Covid 19 Update

There have now been positive cases identified in both our churches. As all parishioners were masked and separated there is only a low risk of spread. Please self monitor for symptoms. If you start to feel unwell please get tested.
You must:
– self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19.
– self-isolate if you live with a person who has COVID-19
Masses can continue at both Churches using strict protocols. Masks to be worn properly throughout the service. Sanitise on entry. Keep social distancing.

Dear Parishioners,
There are a couple of events happening in the Parish in January that you might be interested in.

1.  Garage Sale at St Anne’s Saturday 22 January
We are appealing for donations to help the super Typhoon Odette victims to rebuild their badly damaged homes. The funds raised will go to families in the island of Bohol in the Central Visayas’s region of the Philippines. Bohol was one of the hardest hit islands in the archipelago and its inhabitants desperately need help. The typhoon hit just before Christmas Eve 2021 and to date there is no electricity and drinking water is rationed.
Any donations will be gratefully received and can be made two ways. Donations through a  Givealittle page https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/typhoon-odette-victims-fundraising  or by attending a Garage Sale at St. Anne’s Hall, 22 Emmett Street, Newtown from 8.30am to 2pm on Saturday 22 January 2022.

2.  Joe Green is moving on
There will be a Presentation for Joe at the 9am Mass on 30 January at St Anne’s.

3. Newsletters
The first Newsletter of the year will be on 30 January. The Office will reopen next week on Tuesday 25 January.

Every blessing.
Fr Doug

Dear Parishioners,
With the New Year approaching and the holiday season well under way, I take this opportunity to let you know that Fr Cirilo has returned to the Philippines for a well-deserved break to recharge his batteries and reconnect with the family and friends he has not seen in 6 years.
He will be away through January and February of 2022. I look forward to his return to our Parish in due course next year, and wish him a safe journey and a productive retreat
Every blessing.
Fr Doug

Representatives from St Mary’s College joined the Parish at St Francis de Sales Mass on Sunday Morning.
They presented a rose to acknowledge the special gift they have received from St Bernard’s Parishioners.

‘With all our gratitude for the donation of the St Bernard’s Parish sacred items.
They will be established in our new ‘Atawhai’ chapel ready for the start of 2022.’

The school is looking forward the opening of their new sacred space and preparations are well underway including the addition of inspirational artwork produced by students.

Photo Credit: Maria Fouhy, St Mary’s Director of Religious Education

The new traffic light system will allow people to gather in churches under certain conditions after 2 December;
Wellington South will be on ORANGE.
This means there will be no restriction on numbers in the Church and no need for registration.
♦ All parishioners must show a My Vaccine Pass at the door, which will be verified. (You can download this onto your phone, or produce a paper copy with the QR code on it)

To get a My Vaccine Pass call 0800 222 478. Please have your NHI number ready — you can find this on a hospital letter, a prescription or prescription receipt. OR go to https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ to sign up for a My Health Account. (Also check with your local pharmacy as some are able to print your vaccine pass for you.)

♦ A separate Mass at 6pm on Saturdays at St Anne’s will be open to vaccinated and unvaccinated alike (no proof of vaccine required). A maximum of 50 people allowed and you can register online at https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/ or contact the office.

We will also continue with measures designed to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid-19.
• Please bring your own mask
• Scan in at the door
• Communion only in the hand
• No holy water for blessing
• No shared hymn or other books.

Christmas Eve

6pm:          Family Mass at St Francis de Sales
7.30pm:     Family Mass at St Anne’s
9pm:          Mass St Francis de Sales

Christmas Day

9am at St Anne’s
10.30am at St Francis de Sales

All Christmas Masses in our Parish will require a Vaccine Pass

St Mary of the Angels will be holding Open Masses
Christmas Eve—5.15pm
Christmas Day—7am
No vaccine pass required but you need to register. To register email office.manager@smoa.org.nz

Mass Registrations

Masses not requiring My Vaccine Pass are listed in this registration system on the Archdiocese website
They are limited to 50 people. You must register for these Masses.

If you wish to attend: please fill out the form on this link.
Registrations are open from 9:00 am Wednesday to 12:00 noon Friday.

A message from Cardinal John Dew

The new ‘traffic light’ system will allow people to gather in churches under certain conditions from early December;
 Parishes will provide Masses for vaccinated people with a My Vaccine Pass.
 A separate numbers-restricted Mass will be open to vaccinated and unvaccinated alike (no proof of vaccine required).
 All those who are ushers, readers, ministers of the Eucharist, collectors, those leading liturgies of the Word, Communion to the sick, etc will need to be fully vaccinated at vaccination-only Masses.
 Priests who are not fully vaccinated will be unable to exercise pastoral care in aged-care residential settings or hospitals as well as schools.
 Fully vaccinated priests presiding at a service open to both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, need to give due consideration to any health conditions that make them more susceptible to being infected by Covid-19.
 Pending any changes accompanying the ‘traffic light’ system, Parishes should continue with measures designed to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid-19, such as encouraging the use of masks, social distancing, communion only in the hand, no holy water for blessing, and no shared hymn or other books.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have commentary on their website:
https://www.catholic.org.nz/news/media-releases/mass-with-trafficlights/

The full Bishops letter is available from:
https://www.catholic.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Bishops-Pastoral-Letter-Covid-19-vaccinations-extended.pdf

After many meetings and Parish consultations, the St Bernard’s Church complex will finally be placed on the market for sale this month. This is a sad time for many of our people.
The good news is that St Mary’s College are setting up a Chapel. The St Bernard’s community have graciously agreed to donate the altar and some of the other religious items to them. Maria Fouhy, the Director of Religious studies at the College says “We are very excited about our new sacred space, this is such a treat for us!”