Franz Josef is part of the parish, and there are over 200 people there who have lost their jobs because there are no longer any foreign tourists.

Many of these migrant workers cannot go home because there are no flights.

In some cases their rent has been lowered, in others, not.

The parish takes an active part in the South Westland Emergency Foodbank Relief scheme (SERF).

SERF supports over a hundred people and families in towns from Hari Hari to Haast.

Food providers have been generous, so SERF provides food parcels.

Funds are also available from Civil Defence.

SERF can give a person or family a food voucher which they can redeem at the supermarket.

The receipt returns to SERF so that they can keep an eye on how the money is being used.

On Friday afternoons people needing advice can come to the Medical Centre in Franz Josef where Fr Mike is available to point them towards whatever they might need.

For ten years, Fr Mike, who worked for many years in Brazil, has gone to Queenstown on the fourth Sunday of each month to celebrate a mass in Portuguese for the sizeable Brazilian community there.

On the following Monday, he helps to sort out the many problems that working migrants have.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many have lost their jobs and have no way of paying rent or sustaining themselves.

The government and city council have good initiatives in place to help.

And so does the Church; the Marist Fathers have made available $50,000 to assist the Brazilian community.

Currently, ten are being assisted with rent and living expenses, to the tune of $10,000 a month.

Rent for a small house is $500 a week, and for a room, between $100 and $200 a week.

Vagner provides an example of what can be done. He lost his job, but he enrolled in a four-month $3,900 language course, which gives him a 5-month visa.

He studies every morning finishing at 1 pm, so he is free to work in the afternoon and evening.

Through his improved English, he will get a better job, as well as being on the spot to apply for anything available.

He will undoubtedly find work in the next fortnight.

Source

Supplied

Siobhan Dilly, executive officer of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said Catholic agencies have been distributing the extra Tindall funds through organisations that work directly with families badly affected by the pandemic. Read more in NZCatholic

Fernando, the man well known for his "Do try it" slogan, founded tea company Dilmah in Sri Lanka in 1988. It is now one of the world's largest tea brands and is well known in New Zealand. Read more

More than 3000 people have now been infected with the disease and doctors say the death toll is likely to rise.

George Fa'alogo, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand's (CANZ) humanitarian coordinator, is in close contact with Caritas Samoa.

He says, "We're at a loss to describe the impact of this outbreak, especially for those families who have lost more than one child.'

He said CANZ would continue to support Caritas Samoa so they may continue their outreach work in these communities.

Caritas Samoa has been collecting supplies such as food, clothing, hand sanitiser, bed sheets, pillows, towels and medical face masks for hospitals, clinics and families.

They are also mobilising volunteers to put together family packages of these supplies that patients and their families can pick up from donation stations outside of hospitals and clinics.

Samoa declared a state of emergency on November 15 and a mass vaccination campaign was activated soon after.

The government has announced its intention to make immunisation compulsory.

Schools have been closed, and children under the age of 17 have been banned from public gatherings.

On Saturday the streets of Apia were virtually empty.

Many in the community are tracing the current epidemic back to the deaths of two babies on July 6 last year.

At Tuasivi hospital, two nurses had mixed the wrong liquid with MMR vaccines.

The deaths provoked widespread fear and confusion among parents - and a great deal of mistrust of vaccinations.

Temporary clinics have been set up across the country to provide vaccinations and to treat people who are showing symptoms of measles.

Almost 45,000 people have now received the measles vaccine.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, together with Caritas Australia and Catholic Relief Services, are sending a solidarity grant to Caritas Samoa to assist them in their work.

The funding will help in the collection and distribution of essential supplies.

It will also provide transportation for medical professionals and mobile clinics to vaccinate people in rural areas.

You can support Caritas' relief efforts for emergencies such as this by donating to their Pacific Relief Fund on our website:

Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan
  Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• tvnz.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• rnz.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Amid artwork and a library of donated books, people can sit at large tables and eat together, no matter whether they are working in the area, living on the margins or struggling with complex needs. Many who are "living rough" like to hang out in the courtyard. Continue reading

The custom-built-van is fitted with a shower, two washing machines and a clothes dryer, and open to use for anyone living without these necessities.

