The Newsletter of the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch SPRING ISSUE 106 : SEPTEMBER 2016 Year of Mercy Pages 5-6 Carmelite Profession Pages 7-9 Opening of the Beatitudes’ Hermitage Pages 11-12 Celebrating the WYD Weekend Pages 16-17 Students of Our Lady of the Assumption, Hoon Hay, process through their Mercy Door. Students and staff then went off to complete various acts of mercy in the community. INFORM SEPTEMBER 2016 1 From the Diocesan Administrator Greetings to you all. Since I wrote to you in the Winter edition of Inform, there have been a number of youth events in our diocese. Marian College and Catholic Cathe- dral College hosted a World Youth Day weekend on the Cathedral site. The weekend involved senior students of Catholic Schools from both the Dunedin Fr Edwin Colaco and Fr Paul Avarez and Christchurch Dioceses. It was an exciting event with Masses, pilgrim- With the great news of the canonisation of St age and catechesis. As I write to you, Teresa of Calcutta, we continue to be thankful over thirty participants are attending for the generosity of the Church in India to Journey to the Father, our young adult our diocese. Two priests have recently arrived retreat. I thank our Diocesan Youth on loan to serve us. Fr Edwin Colaco arrived Team, our Directors of Religious Studies in June and is a religious priest of the Sale- and teachers in our schools who make sian order. He has been appointed as Assistant these events happen. I mention only Priest at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Ordained in two of the various activities and events 1996, he has been a priest for 20 years and is that involve the youth and young adults from the Mumbai Province. He has previously of our diocese. There are youth groups and those who don't, those who attend been involved in parish and youth ministry. functioning in many of our parishes. our Catholic schools and those who Fr Paul Avarez is a religious priest in the The Church is, at its heart, a missionary don't. Let us develop a whole new vision congregation of the Oblates of St Joseph and Church. Our vocation as members of the of walking alongside young people in as arrived in August. He is from Kerala. Fr Paul Body of Christ is to draw others into the many ways as we can. was ordained to the priesthood in 2015. Prior life of the Holy Trinity, shared with us I challenge you who are young people to coming to Christchurch, he has worked in in the sacraments. When young people to think once more about the impor- parishes at Tamilnadu and Kerala. have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, tance of coming to know and follow Both priests see this mission experience they are often more open than we think. Jesus. as a blessing and are thankful to Fr Rick I ask you to support and pray for the God bless, Loughnan and the priests of our diocese who wonderful young people of our diocese: Fr Rick Loughnan have helped them. those who attend Mass in our parishes Administrator Mike Stopforth Director — Bishop's Pastoral Office Inform 25 years young Where were you in September, 1991? warm welcome to Inform. It is a and buildings have left us since then. The World Wide Web had only just response to my request for further But so many cherished memories been invented and was a long way means of communication in our remain. from our shores, Jim Bolger was diocese. I hope it may provide some This humble newsletter has Prime Minister, Vicki Buck was Mayor information we need as intelligent expanded; it is now bigger, in full of Christchurch, Alex Wyllie and John and active members of the Church.” colour, is printed in the thousands, Hart coached the All Blacks in the He said that we are people who live and available to millions via our Rugby World Cup, and we watched by faith and “that faith will be the diocesan website. Paul Holmes and Krypton Factor on guide and standard of this modest However some things remain the T V. publication”. same. Each Bishop still wants it to Bishop Basil Meeking’s opening Many stories have been told, many continue to celebrate the best of words in the first Inform read: “A friends, family members, loved pastors Catholic life in Christchurch Diocese. 