision

In advance of Minister of Justice Simon Power’s address today to the Institute of Policy Studies on the future of the criminal justice system, the country’s Catholic bishops are also laying out their vision and key principles.

The bishops say New Zealand’s current rate of imprisonment is unaffordable, does not bring healing to victims or opportunities for reform for offenders, and does not result in a safer community.

In a Drivers of Crime address earlier this year, the Justice Minister said that, “We need to act in a way that produces real and enduring change”.

The bishops’ response is that restoration and reconciliation should be the key principles underpinning and guiding criminal justice, which would help to create a safer society for everyone.

In their recent statement on imprisonment, the bishops say their experience is that requiring offenders to face up to the consequences of their crimes, and giving victims an opportunity to express their hurt, can be a turning point for both parties.

In 1989 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops predicted that unless there was a change in responses to crime, New Zealand was heading to be the most imprisoned society in the Western world. Twenty years later, it has reached the number two position, second only to the United States.

The bishops say that underlying public calls for longer sentences and harsher treatment of prisoners is a punitive approach based on attitudes of revenge and retribution.

What is needed, they say, is a wider understanding and awareness of the human and financial cost of our current ways of responding to crime. Their opinion reflects the views expressed by Chief Justice Sian Elias and Corrections Chief Barry Matthews last week that greater community involvement and understanding is needed.

Next week, all Catholic parishes will be sent material prepared by Caritas – the bishops’ social justice agency – for the Catholic Church’s Social Justice Week focus on Catholic social teaching on criminal justice and reconciliation in September.

Follow the link to read ‘Revenge or Reconciliation’, a recent statement on imprisonment by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

http://www.catholic.org.nz/statements/0907prison.php

Angela Pyke

Communications Adviser

New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

apyke@nzcbc.org.nz

Tel 04 496 1725, Mob 021 611 052

Actions in Relation to the Spread of Influenza

Pastoral Letter
from the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
on Actions in Relation to the Spread of Influenza A (H1N1)
16 June 2009

‘We Catholics have a deep love of the Mass. It is at the heart of our Catholic life, identity and practice.’

When we gather in our churches each Sunday, we do so not as individuals, but as the Body of Christ, God’s holy Church. It is as the sisters and brothers of Christ that we attune our ear to the Word of God that gives us life. It is as the sisters and brothers of Christ that we draw near to the Altar of the Lord to be nourished by his Body and Blood. It is as the sisters and brothers of Christ that we go forth to live what we proclaim.

This is what we do as Catholics. This is who we are as Church.

Restrictions on certain practices during Mass
Because the Eucharist means so much to Catholics, bishops are charged by the Holy See with ensuring that the Church’s liturgy is celebrated with the utmost care. We take this responsibility very seriously. Only for a serious reason would we ever consider placing restrictions on certain practices during Mass.

As bishops we have a responsibility of care for both the members of the Church and for people in the wider community. When there is a health threat in the community which has the potential to reach, or has reached, pandemic status, we need to take steps to manage the potential risk to the public, and safeguard those in our communities who are most vulnerable because of age or pre-existing medical conditions.

We have taken medical advice in relation to the health issues facing our country at present. We are concerned about the good of our parishioners, and we must also be concerned about the good of the community at large. One infected person at a Mass, possibly not showing signs of infection, may result in a number of other participants carrying the virus out into the community. As the convenor of regular, often large, public gatherings, the Church has responsibilities to the community with regard to health.

Given the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus which is now occurring in the community, we ask that priests and parishes cease the following actions:

Distribution of Holy Communion from the chalice (this includes intinction);
Giving Holy Communion on the tongue;
Holding Anointing Masses for the Sick.

It is important to remember that Christ is truly and fully present even when we receive only the sacred host.

Where concelebration takes place it should be done according to instructions which bishops will communicate to their priests. Bodily contact during liturgical celebrations should be avoided eg during the Sign of Peace.

People who are unwell should stay home rather than attending Mass, and Ministers of Holy Communion who are unwell should not take communion to the sick. If you feel the need to cough or sneeze during Mass please take care to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve. Be aware that when you cough or sneeze into your hands they become a potential source of infection for someone else if you touch them. We cannot stress enough the importance of washing hands, and we urge all priests and Ministers of Holy Communion to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after distributing communion.

Options for those who receive communion on the tongue
For some in our community, not being able to receive Holy Communion on the tongue will be a big sacrifice. We ask that, for the common good, those who would normally receive communion on the
tongue accept the need for this action to cease during the time of the emergency. This does not mean that
you cannot receive Holy Communion. We ask that you receive Holy Communion on the hand until the restrictions are lifted.

Should the reception of Holy Communion on the hand still present a difficulty for some Catholics, then we recommend that you make a ‘spiritual communion’, a practice that is a centuries old tradition in the Church. A ‘spiritual communion’ can be made by making a heart-felt prayer expressing your faith in Christ present in the Holy Eucharist, and uniting yourself to him.
Infectivity and consecrated wine
The question has been asked: ‘If the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, how could God allow people to get sick from receiving Holy Communion?

The Church has always taught that during Mass the ‘essence’ or substance of the bread and wine changes: they become the Body and Blood of Christ. However, the ‘form’ of the bread and of the wine do not change: the bread and wine continue to look like bread and wine; and taste like bread and wine. Because the ‘form’ does not change, the elements retain all the properties of bread and wine. For this reason the consecrated bread and wine can carry bacteria and viruses, and people can become sick.