Kris F'afoi, the associate minister for housing, and local member of parliament Paul Eagle were among those attending.

The Mayor Hutt City Ray Wallace represented Wellington's mayors.

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge explained some of the history of Orange Sky.

The van was then blessed, and some refreshments were provided.

The Orange Sky charity has 29 vans operating in Australia and is almost a year into its operations in New Zealand.

Since launching in Auckland, Orange Sky has washed more than 18 tonnes of laundry and provided 1900 showers.

Co-founder Lucas Patchett said they were considering expansion plans to Christchurch and other parts of the country.

He said the charity has snowballed into something much bigger than he could ever have imagined since the first wash on the streets of Brisbane in 2014.

"It's a basic human right to feel clean and to feel connected", he said.

Patchett and his best mate Nic Marchesi built the first free mobile laundry in their old van to help the homeless.

In 2016 they were awarded joint Young Australians of the Year for their social entrepreneurship.

Marchesi describes himself and Patchett as "two normal everyday blokes who had a crazy idea".

They had previously volunteered at food vans and other outreach programs while still at school and had a passion for helping the homeless.

Source

• Supplied
• nzherald.co.nz
• wikipedia.org
• Image: Supplied

Houses and apartments sold for over $800,000 would generate a donation to Wellington City Mission.

The money will come from developments in the pipeline like Erskine College, inner-city apartments, and the controversial Shelly Bay site.

"The outcome of these developments should be positive in many ways rather than just providing some houses for some people and a developer making some money", Cassels said.

"The Wellington property market is still hot at the top end, and that's a testament to how attractive a proposition it is to live in this city," Cassels says.

"At the same time, it's undeniable that Wellington still has pockets of very visible social issues such as chronic homelessness, alcoholism and child poverty. It's a pretty grim paradox."

The Mission's association with the Stop Out Club for wayward youth founded in the early 20th century captured Cassels' attention.

He then learned more about the charity's historical ties with the city.

The Stop Out organisation started in 1919 to provide recreation to Te Aro Flat children in Wellington.

It was an attempt to prevent them from becoming "stop-outs" - period slang for "troubled youth".

Wellington City Mission is going to develop a commercial building on Oxford Terrace which it purchased earlier this year.

The plan is to move its services from Newtown to the new Mt Cook site.

Between 30 and 50 supported-living units will also be developed under the Housing First initiative, subject to final design plans.

The money from The Wellington Company was "huge" for the charity, Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge said.

It would assist the Mission in its work with more than 500 of the capital's most vulnerable people.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• en.wikipedia.org
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers providing surgeries to thousands of patients from the world's poorest countries.

Tumour removal, facial reconstruction, cataract removal/lens implants, cleft lip and palate reconstruction and orthopaedics surgeries (club feet and bowed legs).

The SUNDAY current affairs programme travelled to Guinea, West Africa, to profile them and their incredible work.

The story is on SUNDAY - TVONE - 7.30pm on 10 March.

Further information in advance of the story is at the links below.

https://www.facebook.com/SundayTVNZ/

https://mercyships.org.nz/

Supplied: Amanda Gregan Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa

One church in central Auckland, which asked not to be named, received an increase of 6900 percent, from $400 to $28,000.

The council issued new rates bills, without consultation, to the churches earlier this month, claiming many were using all or parts of their property for business, not religious purposes.

But the acting chair of the council's Finance and Performance Committee, and Orakei ward councillor, Desley Simpson, said churches did not have to pay the new rates bills until councillors and the mayor could reach an agreement.

A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, Lyndsay Freer, said if the church had to pay the new rates bills it would have a "huge impact."

"It's a lot of money we're talking about and, for us, there's a considerable lack of clarity.

"We understand that the rates are for premises on our properties that are not used specifically for the purposes of worship, but we do have many buildings and facilities that are used for pastoral and not-for-profit work.

"There really does need to be clarification around what would qualify and what wouldn't."

The Anglican Church says it was disappointed by the bills, and hopes to work things out with the council.

