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NEWSLETTER OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH Issue 120 - Summer 2019 The Bell family is keeping it Catholic as they await the birth of Jesus. SISTER CATHERINE OF CHRIST OCD: Final vows at the Carmel (pages 16-17) Santa Mania: FAMILIES KEEP IT CATHOLIC AS WE COME TO CHRISTMAS (page 18) JOHN JOSEPH GRIMES SM: First Bishop of Christchurch, Part 2 (page 19-21) 50 years of fidelity:A N ERA OF HEAVENLY MUSIC (pages 22-25) 1 Greetings to you my brothers and sisters in this time of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ our Saviour. I hope that amongst all the busyness you are able to find some time to reflect and pray on the mystery of God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. A lot has happened this year in our negative. The concerns raised will be to ensure that we learn from what diocese and we have much to give areas addressed in the formation of happened and to put in place thanks to God for. A highlight for me our new parishes. practices and procedures to ensure all was my recent Ad Limina visit to Rome people are safe within our Church. It is I think it is important to remember with the other New Zealand bishops. a painful process to hear of those who that we are all members of the same There we met with the various put their trust in others and had that family. We may be coming together Roman departments of the Vatican trust abused. For us it is made worse in different groupings than previously, and looked at different aspects of by the fact that this goes against the but we are all baptised members the Church’s mission and life, as well very heart of who we profess to be as of the same Church, we believe the as at our own situation here in New followers of Christ. If you know people same fundamental tenets of our faith Zealand. This visit culminated in a who have been abused by members and we want to gather together to meeting with Pope Francis, where of the Church, then please encourage worship God, support one another the five bishops sat with the Holy them to contact the National Office and help others to come to know the Father for over an hour. We talked for Professional Standards. We cannot Good News of Christ. These realities about all that was going on here and undo what was done in the past and are at the heart of who we are as considered the wider issues the Pope we want to support and help these Catholic people and our new parishes wanted to speak with us about. It people in any way we can. will bring together groups of people was a real privilege to have so long who are united, mind and heart, in this I want to finish by thanking you for your with the Holy Father, to engage so mission. This is something wonderful prayers and support for me as the candidly with him, to experience his to celebrate and gives real hope for bishop. I have enjoyed visiting parishes care and witness his interest in our our future. this year for Confirmations and other country. Please continue to pray for events, my visits to schools, both Pope Francis and his leadership of the Christmas is a wonderful time for secondary and primary, and seeing so Church as the Vicar of Christ. family and showing people how many young people who are having much we care for them. It can also a positive experience of faith in these Obviously our year has been be a difficult time for people who are places. To the teachers in our schools, dominated by the plans for the future isolated, lonely or struggle financially. those who work in our parishes and of our parishes in Christchurch and It is a key part of our Christian duty to diocesan departments, to the many also a renewed vision for our mission look out for the poor and I thank you volunteers who give so generously and ministry in the diocese. This has for your support of the Care Appeal of their time for all the works of the been a challenging process for us all. as a way of helping those people, Church, you are the face of the Church We know and love our parishes and to both now and in the year ahead. We to our society, thank you. I want to change them is difficult. I have been give practical expression to our faith thank our priests for their service and very touched by the willingness of through these sorts of appeals. I also faithful care of the people. We are very people to engage with this process, encourage you to look out for those blessed with these pastors and their to really look at who we are, what we who may be lonely or isolated and desire to bring Christ to his people. are doing and how we are doing it. welcome them into your homes this The care and concern of people