| Latest News & Photos |
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| Passionist Family Group Movement Candles For Sale |
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| Passionist Family Group candles are available for sale. Click on photo on the left to see full size photo with prices. Contact details for sales below;
St. Thomas More
92 Wycliffe Street
Onekawa 4110
Napier
Hawkes Bay
(06) 843 4853
stmore.nap@xtra.co.nz |
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| Kapiti Formation Day & Wellington Region Co-ordinators Weekend 23-25 April 2010 |
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| The Kapiti area is made up from the parishes of Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Otaki and Levin. We gathered around 11.00am and Fr Brian began with “The Ordinary Miracle” and invited us all to consider what is good and wonderful in our world, our lives and our family groups. Part way through there was a shared lunch for the 56 participants.
The Wellington Region Co-ordinators Weekend was held at the Magnificat Community which is a few kilometers south of Featherston in the Wairarapa. The venue provided an excellent atmosphere for our weekend that was attended by 28 participants.
Fr Brian led the weekend which focused upon our leadership roles and to celebrate what is good....read more» |
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Young Adult & Youth Retreats - July 2010
Yes they are being held again! A Passionist Youth camp for young people aged 15+ to be held during the next school holidays - Tuesday 6-Friday 9 July. The camp will be held at Camp Rangi Woods, Pohangina Valley, Palmerston North $60. Registration forms are available for download but if you want to talk with someone contact Norma Bellamy. Come and join us, bring a friend - you won't regret it.
   
Passionist Young Adults camp for those who have left school but understand the value of being together to celebrate our faith. The theme of this camp is "Walk a While with Me" and is being held from 7pm Friday 9 July to Sunday lunchtime at a cost of $90. The camp is taking place at Bridge Lodge, Otaki and is being facilitated by Fr Brian Traynor CP. Registration forms can be downloaded or for more information contact Linda Darbyshire....read more» |
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Family Groups from a non-Catholic Perspective
By Pat Hudson, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Howick - When Penny come home from church one Saturday night and suggested we join a family group at
Our Lady Star of the Sea it was a bit of a shock. My being part of a church group was never on my agenda. However, after quite a bit of thought, I decided it could be a way to meet some local people as we had recently moved to Auckland. Since then we have become actively involved in Passionist Family Groups and have met some wonderful people and have made special friendships through the groups....read more» |
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Schedule of Events for 2010
DATE |
REGION |
EVENT |
6th March |
Auckland |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation Day (Brian Traynor CP)
10.00am – 4.00pm |
12/13 March |
Christchurch |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation w/e (Kevin Hennessy CP) |
12/13 March |
Palmerston North |
Meet with Regional People from P.North & Wellington Dioceses (Brian Traynor CP) |
20th March |
Bay of Plenty (Katikati) |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation Day (Brian Traynor CP)
10.00am -5.00pm |
20th March |
Dunedin |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation Day (Kevin Hennessy CP)
10.00am -5.00pm |
21st March |
Hamilton (Cathedral) |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation Day (Brian Traynor CP)
10.00am -5.00pm |
21-25 March |
Dunedin |
Parish Mission
(Kevin Hennessy CP) |
23rd April |
Wellngton
(Waikanae) |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Lunch and get together (Brian Traynor CP)
11.3 -3.00pm |
24-25 April |
Wellington) |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation w/e (Brian Traynor CP)
Sat 12,00 to Sunday 12.30pm |
1-2 May |
Hastings |
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21/22 May |
Sydney |
Australia/NZ Directors Meeting |
15/16 May |
Waihi Beach |
Retreat for Passionist Companions
10.00am Sat – 4.00pm Sun |
12 June |
Taranaki |
Let’s Celebrate What’s Good
Formation afternoon
10.00am – 5.00pm
Paul & Linda Darbyshire
Rob and Lynn Hill |
Parishes Celebrating Anniversaries in 2010
Anniversary |
REGION |
PARISH |
20 years – 24-6-2010 |
Lower Hutt (Wgt) |
Sts Peter & Paul |
20 years – 19-8-90 |
Glenfield(Auck) |
St Thomas More |
20 years – 7-10-2010 |
Huntly (Ham) |
St Anthony |
20 years – 4-11-2010 |
Papatoetoe |
Holy Vross |
15 years – 5/3/95 |
Mornington (ChCh) |
St Francis Xavier |
15 years - 14/3/95 |
New Plymouth |
St Mary’s Anglican |
15 years – 29/10/95 |
Paraparaumu
(Wgt) |
St Patrick |
10 years – 27/3/2000 |
Mt Albert (Auckland) |
St Mary |
10 years – 6/8/2000 |
Queenstown |
St Joseph |
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| Passionist Youth / Young Adults Retreats - October 2009 |
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| To “Rest in the heart of God, in a silence of faith and love” did the Young Adults trek to Highland Home in the Pohangina Valley to experience. The year 2009 marks the first Passionist Young Adults retreat, in which 21 young adults ranging from 19 to 35 were welcomed to the mighty Manawatu to enjoy the weekend of October 2nd to 4th on the Passionist retreat.
