Living in Faith in the Spirit of the Gospel - brought to you by Auckland WNP July 2020

Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, Jesus

F

Contact for the Wings.Nga Parirau Programme, Auckland, Dianna Fouhy, Coordinator: diannaf@cda.org.co.nz

On the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Pope Francis invited us to be builders of unity

and prophets of God’s heaven on earth. Although very different in experience and per-

sonality, Peter and Paul were united as brothers, the Holy Father said. Their closeness

to one another was not a result of natural inclination, he explained, but came from the

Lord, who commands us to love one another. “He is the one who unites us,” the Pope

said, “without making us all alike.” Pope Francis explained that the source of unity is

prayer, and pointed to the example of the Church praying together for St Peter when he

was in prison. The faithful of the time did not complain about persecution but gathered together in prayer. “Prophecy is

born whenever we allow ourselves to be challenged by God,” said Pope Francis. “Today we need prophecy. Real prophecy

does not consist in spectacular displays, but in bearing witness in one’s life to the love of God: “This is how Peter and Paul

preached Jesus, as men in love with God.”

If we spent more time in prayer and less time complaining, the Pope said, “so many doors would be opened, so many

chains that bind would be broken.” Pope Francis concluded inviting everyone to allow ourselves to “be challenged by Je-

sus” and to respond to His call to be “builders of unity” and “prophets of God’s heaven on earth.” https://

www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-let-us-be-challenged-by-jesus.html Have you been present in

St Peter’s in Pome with the Pope? I was there in St Peter’s, as a 21 year old, for the Ordination of a number of Bishops. It

was a fluke or a ‘grace’ that I was there, seated right behind the Bishops. I had met a young fellow on my wandering ear-

lier in the day, and he had an uncle who was part of the team of St Peter’s… I had to buy a dress, shorts and sandals, were-

n’t the code, and there I was. The Holy Father was carried in, shoulder high, and all of us there greeted him; ‘Papa! Papa!’

I can still feel my heart lift with love for all these ‘my brothers and sisters’ calling out with me. Jesus gave us Peter! Trust!

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News: strong is God’s love for all.

Wings • Ngā Parirau

Catholic Faith Formation

bring Wings.Nga Parirau to our Auckland Diocese.

Soon we will be introducing Wings.Nga Parirau to each of the

Parishes in our Auckland Diocese and it would be Good News

if you could answer the invitation to help in your parish or

worshipping community.’ ...those who hope in the Lord will

renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be

faint.’ Isaiah 40:31 Wings.Nga Parirau has emerged from

the Walk By Faith Programme which has been the New

Zealand Catholic Faith Formation programme for over 40

years. The vision and the content of Walk By Faith forms the

foundation of Wings.Nga Parirau which is presented by The

Catholic Institute and the National Centre for Religious Stud-

ies and is endorsed by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference.

Dear Pilgrim people, each of you who is walking in

the WAY of Christ, and living His command to ‘go

out and spread the Good News ‘ please help me

Here we are in winter!

The days are lengthening,

the trees are finally

stripped of leaves and

spring bulbs are peeping

through. A transition

time. Traditionally a time

to ‘go within’. To seek

God in the warm, quiet.

To listen to Jesus ask us,

as He asked Peter: ‘Who

do you say that I am?’ Take time to answer. Say the

name of your Beloved Jesus. See Him present in those

around you. Hope they see him in you! Be joyful!

Read again of the Joy of the Gospel in Francis : http://

www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/

documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-

ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html

Being involved in Church community in the Auckland Diocese:

Check with your parish community to know the structure

around attending Mass on Weekdays and on Sundays!

Mass continues to be shown on Shine TV 2pm Sundays.

Daily Mass on the Diocesan Website is being replaced by a

daily reflection on the Word: Breaking Open the Gospel

Get familiar with https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/

Dear Pilgrim people, have you read the Pastoral Letter on Leaving the Closed Room sent to all of us on 26th May 2020 from the Bishops of the NZ Catholic Church? You can read this letter in full on the Diocesan Website www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/

“Dear sisters and brothers in Christ

Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou – Peace be with you …

As we emerge from our “closed room” we hope and pray that

the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us, guiding us to work

for a better, more caring society. We hope and pray that the

Spirit will inspire our faith communities, our parishes,

schools and chaplaincies, to re-vision themselves towards a

revitalised spiritual life, a renewed effort towards welcome

and evangelisation and to a deeper awareness of and re-

sponse to the needs of the wider community.

As we look towards Pentecost may we be inspired by the

early Church that emerged from the “closed room” so long

ago. Like those Spirit-filled disciples, may we too take the

risen Christ to the world. “

I have included this final part of the Bishops’ letter here.

It’s a clear call to each of us to be active witnesses to our

faith. The vision of Walk By Faith, now Wings.Nga Parirau,

is that we become more fully formed in our Catholic faith

through prayer, and reflection on our own lives in the light

of the Scriptures and Church teachings. We hopefully

become more confident and eager to share our faith with

others. Christ promises to be with us! Always!

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow Pilgrims on the

Way, I invite you to ponder Pope Francis’ call to each of us

‘to spread the Good News at all times, and if you have to,

use words.’ Act now in the light of the Holy Spirit...

Can you help me bring this Faith Formation programme to

your parish? The NZ Bishops are supporting Wings.Nga

Parirau as they previously supported Walk By Faith.

Bishop Pat has been promoting the Alpha programme as a

means of faith renewal in the parishes of the Auckland

Diocese. Now Wings.Nga Parirau is being promoted for

more ‘in depth’ faith formation.

For those of you who graduated with Walk By Faith over

five years ago, the assessment process may seem a little

different. Participants are encouraged to reflect and

respond in a variety of ways , written or in other creative

mediums. Now, as then, personal reflection on life in the

light of Scripture and Church Tradition and Teachings is

key. We respond to Jesus’ call to enter into full, loving re-

lationship with Him, to ‘come follow’ Him. So… read on!

‘Picture of Children’s Balloons. ..

Being Involved in All Souls’ Day-

seeing the Love of God through

the Children...‘

‘Picture of Birds....My

Expression of God's

Creation of Us All…’

As an example of one way of responding, Yolanda Kirkbeck

who graduated from Walk By Faith 2019, has allowed me to

use some of her Assessment Reflections from WBF Year One.

Yolanda shared her pictures and her pondering with the group

in the tutorial sessions. It was a deeply personal, and yet open

way of reflecting on life, faith, God. Thank you Yolanda.

To all graduates of the Walk By Faith Programme

Wings.Nga Parirau Short Survey

We would love you to take a moment to fill in the survey below and email your response back to diannaf@cda.org.nz .

We, the Diocese Faith Formation Team, are in touch with parishes regarding running Wings Nga Parirau as a parish Faith Formation program as a part of a Diocesan supported parish transformation plan.

Question 1 Would you be interested in running, or helping lead a Wings.Nga Parirau group in your parish?

Question 2 If your answer is ‘ Yes’ would you prefer to use:

a) A digital platform such as Zoom OR

b) Physical Meeting place at the parish OR

c) Either a) or b) is OK

The Diocese will be offering training and local support in both of these forms.

Please comment on what sort of help or assistance you might need in addition to this to feel properly prepared and available.

Please email me ASAP diannaf@cda.org.nz