If you have any items to be included in the Diocesan Bulletin, please email them to newsletter@cdh.org.nz

Our Jubilee 2025 page is live - click through!

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. ~ Acts 2:4

Join us for a Diocesan Jubilee Mass

celebrating Pentecost and the diversity of our cultures

St Mary’s Church, 40 Seddon Street, Rotorua

8 June 2025, 10:00 am

Download full invitation here

Parishioners from around the diocese - and beyond - are welcome! Come in your national dress (optional). Light refreshments will be provided following Mass, please contact kirstym@cdh.org.nz if you would like to supply a national dish as a taster to share.

Any clergy who wish to attend - please email Fr Prakash to confirm - pp@rotorua.cdh.nz

For those that cannot travel to Rotorua, we have more for Pentecost!!

Annual Matariki Multicultural Tree Planting

When: Saturday 14 June 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm.

Where: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (use Baverstock Rd gate entrance, past the corner of Baverstock and Rotokauri Roads, on your way to the Hamilton Zoo).

EarthDiverse, the Waikato Interfaith Council, the Waikato Multicultural Council, GoEco, Kaivolution, the Bahá’í Community, the Hamilton City Council (and other partners) are co-organising a Community-wide tree planting event to take place in Hamilton on Saturday 14 June 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm (This event will take place Rain or Shine). Please use the Baverstock Rd entrance gate, up the hill past the corner of Baverstock and Rotokauri Rd instead of the entrance across from the Zoo. If you use the entrance across from the Zoo you won't find us as we'll be on the side of the Park!

Bring a spade or shovel, gumboots, appropriate outdoor weather gear (e.g. hat, rain gear, sunglasses), some gardening gloves, water and a big smile.  A light lunch will be served (courtesy of EarthDiverse, Kaivolution, Go Eco, Waikato Interfaith Council, the Bahá’í Community, Ahmaddiyya Muslim Community, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Trust, and others). If possible, bring your own plates, cutlery or mugs in order to minimise waste. As we aim to plant over 4500 saplings, 100 people would mean planting about 45 saplings each, 200 people about 23 each, 300 people about 15 saplings each, so the more the merrier! Come either for the morning or afternoon sapling planting sessions, have some lunch on us, or stay for both sessions!

This event is free, family-friendly and fun! Open to all. Mark this date in your diaries now. Come and help offset your carbon usage and pay tribute to the wisdom of Laudato Si.

Download flyer here

Finance Officer

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a part-time Finance Officer to join the Finance Team at the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

In this role you will be responsible for providing financial and administrative support to two of our smaller entities. (Catholic Family Support Services and Jubilee Early Childhood Ltd)

More details here and all enquiries to leej@cdh.org.nz

Pastoral Statement from the New Zealand Catholic Bishops

Hope and Renewal Summit–3&4 October, Palmerston North

Hope and Renewal Summit – Come Together 3 & 4 October, Palmerston North

Fr. James Mallon reminds us that parish renewal is a shared mission. We need one another—just as the blind man was brought to Jesus by his friends, we too must come together for the Church to be renewed. Early bird pricing ends 15 June. (Groups of 4+ save an extra $10 per person) Register today and save: www.hoperenewalsummit.com

Register today and save: www.hoperenewalsummit.com

Download full flyer here (we will send a new one to swap out in a couple of weeks)

From Caleb Hilton - Currently, I have a few rooms vacant at a Catholic Men's flat near the university and am hoping to find some other Catholic flatmates to fill them asap. There are currently two of us living in the flat with three rooms that we hope to fill, ideally with other young Catholic men so as to maintain a wholesome spiritual atmosphere.

Email me - calebghilton@gmail.com or text him on 027 305 0583.

Our Dove Fellowship on Monday 2nd June, 7pm  at St Peter Chanel Church for all Doves old and new. 

Download full flyer here

We are looking for a team of caring people to open a Pregnancy Support Centre with an Op shop in Hamilton. Where woman facing unplanned pregnancies can come and receive help, support and information to work through their options.

We will need:

• Pregnancy Support volunteers - Full training is given.

• Op shop volunteers.

• Handymen / helpers willing to help us set up the centre.

• Donations of good quality gear for the Op shop.

Please come and find out how you can be a part of this life-changing work:

Venue: Main Auditorium at 100 Morrinsville Road, Hamilton

Time: 27th May @ 10am

Contact: Sarah Peacock 0226012156 Email: sarahpeacock@tearohanui.org.nz

VACANCY – DIRECTOR, CATHOLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE: For over 60 years, the Catholic Enquiry Centre has helped thousands of people explore the Catholic faith and, in many cases, become Catholic. An agency of the Bishops Conference, the Centre is the first point of contact for enquirers seeking information about the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, and supports Church communities in their mission of evangelisation. The Centre is seeking a new Director to lead a small team in continuing this important work. A personal commitment to the Catholic Church along with a proven history of sharing the faith and of leading a team will be necessary. Please send expressions of interest to secretariat@nzcbc.org.nz by June 6. The role could be filled sooner for the right candidate, so please contact the Bishops Conference promptly.

TURN DEBT INTO HOPE WEBINAR — JUNE 4:

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is hosting a 30-minute webinar to invite people to take part in its "Turn Debt Into Hope" campaign.

The global campaign for debt justice was launched by Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year, and Caritas has big plans to honour this legacy in Aotearoa. The webinar will feature guests from the Pacific explaining the impacts of climate debt, Caritas explaining what Kiwis can do about it and a chance for Q&A. Mark your diaries for 12 noon on Wednesday, June 4. Find out more and learn how you can get involved at www.caritas.org.nz/turndebtintohope

SAINT TERESA’S SCHOOL BLUFF is to celebrate 125 years Jubilee.

