"Yes Lord!" (March 2019)

“YES, LORD!”
St Francis of Assisi Parish, Christchurch, NZ
Finding new ways to
tell others about Jesus

A Church of Hope and Mercy
We are a Church of sinners and
hypocrites. At no time in my lifetime
has that been more apparent to me
than recently. I have been saddened
and embarrassed by what has been
revealed in the wider Church during
the last few months; I feel personally
betrayed. During my time at World
Youth Day in Sydney 2008, I met
young people and religious from all
over the Universal Church for whom I
felt a great love and respect. This now
includes two cardinals who have since
been convicted of crimes.
But aren’t we a Church of hope and
mercy?
I have been perplexed by the task given
to us by God: “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations...” (Mt 28:19).
How are we, the sinners and hypocrites,
going to evangelise the world?
Firstly, we must be the Church of hope
and mercy; the Church of the gospels;
the Church of St Francis of Assisi:
simple, humble, pure. It is the love
of Jesus Christ that we must share
with the world; the hope and mercy
we receive because of his death and
resurrection.
Our Lord, and the Church, calls all of
us to this mission; and it starts with you
and me - the parish....
“The parish is where the Church lives.
Parishes are communities of faith, of
action, and of hope. They are where the
gospel is proclaimed and celebrated,
where believers are formed and sent to
renew the earth. Parishes are the home
of the Christian community; they are
the heart of our Church.” - US National
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
I pray that this rings true for the parish
of St Francis of Assisi, and indeed for
all parishes of the Church.
I laughed at myself when I was
reminded of eight years ago, just after
the large earthquake that shook us
to the core; for about five minutes
I thought of uplifting everything,
“abandoning ship” and moving to
Queensland. We decided to stay
and be a part of the rebuilding of
our city and help breathe new life
into it, because we have hope for it.
Sometimes our world seems to be
tumbling down; sometimes we feel
betrayed. The institutional Church
might be taking some knocks or even
be undergoing a crucifixion, but I
will stay and help build the Body of
Christ, because I have hope in the
resurrection and assurance of his
mercy.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he
has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead”
- 1 Peter 1:3
Phillip Bell
“Yes, Lord!”
Editorial Team
We welcome your feedback and
ideas, and look forward to receiving
contributions for future editions.
Please contact us by email at:
magazine@mairehauparish.org.nz
Message from Bishop Paul Martin
in reaction to the terrible tragedy on 15th March
02
We are horrified at the violence that has been inflicted on people of our
city (recently). Words cannot convey our distress. Our prayers are with
those who are suffering. I invite you now, wherever you are, alone or with
family, workmates or friends, to pray together in the prayer of St. Francis
of Assisi:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace:
where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master,
grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Anointing
of the Sick Mass
Friday 12th April - 1.30pm
Reconciliation Rite II
Tuesday 16th April - 7:00pm
(Reconciliation is available
every Thursday at 5:00pm and
every Saturday 9.45am)
Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord’s Supper -
7:00pm
Good Friday - 19th April
Stations of the Cross - 10:00am
The Lord’s Passion -
Noon and 3:00pm
Easter Masses
Saturday Vigil - 8:00pm
Sunday - 7.30am, 9:00am,
10.30am and 5:00pm

The city of Rome is at once breathtaking
in its beauty and dirtiness, and
in its colour and its chaotic streets.
It’s a wonderful setting for my time of
prayer, study and refreshment over
these months of my sabbatical. The
programme here at the Pontifical
North American College is a mixture of
lectures (scripture, art history, canon law,
prayer, woman doctors of the Church,
bioethics - thus far!), and field trips
(Mass at St Peter’s Tomb in the crypt of
St Peter’s Basilica, audience with the
Holy Father, walking tour of the city).
It’s the greatest privilege to be here. I
regularly remember the prayer requests
of the people of St Francis of Assisi
Parish, and am grateful for the support
on so many levels which you have given
me to make this sabbatical possible.
