Parish Office: 106 Powderham St P O Box 32, Taranaki Mail Centre New Plymouth 4340 Phone 06 757 3682.

office@Catholicparishnp.nz

Priests: Fr Simon Story PP, simontstory@gmail.com Fr Sanjay Pradhan and Fr Tom Lawn

Parish Co-ordinator: Teresa Bowe teresa@Catholicparishnp.nz

Facebook: Catholic Parish of NP

First Sunday of Lent 5 March 2017

LENT: PRAYER, FASTING, ALMS GIVING

LENTEN PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES: Evening Prayer of the Church and quiet time, St Joseph’s church each Friday 5.15pm to 5.45pm. Praying is one of the Lenten disciplines. The Liturgy of the Hours or Prayer of the Church is constant and persevering prayer which belongs to the very essence of the Church, which is a community and which, in prayer must express its nature as a community. “General Instructions on Liturgy of Hour”. This 30 minutes will be given over to Evening Prayer and silent reflection. “The purpose of the Liturgy of the Hour is to sanctify the day and the whole range of human activity”. Ibid. Stations of the Cross each Friday in Lent, 7.00pm at Bell Block Catholic Centre and Our Lady Help of Christians church. CARITAS LENTEN DISCUSSION: The Parish’s six week Caritas Lenten Reflection programmes start St Joseph’s Church House Tuesday 7 March at 10.30am and 7.00pm. (NB The Tuesday Gospel reading group will not meet while we are running the Lenten discussion group). St Patrick’s Okato Monday 6 March 5.00pm at St Patrick’s Church. Bell Block Catholic Centre Tuesday 7 March 7.00pm If you are interested in participating please contact the Parish Office. BLACK BOOK LENTEN PREPARATION This popular book gives a varied six minute daily Lenten preparation. Only $7.00 in the Parish Office.

Kia ora tātou,

FROM BISHOP CHARLES: Kia ora tātou, Two weeks ago I was able to spend some time in North Taranaki together with four members of the diocesan staff, in order to look at some of our ‘plant’ in this region (from Okato to Bell Block) with a view to our ongoing pastoral needs and mission. It was a very useful time and I wish to thank the priests of this pastoral area and various lay people including Teresa Bowe and Chris Wells, who shared with us some valuable insights about the use of our buildings and how we might develop them to better serve our needs. Congratulations to the people of Our Lady Help of Christians community in Fitzroy. The relatively modest expenditure on the inside of that Church has resulted in a dramatic improvement to the atmosphere of this sacred space. I hope this means that more and more people living in that part of New Plymouth will be drawn to pop into the church during weekdays to pray and reflect, as well as gather for Mass on Sunday. Thanks to all of you for your great witness to the guidance and joy of our faith through your participation and presence at Sunday Mass. Nāku. Nā

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS: Rosary is prayed in the church before all weekend Masses and Tuesday to Friday at 8.45am

and Tuesday after Mass. Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed after Mass, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

ADORATION OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS Thursday 9.40am to 1.30pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

ST PHILOMENA’S Monday 9.00am Communion Service in St Philomena’s Office followed by Rosary.

MISSION REST HOME CHAPEL: Mass (or C/S) every day except Wednesday at 9.30am.

MARY’S CHAPEL SACRED HEART COLLEGE Next Class Mass in the Chapel Thursday 16 March 2017 10.00am

FRANCIS DOUGLAS MEMORIAL COLLEGE Next Mass in the Chapel Thursday 16 March 2017 2.20pm

MASS TIMETABLE Monday 6 March to 12 March 2017

St Joseph’s Church New Plymouth Sunday 8.30am 10.30am 5.30pm

Monday 8.00am

Tuesday 8.00am 12.05pm

Wednesday 12.05pm

Thursday 8.00am C/S 12.05pm C/S

Friday 8.00am 12.05pm

Saturday 8.30am

Our Lady Help of Christians Fitzroy Vigil Mass (Saturday evening) 5.30pm and Sunday 9.00am

