Vigil Mass: 9:00 PM Friday 24th December 2010
Christmas Day: 9:15 AM Saturday 25th December 2010
Latest parish news from Saint Matthew's Catholic Church, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Birthday Celebrations for Mary the Mother of Christ
Today 19th September at 3 pm at St Matthews Church (Hillcrest), Siverdale Road. All are warmly invited to join in this beautiful service and afternoon tea.
For inquiries Ph. 07 8560314 (Teresa).
Friday, September 10, 2010
Catholic bishops oppose extension of Easter trading hours
New Zealand's Catholic Bishops strongly support Dunedin Bishop Colin
Campbell's
opposition to extending Easter trading hours in the Waitaki district.
Campbell's
opposition to extending Easter trading hours in the Waitaki district.
Bishop Campbell has written to MPs to ask that they maintain
Parliament's tradition of
rejecting further changes to Easter trading by using their conscience
vote against the Shop
Hours Act Repeal (Waitaki Easter Trading) Amendment Bill, due to have
its first reading
today.
"Obviously, allowing trading on Good Friday and Eater Sunday would
undermine New
Zealand's Christian traditions. However, while the three and a half
shop-free days remain
significant holy days for many New Zealanders, their significance
extends beyond religion,"
said Bishop Campbell.
"These holidays have become times for family and community groups to
gather, hold events
or rest, opportunities which are becoming increasingly rare. If this
current Waitaki Easter
Trading Bill gets passed, it would come at the expense of family and
community time and
simply be another step towards opening up Easter trading throughout New
Zealand".
The bishops' social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has also
written to MPs
asking them to oppose the Bill. Caritas has made submissions on the
subject during the
numerous reviews and Private Member's Bills which have unsuccessfully
reopened the
debate 10 times in the past 20 years.
"Time and time again churches and various other community groups have
been forced to
defend keeping three and a half days a year shop-free," says Bishop
Campbell. "This is
despite numerous conscience votes from Members of Parliament who support
limiting
shopping days to 361 and a half a year".
Monday, August 16, 2010
Parish Meeting to Discuss Proposed Building Plans
Sunday 29 August, 2010
St Matthew’s Catholic Church
Commences: 15 minutes after end of mass for the day, approx 10:45 AM.
Venue: Left side of church to allow use of screen.
It is planned that the presentation would be complete within about 20 minutes, with questions and discussion to follow.
----------------------
Background:
You will recall that on 10 May 2009 we held a parish meeting to discuss the possibility of building a Parish Centre extension to the church. At the time a set of working plans were shown, and costs and possible source of funds briefly discussed. A postal vote followed that presentation. Voting forms were returned from 101 of 181 eligible voters in the parish, and of these, 95% were in favour of the proposal to build a parish centre. A few suggestions re the plans were also received.
Since that time there has been quite a bit of activity, much if it quite time-consuming. There have been discussions with Silverdale Normal School, with agents of the Ministry of Education, with the Diocese. There was a desire to link our plans with those of our local community neighbours (the school and village), and also to realise some funds from the sale of surplus land behind the church. There was also a need to investigate different options for the building design and scope. All these things take time, but we are now at a stage where it is appropriate to get more guidance from the
whole parish community.
Scope of meeting:
There have been substantial changes to the design and scope of the original plans. We have been assisted in this by Kathrine Avery, a qualified architect and former parishioner of St Matthew’s. Thepresentation will take you through the process to where we are now. It will also indicate options that need to be decided on before we proceed further. This will be the main purpose of the meeting.
There will be estimations given of costs for the various building options shown, and there will be an indication of where some of these funds could come from and an indication of how much of a shortfall we will need to raise to proceed further.
------------------------------------
Important:
This is an important information exchange event, and you are all encouraged to attend. Hard copies of the proposals will be set-up at the back of the church for several following weeks to allow parishioners to have a considered view and to encourage discussion and feedback. Please give feedback to the parish secretary or to committee members – written feedback is particularly valuable if there are more complex issues raised.
St Matthew’s Catholic Church
Commences: 15 minutes after end of mass for the day, approx 10:45 AM.
Venue: Left side of church to allow use of screen.
It is planned that the presentation would be complete within about 20 minutes, with questions and discussion to follow.
----------------------
Background:
You will recall that on 10 May 2009 we held a parish meeting to discuss the possibility of building a Parish Centre extension to the church. At the time a set of working plans were shown, and costs and possible source of funds briefly discussed. A postal vote followed that presentation. Voting forms were returned from 101 of 181 eligible voters in the parish, and of these, 95% were in favour of the proposal to build a parish centre. A few suggestions re the plans were also received.