One of the first churches I entered after
arriving in Rome was the Pantheon. It
was built at the beginning of the second
century as a temple to all the gods of
ancient Rome. In those days people
feared the wrath of the gods (as finally
happens with all pagan deities), and so
a temple that covered all the ‘options’
was a good act of insurance. Not only
could a pagan god inflict injury on a
mere human, but the gods would fight
each other as well. So it was always
wise to back the most powerful god if
you were to get through life unscathed.
The Pantheon
The architecture of the Pantheon
is extraordinary. Its roof is an
unreinforced concrete dome, the
largest of its type in the world. The
top of the dome, the oculus, is open
to the sky and at thirty feet wide is the
only source of light for the building.
Through the day, the light washes
through the oculus and around the
interior, illuminating the art and altars
within. Since 608 AD (when it was
given to the Church) Mass has been
celebrated there every day.
There are a number of famous people
interred in this church, including the first
King of Italy - Victor Emanuel II. When
the King marched on the papal states,
Pope Pius IX excommunicated him. But
he was reconciled to the Church on
his death bed and was granted the
honour of burial in the Pantheon.
As well, the talented artist and
architect Raphael is buried there. Pope
Gregory XVI had a beautiful inscription
etched into his marble sarcophagus:
“Here lies Raphael, by whom nature
feared to be outdone while he lived,
and when he died feared that she
herself would die”.
All this art, beauty and religious history
has given me pause for thought.
While the world seems to have largely
forgotten, the entry of God’s only Son
Jesus Christ into the world was the
most dramatic moment of human
history. While the pagan gods of the
Greco-Roman empires were at best
disinterested in human beings and at
worst, despised them, now the full truth
of God has been revealed to the world.
God loves us. The Lord longs to give
us a fresh start. If only we would
let him! Our human story, even our
history, abounds with breath-taking
stories of new beginnings.
Take the story of the Pantheon; it
was a pagan temple for years. Now it
has been transformed, a baptism of
sorts. In the very place where pagan
sacrifices were offered, Holy Mass is
now celebrated.
Or consider King Victor Emanuel II who
found himself excommunicated from
the Church, but whose greatest prayer
was answered with his death-bed
restoration to Jesus in his Church.
The season of Lent gives us the
confidence that our life in God and
our friendships with each other can
indeed be restored and renewed. A
fresh start is waiting around the corner
for you. Today is the day to claim it.
Father Simon
Eccleton
Parish Priest
03

I became a Catholic in the 1980’s. I was
raised as a Presbyterian. The call came
when my husband and I chose to send
our daughter to a Catholic school, and
the priest who interviewed us said that he
expected us to bring Elizabeth to Mass.
I presumed that my husband, who is a
Catholic but was not practising, would
be the one to see to this. However, it
soon became apparent that if anyone
was going to take her to Mass it would
have to be me! That opened the doors
- enter God!
The Catholic Mass had interested me
for many years, as a friend had taken
me with her to Mass when I was living
in Auckland. I can remember the hairs
rising on the back of my neck at the
singing of the Gospel Acclamation.
Attending weekly, my interest in the
mystique and richness of the Mass
deepened and I made enquiries and
undertook instruction from a young
priest, Damien Caccopoli.
Damien and my times together were
more conversation and discussion
than formal teaching. However, God
was deepening my desire to know
more, and finally I was admitted
into the Church at St Joseph’s in
Whangarei in 1983, more than a year
after my journey began.
Since this time, my hunger to know
God, to know the person who is
Jesus and to develop a relationship,
a friendship with his mother Mary,
has deepened. This has been fed by
the many retreats, small groups, and
spiritual direction, which the Holy Spirit
has led me to.
I truly believe that my choice to
follow God’s love for me and to
accept his calling to the Catholic
faith was the turning point of my life.
Although christened, confirmed, and
worshipping as a Presbyterian, I was
doing this because it was expected of
me. By choosing to become a Catholic
as an adult, I actively made the choice
to let God into my life; and once He
has a foot in the door, there is no
closing it again!