The theme of this retreat was to “Come walk awhile with me” and this is just what these 21 retreaters spent the weekend doing. Sharing their journeys with Fr Kevin Hennessy CP and Brother Nicky van der Bergh CP, the Young adults were taught about the Charism of Christ, stages of prayer and the value of both solitude and companionship in prayer......read more» |
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| Christchurch Regional Weekend - 2009 |
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| A large group of people gathered at the Mt Hutt Retreat Lodge for the weekend. The setting was amazing. Because of the large number attending, some people brought their tents and our leaders Kevin & Jan brought their caravan. It was great fun.
For many of those attending it was their first experience of a PFGM weekend. The programme had us following the journeys of St Paul. There were some interesting comparisons and similarities between what we experience in Family Groups today and what the supporters and followers of Paul experienced.....read more» |
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| Otago/Southland Regional Weekend - 3-5 April 2009 |
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| What a great time we all had at the 2009 formation weekend. The weather was great, the company friendly and the leadership awesome. This year we were privileged to have Fr Kevin Hennessy facilitate the weekend. The theme was how to Share our Christian lives together and How to Build & promote Community Spirit, following the Journey of “Paul” from Paul’s letters.
We followed Paul’s journey when he went to spread the good news, the barriers and successes, similar to how we try to spread the good news of the Passionist Family Movement. With plenty of role playing, reflection and thought provoking discussion, everyone went away from the weekend with renewed enthusiasm for the future in our region....read more» |
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| Fr Brian Traynor CP Celebrates 21 Years of PFG Ministry in Aotearoa |
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| On the 23rd and 24th of May the Passionist Family Group Australasian Directors meeting was held in Sydney. Clive and Frances Bleaken along with Paul and Linda Darbyshire attended as the New Zealand Representatives. They took this opportunity to acknowledge Fr Brian Traynor’s 21 years of PFG Ministry in Aotearoa. As a symbol of our Kiwi PFG Journey, and Brian’s many journeys to Aotearoa, they presented Brian with a waka. The Maori waka signifies a journey taken by the PFGM throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. During this voyage we have been blessed with Brian’s help to read the signs, be open to change and weather storms....read more» |
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| Pearl Hadfield goes to her first rugby match at age 92 |
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| This photo of Pearl Hadfield aged 92 at the Hurricanes versus the Stormers match at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Pearl (from Johnsonville Uniting Parish) said she had never been to a rugby match so our family group decided we should put that matter to right. We took her to the Hurricanes v Stormers - a 5.30pm kick-off. We met at the church for face painting etc and then to the Stadium. The Hurricanes won quite strongly over the Stormers so Pearl was regarded as a lucky charm. There were 18 of us who finished up at our place for a meal after the game (and it was a great game!)....read more» |
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| Passionist Family Group Movement alive and well in a Protestant environment
Johnsonville Uniting Church is enjoying its 11th year in the Passionist Family Group Movement. With 74% of the congregation involved the pastoral care of the parish operates at a high level. Sts Peter and Paul – a short walk down the street, guided us into the PFG and now we enjoy a very special relationship with them. The two Parishes meet for studies such as Lenten Studies together and PFG groups join in activities from time to time....read more» |
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| Wellington Formation 2009 |
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| This year being the year of St Paul, Fr Brian thought it fitting for our formation, we as parishes be given one of the communities that Paul visited. He suggested some readings and gave us hand-outs on the communities. When we arrived each parish was asked to gather into the community they were given and display any symbols that helped reflect their community, some parishes had put a lot of thought into this and had brought along Turkish rugs, apple tea to give to visitors from other communities, and a couple even dressed in robes to help give a real feel....read more» |
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| Palmerston North Diocese Formation 2009 |
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| Following on from successful part day programmes held last year two part days were held over the weekend of 21/22 March. The first in Palmerston North on the Saturday afternoon/evening and the second an afternoon programme in Hastings on the Sunday starting just before mid day and continuing until around 5.
The programme this year was based on the topic of St Paul, the Pauline communities, and each Parish’s Family Group story. Fr Kevin Hennessy facilitated the days, encouraging and enlightening us about St Paul and the early church....read more» |
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April issue of JPIC (Justice Peace & Integrity of Creation) Newsletter now available for download. Click on the link below to open Adobe Acrobat PDF files or right-click and choose "Save links as...." to save to local disk.