Tuesday 9.10am Wednesday 9.10am

Thursday 9.10am Friday 9.10am

St Philomena’s Brooklands Monday 9.00am C/S, Wednesday 9.00am, Friday 9.00am

St Patrick’s Okato Vigil Mass (Saturday evening) 6.00pm

Catholic Centre Bell Block Sunday 10.30am Mass will be celebrated unless there is a Communion Service (C/S). On occasion, unavoidable changes may be

made to the Mass timetable after the printing of this newsletter. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

First Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Genesis 2.7-9

Psalm: 51

Second Reading: Romans 5.12-19

Gospel: Matthew 4.1-11

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Our Lady Help of Christians Saturday 11.00am (except 1st Saturday)

Before Vigil Mass 4.45pm to 5.15pm

St Joseph’s Saturday 11.30am to 12 noon

(or by appointment)

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Marie Hickey, Marie Day, Howard Sinclair, Kathleen Bennett, Corrie Roodbeen, Heather Cleary, Murray Willetts, Dave Churchman, Duncan Kennedy, Don Crossan, Lee Rose, Clotilda Dias, Cajetain Dias, Leonard Heal, Anthony Jerry Dias, Charles Barclay, John Farrell, Anne and Richard Nallon, Sr Bridget Shannon, Eileen Christmas, Phyliss Scott, Ned Coneglan, Gwen Thomas, Rev Fr Donaghue, Judy Scott and Peter Brennan,

RITE OF ELECTION: At Masses at St Patrick’s and St Joseph’s churches this weekend, we will welcome with the Rite of Election, Philip Fleming who will be baptised at Easter and Katie Simmonds who will be received into the church. We pray for Philip and Katie on their faith journey. CARITAS LENTEN ENVELOPES: During Lent, NZ Catholic Bishops invite us to provide for the needs of the poor through the work of Caritas. Money raised through the Bishop’s Lent Appeal helps to fund both development and emergency relief work around the world. We have the first collection of the Caritas envelopes today so please just put the envelopes in the collection plates. More envelopes are available in the foyer if you did not collect a pack last week.

COMMUNITY MEALS: Every Thursday, between 5.30pm and 6.30 pm in St Joseph’s Hall Supper Room. All are welcome. Anyone willing to prepare food or help on the night please contact Gabrielle 758-9228. Next community meal 9 March.

SURPLUS VEGETABLES FOR COMMUNITY MEALS: Thank you to the people who responded generously to the Saint Vincent de Paul’s request for surplus vegetables from the summer harvest. The diners at Thursday’s meal enjoyed the fruits of your labour. Any further donations are welcome.

Please call Bob on 929 3060. ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: Our Lady Help of Christians Conference meets in Our Lady Help of Christians Church House at 5.00pm tomorrow (Monday). St Joseph’s Conference meets first Wednesday of the month in St Joseph’s church house.

YOUNG VINNIES: The Young Vinnies will be holding a cake stall after the 8.30am Mass today Sunday 5 March at St Joseph’s church. All proceeds for the CARITAS Lenten appeal. ST. JOSEPH’S FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE: Our next luncheon is at Gusto Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth 12 March 2017, 12 noon. $20 special. Please ring Jo 769-6615 with numbers for catering and enquiries. All parishioners are most welcome. EXTRA ORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST meeting Thursday 9 March, 5.30pm, at the Bell Block Catholic Centre. OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The next programme will begin on Thursday 16 March and will continue on Thursday evenings for 3 weeks. The programme is for children who participated in First Reconciliation October/November 2016. Classes will be held in the OLHC church Hall from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. There will be a separate programme held at the same time for parents. First Communion is at 9.00am Mass Sunday 7 May. FUEGO YOUTH NIGHTS are being held weekly every Sunday after the 5:30 pm Mass. All youth from year 10-13 are welcome to attend. Dinner at 6.45pm immediately followed by the youth night. YOUNG ADULTS MASS 5.30pm 12 March. If you want to help contact Victor 021 032 9507 or on the Facebook page.