"Our ministry units and their facilities are valuable resources to our communities, and this decision would have a detrimental effect by inhibiting the services our ministry units could provide," Bishop Ross Bay from the Anglican Diocese of Auckland told NZME.

"Auckland Council has responded well to us about this matter and we feel that we will be able to resolve it in a positive way."

Source

• newshub.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz and propertyclub.co.nz

The church has served lunch to students and citizens through a unique hot-dog ministry that was started in 2004 by late Joyce Kenslow.

Her work has continued through the efforts of her husband, Dennis, after Kenslow died in 2005. Continue reading

The Pakuranga resident came to New Zealand with her husband and young son in 2001 from China while pregnant with her daughter, and became a Christian not long afterwards. Continue reading

Christ the King Primary School Owairaka assistant principal and Year 5 and 6 teacher Billy Hadnett came up with the idea for the initiative, which began in 2015.

Hadnett established Cans for Christmas as a project to initially create community and unity between Catholic schools in Auckland.

"The idea started after attending an Edmund Rice conference and becoming involved in a discussion about how helping in our own backyard is the first place we should start," Hadnett says.

"This, combined with the knowledge that all Catholic schools already do individual service projects, brought about the idea of schools pulling together as one to donate at one time and in a large capacity."

Students taking part gain a sense of involvement, as well as being a part of something bigger.

"All children and schools involved get to help with their little bit to be part of the larger donation - it means they can feel like they have helped in a big way, just by donating one or two cans."

Cans for Christmas has been operating for two years. In its first year, 10 schools and the Auckland Diocesan (sic) took part, and collected approximately 4000 cans, and last year 19 schools and the Auckland Diocesan gathered approximately 8000 cans.

These 8000 cans were estimated to be worth $11,000, which was only a small portion that St Vincent de Paul hand out at Christmas time each year to families in need.

This year, Cans for Christmas has grown to include 30 Catholic primary schools, seven secondary schools and the Auckland Diocesan, and it also involves two Dunedin-based primary schools.

It is hoped approximately 14,000 cans will be collected, Hadnett says, which is still a small proportion of what the St Vincent de Paul Society pass on to families in need at Christmas, every year.

Source

• Education HQ
• Givealittle
• Image: Education HQ

Anniversary celebrations are planned for the weekend of October 13-15 in Christchurch.

On Sunday October 15, an Anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs as well as Bishops Owen Dolan and Charles Drennan.

Celebrations will also be attended by representatives of countries with which New Zealand has 'twinning programme' arrangements - Tokelau, Tonga, Sri Lanka and Samoa.

Other international guests will include the Council General and International Representative, Tony Muir, and International Territorial Vice-President, Frank Brassil.

"The weekend will be a wonderful opportunity to give thanks to God for all the blessings the Society has enjoyed over 150 years," says Terry Comber, National President of the Society.

"We remember especially our brother and sister Vincentians on whose shoulders we are standing, those caring people who have gone before us over many decades, carrying out their Vincentian vocation often under very trying conditions."

In addition to the Christchurch celebrations, local Conferences of the Society are also hosting local events and celebrations.

The Society has published a special Anniversary publication to mark this major milestone in its history.
The publication includes a visual timeline of the major milestones in its 150-year history, as well as reports about what local Conferences have been doing around the country.

In his message to Members, Cardinal John Dew said: "the Church in New Zealand and New Zealand Society owes an incredible debt of gratitude to the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society who have worked quietly and humbly to care for others in the name of Jesus.

"I offer deep thanks for the way you have been Christ's presence to those who needed a sign of hope and a gift of love and generosity."

The St Vincent de Paul Society is the largest Catholic lay organisation in the world. It is estimated that the Society's 800,000 members work with around 30 million people in need worldwide.

The first Conference was formed in Christchurch in 1867 and has flourished in Catholic parishes throughout New Zealand since then.

Today the Society has around 6,000 members in New Zealand, including associates and volunteers and 135 Conferences.