I am continuing on this journey and,
with God’s love and mercy, I have
learned to know Jesus as a person;
Mary as a friend, a confidante and a
great advocate with her son; and to
know of the empowering, and merciful
love of God. A love that is beyond
comprehension, but is evident in
everything that is around me. I am
aware of the Holy Spirit guiding me on
my journey, and reading back through
my journals, am able to see just how
far this has taken me, but I am also so
aware that there is still a very long way
to go.
Cardinal John Newman’s prayer sums
everything up so well.
Jane Dick
The Mission
of My Life
God has created me to do Him
some definite service. He has
committed some work to me
which He has not committed
to another. I have my mission.
I may never know it in this
life, but I shall be told it in the
next. I am a link in a chain, a
bond of connection between
persons. He has not created
me for naught. I shall do good;
I shall do His work. I shall be an
angel of peace, a preacher of
truth in my own place, while not
intending it if I do but keep His
commandments. Therefore, I will
trust him, whatever I am, I can
never be thrown away. If I am in
sickness, my sickness may serve
Him, in perplexity, my perplexity
may serve Him. If I am in sorrow,
my sorrow may serve Him. He
does nothing in vain. He knows
what He is about. He may take
away my friends. He may throw
me among strangers. He may
make me feel desolate, make
my spirits sink, hide my future
from me. Still, He knows what
He is about.
Cardinal John Newman
04

“The Lord is knocking at the door of
our hearts. Have we put a sign on the
door saying: ‘Do not disturb?’” asks
Pope Francis. We know how important
prayer is to nurture our faith and keep
our gaze fixed on the face of Jesus. Yet
we are also very human; and there are
times when our prayer life slips, we
forget to pray, we feel dissatisfied with
how we pray, or we feel too distracted
when we attempt to pray.
Well, the good news is that you are
not alone in this! The saints also
experienced these times.
St Bernard of Clairvaux was journeying
with a farmer who noticed that he kept
his gaze downwards while they were
travelling through beautiful country.
Bernard explained he did this to avoid
distractions while praying, to which
the farmer replied that he was never
distracted when he prayed. Bernard
offered to give him his mule if the
farmer could pray the Lord’s
Prayer without one distraction.
The farmer began to pray but paused
after a few moments: “Does the saddle
and bridle come with the mule too?”
St Mother Teresa of Calcutta suffered
years of despair and spiritual sterility,
yet we know her for the joy she
radiated with her smile.
“In my soul I feel just this terrible pain
of loss, of God not wanting me, of
God not being God, of God not really
existing”.
St Therese of Lisieux used to fall
asleep during meditation, but she
would comfort herself saying that little
children are just as loved and pleasing
to their parents asleep as awake, so
God was not angry with her for this.
Some advice the saints might give us
includes:
+ + Focus on why we pray, rather than
being overly concerned about how
we pray.
+ + Remind ourselves that God is
always there with us, even if we do
not ‘feel’ this is so.
+ + If we find we cannot pray, just sit in
silence, and accept that this is our
prayer.
+ + Use the distraction as our prayer.
We might be distracted thinking
about an upcoming event: a family
gathering, a movie, or a walk in the
park on a beautiful day. Share this
excitement with God, expressing
thankfulness for the opportunity
to enjoy others’ company, or just
our own. Ask God to watch over
the people whom we are to meet
or socialise with; thank him for
the creative minds and talent of
those who make enjoyable movies
which captivate us; and express our
appreciation for the beautiful world
He has given us.
Some final sage advice from Pope
Francis.
“Do you allow yourselves to be gazed
upon by the Lord? … How do we do
this? You look at the tabernacle and
you let yourselves be looked at...it is
simple. It is a bit boring; I fall asleep.
Fall asleep then, sleep! He is still
looking at you… know for sure that He is
looking at you!”
So whatever you do, do not give up!
Wendy Clark
“Yes, Lord!”
