WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: “Have your answer ready for the hope that you have,” the Letter of Peter tells us.  Where and how has your faith in Christ made a difference for you personally, been a support to you, given you a confidence you might not have had otherwise?  We have been given an Advocate precisely so that we do not feel left as orphans.  How has this Holy Spirit borne fruit in you?

First Reading:
Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17.

5     Philip went down to a city of Sama’ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6     And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.
7     For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8     So there was much joy in that city.
14     Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama’ria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15     who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16     for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17     Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
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ROSTERS: for June are now available.  Please check to see if there is one for your family.  Thank you.

CUP OF TEA: next Sunday, served by the Morris Family Group.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC: Some headlines from the May 22– June 4 issue of NZ Catholic:  Only one version of the Our Father approved for the Mass . . . Engineers look inside devastated cathedral . . . Priests in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Kaitaia die . . . Vatican nurtures use of the Latin Mass.  On sale now

N.T.P.A: One in Christ: The Sacraments of Initiation. Bishop Peter and his team will be presenting the Shaun Hurley Memorial Lecture 2 on Sunday 19 June at St Joseph’s Hall.  Session 1 commences at 11.30am with a shared lunch at 12.30.  A further session will be from 1.15pm until 2.45pm.

ESPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF Mons CHARLES DRENNAN: The Ordination will take place at the Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit at 11am on June 11.  All parishioners are most welcome to attend.  The Ordination will be followed by lunch.  If any parishioner wishes to attend please contact Sr Mary.  Numbers are needed for catering purposes.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP: Novena at St Joseph’s Church every Thursday at 5.30pm.

DOVE WOMEN’S RETREAT DAY: A wonderful opportunity for all women. Come and know how very much you are loved and cherished at a Dove women’s retreat day near you.  Theme; “Come to the Father’s Heart”.  10 Days of Refreshment; each day complete in itself; being hosted around the country by the Dove National team.  The third day; Saturday 25 June St Joseph’s Church Hall Victoria St Hawera.  For more info on all 10 Days of Refreshment, or to register go to www.dove.org.nz or phone
Jo 09 424 4122.

“LET’S PRAY”: Prayer, Contemplation and Liturgy Symposium.
To be held at the Diocesan Centre, 33 Amesbury St, Palmerston North, 11-13 August.  Keynote Speakers are:  Donna Orsuto (Director of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Rome), Stephen Kirk (Catholic Australian composer, musician and singer), Joy Cowley (wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and writer) and Abbot Brian Keogh (leader of the Southern Star Abbey, Kopua).  Numbers are limited.  All are welcome!  For registration forms and details go to www.pndiocese.org.nz  or contact
Wendy Silver  06 354 1780 ext 833

See the brochure in the Church foyer.
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WELCOME TO OUR LITURGY: Together, we are “living stones making a spiritual house.” Christ, however, is the precious keystone binding us as one. What hopes do you have for your parish, what more can you be together, especially now after celebrating Lent and Easter? Let this beautiful but challenging image really speak to you about faith and community!

Firs Reading:
Acts 6: 1-7

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch’orus, and Nica’nor, and Ti’mon, and Par’menas, and Nicola’us, a proselyte of Antioch.
6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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VOTIVE CANDLE STAND:  Thanks to all who contributed to the Votive Candle Fund.  The Appeal Fund stands as:  Donations Received:  $2570,  Burkett Trust:  $1500 and Offerings Received (to 24/4/11):  $179.  Making a total of $4249.  The Candle Stand cost $5980.  Thanks to Paul Spurdle and McGregor Electrical for the design and installation and to all who have made donations.  If you still wish to contribute, envelopes are available at the back of the church.

NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC:  Some headlines from the May 22– June 4 issue of NZ Catholic:  Only one version of the Our Father approved for the Mass . . . Engineers look inside devastated cathedral . . . Priests in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Kaitaia die . . . Vatican nurtures use of the Latin Mass.  On sale now

N.T.P.A:  One in Christ: The Sacraments of Initiation. To be held at St Joseph’s Church 19th June 11:30—3:30pm.  Hosted by Bishop Peter Cullinane and Team. It’s a 2 part lecture with a shared lunch in the middle that looks at how we become one in Christ, through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.   All are welcome.

ESPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF Mons CHARLES DRENNAN:  The Ordination will take place at the Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit at 11am on June 11.  All parishioners are most welcome to attend.  The Ordination will be followed by lunch.  If any parishioner wishes to attend please contact Sr Mary.  Numbers are needed for catering purposes.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP:  Novena at St Joseph’s Church every Thursday at 5.30pm.

DOVE WOMEN’S RETREAT DAY:  A wonderful opportunity for all women. Come and know how very much you are loved and cherished at a Dove women’s retreat day near you.  Theme; “Come to the Father’s Heart”.  10 Days of Refreshment; each day complete in itself; being hosted around the country by the Dove National team.  The third day; Saturday 25 June St Joseph’s Church Hall Victoria St Hawera.  For more info on all 10 Days of Refreshment, or to register go to www.dove.org.nz or phone
Jo 09 424 4122.

“LET’S PRAY” PRAYER:  Contemplation and Liturgy Symposium.
With keynote speakers, Joy Cowley, Abbot Brian Keogh, Donna Orsuto and Stephen Kirk.  Workshop leaders include, Bishop Phillip Richardson, Mark Richards, Fr Alan Roberts, Bronwyn and David Lea (Prayer in Marriage and Family Life) and Mike Delany.    To be held at the Diocesan Centre, 33 Amesbury St, Palmerston North, 11-13 August.  See the brochure in the Church foyer.
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