Mission and Evangelisation

Pope Francis is quite clear that we are living an era of change, but through a change of era. His point is that this is a moment of great opportunity and he uses beautiful images to describe what a missionary church should look like. He says the Church is the House of the Father where the doors are open and all are welcome. It should be like a field hospital where those who are burdened or wounded find comfort and healing.  We can not do this if things just stay the same, if we just keep on doing the same things the same way because we always have done so.  We need to move from maintaining our parishes to focussing on being this missionary field hospital.

Divine Renovation is a way of being Church, of looking at things in new ways that provides ideas, guides and tools for Parish Transformation.  It is a concept we hope to use in the diocese that we might be more.  More welcoming, more grateful and more focused on Mission.

People from many nations have come to Aotearoa New Zealand and made it their home. Along with the pots and pans they have

Handbook for Migrant Chaplaincies

This is the latest edition of the “Handbook for Migrant Chaplaincies” for use in the Auckland Diocese.  It is the result of consultation with Deaneries and Migrant Chaplains and is intended to be a resource and a directive for both Chaplains and Parish priests. Through its use we trust that the migrant peoples who come to our diocese are more easily welcomed into our faith communities.

A number of parishes employee lay people or permanent deacons in the role of pastoral worker.

The Parish Pastoral Worker works in partnership with the priests and pastoral council of a parish or in many aspects of faith community life.

• Relating – Building community through quality relationships and pastoral care. Being mindful of the needs of people for spiritual nourishment and practical care.
• Praying  –  Enhancing the prayer and worship of the parish community through coordination, support and encouragement for participation.
• Animating – Bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging involvement in existing and new initiatives of faith community life.
• Educating – Promoting lifelong learning in the Catholic tradition and in Christian living.

The Diocese offers advice and guidance to those in this important role and provides opportunities for pastoral workers to gather for formation and support.  Contact Mission Support for more details.

Often the first face of the parish visitors and enquirers encounter is that of the parish secretary.  Many of these Church workers are part-time.  They carry out a range of responsibilities.   Including some or all of the following.

• Welcome and direct visitors and parishioners
• Provide administrative, secretarial, and office support to the Pastor and
  Parish Staff.
• Answer phone calls and forwards calls accordingly, takes messages.
• Maintain parish calendar, schedule appointments, special events, and
  meetings.
• Prepares parish bulletin, parish announcements, and other communications.
• Maintaining parish memberships and sacramental records; Preparing
  Baptismal and Marriage Certificates
• Coordinates information for baptisms, funerals and weddings.
• Maintain a current list of volunteers to contact for different tasks
  ...

The Diocese offers advice and guidance to those in this important role and provides opportunities for parish secretaries to gather for formation and support.  Contact Mission Support for more details.