Editorial Team
05

What springs to mind with the words,
‘the Renaissance’? Chances are you will
think of the flourishing of art in Italy; the
Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo; or
perhaps the grand patrons who helped
make this possible, the powerful Medici
family in Florence. Furthermore, it
is likely that you will picture the arts
in grand places, in the homes of the
rich and famous, and the places they
frequented, in convents, churches and
public buildings and spaces.
However, there is much to learn about
the Renaissance by looking into the
homes of the ordinary people of the
times, not just the wealthy upper
classes. Everywhere, you would find
how religious practice and belief
were part of the daily life of people.
Take for instance the bustling market
place where a merchant would ply
his trade, carrying a wooden toolbox
with a set of scales and weights. Take
a closer look at the intricate carved
design on the outside of the cedar box
and perhaps you will find a detailed
carving of a religious scene such as the
Annunciation. Inside the box you might
find a carved cross and the words, ‘Ave
Maria’. Prompts such as these would
remind the merchant to engage in
pious acts while going about his work,
perhaps to say a decade of the rosary
or simply to make the Sign of the Cross.
In the home, some of the utensils and
crockery placed on the table at meal
times would also serve as reminders
to pray. Cups were decorated with
simple scenes and religious symbols
to remind the gathered family to
bless their food before breaking
bread. One earthenware cup, which
is in the Cambridge Fitzwilliam
Museum, depicts St Francis praying
the rosary. Combs, yes, even combs,
were delicately carved with religious
scenes; for Catholic priests these
might be biblical in nature. A carved
comb was sometimes part of a bride’s
trousseau; the scene, perhaps of the
Annunciation or the Nativity, would
remind her how to serve as a good
wife and mother.
Many homes would have designated
sacred spaces for prayer; the better
off families might have a prie-dieu, a
prayer stool, to kneel at while praying
and reflecting. There would be
candles, holy pictures and a variety of
other devotional aids. Images of the
holy family were constant reminders
to imitate them. Parents were
expected to model good Christian
behaviour and lead their family in daily
devotions. Fathers were responsible
for instructing their children in their
faith.
How we can build a culture of
prayer in our homes?
+ + Invite a priest to bless our home.
+ + Choose Christian names for our
babies and talk to them as they
grow about the saint they are named
after.
+ + On the anniversary of a child’s
baptism, light their baptismal candle
and say a prayer.
+ + Night-time stories could include
the adventures of our faith heroes,
Moses, our saints and simple gospel
stories about Jesus.
+ + Talk to our young people about
Suzanne Aubert’s heroic work in
early NZ. Such was her renown, that
her funeral in Wellington in 1935
was the largest funeral for a woman,
which had ever been held there. Her
candidacy for sainthood is currently
being considered in Rome.
+ + Encourage our older children to
keep a prayer journal. This gives
them a place to write about their
worries, concerns, hopes and
dreams, and prayers.
+ + A simple crucifix or a holy picture
somewhere in our house can remind
us that we are loved children of God,
and called to show Christ to the
world.
+ + If a family member or family friend
passes away, light a candle and pray
for them.
+ + Praying as a couple is not always
easy but it important that God is part
of the marriage. Thank him for the
blessings of family. Call on him to
help you make important decisions.
Building a culture of prayer in our
homes is important.
Our homes are the
domestic church.
Wendy Clark
“Yes, Lord!”
Editorial Team
Coming up with baby names is one of my favourite parts of the pregnancy
journey. Jason and I were rather overwhelmed at the prospect of being parents
to five children, especially as my fifth pregnancy was high risk. Samuel was born
at 34 weeks and spent five weeks in NICU. He is now healthy and thriving.
I had always liked the name Samuel, and it helped that given our different
tastes in names, Jason also liked it. The name Samuel means “name of God”,
“God heard”. I really like it because the prophet Samuel responded to the Lord’s
calling with, “Speak Lord your servant is listening”.
We hope that our Samuel, like the prophet Samuel, will have the same
openness to hearing the Lord’s voice and be the Lord’s servant and prophet too.