2 INFORM SEPTEMBER 2016 Spring Issue 106 September 2016 NGA MIHI NUI FROM Bishop’s Office THE EDITORIAL DESK From Our Diocesan General Manager Welcome to Inform Issue 106, the It has been a busy but enjoyable few It is great to have Tony Sewell on Spring Edition. Nau mai, haere mai. months with many changes and the board in the diocesan property role. He This issue marks the 25th start of the fundraising campaign in has definitely hit the ground running anniversary of Inform. We featured some parishes. Shelagh Murray is from and is very keen to meet with parishes archival stories in Inform Issue AskRIGHT, our professional fundrais- to get a good understanding of what is 100 (a collectors edition) so have ing team. She and I have held required in each area and resisted the temptation to do so fundraising meetings in the how we can best work for again this time. However, as you parishes of Akaroa, Leeston, the diocese. Tony brings a will see, we do mark this important Hokitika and Mairehau, all of huge wealth of experience anniversary with a brief "look back". which have gone very well. to his role and a genuine Along with a number of I can see the passion in each sense of confidence as we interesting smaller stories, we parish and the willingness of face the future. feature a homily given by Bishop each to fundraise. This style From what I have seen, Meeking reflecting on the Year of professional fundraising we have always had of Mercy. It was given at the is new - it is not something strong members on our Catholic Women's League National most of us have participated diocesan Finance and Conference Opening Mass in in. Even at this early stage, Management Board. I am late July. We share the joy of Sr I am very positive about the pleased to welcome Chris Catherine OCD who faced many outcomes. We have more meetings Milne, Sara O'Connor, Edward Spar- challenges in the days leading up booked with Sockburn and Riccarton row and Kristy O'Connor to the board. to her first profession. Her telling of and are planning more workshops They join us at an exciting time for the these events makes for compelling around the parishes to keep everyone diocese. reading. We celebrate the blessing up-to-date. These workshops also give Thank you for all your continued sup- of the St Joseph of Nazareth everyone the opportunity to ask ques- port. We are here to work with you. hermitage at the Beatitudes tions about the diocese and where we Andy Doherty Community in Leithfield. We are heading. Diocesan General Manager capture something of the World Youth Day weekend on the site of Marian College and Catholic Cathedral College. Here is something new for Inform. Would you like to have your brilliant photo of a Catholic event or person featured on the front cover? If so, please submit it by the next deadline. There is no prize other than the satisfaction gained through serving Our Lord and Inform in this way. If these photographs are a little timeless, we Annual Legio Acies held at Christ the King Parish Centre. may have options for some time to come. Marching With Mother Mary: May I thank my Assistant Editor, Zachary Ashley, for his fine work The Legion Of Mary in Canterbury and great support over the last Canterbury members of the Legion of ble opportunities to do good and glorify thirteen issues. I welcome Caitlin Mary met at the Church of Christ the God in union with Mother Mary. We Godfrey who will join me on Issue King, Burnside to renew their Legion- visit the sick, the homebound, older 107. ary promise. Founded by the Venerable people and those who long for someone Our thanks to all contributors to Frank Duff, the Legion of Mary is the to listen, pray and have a spiritual chat Inform 106 and to you for reading largest Catholic organisation of laymen with them. In Canterbury, there are it! Please pass it on. and women in the universal Church. now eight senior praesidia (groups) and In Christ, "We, legionaries, march with Mother one junior praesidium (for those aged Ken Joblin, Editor Mary, being Her soldiers and Her chil- between 8-17). Zachary Ashley Assistant Editor dren, in prayer and in service." We strive See www.legionofmary.org.nz. for "like the Mother of Grace, to work for more. Contact Curia President, Gen- God. We desire to co-operate by labours evieve Wei on 0212727597 or email: Correction: In the last issue John and sacrifices towards salvation of the [email protected]. Wright was incorrectly named on p.13 whole world". Imee Mirasol as John Stewart. Inform regrets the When we go outside our homes and Our Lady of Serenity Praesidium error. churches each day, there are innumera- Christ the King Parish, Burnside INFORM SEPTEMBER 2016 3 Around the Parishes Greymouth's Fifty Years Of Faith And Service Good Shepherd St Mary's Catholic Women's League, Manchester Street Remembered Mary's Branch. A 27 July collage depicting would have past members in been the faith and service 64th anni- and at social versary of occasions created Monsignor great interest.