Some people have asked if dipping the host in the consecrated wine (intinction) can be used. This action risks contact between fingers and the lip of the chalice and with the consecrated wine, so should not be used.

More serious phases of an epidemic
If a virus being transmitted in the community becomes a threat to life or the health system is overwhelmed by cases, health authorities may take further steps in order to limit deaths and serious illness. Should this happen, health authorities may ban all public gatherings. This will mean that the Church must make the added sacrifice of not gathering for Mass or receiving the Lord in Holy Communion. In such an event, all of us will be required to make a ‘spiritual communion’.

This does not mean, however, that we as Church cease to pray. More than ever, we will need to pray for those who are sick, those who are dying, those who have died, and those who have lost loved ones.

Communication
In parishes Ministers of Holy Communion should be regularly reminded of the importance of hand hygiene, and parishioners should be reminded not to receive from the chalice if they are even slightly unwell.

If further restrictions are to be put in place, or the restrictions are to be lifted, an emailed instruction will be sent directly from the President of the Bishops Conference (Bishop Denis Browne) to all parishes and institutions where Mass is regularly said. Priests will also receive an individual message by email if they have an email address. Parishes should not institute additional restrictions unless they receive an instruction from the President of the Bishops Conference.

The provisions of this pastoral letter replace the 2006 “Protocols to be followed in the Event of an Avian Influenza Epidemic in New Zealand”, and take effect immediately

Conclusion
Our response to the threat of an epidemic gives us the opportunity to show what we do as Catholics in times of difficulty, caring for others and responding with compassion to the needs of the vulnerable. When people’s health and safety are at risk we have an opportunity to witness to who we are as Church.

Denis Browne John Dew  Colin Campbell Peter Cullinane
Bishop of Hamilton Archbishop of Wellington Bishop of Dunedin Bishop of Palmerston North
President, NZCBC Secretary, NZCBC
Patrick Dunn Bishop Barry Jones
Bishop of Auckland Bishop of Christchurch

Prostitution Bylaw review

Voice Waikato e-mail notice


Hello Voice Waikato supporters,

Hamilton's Prostitution Bylaw is being reviewed!

Remember 2003? The Prostitution Reform Act had decriminalised brothel-keeping, pimping and soliciting. Brothels of any size could now operate anywhere in our communities.

Fortunately, the Act at least gave local authorities some powers to regulate prostitution in their areas. Hamilton's citizens made it abundantly clear they wanted controls. The City Council responded in 2004 with the Prostitution Bylaw. Brothels of all sizes were prohibited in residential areas. In the Brothel Permitted Zone (the city's commercial and industrial areas) they had to stay 100 metres away from sensiitve sites (schools, early childhood centres, marae and places of worship). Strict controls were imposed on their signs. Street soliciting was prohibited.

Every bylaw is reviewed after five years, and the Prostitution Bylaw's turn has come. Council will decide whether to keep, amend or delete it. The public have a vital say in this process.

We believe the Bylaw is the best available option while the Prostitution Reform Act remains. It is working. There have been 21 complaints to Council so far by neighbours suspecting they have a brothel operating nearby. Court proceedings have not been necessary. When Council officers have investigated, any illegal activity has tended to disappear. The Bylaw enables affected residents to protect their neighbourhoods. It maintains some control over the sex trade in the zone where it is permitted.

A clear expression of public support now will encourage Council to keep the Bylaw. You need only send Council a brief submission, by 22 May 2009, supporting its retention. One sentence will do, preferably but not necessarily on the form Council have supplied. You can:

- e-mail a submission to: submissions@hcc.govt.nz
- download a form at http://hamilton.co.nz/page/pageid/2145844418
- obtain a form from us or Council, and freepost it back to the Strategy and Research Unit,
Freepost 172189, Hamilton City Council, Private Bag 3010, Hamilton 3240;
- deliver your form to Level 2 of the main Council building in Garden Place.

This is your opportunity to cement the Bylaw in for the future. Put your own submission in, and you can also assist greatly by asking others to do the same. Speak to your friends and relations, and encourage them to talk to others in turn. Copy off forms (or get them from us) and distribute them. This networking can produce a large number of submissions to help preserve the Bylaw for a long time to come.

Thankyou for all your support. Please contact us with any questions.

Bert and Robyn Jackson,
Spokespeople, Voice Waikato,
8 McNicol Street,
Hamilton 3214,
(07) 853 7080
bert.jackson@xnet.co.nz

May Devotions

Saint Matthew's SVDP Conference Retreat Day:

Saint Matthew's SVDP Conference Retreat

What?
We are having a retreat day on Saturday the 28th of February 2008 to pray, reflect, and discuss about things related to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Where?
In the back lounge of Saint Matthew's Catholic Church.

Who is leading the Retreat?
Sister Eleni, the Spiritual Director of our Society's Hamilton Area Council. She has so kindly given her time to lead us in our retreat this year. Thank you Sister:).

What time?
Starting with Mass at 9am and finishes at 3pm.

Who is invited?
All of the Conference of Saint Matthew's SVDP, with anyone else from our parish or who is interested in coming.

What to bring?
Yourself, a Bible, a pen and paper, and a plate of food for a pot-luck lunch.

Saint Matthew's SVDP Conference President Contact 856 9334 or 021 025 80 480