The parish will begin a programme where the parish is asked to pray for vocations. Not just for the Priesthood, but for all those in vocation or discerning their vocation calling.  Prayer cards with a specially-made stole and candle will be given out to a parishioner/family weekly at each of the Masses, and they'll be asked to pray that week in a special way using the cards.  Then, they return the  items the following week, to be "passed on" to another family.  The starting date is being finalized but should be in mid-February.  Also, signup sheets will be put in the back of church for people to sign up for weeks they would like to do the prayers.

The prayer cards available are listed below. The prayer of St Catherine of Siena will be on the back of the prayer cards. Click on the cards to enlarge.

November 2013 Upper HuttExhibiting themed Art and Crafts work, accompanied by music, song, poetry and story-telling was the innovative response of some people to a call from the papacy to 'Share Your Faith' in this Year of Faith. In Upper Hutt recently many Art and Craft exhibits explored this general theme by addressing the question 'what does my faith mean to me' in visual form?

Items painted, sculptured, sewn, embroidered, carved, chiselled, laser and gas axe cut, moulded, photographed, sawn, hammered, woven, knitted, glued, baked and iced clearly demonstrated not only the diversity of the exhibitors but the wide variety of skills involved in showing the answer.

Many folk from surrounding Catholic parishes in the Wellington and Wairarapa joined with the initiating parish, St Joseph's Parish Upper Hutt to create this event of objects demonstrating what faith meant to the exhibit creators.

St Joseph's Parish Priest Father Ron Bennett in taking up this initiative by encouraging committee chair Teresa and husband Stewart Homan stated that he was excited by the fact that the event “...has really been a 'conversation' with the people of Upper Hutt, a place where churched and unchurched folk, people coming from different faith backgrounds and 'no-faith' backgrounds can come together and have 'conversations' under the common themes of Arts and Crafts” in this Year of Faith.

The opening, where some of the wonderfully decorated cake exhibits (after being photographed naturally!) were eaten while still fresh, accompanied with coffee and tea was celebrated in original songs composed by local Hutt Valley and Wairarapa artists...

If it was considered a bit of an experiment in exhibiting themed objects of art and craft to initiate conversations both within the community of faith and to the wider community it was a success judging by both exhibitors and viewers alike who stated 'look! we have to do it again – and soon'.

“I had some reservations at the start” was Teresa's husband Stewart initial response. To show exactly what he meant he created a powerful table top sculpture in steel of a young man stepping out onto the Orb of the world from the top of a Cross and he entitled his work “Stepping out in Faith!”

In one way the answer to the question 'what does my faith mean to me' seemed to be stated a lot 'louder' precisely because the answer was not found in just more talking.  Instead it was a more reflective response that allowed the artists and crafters to state “here, we don't want you so much to just listen … but look first, look at what we have created as our answer to this, and then by all means talk too -if you wish."  

“We see no reason why this could not continue to be a regular event in the life of our parishes and community” stated Teresa.

The plan for parishes in to the future will be: 

1. Buller/Inangahua Pastoral Area

Sacred Heart, Reefton and St Canice, Westport are to become one parish with two Priests (or a Priest and a Lay Pastoral Leader) based in Westport. This will happen when there is no longer a resident priest in Reefton.

“One Parish - Two Churches”

2. Horowhenua/Kapiti Pastoral Area

St Patrick, Paraparaumu and Our Lady of Fatima, Waikanae are now one parish, the Parish of Our Lady of Kapiti.  “One Parish – Two Churches”

St Joseph, Levin and St Mary, Otaki will become one parish, to be staffed by the Priests of the Society of Mary.

Effective 1st February 2014. “One Parish – Two Churches”

3. Lower Hutt Valley Pastoral Area

Ss Peter and Paul, Lower Hutt, St Martin de Porres, Avalon, St Bernadette, Naenae and St Michael, Taita are to become one parish. “One Parish – Four Churches” Effective from 1st February 2015.

Sacred Heart, Petone, San Antonio, Eastbourne, Our Lady of the Rosary, Waiwhetu, and St Patrick, Wainuiomata are to become one parish.

This is to be effective from 1st February 2015. “One Parish - Four Churches”
The parishes will remain as a Pastoral Area.

4. Kahurangi Pastoral Area

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Richmond, Sacred Heart, Takaka and St Peter Chanel, Motueka are to become one parish. This is to be effective when there is no longer a resident Priest at Motueka.

“One Parish - Three Churches”

St Mary, Nelson and St Francis of Assisi, Stoke parishes are to become one parish at a time when it is no longer possible to have a resident Priest in each parish.

“One Parish - Two Churches”

5. Marlborough Pastoral Area

St Mary, Blenheim and St Joseph, Picton are to become one parish, but will be dependent on the availability of a Priest at Picton.

Sacred Heart, Kaikoura will remain on its own for the moment, but at the time when there is no longer a resident priest available it will become part of the one parish.

“One Parish - Two/Three Churches”

6. Northern Hutt Valley

Our Lady of Grace, Heretaunga and St Francis Xavier, Stokes Valley are to become one parish.

“One Parish – Two Churches”
This is to be effective as from 1st February 2015.

St Joseph, Upper Hutt is to remain as a stand-alone parish. The parishes will remain as a Pastoral Area.

7. Porirua Pastoral Area
St Pius X, Titahi Bay and Our Lady of Fatima, Tawa are to become one parish. “One Parish - Two Churches”
This is to be effective from 1st February 2015.

Holy Family, Porirua East and St Theresa, Plimmerton are to remain as stand-alone parishes. Te Ngakau Tapu, a parish personal to Maori, is to remain as a stand-alone parish.  The parishes will remain as a Pastoral Area.

8. Wairarapa Pastoral Area

St Patrick, Masterton, St Mary, Carterton and St Teresa, Featherston are to become one parish.

This is to be effective as from 1st February 2015.

“One Parish - Three Churches”

9. Wellington East Pastoral Area

St Patrick, Kilbirnie, Holy Cross, Miramar and St Anthony, Seatoun are to become one parish. Effective from 1st February 2015.  “One Parish - Three Churches”

10. Wellington North Pastoral Area

Ss Peter and Paul, Johnsonville, St Benedict, Khandallah and St Andrew, Newlands become one parish. Effective from 1st February 2016. “One Parish - Three Churches”

11. Wellington South Pastoral Area

St Joseph, Mt Victoria, St Anne, Newtown, St Francis de Sales, Island Bay and St Bernard, Brooklyn become one parish. Effective from 1st February 2016. “One Parish – Four Churches”

12. Wellington West Pastoral Area

Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish and St Mary of the Angels are to remain as stand-alone parishes.

St Teresa, Karori and St Thomas More, Wilton are to become one parish, to be known as the Catholic Parish of Otari, to be effective as from 1st April 2014.

“One Parish – Two Churches    

Devonshire Teas at Golder’s Cottage

707 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt

Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 April      1 - 3 pm each day

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 April        1 - 2pm each day     

To raise funds for the upkeep of this unique historic cottage in Upper Hutt.

Costs:   $10 per person Adult /  $5   per child

This entitles you to tea(tea can be substituted for Old fashioned Cordial) scones,  jam and cream plus a tour of the cottage

Postponement date will be the following weekend.  There will also be a sales table with other items for sale on the day

Please contact:   Nola 0800933583 or email nola@yourfinancialfuture.co.nz to book

This event was very popular and seating is limited if you arrive without booking –but we will take casuals