06
Debra McTague

When my six children were all at school it was my custom to sneak out to the local monastery near my home to
attend the 9am Mass each morning. This was my quiet time, my haven of peace, an opportunity to recharge my
spiritual batteries for the busy life I led as wife, mother, and part time employee.
The monastery had a special prayer
oratory above the main church which
was reached by a large wooden
staircase. It was so beautiful and
peaceful up there. As I ascended
those stairs each morning, I could
literally feel my spirit rising in
anticipation of a whole hour and a half
spent in quietness. I looked forward
to becoming lost in the beauty of the
early morning liturgy.
One day the Lord taught me a lesson
I needed to learn. Since so few
people attended this liturgy, we all
knew one another by sight or name.
One morning a rather frail looking
woman whom we hadn’t seen before
made her way slowly up the stairs.
She was very shabbily dressed in
an old grey coat and headscarf
and carried two enormous bags on
either arm. As she found a seat in
the chapel she proceeded to cough
and rustle through the bags very
noisily! She sorted things from bag
to bag and generally “disturbed” the
congregation. By the end of the hour I
didn’t feel as peaceful. Somehow, the
presence of the “rustling stranger” had
altered my sense of equilibrium!
The next morning I noticed the same
woman already seated as I took my
usual seat in the chapel just behind
her. Again, the same rustling and
fidgeting proceeded. “God give me
strength,” I inwardly moaned. Why
does she need all these plastic bags
anyway, I silently mused! Well, I’ll just
have to try and ignore it! As if I ever
could! Feeling like a martyr to my own
cause, I shut my eyes tightly and tried
to pray. I didn’t feel as peaceful as I
should in that beautiful place. Perhaps
tomorrow would be better.
The following day, the lady leaned
over and touched me gently on the
arm as I took my seat. “Can I speak
with you after Mass on Friday please?”
she whispered. “Sure,” I replied,
wondering what she would want me
to do for her. “Thank you dear,” she
smiled brightly and patted my hand
affectionately. The liturgy continued,
and the noise somehow didn’t seem
quite as annoying today. Perhaps I was
getting used to all the rustling routine!
Several times during Mass she looked
over at me with a beautiful smile,
glancing at my entire person. Then she
focused her gaze on my feet which
made me a little “uncomfortable”. This
day I made a decision to not think
any more “bad thoughts” about the
little “bag lady,” no matter how much
distraction I suffered! After all, she was
just as entitled as I to share the Lord’s
Supper!
Friday morning came and as I
slipped into the pew, I smiled at my
new friend, whispering, “Hello”. She
returned a warm welcoming smile.
At the end of Mass she leaned over
the seat towards me and whispered,
“I have something in my bag for you
today, dear. I do hope they fit you.”
Then, in what could only be described
as “a Cinderella moment,” she pulled
out a white box, put it on my knees,
and lifted the lid to reveal the most
exquisite cream pearlised satin high
heeled shoes I had ever seen! The
sheen seemed to reflect all the muted
colours of the stained glass window
behind me! I caught my breath. “For
me?” I whispered. “Yes, for you dear,”
she smiled again. I gave her a big hug
sensing that she had singled me out
in that chapel to really bless me with
a gift that she had chosen especially
for me!
As I watched my new friend shuffle
out of the chapel, one less bag in tow,
I reflected on the lesson the Lord had
just taught me. Never judge God’s
“gifts” by the packaging they come
wrapped in; lest, in rejecting that gift,
you miss out on the treasure within!
Carmel Malone
“
Never judge God’s ‘gifts’ by
the packaging they come wrapped in.
”
07

Father John O’Connor
www.foodforfaith.org.nz
This year Lent began in Christchurch city with Catholics, Anglicans and Christians from other denominations
gathering in the Anglican Transitional Cathedral to pray together and for the distribution of ashes.