HOSPITALITY SUNDAY: Today Sunday 5 March, at Our Lady Help of Christians and St Joseph’s churches is Hospitality Sunday. Please help build community by introducing yourself to someone you don’t know. Morning tea is provided at Bell Block Mass Centre every Sunday after the 10.30am Mass. DONATIONS COLLECTION: 26 February 2017 Clergy Trust Fund $1,299.00 Parish $3,513.00

CATHOLIC CAFÉ: The Catholic Café will be in St Joseph’s Church foyer Easter Sunday. That’s five weeks away. We’ve added more names to the list of volunteers. Some people want to just cook. Some are happy to just meet and greet. Others want to be the barista. We need forty eight volunteers monthly, plus a team who can provide baking/eats. (It’s only one turn, once a month). If you are interested in becoming involved in any way, please contact the Parish Office 757-3682 or email office@catholicparishnp.nz ST PATRICK’S OKATO: Outdoor Mass to celebrate St Patrick's Day, Lower Pitone Road Beach Okato, Saturday 18th March at 6.00pm. Pot luck picnic tea to follow. (No barbeque). All welcome. If weather does not permit, Mass will be held at the church followed by a shared meal. For all enquiries, phone Marian 752 4475 or Raewynne 742 4466. ANOINTING MASSES: We will celebrate anointing Masses at: Our Lady Help of Christians Wednesday 15 March 10.00am. Ring Agnes 7699630 or Deirdre 7589068 for transport. St Joseph’s Church Tuesday 21 March 2.30pm. Bell Block Thursday 30 March 1.30pm. Please contact Barbara 755-2088 if you need transport. St Patrick’s Okato: Time will be confirmed next week. ORGAN RECITAL: Christopher Luke Organ Recital Tuesday 7 March 1.00pm at St Joseph’s Church.

FUNDING: The Diocese of Palmerston North, in conjunction with the Catholic Charities Foundation of Palmerston North, the Tindall Foundation and Catholic Social Services, is seeking applications from parish groups, agencies and Church organisations. We are especially looking for new applications that support families and social services in the areas of early years, youth development, budgeting, literacy, Maori/cross-cultural, housing, and community service and development.

Application forms and criteria for funding are available from the parish office or the Diocesan Office, Private Bag 11012, Palmerston North – Attention: Mrs Wendy Silver, telephone 06 354 1780 ext 833, email wsilver@pndiocese.org.nz or you can download the application form from the diocesan website http://pndiocese.org.nz/news-and-events/application-for-funding/ Applications are to be sent to reach the Diocesan Office by 31 March 2017. Allocations to be made 2 May 2017. FR CRAIG’S CORNER: I count my time in New Plymouth as a very blessed period of my life and it became even more apparent at the time of my leaving. Thank you to everyone who expressed kindness in what you wrote in my book, in your personal messages and especially all the acts of kindness you expressed over the past eight years. I am, and always will be, very grateful. I also want to thank you all for your generous farewell gift. I will probably use it to travel in a couple of years’ time. I would love to walk the pilgrim route, Santiago de Compostela and visit Lourdes. I’m settling into my new home, meeting new people and (slowly) learning their names. Lent is just around the corner. May this season of transformation and growth, be time of blessing for you and your families. With love and affection. Craig KIMI ORA COMMUNITY OF FAITH AND LIGHT wishes to sincerely thank parishioners for their support in the recent raffle. Winners were:1st prize: Basket of groceries: Helen Stokes 2nd prize: Crocheted rug: D Cavey 3rd prize: Cake stand and cake: Nora Thompson . Thank you all for your generosity.

COMING EVENTS:

The Mystery of God ~ Week three this week.

Christopher Luke Organ Recital ~ St Joseph’s 7 March 1.30pm.

Community Meal ~ Thursday 9 March St Joseph’s Hall. Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross Bell Block and OLHC 7.00pm

Fridays during Lent ~ Evening prayer and reflection St Josephs 5.15pm. Fuego ~ After 5.30pm Sunday Mass Sunday St Joseph’s Hall.

First Reconciliation Preparation starts St Joseph’s 5 March.

Caritas Lenten Discussion groups start week beginning Monday 6 March Friendship Circle ~ Sunday 12 March at Gusto.

First Communion Preparation OLHC Thursday 16 March.

St Patrick’s Okato ~ Mass and picnic 18 March 6.00pm Passionist Family Group Picnic Ngamotu Beach 26 March. Details next week

Fitzroy Church Cleaning: 11 March Group 5