YOUR FRIENDS MAY ENJOY GETTING THE NEWSLETTER
If you know of anyone who would like the NEWSLETTER emailed to them weekly
let me know their email address.
ss@holyname.org.nz
Perhaps you can think of some non-practising Catholics
who may be interested in at least keeping a small contact this way?
to get the weekly newsletter via your email
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Living Justly in Aotearoa newsletter
Will be only by email now. Please send your postal address to Kevin at PO Box 68419, Newton, Auckland 1145 for those who haven’t got access to the internet.
Otherwise Email: livingjustlyinaotearoa@gmail.com.
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Wheelchair Available ...
The Caring Group has provided a Wheelchair for the use of for any parishioner who may require it. Enquiries to Moira 425 0232.
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Bibles available
at the Parish shop
We have stocks of several varieties of bibles available from our online shop (at www.holyname.org.nz/shop.html)
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Parish Newsletter †
20th April 2025
Reflection:-
Easter is what makes us Christians. The life of Jesus is not put before us merely as a good example of someone who was true to his beliefs. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and it is Easter that demonstrates this. In Jesus God has taken on our life and transformed it. Through baptism we share in the very life of the crucified and risen Christ and so we are made new.
It may be that at times we are like Peter, who on reaching the tomb just looks in and wonders, but there comes a point when we are asked to take the risk of faith of seeing and believing that God could indeed love us this much.
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General Comments for the Vigil
The resurrection of Jesus which we celebrate on this Vigil Night is the universal story of God’s grace triumphing over evil. Meditating on the biblical texts ahead of the liturgical celebration will help us enter personally into the mystery.
Each of the four gospels tells its own story of how the women discovered that Jesus was risen from the dead. Our meditation must always be based on the text we have before us. Being conscious of what is proper to the author often helps us to read the passage as if for the first time.
St Luke’s account, which we read this year, has its own sequence of events. He says that the women discovered first that the body of Jesus was not there; as they were standing there, the angels (two, not one as in Matthew and Mark) announced to them the good news of the resurrection.
Only St Luke includes the words of the angel which express very dramatically the mystery of the resurrection as it is always experienced,
“Why look among the dead for someone who is alive?”
St Luke generally gives more importance to the role of women than the other evangelists. It is significant then that in his account the women are not told by the angels to bring the good news to the eleven; they do so of their own accord.
In verses 11 and 12 he highlights the incredulity of the eleven, with a hint that this was “an old wives’ tale”. As always in St Luke, the lowly are raised up while the mighty are shown up or as here cast down from their thrones (1:52).
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General Comments for the Easter Day Mass
St John’s account of the resurrection is in two stages:
- - verses 1-2 are about Mary of Magdala’s experience;
- - verses 3 to 10 tell us about the experience of the two disciples.
In verses 1 and 2 you might like to focus on the symbolism of it being “still dark” and yet a “first day” of a new time. The large stone symbolizes all the forces, human and other, that keep God’s grace in the bondage of the tomb.
Your experience will help you interpret how Mary responded. Did she run in confusion? Or in fear?
The story of Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved can be read from various points of view. You can take them together as experiencing the resurrection, focusing on the details, especially the cloths lying on the ground, useless now since Jesus was alive, but also on the fact that until they saw the empty tomb they did not believe the teaching of the scriptures.
St John makes a point of contrasting the two apostles.
If you would like to meditate on this aspect of the story, see 'Peter' as symbol of the Church leader, while “the other disciple” is the one who, while having no position of authority, is specially loved by Jesus and, perhaps as a result, is first in faith.
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Divine Mercy Chaplet
Devotion begins on Good Friday and continues through to the following Saturday before
Mercy Sunday
https://www.thedivinemercy.org
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News & Events
A warm welcome to ...
any new parishioners:
Please introduce yourself to Fr Brian and also complete a parish Enrolment Form on the table in the foyer.
Alternatively complete and send this form online;
click here.