At the time we were gathering in
Christchurch, Pope Francis was waking
up to Ash Wednesday in Rome. A few
hours later in his Ash Wednesday
homily, he spoke of Lent as a “wakeup
call for the soul…a summons to stop,
to focus on what is essential, and to fast
from [put aside] the unnecessary things
that distract us.”
Many of the tourists stopping in at the
Transitional Cathedral as we shared
a cuppa in the foyer at the close of
the service, looked very surprised
when they noticed the marks of ash
on our foreheads. I’m not sure what
the Anglican recipe for ashes is but
it works much better than the oftendiscrete
Catholic markings. Many
of our forehead crosses were deep
black rather than dusty grey and
stretched across our entire foreheads;
impossible to overlook.
Pope Francis focused on this sign of
the ash cross in his homily: “Today
we have been offered a sign that will
help us find our direction: the head
marked by ash. It is a sign that causes
Bishop Paul Martin and Bishop Peter Carrell distribute ashes at the Ecumenical Ash Wednesday
service at the Anglican Transitional Cathedral
us to consider what occupies our mind.
Our thoughts often focus on transient
things, which come and go. The small
mark of ash, which we will receive, is
a subtle yet real reminder that, of the
many things occupying our thoughts
that we chase after and worry about
every day, nothing will remain.”
08

Pope Francis is widely considered to
be one of the best communicators
of our age. I offer below a few of the
central points of his homily.
• No matter how hard we work, we will
take no wealth with us from this life.
Possessions are temporary, power
passes, success wanes. The culture of
appearance prevalent today, which
persuades us to live for passing
things, is a great deception. It is like a
blaze: once ended, only ash remains.
Lent is the time to free ourselves from
the illusion of chasing after dust.
• Our heart always points in some
direction; it is like a compass seeking
its bearings. We can also compare it
to a magnet; it needs to attach itself
to something. But if it only attaches
itself to earthly things, sooner or later
it becomes a slave to them; things to
be used become things we serve.
• Lent is a time of grace that liberates
the heart from vanity. It is a time of
healing from addictions that seduce
us. It is a time to fix our gaze on what
abides.
• Where can we fix our gaze then
throughout this Lenten journey?
Upon the crucified one. Jesus on
the cross is life’s compass, which
directs us to heaven. The poverty of
the wood, the silence of the Lord,
his loving self-emptying show us the
necessity of a simpler life, free from
anxiety about things. From the cross,
Jesus teaches us the great courage
involved in renunciation.
I suspect that Pope Francis was
listening in on the homily that Bishop
Paul Martin gave at the Christchurch
Ash Wednesday service when (a
few hours before the pope’s homily)
Bishop Paul reflected:
“The world in which we live often threatens to lead us away
from the life of the heart to what is less real, focussing on what
is external and superficial. But our Christ-centred perspective
reminds us we can grow and thrive in this ‘outer’ world only
when we are at peace with ourselves and with God in the depth of
our heart. The world might offer us comfort, but we are not made
for comfort. Instead, we are created to live life abundantly with
God now and for eternity. Lent challenges us to live abundantly.”
Food for Faith
Without food we die, and without nourishment for our relationship with Jesus our life of faith is
reduced to a mere existence. Some years ago I began a blog as a way of sharing encouragement
for faith to anyone who was searching. In response to demand, the blog became a website that now
provides regular written reflections, podcasts and video clips. For the seasons of Lent and Advent,
these are available by email to those who sign up at www.foodforfaith.org.nz. I look forward to your
company as we grow together in relationship with Jesus Christ who is God-with-us.
Father John O’Connor
e john@fff.org.nz
09

Eucharistic Adoration
As Coordinator for the Diocesan Perpetual Adoration
Chapel, I am always trying to encourage people to sign
up; a) because I think it is absolutely life-changing, and
b) because we need more adorers.
Daniel Ang said at the Ablaze Parish Renewal
Conference in 2017 that “no one knew they needed
an I-Phone until it was invented.” I find this a bit similar
to going to Adoration. Often people wonder why they
would bother going, or what is in it for them; but once
they start going, they find that it is life giving and life
changing and wouldn’t think of not going.
