Weekly Notices

PRIESTS RETIREMENT VILLAS UPDATE
A Heartfelt Thank You – We’re Nearly There! We are delighted to share that, through the generosity of our community, $2.7 million has now been pledged toward the Priest Retirement Villas Campaign, nearly 80% of our overall target.

This is a tremendous milestone and a testament to the love and appreciation so many people have for the priests who have faithfully served.

The vision for the Priest Retirement Villas has always been about providing our retired priests with a comfortable place to live, offering both community and independence.

While this is a great achievement, we still need support to reach our $3.5 million goal. Bishop Michael is confident that we have the momentum to get there and begin construction later this year. If you haven’t yet pledged your support, you can do so by visiting:

https://cdoc.nz/support/donate...

Bishop Michael and our Diocesan Priests would like to thank everyone who has offered prayers and support.

REVOLUTION CAMP

After a sell-out camp in 2023 and 2024, Revolution Camp is back for 2025! An inspiring speaker, an incredible house band and all the usual camp favourites will be on the menu for Year 7-9 students from 27-29 June. Woodend Christian Camp is again our host and tickets are already selling fast – with earlybird pricing available. Get a group together from your Parish and School and make this the best camp ever! All the details and the link to register are at www.cyt.org.nz/revolution. Sponsorship is available and donations to support these are welcomed. Enquiries and any other questions to mcurrie@cdoc.nz

CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESAN JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE TO NORTHLAND

In this year of Jubilee, one of the exciting opportunities the Christchurch Diocese is offering is a Diocesan 6-day pilgrimage to the sacred places at the very foundation of the Catholic Faith in New Zealand. As ‘pilgrims of hope’, the pilgrimage will begin in Auckland and will explore the sites of the first missionaries that brought the faith to this country.

The pilgrimage is being held Oct 26 – 31, 2025. Places are limited. Matt O’Connell is leading the tour and there will be a priest chaplain. Bishop Michael will also join the pilgrimage for two days. For more information and a full itinerary, please contact Matt at the Diocesan Office on 366-9869 or moconnell@cdoc.nz

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY DIOCESAN CELEBRATION

The annual celebration Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday will be offered by Bishop Michael at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral at 2.45pm on Sunday April 27 with confessions from 1.30pm, all welcome. Mass will be followed by refreshments and a book sale. Please note there will be no parking on Cathedral grounds until after 2pm. Contact: Pat on 359 2087 for more information.

SISTER EVELEEN RETREAT HOUSE

Join us at Sister Eveleen Retreat House for a Retreat Day. 

Praying with St Ignatius A two-night silent retreat led by Ignatian Spiritual Director Colin Renouf, to be held on 23 – 25 June
This retreat introduces the life of St Ignatius and key themes of the Spiritual Exercises, such as Radical Love, Principle & Foundation, Freedom, Desire, and Contemplation. It offers a transformative space to grow whether new to Ignatian spirituality or seeking to deepen your practice.

Sister Eveleen Retreat House, Sumner, 6 Whitewash Head
More information and to register follow the link

St Joseph’s Hāwera celebrating 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 here. For further details email stjosephshawerajubilee@gmail.com.

FREE HAIRCUTS

Starting May 13 and fortnightly thereafter, Catholic Social Services will be offering free haircuts to the community from 9.30am - 1.30pm at their office located at 336 Cashel Street.

Any questions? Contact css@cdoc.nz

SOUP KITCHEN

Catholic Social Services is running a Soup Kitchen on Thursday, May 1, from midday to 2.30pm at Linwood Park. St Vincent de Paul will be there providing free blankets and other winter items.

For more information contact css@cdoc.nz

MARIAN COLLEGE OPEN DAY

Marian College is holding an Open Day on Tuesday May 20 from 2pm - 6.30pm. Bookings essential,  book your tour here.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY CONTACTS

Most hospitals no longer provide names of Catholic patients to our chaplains.

If there is someone from your family going to hospital please either advise the chaplain or your parish office or let the nurses know that you would like to see the Catholic Chaplain/Priest on call 

Christchurch Hospital:  Angela McCormick – 021 702 378

Burwood Hospital: Jane Dick - 021 572 480 

Hillmorton Hospital: Joan Hough - 021 501 683 

Nurse Maude Hospice: Christchurch North Parish - 03 359 1438

St George’s Hospital: Christchurch North Parish - 03 359 1438

Southern Cross: Cathedral Parish - 379 1068

CDF EASTER OFFICE HOURS

The Catholic Development Fund (CDF) extends warm Easter blessings to all our valued depositors. Please note that our offices will be closed over the Easter and ANZAC period from 3pm, Thursday 17 April, and will reopen on Monday 28 April.

Thank you for your continued support.

CDF Invest in Good www.cdf.org.nz

HOURS OF MERCY

Location: Our Lady of Victories church, Sockburn Description: “Hours of Mercy” is a eucharistic adoration organised by Jesus Youth New Zealand on Every Thursday after Easter Sunday until Pentecost, 8am to 8pm, it will be held in all 6 dioceses in New Zealand. Each diocese will be hosting one day of the week. We aim to foster the cherished practice of Eucharistic Adoration within our community, providing a space for everyone

to experience the transformative power of God’s mercy.

We invite all of you to join us. If you are keen to cover one of the slots of Eucharistic adoration, please express your interest by simply scanning the QR code and filling in the form.

METHODIST MISSION FORUM

You are invited to a Forum on Social Housing at 6pm on Thurs, May 1 at the Knox Centre (cnr Bealey Ave & Victoria St) For more information contact Marilyn 021 061 3940.

FOOD FOR FAITH FOR EASTER

This Easter Octave week Fr. John O’Connor will offer daily encouragements using the Easter Gospel readings for each day.

Try this as an Easter Retreat in Daily Life at www.foodforfaith.org.nz. An opportunity to experience the heart of Christian faith in a few minutes each day.

BEATITUDES RETREATS

COUPLE’S RETREAT – May 2-4

“Call to Holiness” is the theme for the retreat. Come away with your spouse to enrich your marriage under the guidance of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin 

WOMEN’S RETREAT May 25-27

“Freedom to Be Loved & to Love as Women” is the theme for the retreat. Starting at Genesis where our knots were tied up through Eve, we will journey with the Lord allowing Him to untie the lies of the enemy; concluding with Mary who shows us how to be loved and love freely as a woman.

MEN’S RETREAT – June 6-8

“The Spirit blows where He wills; you hear His voice, but you know neither where He comes from, nor where He is going! (cf. Jn 3:7-8).” Let us learn to walk in the Spirit.

To book, email retreats@beatitudes.nz or

phone 022 103 6994