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We have a family in need of household items:
Beds, kitchen cooking essentials and linen!
Please let me know what you have available to donate to this family.
Please call Berny on 0274 91 47 48
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Children’s Liturgy to Recommence at 10:30 am Mass – Sunday 27th April
We are delighted to announce that Children’s Liturgy will be returning on Sunday, 27th April, at the 10:30am Mass at Matakana.
Children’s Liturgy is an important part of our parish community, and we are excited to have it back. During this time, children will be invited to gather in a separate space to learn about the Gospel through age-appropriate teachings, songs, and activities, allowing them to deepen their relationship with God in a way that speaks to their hearts.
We are also looking for individuals who feel called to support or lead this ministry.
If you are interested in becoming a leader or assisting with this important work, please contact Lisa at nzhydes@gmail.com. Your involvement would be a great blessing to our parish and the children we serve.
We look forward to seeing many young faces at Children’s Liturgy once again and thank you for your continued support of this vital ministry.
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PARISH YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Fran and Jerome Hardy 021 1562529
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Matakana - Building Update
Work started last week on the barrel room. After the site meeting this week our engineer is now drawing plans for the replacement trusses that will be built on site.
The BBQ area is still a work site so no entry is allowed until the works are completed and the scaffolding and equipment has been removed.
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Stay for a cuppa....
Morning Tea after
Matakana Sunday 10.30 am Mass
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FIREWOOD FREE - bring your Ute or Trailer!
We have a large stack of firewood at Matakana Holyname Church that we would like to see gone.
Please contact Simon on 0274914011 to arrange collection.
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Matakana Holyname Church Vehicle Entry
During the weekdays entrance to the Holyname Church is via the Service Entry - the second entrance coming from Warkworth.
On Sundays and for the Saturday Vigil Mass entry is via the MAIN gates.
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Next Sunday - 27th April 2025
Second Week of Easter – Mercy Sunday
1st Reading: Acts 45:12-16
Psalm: 118
2nd Reading: Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Children’s Liturgy during 10.30 am Mass
Rosary before Mass - 10.05 am Ww
Morning tea after 10.30am Warkworth Mass
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CATHNEWS NEW ZEALAND
Available online at:
Interested in accessing news and other content of interest. The best way to receive CathNews New Zealand is by
signing up at
https://cathnews.co.nz/
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More News
Invitation to join with Bishop Steve on a Special Jubilee Pilgrimage - The Way of Hope.
29th September 2025 to 19th October 2025
Every 25 years the Church proclaims a Holy Year, a special gift of grace and mercy for all God’s people. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
I invite pilgrims to join me on a pilgrimage from Lyon to Rome as we celebrate Jubilee 2025. On the way we will meet pilgrims of the past, who we now know as saints, but were once pilgrims of the past who have influenced our local and the universal Church and who will inspire us in hope as journey to the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
For further information and bookings please contact Harvest Journeys NZ Call free 0800 819 156 - harvestjourneys.com/pv2566 or info@harvestjourneys.com
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Pro-Life News
YOU are invited to join the Auckland Equip Day on Saturday, 19th July, 9am—5 pm, at the Reformed Church of the North Shore, 74 Trias Road, Totara Vale, Auckland.
Attendees will have the chance to hear from well-known speaker Brendan Malone and skilled pro-life trainer Ellie Whitaker.
For information on Pro-Life issues, visit www.voiceforlife.org.nz.
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Parish Services and Contacts
Home Visits
Please contact Fr Brian if you need or you know of someone who would like a Home Visit
– communion and reconciliation to the sick and housebound.
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CHILDREN’S MASS BAGS
Are available in the church foyers for the children,
we ask that you please return them after Mass.
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Warkworth Homebuilders:
Is an organisation working in North Rodney dedicated to helping local families
by walking them through hard times.
Call (09) 425 7048
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Parish Contributions
For those parishioners who donate to the parish via the envelope system or by cash during the collection time at Mass, you may wish to continue to contribute to the parish via internet banking.