Every person longs to be happy, fulfilled, peaceful and
content. The world offers many ways to help us achieve
this, but they never completely satisfy us. I know,
because I tried out many of these things and they made
me feel even more unhappy. St John Paul II once said to
young people that “it is Jesus you seek when you dream
of happiness...He is waiting for you when nothing else you
find satisfies you”. It was only when I gave my life to Jesus
Christ that I discovered this deep happiness. I have
spent hours in Adoration over the past 20 years and I
am convinced that encountering Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament has transformed my life.
A recent book called In Sinu Jesu recounts the
conversation between a Benedictine priest and Jesus
over nine years. It is all about the importance and value
of Eucharistic Adoration. At one point the Lord says:
“I am here, in the Sacrament of My love, to be your
comfort, your peace, your light, your refreshment and your
joy. Know this! Take heart...If souls
believed this of Me, nothing would
be able to keep them from seeking
Me out in the Sacrament of
My love and from remaining
in My presence”.
The Lord wants people to
visit him more regularly in the
Blessed Sacrament. When we
visit Jesus in Adoration He pours
out his grace upon us. He is
truly there, filling us with his love,
healing us, and granting us deep
peace and happiness. If we wait until
we feel like it, we will never go. That is
why signing up for an hour of Adoration a
week can be a good start. Our commitment brings
us to Jesus no matter how we feel. It also ensures the
chapel is always open to others who come seeking
peace and happiness.
I invite you to ‘come and see’ and experience the
peace and joy that only comes from Jesus. If you wish
to sign up or just want to check it out
contact me on 366 9869 or email me
moconnell@chch.catholic.org.nz.
Matt O’Connell
Parish Council
Book Review
“The Way of Trust and Love”
This is another Fr Jacques Philippe
book that I have found very helpful
in my spiritual journey. It is based on
a retreat he gave about St Therese
of Lisieux and her “little way”. As Fr
Jacques writes, “this completely new
little way ... is the way of trust and love”.
This profound little book is useful for
anyone wanting to grow in the spiritual
life. For me what stood out most was
St Therese’s radical trust in God and
how we are called to that same level
of trust. His description of St Therese’s
elevator (lift) to God brought me deep
comfort and peace. All we have to do
is remain little, trust in God and let him
act. Fr Jacques shows us that trusting
in God more and more can only come
from our prayer life. Every time I pick
up this book I am moved. If you are
looking for some powerful spiritual
reading, you would do no better than
get a copy of this book. It will be
available in our parish library for you
to borrow. You can also purchase a
copy from the Beatitudes in Leithfield
for $25. Check out their shop website
http://shopbeatitudes.blogspot.co.nz/
Reviewed by Matt O’Connell
10

“Let the little
children come to me”
(Mt.19:14)
Teachers at St Francis School undertake study in Catholic belief and
practice to enhance the teaching and learning of the children, and to
nourish their own faith. Although this does place extra demands on staff,
they recognise the importance of purposeful professional development
and commitment to uphold the Catholic Special Character.
Each paper I have studied has deepened
my faith and provided me with richer
knowledge. I have written essays which
have helped me reflect and grow in my
faith journey, and written planning units
collaboratively which we have used
in the classroom. Perhaps the most
powerful learning I have experienced
in my study has been through the rich
discussions with colleagues; these have
been helpful in developing my journey of
faith. A resource I developed on the life
of Mary, I have used many times. While
preparing it, I feel that I grew to know
Mary better and learnt about her life and
realised how much I can relate to her in
her role as a mother. - Louise Mackay
The papers I have completed have
helped me in my personal faith journey.
I have gained new knowledge and a
deeper understanding, which helps
when teaching Religious Education. I
have found this new information about
fundamental beliefs assists discussions
with parents. - Melissa Dungey
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) was so
relevant to our student community’s
interest in and passion for social
justice and environmental issues.