Since that time there has been quite a bit of activity, much if it quite time-consuming. There have been discussions with Silverdale Normal School, with agents of the Ministry of Education, with the Diocese. There was a desire to link our plans with those of our local community neighbours (the school and village), and also to realise some funds from the sale of surplus land behind the church. There was also a need to investigate different options for the building design and scope. All these things take time, but we are now at a stage where it is appropriate to get more guidance from the
whole parish community.
Scope of meeting:
There have been substantial changes to the design and scope of the original plans. We have been assisted in this by Kathrine Avery, a qualified architect and former parishioner of St Matthew’s. Thepresentation will take you through the process to where we are now. It will also indicate options that need to be decided on before we proceed further. This will be the main purpose of the meeting.
There will be estimations given of costs for the various building options shown, and there will be an indication of where some of these funds could come from and an indication of how much of a shortfall we will need to raise to proceed further.
------------------------------------
Important:
This is an important information exchange event, and you are all encouraged to attend. Hard copies of the proposals will be set-up at the back of the church for several following weeks to allow parishioners to have a considered view and to encourage discussion and feedback. Please give feedback to the parish secretary or to committee members – written feedback is particularly valuable if there are more complex issues raised.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
My Dear parishioners of St Matthew’s and all visitors,
The reading of today provides us with one of the very moving, dramatic and instructive stories of such acceptance in the Gospels.
The woman who had a bad name comes to Jesus and kisses and washes his feet with tears. The sign of repentance.
Every saint is a reformed sinner. A saint is the one who recognises the ‘sinner’ part in himself or herself.
Today Jesus invites us to cancel debts and forgive those who have trespassed against us: Yet our wounds may be deep.
Forgiveness may seem unthinkable. But if we do not forgive, then how can we say the Lord’s Prayer and truly mean it?
May God Bless each and everyone of you,
Fr Joseph
The reading of today provides us with one of the very moving, dramatic and instructive stories of such acceptance in the Gospels.
The woman who had a bad name comes to Jesus and kisses and washes his feet with tears. The sign of repentance.
Every saint is a reformed sinner. A saint is the one who recognises the ‘sinner’ part in himself or herself.
Today Jesus invites us to cancel debts and forgive those who have trespassed against us: Yet our wounds may be deep.
Forgiveness may seem unthinkable. But if we do not forgive, then how can we say the Lord’s Prayer and truly mean it?
May God Bless each and everyone of you,
Fr Joseph
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Work is much more than employment, say Catholic Bishops
This week Catholics will receive a pastoral letter called ‘Working for Life’ from the
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC).
The bishops look at the Catholic concept of work in the contexts of the collapse of
the international money market, redundancies, and the effects of economic
instability on the good of people.
“Work is most often identified with employment, but it is much more than that.
Work has a dignity of its own in that it expresses the self-worth of a person,
something that can never be reduced to an economic value,” say the bishops.
They emphasise that there will always be people who cannot work and support
themselves, and that concern for the common good requires workers to look after
these people as brothers and sisters.
“We hope this letter will reaffirm the priority of work over employment and of men
and women over work,” the bishops say.
Work is discussed in relation to lifestyle, dignity and the common good, and is
described by the bishops as a gift.
The letter states “My work” must never be thought of as being for me alone. Nor can
I regard work as being my own creation. In the invitation to partner the Creator in
caring for all that exists, God has gifted work as a creative, healing and renewing
resource”.
The bishops encourage Catholics to question their consumer lifestyles, the effects of
their purchases on those in the production line and the impact of their waste on the
environment.
“We want to emphasise the relevance of the concept of the common good, and to
reinforce the inherent dignity of work,” say the bishops.
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC).
The bishops look at the Catholic concept of work in the contexts of the collapse of
the international money market, redundancies, and the effects of economic
instability on the good of people.
“Work is most often identified with employment, but it is much more than that.
Work has a dignity of its own in that it expresses the self-worth of a person,
something that can never be reduced to an economic value,” say the bishops.
They emphasise that there will always be people who cannot work and support
themselves, and that concern for the common good requires workers to look after
these people as brothers and sisters.
“We hope this letter will reaffirm the priority of work over employment and of men
and women over work,” the bishops say.
Work is discussed in relation to lifestyle, dignity and the common good, and is
described by the bishops as a gift.
The letter states “My work” must never be thought of as being for me alone. Nor can
I regard work as being my own creation. In the invitation to partner the Creator in
caring for all that exists, God has gifted work as a creative, healing and renewing
resource”.
The bishops encourage Catholics to question their consumer lifestyles, the effects of
their purchases on those in the production line and the impact of their waste on the
environment.