Source

• Supplied: Anne-Marie McCarten National Executive Officer St Vincent de Paul Society

Everyone is invited to dine at the Café from 7.30 to 10am every Tuesday for a suggested one dollar donation per dish - or more - or less, if they wish. Continue reading

The intrepid group from Blenheim's Elim Church meet regularly to go out in their trucks to places out of reach to more conventional vehicles.

The kind-hearted crew have decided to combine the best of both worlds and head off-road into the Clarence Valley area to help families hit hard by the November 2016 earthquake. Continue reading

Kaikoura is part of Father Pat's Te Whetu o Te Moana - Star of the Sea Marlborough Parish which covers all of the Marlborough region and part of North Canterbury.

He lives in Blenheim. Even before the earthquake, it was a 2 hour drive form Blenheim to Kaikoura. Now the earthquakes have cut off all road and rail access.

McIndoe is planning to stay in Kaikoura until next Monday.

To the south, Fr John O'Connor, who is the parish priest pf Good Shepherd Hurunui says "An overwhelmingly positive response to the clean-up of the church at Waiau before the 7.00pm Mass (on Saturday).

"I arrived at 6.30 after the Hanmer Springs Mass to find the church and grounds abuzz with activity and by 6.45 the church was spotless with lawns mowed and the whole place looking even better than it did before the earthquakes."

He said the only sombre moment was when the statues of Our Lady and St Anthony, each in 1000 pieces, were carried from the church.

"Then we celebrated Mass with a great crowd of workers from all over the parish. Immediately after Mass one of the team appeared with cold beer and good wine and we stood around outside enjoying the great company."

He then went on Cheviot where "we will do the same at Cheviot with clean-up at 9 and Mass at 10," he said

The diocese of Christchurch is instigating an initiative to support those in the Hurunui area who have be affeted by the eathquakes.

People have been are invited to provide food parcels/care packages with home baking, chocolate, treats for families.

These packages will be distributed by the various churches.to those affaected by the earthquakes in the Hurunui area.

The food parcels/care packages can be dropped off at St Joseph's Parish, corner Main North Road and Vagues Road, Papanui or Cathedral House, Unit 2, 9 Washington Way from Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th November.

People have been asked to put items in supermarket bags for ease of distribution.

Any queries phone Cathedral House 366 9869.

Source

• Supplied
• catholicphilly.com
• facebook.com
• catholic.org.nz
• Image:indaily.com.au

The West Evangelical Schools Trust is offering 30 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments for sale.

The fixed price is at least $150,000 below market value. Contiue reading

The gift comes from one of the oldest institutions of Western & Christian civilisation, the Sovereign Order of Malta, through its Sydney members.

The above picture shows staff and helpers at St John the Evangelist parish in Otara parish modelling the coats.

The coats are being distributed by the diocese through some of its agencies in Auckland, the James Liston Hostel and St Patrick's Cathedral in the central city, and by Catholic Social Services and St John the Evangelist Parish, both in Otara.

But not just the coats were gifted to the diocese by the Order of Malta. In addition they paid for freight, customs clearance and delivery to Pompallier Diocesan Centre in Auckland.

"It started over a lunch time conversation with one of the members of the Order of Malta who was visiting Auckland from Sydney," said Lyndsay Freer of Auckland diocesan communications.

"He was disturbed to hear of the extent of homelessness here and because they have distributed some thousands of coats in Australia, he decided to send some to us," she said.

The idea of giving coats to homeless people began with the Order's Australian branch and it has now caught on around the world. Last Christmas, they distributed 1000 coats to the homeless in and around Rome.

What is the Sovereign Order of Malta?

A lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1084, the Sovereign Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the European Union, and permanent observer status at the United Nations. It is neutral, impartial and apolitical.

It is active in 120 countries caring for the poor and marginalised through its medical, social and humanitarian works. Day-to-day, its broad spectrum of social projects provides a constant support for forgotten or excluded members of society.

The Australian Association of the Order was formed in 1974, and operates across every State and Territory of Australia. It now has several members in New Zealand, based in Wellington.

The Order of Malta is active in 120 countries and is committed to serving the poor and sick worldwide as it has been for over 900 years. Its motto is Upholding human dignity and caring for people in need.

Source
Supplied: Diocese of Auckland