Understanding the Old Testament
has given me a solid foundation for
the teaching and discussion of the
scriptures; it helps bring alive the
teachings of Jesus and makes them
meaningful in our students’ lives.
- Kath Roach
I have really enjoyed the papers I have
completed. They are useful as they
enhance my teaching. Each paper
has a different theme and it has really
opened my eyes. I particularly enjoyed
Catholic Social Teaching, as it was
very relevant to our lives. I also enjoyed
working with other schools on this
journey. The collaborative approach
is very beneficial. Most of all, I have
benefitted from these courses in my own
faith journey. It has reminded me of the
importance of sharing my knowledge,
and the importance a teacher’s role has
in imparting Catholic teachings to our
children. We can make a big difference
to our children. - Paula Brown
The CST paper provided many
opportunities for teachers to apply their
learnings to their classroom teaching.
We wanted the children to know
environmental pollution affects the
poor, the most vulnerable in the world.
Therefore, they need to give to others
in need and be responsible for the
world they live in. We were seeing a
lack of respect for our common home
in our school environment. There was
always rubbish in the playground,
in the gardens and in the children’s
lunchboxes. We all know that the
environment is God’s gift to us and we
needed to show the children that if we
do not do our part now the future looks
grim. - Tracey Bryce
Students:
• assisted with a food and clothing
drive
• developed a plan of action to care
for our school environment
• participated in the Caritas Challenge,
sleeping in cardboard boxes and
eating basic food
• strove to have rubbish-free lunch
boxes
The ongoing commitment of our staff
to deepen their understanding of
our Catholic faith allows the school
community to live more fully the
foundational values and teachings of
our school.
Staff of St Francis of Assisi School
11

“
Being listened to
is so close to being loved
that most people
can’t tell the difference.
”
Listening: A powerful tool for sharing our faith
A few years ago, somebody told me
how they had intentionally shared
their faith with a fellow passenger.
I decided that I would try doing the
same on an upcoming international
flight. I boarded the plane and noted
the lovely woman with a warm smile
sitting next to me. After settling in,
I introduced myself and asked her
where she was headed. What started
as ‘initial conversation niceties’ ended
up being her sharing her story; a story
that totally gripped my heart.
During the next hour she described
in detail how, in recent years, tragic
circumstances had taken the lives of
two of her immediate family members
within relatively quick succession;
how, after raising her grandchild, she
had to give him up while he was in his
teenage years; and more recently, how
she had lost her husband.
As I sat there hearing of her losses, I
felt deep compassion for her, which
I knew was only a dim reflection of
the compassion that God had for her.
There was a shift in my motivation for
sharing about God.
Trying to discern if she knew God’s
supportive friendship, I asked, “are
you a woman of faith?” to which she
indicated that He hadn’t featured
highly in her life. I then shared
that while my experience couldn’t
compare to hers, I had found it
profoundly helpful to speak to God
when I lost my family members and
that it helped me to know I wasn’t
alone. I told her that I hoped she
would give God a try since she had
been through so much and she didn’t
need to walk on her own.
While I would like to say that my
speaking of God was a life-changing
experience for her, it wasn’t in that
moment on the plane. In fact, there
was an awkward spot when she
nodded but didn’t make any promises
and we grappled to move the
conversation onto lighter matters. That
experience certainly taught me a lot.
I learnt that there are people doing it
hard, who really need to know what
we know - that God loves them and
is with them. It is not right for us to
keep that knowledge to ourselves
and let them journey through all life’s
difficulties on their own. We need to
be less self-focused and see their
spiritual needs.
I also learnt that listening is a powerful
tool for sharing faith: both the listener’s
and the sharer’s hearts are placed in a
better place for God to work. Hearing
how life was for this woman helped
me be more ‘her-centred’. I believe
she felt what David Augsburger (US
Christian writer) speaks of when he
says, “being listened to is so close to
being loved that most people can’t
tell the difference”. When two hearts
are experiencing that kind of love or
compassion, you know that God is
already at work.
Kirsten
Challies
Pastoral Worker
12