PRELIMINARY STATEMENT TO THE DIOCESE - SYNOD 2021/2023On 7 March 2020, Pope Francis announced a synod “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”. In May 2021, the Synodal process was changed into a three-year journey for every diocese worldwide, culminating in Rome in 2023. Pope Francis wants everyone to participate. He wants to hear the voice of all the baptised, especially those whose voices are seldom heard.
Our diocese hasn’t had a Synod before, so this is new territory for us. With the blessing of Cardinal John Dew, the Archdiocese of Wellington have offered to share their experience with us to help us in our process. Right now, we are in the process of creating a team to plan and lead our diocesan synod. They will be responsible for resourcing parish communities, for promoting the synod and for encouraging participation. Finally, they will bring our submissions together into a single document. Everyone is invited to make a submission. The synodal process is both a global and local experience. Pope Francis is addressing the whole world and we want to do our very best to respond and involve as many people as possible. Given the expansiveness and importance of this project, I think we need to give of our best, including making use of our best people. In my experience, good consultation demands everyone’s input, right from the outset. So, please give some prayerful thought about how we can all best approach this project to give us the best results. In this case the widest and most comprehensive feedback to share with our bishops and lay people who will meet with Pope Francis in 2023. Ehara taku toa, i te toa takitahi,ēngari e toa takitini. My success is not mine alone, it is ours The greatest success we will have is from working together. Where to from here? Please look at the official website https://www.synod.va/en.html Don’t be put off by the church language; the team will address this issue. October 2021 - The Synod process will begin with an Opening Mass on Sunday 17 October at 6.00pm Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North. Everyone is welcome to attend. On that day each parish will mark the beginning of the Synod celebrate at Sunday Eucharist. November 2021 - The consultation process will begin in each parish. More information will follow about this from the organising team. January 2011 - We will hold a pre-synodal meeting with representatives from across the diocese. The details will follow later this year. Lastly, and most importantly, this work of creating a synodal church will only bear fruit if we make it a prayerful experience and open ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. One of the documents we have received so far encourages the use of an adaptation of a prayer (Adsumus Sancte Spiritus) that was used at each of the Vatican II sessions and various Synods since then. Fr Craig Butler Local Administrator |
SYNOD 2021 - 2023 PRAYERWe stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen From Cardinal Dew: In his words to the Diocese of Rome on 18th September, Pope Francis said, “I came here to encourage you to take this synodal process seriously and to tell you that the Holy Spirit needs you. It is true: the Holy Spirit needs us. Listen to him by listening to each other. Leave no one behind or excluded. It will be good for the Diocese of Rome and for the whole Church, which is not strengthened simply by reforming structures (that is the great illusion!) or by giving instructions, offering retreats and conferences, by issuing guidelines and programmes. All those things are good, but as part of something else, namely our rediscovery that we are a people meant to walk together, with one another and with all humanity. A people that, here in Rome, embraces a wide variety of communities and situations: an extraordinary treasure, in all its complexity! However, we need to pass beyond the 3 or 4 percent that are closest to us, to broaden our range and to listen to others; at times they may insult or dismiss you, but we need to hear what they are thinking, without trying to impose our own concerns: let the Spirit speak to us.”
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COVID LEVEL 2
UPDATED: Thursday 7 October, 3:30pm
(All information will be posted here as soon as it comes to hand ) |
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It’s great to be back in our churches, though please do be aware of the Level 2 Diocesan directives, for the use of our churches at this time, which we ask everyone to follow:
Sunday Masses—6 Across the City Last weekend there was lots of room for more people to come to Mass, particularly both Masses at St Mary’s Church—please consider coming this weekend :-) Bookings are not needed to attend Masses Sunday Masses will be very simple in nature during this Level 2, meaning there will be no singing, altar servers, sign of peace or offertory procession. The collection will take place as people leave the church Weekday Masses The weekday Mass timetable is as normal, though there is no public Mass at Cullinane presently. Funerals in Level 2 - 100 Limit This means that in many cases families will need to limit the number of those present at a Funeral Mass or Service. So all of us need to wait until we are invited to attend a Funeral Mass, unless it is announced that anyone can attend. This is particularly hard for us, for we have been taught that to “bury the dead” is a work of mercy. In our present circumstances you can ask one of the priests to offer Mass for the deceased and family as a way of being intimately involved in farewelling our friend and commending them into God’s merciful hands. If you wish to leave a card of condolence at the Parish Office it will be delivered to the family at the Funeral. Please also be aware that at Level 2 funeral receptions (refreshments) are not able to take place in our Church facilities. This can recommence at Level 1. |
Sunday Mass Timetable Level 2 - 6 Masses
Holy Family Church (Saturday Vigil) 4:00pm 5:30pm St Mary’s Church (Sunday Morning) 8:00am 9:30am St Anne’s Church (Sunday Evening) 4:00pm 5:30pm Weekday Masses Mon 9:00am Holy Family Church Tues 10:00am Holy Family Church 11:30am St Anne’s Church Wed 5:30pm St Mary’s Church Thurs 12:05pm St Mary’s Church Fri 12:05pm St Mary’s Church Sat 9:30am St Anne’s Church Adoration & Benediction Wed 6:00pm—7:00pm St Mary’s Church Fri 9:00am—11:50am St Mary’s Church concluding with Benediction on Fridays Confession Fri 11:20am—11:40am St Mary’s Church Sat 9:00am—9:20am St Anne’s Church This is the same as before lockdown |
Welcome - Nau Mai. Haere Mai.
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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) |
Sunday 21 March 2021 Whanganui Parish Pilgrimage to Hiruhārama (Jerusalem)
Te Ara a Maria
Rededication of Aotearoa New Zealand
to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven15 August 2021 to 15 August 2022
to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven15 August 2021 to 15 August 2022
This Commissioned Artwork is now on tour around NZ. Information will be posted here soon regarding it's visit and veneration in the Catholic Parish of Whanganui which will take place in the first half of 2022
Parish Calendar - Level 2 (Churches Closed at Levels 3&4
Pope Francis Proclaims “Year of St Joseph” 2020-21
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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 JosephHail, 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. |
Covid Alert Level 1
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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
- 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 (Host)
- If you are awaiting a Covid test result, please refrain from coming to church until you have a confirmed negative result
What We Do at Each Covid Alert Level
Level 1 – Masses are as normal
Level 2 – Masses limited to 100 people, socially distanced.
8:00am & 9:30am - St Mary’s
4:00pm & 5:30pm - St Anne’s
Level 3 & 4 – Churches closed and 9:30am daily Mass on the Parish YouTube channelwww.youtube.com/channel/UCOhvW87NsoEFVUzPfy8nu2w
Level 2 – Masses limited to 100 people, socially distanced.
- Sunday Masses will have an extra Mass 1 ½ hours before the normal times at the same venues:
8:00am & 9:30am - St Mary’s
4:00pm & 5:30pm - St Anne’s
Level 3 & 4 – Churches closed and 9:30am daily Mass on the Parish YouTube channelwww.youtube.com/channel/UCOhvW87NsoEFVUzPfy8nu2w
Parish Picnic 2021
What We believe...
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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. 
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National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS)
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Contact:
Phone: 0800 114 622 Postal: PO Box 10199, Phillipstown, Christchurch 8145 Email: prof.standards@nzcbc.org.nz Website: www.safeguarding.catholic.org.nz |
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