Catholic Parish of Whanganui

Welcome - Nau Mai. Haere Mai.

We are glad you have found us and are wanting to know more about what happens here in the Catholic Parish.

Please feel free to browse the webpages and make use of the downloadable free resources provided here.

If you have any queries not answered here you can contact us by phone or email through the contact information provided at the bottom of each page.

Photo: Hāto Hōhepa (St Joseph's Catholic Church)
Hiruhārama (Jerusalem)

LENT 2021

Stations of the Cross

Fridays of Lent, 5:30pm - St Anne's Church
(excluding Good Friday)

A NEW WAY FORWARD
Lent is a time of repentance, fasting, praying and almsgiving. The theme for Lent 2021 is “A New Way Forward” — taken from Pope Francis’
encyclical Laudato Si. This theme reminds us that God provides everything we need to overcome obstacles and push through the walls of fear and uncertainty throughout our life’s journey.

To pray with the Gospels you can use the Lenten Reflection booklet which can be downloaded from the Caritas website www.caritas.org.nz
During Lent we are invited to provide for the needs of the poor through the work of Caritas. Money raised through the Bishops’ Lent Appeal helps to fund development and emergency relief work around the world.

You can donate by using the Lenten Giving
Envelope Packs of six envelopes or as a single donation for all of Lent. Packs are available at the parish office. Return the envelopes through the parish’s weekly collection or post directly to Caritas. You can donate online through the Caritas website. Do not send cash through the post.

Level 1

During level 1 people entering our churches need to:

Scan the covid-19 QR codes or use the manual sign in register
Sanitise hands on entry

The celebration of Masses is mostly unchanged with only a few omissions to prevent transmission of viruses so that we all stay well, not having to stay at home; therefore:

There is no holy water at church doors, though people are welcome to take Holy Water for their own personal use
The sign of peace continues to be omitted
Holy Communion is under one kind (Hosts only), with reception on the tongue now reintroduced for those who wish to receive the Lord in this way

Please remember, if you are unwell stay at home and get tested

If you are awaiting a Covid test result, please refrain from coming to church until you have a confirmed negative result

Thank you for your understanding and support at this time. If Alert Levels change, further updates of what that means for our Parish community will be published here.

Parish Calendar

Parish Newsletters

Present & Past Newsletters

NB: If you do not receive a confirmation email, you will need to resubmit this form, but please do check your email address is correctly typed before submitting.

Parish Picnic 2021

Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St Joseph” 2020-21

With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021.By Vatican News
In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021... read more
by Vatican News

Prayer to St Joseph

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.

What We believe...

Want to know more about what the Catholic Church believes on any topic today? Have a read of the Catechism of the Church and the Q&A style Compendium.

If you would like to learn more about the Catholic faith and how to become a member of the Church, we would love to hear from you.