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025.

We would love to see you and do let your friends / relations know.

Enquiries to Sonz125@hotmail.com

Homily from the Mass of thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV can be found here

(with a link to the livestream recording also)

From the Interfaith Group

• The Waikato Muslim Association spoke kindly and respectfully of Pope Francis at the Memorial Mass at the Cathedral of the BVM. Now the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslims has sent a congratulatory message on the selection of Pope Leo X1V. I have been asked by Imam Asif Munir to share it with the other Catholics in Hamilton.

You can read the message here.

• Catholic Interfaith Group of the Hamilton diocese meeting on Sunday May 25th at 4 pm to 5.30 pm at the Cathedral foyer. There will be discussion on interfaith from a Catholic point of view and an interfaith encounter with the hope of creating greater awareness and understanding. Pam Chiles, a Buddhist, will talk about her faith. All are most welcome.

SAVE THE DATE! ~ 9 Sept 2025 ~ Hamilton Prayer Breakfast

We will once again purchase tables at this breakfast, then look to fill them. Like last year we will have representatives at each Hamilton parish who can can see to buy a ticket or purchase online. These will be open early June.

“Making every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” - Ephesians 4:3

Prayer and fasting for peace and the relief of Suffering of children worldwide. Catholics, moved by confronting images of children in Gaza, invite other Catholics to take part with them in Twenty-four hours prayer and fasting for Peace and the relief of children suffering starvation, injury and death due to wars being fought by adults. You are invited to fast from food, or if health excludes food fast, fasting from another activity on Friday 30th of May and to Pray for Peace in all places of conflict. You may choose to donate to Caritas the amount you will not pay for food that day.You may also choose to continue this fast on Fridays until there is an end to the children in Gaza being denied food and safety. We suggest praying “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us” (as in the Mass) and/or the Litany of saints we were asked to pray for the election of Pope Leo X1V.

(from St Mary's Parish, Otaki)

The next two Miha Maori will be held May 25th and June 22nd at St Matthews, Hillcrest at 11am followed by morning tea.

St Joseph’s Hāwera | 150 Years

St Joseph’s Parish & School, Hāwera, will be celebrating 150 years over Labour Weekend, 24–26 October 2025. All past and present members of the parish and school community are invited to participate in the Jubilee celebrations. Registration Forms & Event Calendar are available at www.stjoeshawera150celebration.co.nz.   For further details email: stjosephshawerajubilee@gmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE

PHOTOS REQUIRED

St. Patrick's Parish Putaruru is celebrating its 100 year centenary this year on 30th November 2025.

As part of the celebrations, we will be having a photographic exhibition and would kindly ask if anyone has any photos of St. Patrick's Church, in particular the construction or opening of the church if they could scan and email to the parish office:  stpatricksputaruru@gmail.com along with any stories or names that may be in relation with the photos.

"Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College is offering online webinars in 2025. This series features our current and past students who will inspire us as they talk about growing in faith, leadership in ministry, and their role in ministry.

Please share the attached flyer

Copy and paste of information available below.

Topics:

UP NEXT:

 Pastoral Ministry among Māori and Pasifika in the Third Millennium

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

5-6pm via Zoom

Speaker: Rev Hemi Ropata (Deacon, Society of Mary)

 Parish Ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand

Wednesday, 20 August 2025

5-6pm via Zoom

Speaker: Emily Sit (Director of Mission & Evangelisation – Palmerston North Diocese)

 Raising a Catholic Family in the Third Millennium

Wednesday, 08 October 2025

Speakers: Cameron and Cheryl Surrey (Catholic Parents – Cheryl is the Regional Lead for Divine Renovation NZ)

 Reflections on Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

Speaker: Fadi Yalda (CTC Biblical Studies Lecturer)

We have renewed our annual subscription for sacredmusic.online

If your parish/community-group/school is interested please contact kirstym@cdh.org.nz we have set up a diocesan subscription and can add you as a user.

Cluny retreats for 2025 loaded now.

Tyburn retreats for 2025 loaded now.

The Guidebook Pilgrimage Aotearoa, is available for distribution in the Hamilton Diocese, on behalf of the wonderful authors, John Hornblow and Jenny Boyack.  It’s genesis and release are certainly a moment of Divine Providence given that 2025 is the Year of the Pilgrimage!!

More information here

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women, is excited to be launching a new initiative called Dovecotes. We invite you to prayerfully consider joining us by forming a Dovecote in your parish. All it needs is for two or more women, to support each other to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through regular shared prayer. Our leaflet called ‘Welcome to Dovecotes’ available from your parish, contains all the relevant information. It’s also on our website: www.dove.org.nz or email Gloria Stafford: dovenational.leader@gmail.com

Download flyer here

Parish to Parish for Bed and Breakfast,  Catholics throughout New Zealand and a few in Australia host Catholics in their homes, a wonderful way for Catholics to meet and enjoy the company of other Catholics A contribution of $50 for one person, and $30 for each additional guest, this is per night. E.g  two people would pay $80 per night.
If you wish to purchase a book with the details of the hosts, the cost is $15, includes postage,  contact or order from Marie Anderson 2  Brent Place, Christchurch 8053, phone 027 2800 611, email  marie.ian@xtra.co.nz

Pro-Life Vigil Outside Waikato Hospital

Is anyone interested in attending a fruitful, legal and regular pro-life vigil outside Waikato Hospital?

Times and days that we meet: Wednesday’s and Alternate Friday’s
If you are interested in coming along please contact Ria Rose via email: sixroses@xtra.co.nz