for May you and your families enjoy this Christmas time. our priests and their role in leading our time of being together at Christmas, parishes, has also been encouraging You will be aware of the Royal and may the celebration of the birth of and is a sign of your appreciation of Commission into Abuse of people in our Saviour touch your hearts and fill their ministry. I know that some were State Care and Religious Institutions. you with His grace and blessings. disappointed they were not consulted This is an important opportunity for more widely before the plan was those who have been abused in any In Christ, presented and would have liked more way to share their stories and for us all input into the original design. I am to learn from the mistakes of the past. grateful for the feedback that was The Catholic Church is committed received around this, both positive and to working with the Commission + Paul Martin SM “our new parishes will bring together groups of people who are united, mind and heart, in this mission. This is something wonderful to celebrate and gives real hope for our future” 2 E C FFI O CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESE 2020 S Clergy Appointments hop’ S From 26 January 2020 until 31 May 2020 (Pentecost) BI After Pentecost the appointments below are expected to remain the same; however, they will relate to the new North, South, East, West, Central and Selwyn parishes. NORTH CHRISTCHURCH area consisting of Bryndwr, WEST CHRISTCHURCH area consisting of Riccarton, Burnside and Papanui parishes: Sockburn and Hornby-Darfield parishes: Parish Priest of the three parishes: Fr Rick Loughnan Parish Priest of the three parishes: Assistant Priests: Fr Alister Castillo Fr Michael Therese Scheerger CSJ Fr Edwin Colaco SBD Assistant Priests: Fr Sean-Mary Britto CSJ Fr Kevin Wei Fr Philip Suelzer CSJ SOUTH CHRISTCHURCH area consisting of Addington- CENTRAL CHRISTCHURCH area consisting of St Mary’s Beckenham and Hoon Hay & Halswell Parishes: Pro-Cathedral and Mairehau parishes: Parish Priest of the two parishes: Fr Peter Head SM Parish Priest of Mairehau: Fr Simon Eccleton Assistant Priests: Fr Phil Bennenbroek SM (also to be Administrator of The Cathedral) Fr Barry Malone SM Assistant Priests: Fr Job Thyikalamuriyil In Residence: Fr Allan Jones SM Fr Thanh Tran EAST CHRISTCHURCH area consisting of Christchurch East SELWYN area consisting of Lincoln, Leeston parishes: and Ferrymead parishes: Parish Priest of the two parishes: Fr Brian Fennessy Parish Priest of the two parishes: Fr Benito Velasco Assistant Priest: Fr Chris Orr Assistant Priests: Fr Peter Costello Fr Paulo Filoialii CLERGY APPOINTMENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DIOCESE FOR ALL OF 2020: GREYMOUTH: TIMARU & WAIMATE Parish Priest: Fr Mathew Siji MCBS Parish Priest: Fr Chris Friel Assistant Priest: Fr Dan Doyle Assistant Priest: Fr Do Nguyen (until his retirement at Pentecost) WAIMAKARIRI: HOKITIKA: Parish Priest: Fr John Adams Parish Priest: Fr Joaquin Camano Assistant Priests: Fr Tien Cao Fr Arsène Kapya (until September 2020) HURUNUI: Parish Priest: Fr Michael Pui There are no clergy changes in AKAROA, OPIHI, MACKENZIE MID-CANTERBURY: or SOUTH WESTLAND parishes. Parish Priest: Fr Denis Nolan Assistant Priest: Fr Huynh Tran RETIREMENTS: Fr Bryan Parish will retire on 26 January 2020. Fr Dan Doyle will retire at Pentecost 2020. The diocesan website: www.chchcatholic.nz lists information about parishes, Mass times, diocesan news and events. Parishes, schools and church groups are welcome to advertise events. Please email [email protected]. 3 BI S hop’ SAFEGUARDING CULTURES S O FFI IN OUR PARISHES C E During October and November, over 700 parishioners attended Safeguarding Workshops in Christchurch. Safeguarding is a widely used term to describe caring for and protecting children and vulnerable adults in an organisation or community. For us this means putting in place and improving systems and processes that care for those to whom we minister and for those who are in ministry. Parishioners who are either volunteers or members of Catholic organisations in our parishes participated in these workshops. would respond in these situations. committed to ensuring each parish The workshops have facilitated has the training and tools available Together we discussed and planned robust conversations around what to not just create a visible culture how to establish a visible culture of safeguarding means in their parishes. of safeguarding, but to support this safeguarding in our parishes. These culture over the long term on an workshops have been a time of A culture of safeguarding is a culture ongoing basis.