“We want to emphasise the relevance of the concept of the common good, and to
reinforce the inherent dignity of work,” say the bishops.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND – THE BUDGET
CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND – THE BUDGET
25 May 2010
The Budget and its Impact on the Poorest Members of our Community - Caritas
Tax cuts which benefit the rich more than the poor do not contribute to the common
good, according to Caritas, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development.
Caritas Director Michael Smith says the agency has consistently asked the government to take into account the wellbeing of the poorest members of our local and international communities in setting its Budget priorities.
“Pope Benedict spoke only last year in Caritas in Veritate of his concern that growing inequalities within countries, as well as between rich and poor countries, affects social cohesion and erodes social capital. This is not a Budget which even attempts to address that concern. It rather perpetuates the idea that the rich are more deserving than the poor, and that growing inequalities do not matter.”
New Zealand politicians have previously argued that increasing the wealth of the rich and of businesses will eventually “trickle-down” to the poor. However, between 1984 and 1999 New Zealand had the highest growth in inequality in the OECD, and while the rate of increase has slowed, the Ministry of Social Development continued to report an ongoing increase in inequality in each of the Social Reports.
“In Catholic social teaching, inequality matters because when a gap grows between rich and poor, it is one measure that the solidarity of the human family has broken down,” said Mr Smith. “It is an indication that we are not recognising the human dignity of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The government tax calculator shows that a worker on the minimum weekly wage receives a net income increase (after changes to income tax and GST) of $4.13 or 0.8 percent of income, while a worker on Mr Key’s salary receives a net income increase of $242.96 or 3.2 percent of income. “This will obviously have an impact on inequality,” said Mr Smith.
“The impact of the tax changes on low-income New Zealanders was considered only after other goals had been determined. The government appears to consider taxation primarily as a revenue gathering exercise, while Catholic social teaching recognises it as a key element of delivering distributive justice.”
Finance Minister Bill English opened his speech saying that New Zealanders had voted for a “more prosperous, ambitious New Zealand”. Mr Smith said that Caritas also has ambitions for a community in which all are able to prosper and meet our responsibilities towards each other. “The government and some commentators may argue that the tax cuts will flow or ‘trickle down’ to benefit low income earners and create more jobs. Will this be the case in the short or long term? Will we see reductions in inequality? Opinion is strongly divided,” said Mr Smith.
“Our Catholic traditions call us to judge the value of public policies by the impact on the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. Jesus asked us to recognise him in ‘the least of our brothers and sisters’. However, we do not see the wellbeing of the poor as being at the forefront of the government’s priorities in this Budget.”
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.
For more information contact Martin de Jong +64-4-496 1742 or +64-21-909 688.
All Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand media releases are available on
www.caritas.org.nz
25 May 2010
The Budget and its Impact on the Poorest Members of our Community - Caritas
Tax cuts which benefit the rich more than the poor do not contribute to the common
good, according to Caritas, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development.
Caritas Director Michael Smith says the agency has consistently asked the government to take into account the wellbeing of the poorest members of our local and international communities in setting its Budget priorities.
“Pope Benedict spoke only last year in Caritas in Veritate of his concern that growing inequalities within countries, as well as between rich and poor countries, affects social cohesion and erodes social capital. This is not a Budget which even attempts to address that concern. It rather perpetuates the idea that the rich are more deserving than the poor, and that growing inequalities do not matter.”
New Zealand politicians have previously argued that increasing the wealth of the rich and of businesses will eventually “trickle-down” to the poor. However, between 1984 and 1999 New Zealand had the highest growth in inequality in the OECD, and while the rate of increase has slowed, the Ministry of Social Development continued to report an ongoing increase in inequality in each of the Social Reports.
“In Catholic social teaching, inequality matters because when a gap grows between rich and poor, it is one measure that the solidarity of the human family has broken down,” said Mr Smith. “It is an indication that we are not recognising the human dignity of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The government tax calculator shows that a worker on the minimum weekly wage receives a net income increase (after changes to income tax and GST) of $4.13 or 0.8 percent of income, while a worker on Mr Key’s salary receives a net income increase of $242.96 or 3.2 percent of income. “This will obviously have an impact on inequality,” said Mr Smith.
“The impact of the tax changes on low-income New Zealanders was considered only after other goals had been determined. The government appears to consider taxation primarily as a revenue gathering exercise, while Catholic social teaching recognises it as a key element of delivering distributive justice.”
Finance Minister Bill English opened his speech saying that New Zealanders had voted for a “more prosperous, ambitious New Zealand”. Mr Smith said that Caritas also has ambitions for a community in which all are able to prosper and meet our responsibilities towards each other. “The government and some commentators may argue that the tax cuts will flow or ‘trickle down’ to benefit low income earners and create more jobs. Will this be the case in the short or long term? Will we see reductions in inequality? Opinion is strongly divided,” said Mr Smith.
