THE MON T HLY MAGAZINE FOR T HE CA T HOLI C S OF T HE DUNE D IN DIO C ESE HE ABLE T SeptemberT 2008 T Issue No 136 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Election 2008 didates in Otago and Southland so In this copy of The Tablet you can that they can consider it thought- read the New Zealand Bishops’ “All citizens ought to be mind- fully� election manifesto, Mindful of the ful of their right and their We know it is our duty as Chris- Common Good – Thinking about duty to promote the common tians to vote but as Cardinal Tho- Election 2008� I would ask you all to good by using their vote.” – mas Williams put it so well some time ago; “Voting is not difficult� study it carefully and prayerfully� Pope John Paul II While it is not meant to be compre- Voting responsibly can be�” hensive, it does cover basic issues This is why I urge you to study the about the common good in our make this a just and compassion- document, pray earnestly, question country that we as Catholics need ate country for all citizens� At one sincerely and vote conscientiously to question those who seek Public level an election is about who gov- so that the values and ideals of Je- Office� erns the country; at another level sus Christ may become more and As I have said before, we need to it is a campaign for the minds and more a lived reality in our country get behind the party labels and hearts of our citizens� of Aotearoa New Zealand� look at the candidates themselves, I am taking the opportunity of In the Spirit, their voting records to date and sending a copy of the Bishops’ what they will do if elected to help statement to all the political can- ✟ Colin 17 lay ministers charting new direction By GILLIAN VINE Cross Centre be- course” that was “very applicable to us THE graduation of the first group from fore the Mass. as individuals”. the Walking New Paths (WNP) pro- The 17 people Graduates are involved in a range of gramme marks “a new era for the dio- want to maintain lay ministry, such as victim support, cese” in terms of lay ministry, Bishop the close support workplace chaplaincy and pastoral care Colin Campbell says. network they have in hospitals, as well as extensive parish Speaking at Mass in St Joseph’s Ca- developed. involvement. thedral on September 7, during which “The fellowship Those who graduated are: Amy Arm- graduands were presented with cer- has been a real blessing,” Denise Smith, strong, Colette Blockley, Stephanie tificates, Bishop Campbell said: “We are of Invercargill, said of Walking New Bowden, Sharon Cooke, Stephen Cor- blessed with 17 people from around Paths. son, Michele Cotter, Gerald Dyer, Ken the diocese who have, under the lead- A Calvary Hospital pastoral carer, she Fahey, Jane McLeod, Jocelyn Marsh, ership of Sr Teresa Hanratty and [WNP said she joined WNP “to cement my Kathy Martin-Inkster, Richard Piper, committee member] Maureen Cum- ministry and give formal acknowledg- Denise Smith, Maureen Smith, Fae mings, responded to the challenge to ment of it”. Robertson, Susan Rowley and Lorraine take the Gospel into the world. Steve Corson, of St Brigid’s Tainui Voice. “We salute you for taking up this chal- parish, described WNP as “an amazing Photographs – page 9 ➤ lenge in your part of the diocese,” the bishop said. The two-year WNP programme for In this issue… lay ministry formation is a response to New investment account ����������������������� 3 Praying the Rosary ��������������������������13 the call in Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Our Catholic world ����������������������������������� 4 First Eucharists ���������������������������������14 Christifedelis Laici – Christ’s Lay Faithful. Youth worker honoured ������������������������� 6 Around the diocese ������������������������15 For graduands, the programme con- MacKillop history published ����������������� 8 Kavanagh Day celebrated �������������16 cluded with a weekend retreat at Holy The Tablet September 2008 Simple way for everyone to help your diocese WE are all aware of how costs have risen in recent years and also have had placed before us by Bishop Colin Camp- bell (The Tablet, June 2008) the facts about the financial strain under which the Diocese of Dunedin is operating. It is tempting for ordinary people to feel that the issue is too big to deal with but there is a way to help – not by mak- ing a donation or financial sacrifice but by investing money in the Catholic De- velopment Fund (CDF). Since 1972, the CDF has provided money to help provide new facilities or to refurbish existing buildings, to enhance worship, education and other needs that are important in the mission of the Church. This diocesan fund is supported by CDF