NEWSLETTERinform OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH Issue 117 - Easter 2019 Vatican Astronomer Br Guy Consolmagno SJ visits New Zealand Vocations: Head Students from our World Youth Day Fr John Noonan RIP The courage to take a risk Catholic Colleges in Panama 2019 (pages 26-27) for God’s promise (page 15-17) (page 20) (page 5) 1 From the Bishop Bishop’s Office Bishop’s Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Welcome to this extra edition of Inform. There was so much material for the last edition that we decided to do an extra one. For me this is a sign of the dynamism and energy in our diocese and a reflection of all the wonderful things that are going on. It is one of the blessings of being the bishop that I get to see so many of the things that are happening and am able to participate in some of them. At a time when we can be inclined to think that faith is not important to people, we have so many witnessing to and working to support others within and beyond our community. This edition comes out as the Easter season is drawing to wonderful past which our forebears worked so hard for and an end with the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord we are now being asked to look to the future. Be assured and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church at that I am wanting feedback from you on this and that it will Pentecost. What an amazing feast Pentecost is. Those timid be considered and be part of the process for working out disciples, fired by the Holy Spirit, went out to proclaim Christ how we move ahead. to the people of all languages. We are the recipients of that I want to thank you again for your prayers and generosity same zeal and burning desire to let Christ be known. Our Church community in the diocese is made up of people at the time of the Moslem attacks. From such a horrific act from a diverse number of cultures and origins but all of us many good things have arisen in terms of thinking again have stories of those who came to bring the Gospel to our about how we treat our neighbours as brothers and sisters. ancestors. We in turn have the same responsibility and call Our sympathy also goes out to our Sri Lankan Catholic in our day. community and the people there after the massacre that took place. We know that there are many parts of the world At Masses on Pentecost Sunday, you will see a presentation where Christian communities live in real danger but they about the future of our diocese. I have been signaling this continue to witness to their faith. Through Caritas there is an for a while but now the process is beginning. It is not going opportunity to make a financial contribution to the Catholic to be easy. We are all going to be unsettled and what we community as a practical expression of solidarity. have known and got used to and indeed loved will change. However, in all of this, the desire is for our faith communities to be stronger, to be able to support one another better, Yours in Christ, to be able to spread the Gospel more effectively and to be welcoming to those who have not heard of Christ. In all of this, I would ask that you take these proposals to prayer, that you look at the big picture and the needs of our diocese both now and in the future. We have had a + Paul Martin SM From our Diocesan General Manager - Andy Doherty As Diocesan General Manager, my job description is to “Support the bishop in his pastoral mission for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, through the management and leadership of diocesan resources, staff and the delivery of outcomes.” Put simply, “I support the bishop!” Now more than ever, we all need to offer our support to our bishop as he and the whole diocese deliberate over some major decisions and potential structural changes. Such deliberations are never easy but I am confident in the wisdom of our bishop, his College of Consultors, the Management and Finance Board and the many others who are assisting him in discerning the future of the diocese. I am looking forward to my role in assisting our bishop to implement his vision. I wish you all well as together, we engage with the future of the Christchurch Diocese. 2 SOLEMN MASS OF THE BLESSING OF THE OILS AND CONSECRATION OF THE CHRISM Chrism Mass 2019 On the Monday of Holy Week, the priests of the Christchurch Diocese gather with the bishop and, in the sight of a large congregation, renew Office Bishop’s their promises to be faithful. Representatives of all the parishes collect the Holy Oils and take them back to the parishes to be used in the sacramental life of the faithful. Here, we feature ST MARY’S PRO-CATHEDRAL - CHRISTCHURCH the concluding thoughts from Bishop Paul’s homily at that Mass. "At this Chrism Mass I, as bishop, As your priests renew their will bless the oils used as tools of commitment, pray for them, that the priestly trade, the oil of the sick they may resolve to be more Issue 117 - Easter 2019 and the oil of catechumens. Then united with the Lord Jesus and I will consecrate the oil of chrism. more closely conformed to him, But first I will invite all priests to that they may be faithful stewards Nga mihi nui renew their dependence on Jesus of the mysteries of God and from the editorial desk. the priest, urging them to be that the Lord will pour out his faithful in their office and calling gifts abundantly upon them and on them to renew publicly their keep them faithful. Then pray for Inform Issue 117 is an extra edition priestly promises. As you look on me, that I may be faithful to the for 2019. Two thirds of this edition us you will see good and holy men, apostolic office entrusted to me in covers stories and events which but you know us well. You know my lowliness.” took part in the first few months that we are weak and frail and of the year. Due to the horror of much of the time we, like you, are struggling. Friday 15 March, they needed to be held over so that we could give appropriate space to the aftermath of the terror attacks. However your A mission of faith in a digital age: earlier stories remain fresh, positive and encouraging and make for An invitation to Food For Faith satisfying reading. The Christchurch-Diocese based and Jesus Christ. In recent years daily In this edition, we focus on Divine supported Food For Faith mission had reflections have been emailed to Mercy Sunday with a homily small beginnings as a blog for families subscribers for Lent and Advent. from Fr John Adams, given at St of those on a parish pilgrimage to Today people all over the world Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in a very well the Holy Land in 2010. When the regularly visit the Food For Faith pilgrimage ended the blog continued, website. While most visitors are in attended Mass. The profiling of our later developing into a website with New Zealand, a growing number are head students, normally a feature regular written reflections, brief video in other parts of the world, especially of the first edition for the year, is clips and more recently podcasts, all Australia, USA, the Philippines and encouraging. World Youth Day in with the aim of providing practical Italy. Sign up to receive regular Panama already seems a long time encouragement for people seeking encouragements for your faith at ago, but we were well represented to live more fully in relationship with www.foodforfaith.org.nz. and you will read some beautiful reflections from our participants. In December, much loved parish priest Fr John Noonan died. We remember him as we read the homily given by www.foodforfaith.org.nz Fr Kevin Burns at his requiem Mass. As we approach Pentecost, come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful. In Christ, The diocesan website: www.chchcatholic.nz lists information about parishes, Mass times, diocesan news and events. Ken Joblin, Editor Parishes, schools and church groups are welcome to advertise events. Caitlin Godfrey, Assistant Editor Please email [email protected] 3 Bishop’s Office Bishop’s Prison Chaplaincy We have Catholic chaplains working in our three prisons and then are always genuinely thankful of our joining them with volunteers supporting the work of the chaplains. at the conclusion of the service. Francis and Sue Sullivan of Christ the King Parish are As scripture teaches us so many times and as Pope Francis volunteers and share about their volunteering at the prison. repeatedly exhorts us, we all have a duty to seek out “We decided to support our prison chaplains in their the prisoners in our midst, whether imprisoned by their ministry after hearing a challenging and inspiring sermon circumstances or illness or frailty in their own homes or at our parish church and the subsequent invitation from Fr confined in the Criminal Justice prisons and who are often Frank Kelly (priest chaplain to the prison). We have come far from family and friends. to see in a more powerful way that what all our Christian Our volunteering is a commitment for sure and there is a churches do in the prisons is an essential duty for all lengthy application process to gain approval for access to Christians to support wherever and however they can.