“Our Catholic traditions call us to judge the value of public policies by the impact on the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. Jesus asked us to recognise him in ‘the least of our brothers and sisters’. However, we do not see the wellbeing of the poor as being at the forefront of the government’s priorities in this Budget.”
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.
For more information contact Martin de Jong +64-4-496 1742 or +64-21-909 688.
All Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand media releases are available on
www.caritas.org.nz
Friday, April 23, 2010
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
I suspect that those who write about ANZAC Day
in our newspapers, journals and histories are all
saying that in the deepest and purest meaning of the
word, ANZAC day is really our National Day; that
is, our “Nationhood Day.” This is not strange for
our celebrations on this day are all built on the
National glory that has grown out of the suffering
and the sacrifices, the agony and the ecstasy of
Maori and Pakeha at Chunuk Bair and Alameine,
at Passchendaele, and Crete.
It would be tragic if in our schools and in our
churches, because of some sense of modern propriety,
lest we be too shocked, the figure nailed to the cross
was taken away to leave an empty symbol.
ANZAC Day reminds us that the agonized body of
the Son of God on the cross is the deepest paradigm
of what is noblest in our human race.
That at Passchendaele and Alameine at Anzac Cove
and Crete, Christ is crucified again.
Fr Graeme Alexander
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Saint John Vianney Icon
The Icon will be arriving here at St Matthews at 12 o’clock midday this Friday, being 16th April. We will saying the Rosary on the Icon’s initial arrival from Morrinsville.
There will be Mass on Friday 16th at 7pm .
The Icon will be leaving St Matthews for the Cathedral the following day being Saturday 17 April.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Parish News.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. We will have a
blessing and veneration of the Image and Chaplet
after mass.
Fr Joseph is leaving for India on the 15th of April
and will be returning on the 31st June. We wish
you a safe journey Father.
Invitation: Teresa Fernandez has sadly lost her
younger sister to cancer. A memorial mass will be
said for the sweet repose of the soul of Eliza Alex at
the 9.15 am Mass on Saturday 17th April at St
Matthew's Church. You are welcome to pray for her
and join in a shared lunch at Teresa's home at 34
Greensboro Street (off Knighton Road).
blessing and veneration of the Image and Chaplet
after mass.
Fr Joseph is leaving for India on the 15th of April
and will be returning on the 31st June. We wish
you a safe journey Father.
Invitation: Teresa Fernandez has sadly lost her
younger sister to cancer. A memorial mass will be
said for the sweet repose of the soul of Eliza Alex at
the 9.15 am Mass on Saturday 17th April at St
Matthew's Church. You are welcome to pray for her
and join in a shared lunch at Teresa's home at 34
Greensboro Street (off Knighton Road).
Monday, March 29, 2010
Easter Timetable for St Matthew's
Holy Thursday 1 April 7:15 PM
Good Friday 2 April Stations of the Cross 10:00 AM
Good Friday 2 April 3:00 PM
Easter Vigil 3 April 7:15 PM
Easter Sunday 4 April 9:30 AM
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Our Church and Easter Trading
Our Church and Easter Trading
It has been legal for shops to open on Sundays since 1990 when shop trading hours were liberalised.
There are only 3 ½ days left in our year in which there are restrictions on shop opening hours. These are: 1) the morning of Anzac Day 2) Good Friday 3) Easter Sunday and 4) Christmas Day.
Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, but shops may not open on Easter Sunday. It’s a restricted shopping day with exemptions for some.
There have been 10 attempts since 1990 to liberalise shop trading laws which would allow trading on Easter Sunday.
Attempts to liberalise shop trading laws are increasing. Since 2006, there have been 5 attempts by some members of parliament to change the law. The last was in 2009.A further attempt to liberalise shop trading laws to allow trading on Easter Sunday is expected this year.
Our Church has consistently opposed trading on Easter Sunday. Since 1990 we have
consistently opposed liberalisation.
This is what the Catholic bishops had to say in 2007,
“We believe that if restricted trading on Easter Sunday (and Good Friday) is lifted, workers will not be adequately protected from pressures to work on that day, thereby depriving them of opportunity of spending quality time, not just for worship if they are Christian, but with their families, and in sporting, cultural and leisure activities.’
-NZ Catholic Bishops, Feb 2007
Caritas, the Catholic Agency responsible formaking submissions to parliament on these matters, has noted,
The consistent rejection by the broad coalition of church, union and community
organisations against any further liberalisation of shop trading hours.