The parish bank account number is
02-0108-0706101-000.
Please ensure that you provide the following details with each payment:
- Your initials and name
- If you normally pay via the envelope system then please quote your envelope number
- The word “collection”
On another note, it's great to receive cash in the plate to keep cash in existence in NZ.
The Lord remains with us always. Let us pray for each other to deepen our gratitude for that presence in our spiritual communion each day.
Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Brian Lange
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PARISH REGISTRATION!
Are you new to our parish?
Register online at www.holyname.org.nz
Have you changed address?
Please get in touch with the Parish Office at admin@holyname.org.nz if you would like to update or change your details.
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Moved …
If you have moved home, changed your telephone or email address kindly email your changed details to the parish office.
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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
- - Monday & Thursday from 8.00 a.m., finishing 15 minutes before the start of Mass.
- - Friday after the morning Mass & Benediction
- - Saturday after the morning Mass
- - Saturday afternoon from 5.00 p.m. until 5.30 p.m.
- - Sunday by appointment after 2.00 p.m.
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Restaurant
A guy walks into a restaurant with a small dog. The waiter says, "Sir, I'm very sorry, but we don't allow dogs in here."
The guy replies, "But this isn't just any dog ... this dog can play the piano!"
The waiter responds, "Well, if he can play that piano, you both can stay ... and have a meal on the house!"
So the guy sits the dog on the piano stool, and the dog starts playing. Ragtime, Mozart ... and the waiter and patrons are enjoying the music.
Suddenly a bigger dog runs in, grabs the small dog by the scruff of the neck, and drags him out.
The waiter asks the guy, "What was that all about?"
The guy says, "Oh, that was his mother. She wanted him to be a doctor."
A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents.
After dinner, her mother told the girl's father to find out about the young man.
The father invited the fiancé to his study for a talk.
"So, what are your plans?" the father asked the young man.
"I am a biblical scholar," he replied
"A biblical scholar, hmmm?" the father said. "Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter?"
I will study," the young man replied, "and God will provide for us."
"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?" asked the father.
"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replied, "God will provide for us."
"And children?" asked the father. "How will you support children?"
"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiancé.
The conversation proceeded like this...and each time the father questioned, the young idealist insisted that God would provide.
Later, the mother asked, "How did your talk go, honey?"
The father answered, "He's a Labour voter. He has no job, he has no plans, and he thinks I'm God.”
Darn vermin
“I’ve tried everything,” says the first priest. “I still can’t get rid of our rats in my church.”
“Same here!” says the second priest. “We’ve tried poison, traps, and noise. Nothing works.”
“We don’t have that problem,” says the third priest.
“We baptised and confirmed them all, and now they just show up at Easter and Christmas.”
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WHO TO CONTACT:
Parish Priest: Fr Brian Lange 425 8545 brilange@gmail.com
Parish Finance Committee Chairperson: Fr Brian Lange
Caring Group: - 425 8545 Office
Puhoi Church Bookings: Bernadette Straka 09 426 7374 or 422 0716 or WW Office 425 8545
Sacramental Programme: Parish Office 425 8545
Rosters: Warkworth: Parish Office 425 8545
Newsletter (Bulletin): Parish Office & Fr Brian Lange 425 8545
Holyname Ascension Maintenance: Simon Straka 0274914011 or 09 422 0716
Puhoi Church Maintenance: Simon Straka 0274914011 or 09 422 0716
Liturgical Ministries: Warkworth: Christine 423 0433, Fr Brian Lange 425 8545
Warkworth Parish Hall Bookings: Parish Office 425 8545
Marriage preparation programme: Gerry Smith at Auckland Diocese (09) 360 3025
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NEW PARISHIONERS:
If you are new to the parish, welcome!
An information booklet about the parish life is available in the foyer.
Please complete the form enclosed and hand it in or post it to the parish office or
complete it online here:
“New Parishioner Form”
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