beneficiary … St Mary Star of the Sea church, in Port Chalmers, was one of the investments of many Catholic peo- the buildings in the diocese whose upgrade was made with CDF assistance�] ple, as well as parishes and groups, throughout Otago and Southland. The CDF uses those funds about by the need to upgrade our schools to the standard to provide low-cost finance for building and development demanded by the State before they could be integrated. projects that benefit the people of the diocese. Key minis- People responded willingly and over the years the number tries supported are evangelisation, youth and young adults, of investors – and therefore CDF funds – have grown, which in lay formation, outreach, priestly formation and sacramental turn has kept down the cost of maintaining not only schools programmes. but also churches and other parish facilities. In its first 25 When Bishop John P. Kavanagh established the fund – then years, the fund provided more than $9 million in loans, with called the Diocesan Development Fund – 36 years ago, he did low-cost interest charges that were estimated to have saved so because of the need to ease the financial burden brought $2.3 million had the same monies been borrowed on the open market. Term investments, general savings accounts, educational savings accounts, funeral savings accounts and the new Min- istry Support Account are all important ways you can help the Church reduce its indebtedness and move forward. The money invested in the CDF has achieved great things but with your support it could be even greater. Christ Fest 08 postponed AFTER representations from secondary and tertiary organi- sations, Christ Fest has been postponed until March 14-15. Christ Fest 08 was to have been held in Ranfurly on Octo- ber 25-26 as a follow-on from World Youth Day in Sydney in July. The decision to postpone the event was made to avoid any clash with examinations or exam preparation, diocesan general manager Stuart Young said. The deadline for the October issue is Wednesday, September 24� Please send all contributions to the editor, Gillian Vine, 26 Franklin St, Dalmore, Dunedin 9010; phone 021-705-708; fax 03-474-5758; email tablet@cdd�org�nz� 2 September 2008 The Tablet Reasons to invest in the CDF New account opportunity l Because your investment in the Catho- lic Development Fund earns less interest than is offered by banks, the difference (the to support ministries sacrificial portion) is used by the Church, so you are helping the work of the Church in the Diocese of AN exciting new account option being offered by the Catholic Dunedin. Development Fund, the Ministry Support Account, pays interest l A deposit with the CDF is an ethical and to the investor, who in turn agrees to donate that interest to a charitable investment. ministry he or she has selected. l It is an investment in our Catholic commu- It works like this: You assign all interest income to your chosen nity now and for generations to come, as the CDF ministry. Your account is credited with interest earned, then deb- provides much-needed, low-cost finance to help ited for that interest. A tax receipt is issued for the interest as a parishes, schools and other diocesan organisations. donation to the ministry or parish (as long as the organisation l The CDF lends only to Catholic organisations, has charitable status for tax purposes, as all parishes in the dio- so you can be sure your investment is used in cese do). There is no limit on the donation value now able to be an ethical way which reflects the values of the claimed on tax returns. The most important feature of Ministry Catholic Church. Support Accounts is that you retain your capital while others ben- l Your money is safe: all investments are fully efit from the interest paid. Your support can make a huge differ- guaranteed by the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin. ence to the ministry you choose to support. l There are no fees or charges and personal service One reason for setting up the Ministry Support option is the is important to CDF managers. recognition that many people may want to support a particular l Savings accounts require no minimum deposit, ministry such as youth, lay formation or chaplaincy but in the past so are ideal for the investor with a small sum to have been reluctant to do this through the CDF as they felt their invest or those who want to build up their accounts money might go into general funds. Now a CDF investment can over time. be targeted to exactly what the investor wants to support. l Term investments, which can be for up to five CDF keeps the details of who made the investment confidential years, require a minimum deposit of $500.