Catholic social teaching on the rights of workers, particularly the right to rest.
The experience of our Catholic community in parish life, social service agencies and work with families, particularly in relation to the difficulties incurred by family and community life through lack of work/life balance.
A potential law change will affect approximately 200, 000 workers in the retail industry. It will also affect sports lovers who travel to Easter tournaments, who might have to work instead; it will affect many Maori who will travel for unveilings and hui whomight have to work instead. Family reunions, gatherings, weddings, anniversaries and many other family and community events would be affected.
As the Catholic Bishops say, the pressure on workers,particulary the most
vulnerable members of the workforce , would be to come to work. The right to rest, an important principle of Catholic social teaching, would be ignored.
Caritas position
A number of businesses and politicians favour liberalising shopping hours which would adversely affect thousands of New Zealand families. The Catholic Church has continually opposed this position each time it has been raised over the past two decades.
We do not want to see any change in the legislation that would further extend existing exemptions, although we accept that there are anomalies in the shopping restrictions. We are very supportive of Catholic Social Teaching, specifically; the right of workers to rest. We are very protective of the only 3 ½ days left that have restricted trading hours. If there is a need to address the inconsistencies in which there are different rules for different areas and industries, we believe it is necessary to consider removing rather than extending exemptions.
It has been legal for shops to open on Sundays since 1990 when shop trading hours were liberalised.
There are only 3 ½ days left in our year in which there are restrictions on shop opening hours. These are: 1) the morning of Anzac Day 2) Good Friday 3) Easter Sunday and 4) Christmas Day.
Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, but shops may not open on Easter Sunday. It’s a restricted shopping day with exemptions for some.
There have been 10 attempts since 1990 to liberalise shop trading laws which would allow trading on Easter Sunday.
Attempts to liberalise shop trading laws are increasing. Since 2006, there have been 5 attempts by some members of parliament to change the law. The last was in 2009.A further attempt to liberalise shop trading laws to allow trading on Easter Sunday is expected this year.
Our Church has consistently opposed trading on Easter Sunday. Since 1990 we have
consistently opposed liberalisation.
This is what the Catholic bishops had to say in 2007,
“We believe that if restricted trading on Easter Sunday (and Good Friday) is lifted, workers will not be adequately protected from pressures to work on that day, thereby depriving them of opportunity of spending quality time, not just for worship if they are Christian, but with their families, and in sporting, cultural and leisure activities.’
-NZ Catholic Bishops, Feb 2007
Caritas, the Catholic Agency responsible formaking submissions to parliament on these matters, has noted,
The consistent rejection by the broad coalition of church, union and community
organisations against any further liberalisation of shop trading hours.
Catholic social teaching on the rights of workers, particularly the right to rest.
The experience of our Catholic community in parish life, social service agencies and work with families, particularly in relation to the difficulties incurred by family and community life through lack of work/life balance.
A potential law change will affect approximately 200, 000 workers in the retail industry. It will also affect sports lovers who travel to Easter tournaments, who might have to work instead; it will affect many Maori who will travel for unveilings and hui whomight have to work instead. Family reunions, gatherings, weddings, anniversaries and many other family and community events would be affected.
As the Catholic Bishops say, the pressure on workers,particulary the most
vulnerable members of the workforce , would be to come to work. The right to rest, an important principle of Catholic social teaching, would be ignored.
Caritas position
A number of businesses and politicians favour liberalising shopping hours which would adversely affect thousands of New Zealand families. The Catholic Church has continually opposed this position each time it has been raised over the past two decades.
We do not want to see any change in the legislation that would further extend existing exemptions, although we accept that there are anomalies in the shopping restrictions. We are very supportive of Catholic Social Teaching, specifically; the right of workers to rest. We are very protective of the only 3 ½ days left that have restricted trading hours. If there is a need to address the inconsistencies in which there are different rules for different areas and industries, we believe it is necessary to consider removing rather than extending exemptions.
Voice for Life is organising a march
On Friday, 12 February Voice for Life is organising a march from Civic Square to
Parliament at 12.30 pm. The purpose is to oppose the granting of a licence to Family
Planning Association to perform medical abortions at its Hamilton clinic by the use of
the abortifacient RU486.
Please let family and friends know, particularly those living
in and near Wellington.
Enquiries to John at 856 3271 (Hamilton).
Parliament at 12.30 pm. The purpose is to oppose the granting of a licence to Family
Planning Association to perform medical abortions at its Hamilton clinic by the use of
the abortifacient RU486.
Please let family and friends know, particularly those living
in and near Wellington.
Enquiries to John at 856 3271 (Hamilton).
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