 April 2009 JPIC Newsletter
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My Journey As A Passionist Family Group Member
By Penny Hudson, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Howick - In 1992 (or was it late 1991) we received some information about Passionist Family Groups at church, I guess to gauge the amount of interest in our Parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea. At that time I was fairly new to the Parish and, in fact had only been attending Mass regularly again since we settled here late in 1990, after being a spasmodic attendee for about 20 years....read more» |
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| New Zealand visit of Passionist Provincial, Father Joachim Rego |
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| Fr Joachim visited New Zealand in November 2008 and met up with Parish and Regional Co-ordinators in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington during his stay. He was keen to meet the people, and hear how things were going for family groups in the area. People he met were keen to share and listen, and with prompting from Fr Brian Traynor, Fr Joachim shared his personal story - his arrival in Australia as an immigrant and his journey to becoming Provincial. His visit to New Zealand was Joachim's first, and it allowed him the opportunity as Provincial, to encourage the ministry of professed and lay Passionists, through the PFGM and Passionist Companions. ....read more» |
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| 'Voyage of Discovery' begins a voyage |
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| The Directors have chosen this pastel to be the emblem representing the 20 year anniversary of Passionist Family Groups in New Zealand, and for it over the next few years to make a journey or voyage all around New Zealand. It will travel to each parish with Passionist Family Groups as they celebrate their 20th anniversary of starting family groups. As the artwork goes to each of the six dioceses in New Zealand it will be blessed by the Bishop for the diocese....read more» |
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| New Zealand Directors Meeting, Waihi Beach 15-16 November 2008 |
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| The New Zealand Directors held their 2008 meeting at Waihi Beach on the weekend of 15-16 November 2008. The Directors gathered on Thursday evening November 13th and continued in recreational mode throughout Friday November 14th.
Present were Rob & Lynn Hill (National Directors), Murray & Aileen Straight (Sth Island Directors), Clive & Frances Bleaken(Upper Nth Island Directors) , Paul & Linda Darbyshire (Lower Nth Island Directors), Brian Traynor CP (Passionist Director)...read more»
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Today and Tommorrow by David Bernie
In the August edition of the Marist Messenger Fr. Cahill wrote, “Like all families situations change and so it is with our Church family” He also made the comment, “A Parish should be our second family” I am taking these comments out of context purely because they raised the question in my mind, what is the relationship between the family at home and the Parish community?....read more» |
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| Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Waikanae PFG undertake trip south, including TranzAlpine Tour |
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| Christchurch “Interparish Bed & Breakfast” hosts enabled Trish & Terry Twomey, parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Waikanae, to organise a five day tour for a PFG. Blessed with great weather they departed Wellington/Christchurch early morning, uplifting their hired mini van at Christchurch airport. The tour included a drive in perfect weather through snow capped hills over the Dyers/Gebbies Pass for a fun day in Akaroa. Some of the group elected to take a cruise down to Scenery Nook, others taking advantage of local attractions.
Check out their story and photo...read more» |
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| Passionist Youth Experience to Melbourne & World Youth Day |
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| Five young people from the Wellington, Palmerston North, and Hamilton Diocese went to Melbourne with the Passionist Youth Experience. They were: Matt Sissons, Tim Darbyshire, Tori Prendergast, Nicholas Alsford and Daniel Kleinsman.
They were accompanied by chaperone Tereska Alsford.
Check out their stories and photos...read more» |
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| A Family For All - The Story of Alice Robinson & A Challenge for other Family Groups |
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| Alice Robinson who is 93 years old holds Porshia Fernando who is 4 weeks old and of Sri Lankan decent on the day of her Baptism at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Palmerston North in August 2008. Alice also hosted a baby shower in her own home for Porshias Mother a month earlier. We think the Dorn Family may well have the oldest and youngest active members and we are very proud of that.
Can your family group better this!!!...read more» |
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| Paeroa 20th Anniversary Celebrations |
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| Another milestone of the Passionist Family Group Movement was celebrated in Paeroa today. We feel so lucky to have been involved in the celebrations!
We were at the Church by 8.15am for a 10.00amstart---we need a lot of prayers! After a while the people started to arrive….Clive and Frances (Regional Directors), Paul and Ellen Gavin (Regional Co-ordinators) and Rob and Lynn all arrived which we were rapt about. Other original members who now live out of town arrived (Adrienne and Willie Lynch, Mary Logie, people from Whangamata and Waihi. There were people everywhere and some of the locals couldn’t get into their usual seats..can you imagine that!...read more» |
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Downloadable Resources Now Online
New downloadable information sheets/booklets and forms have been added to the Resources section. These include The Whys & Hows of the PFGM, Group/Parish Coordinators information documents, general information brochure, a Spirituality of the PFGs document, and some suggested outings for Family Group activities....read more» |
Help build community in your Parish - "Join a Family Group"
