Alpha is an opportunity to explore life, faith, and God in a friendly, open and informal environment. The courses typically run over a 10-week period beginning with an evening meal together each week followed by a series of short videos and a time of sharing. The course usually concludes with a weekend retreat.

Alpha will run in our parish two or three times each year.

Contact Judith - pastoral@christhchurchnorth.org.nz for more information.

Assisting and supporting our bereaved members of our congregation is a great privilege and here at our parish we have a team of supportive and kind people who, along with the priests, meet the families of a deceased person to help them prepare for their loved one’s funeral.

This is to help the families and assist the priests. We also support the families during the Requiem Mass or Funeral Liturgy. Following the funeral, we keep in touch with the family where possible to support them as they journey on without their loved ones.

If this sounds like something you have a heart for – then contact Judith O’Sullivan on pastoral@christchurchnorth.org.nz

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Christian formation process for children from three years old. The central aim of this faith formation program is to enable the child to experience and form an authentic relationship with God. The Catechesis is grounded in scripture and the liturgy of the church and framed by Montessori principles of education. This allows the children to hear the Gospels through the use of sensorial rich materials. The children are free to work with these materials that represent essential proclamations of the Christian message.

Contact Katherine Pawson at chch.childrens.atrium@gmail.com for more information.

This is a four week small group course for those who have drifted away from their faith for a variety of reasons.

It is a chance for people to reconnect and refresh their knowledge about the sacraments and the church today in safe, confidential, and friendly environment.

If you would like to discuss your journey today contact Judith - pastoral@christchurchnorth.org.nz

We aim to provide parishioners the opportunity to purchase religious gifts and books for giving on special occasions as well as giving people the opportunity to enhance their prayer life.

We are also looking for volunteers to look after the stall for ten minutes before and after the morning Masses at St Gregory’s Church.

Contact Helen Dooley on helenjohndooley@hotmail.com to join the team.

Faith and Light was born with the desire to help people with an intellectual disability and their families find their place within the church and society.

We are an ecumenical organisation.

We wish to reveal to each person his/her unique gift and beauty. Communities are made up of the person with an intellectual disability, their families, and friends.

We meet on the 4th Sunday of the Month, at St. Joseph's Pastoral Centre to share friendship, pray time, fiesta, and celebration. We were born in Lourdes in 1971 and now have more than 1500 communities around the world.

We are always looking for friends to join our community. Any queries contact Jos, 021 339 039

Each week, after Mass each Friday, Sunday, and Thursday, Holy Communion is taken to more than one hundred parishioners who are unable to attend Mass due to age or infirmity.

The ministers also read them the Gospel and take the Parish newsletter.

To become an extraordinary minister to the sick one should be:

• At ease with other people,

• Be able to deal with the sick, or elderly, in a compassionate, cheerful, and sensitive way.

All Extraordinary Ministers to the sick will be police vetted in accordance with the requirements of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. Contact Linda Yates on 03 359 6134

Lectio Divina or divine reading is a Catholic tradition on the meditation on the Holy Scripture or praying with Scripture. As St Ambrose wrote “We speak to God when we pray, but we listen to Him when we read His Word.” The Catholic Catechism (#2654) exhorts us that we “Seek in reading (the Word of God) and you will find in meditating; knock in mental prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.”

The Group meets on Thursday forth-nightly to read the following Sunday’s readings using the four steps in Lectio Divina – reading, mediation, prayer and contemplation.

If you would like to learn more about Lectio Divina or join a Lectio Divina group that meets every Thursday fortnightly at St Gregory’s Church at 10 am, please contact the Parish Office or Vincent Chia on 027 777 4355.

One of the Catholic organisations recognised around the world, devoted to our Mother Mary through Prayer and Act of Service.

Our main duties include weekly meetings, prayers and rosary, assisting, assigned works from Parish Community, Visitation of the Sick, Elderly and Lonely, Home Rosary if requested, especially the months of May and October.

More information will be available in the foyer of our churches or contact:

• Cherie Roache oncherieroache@gmail.com or call 027 200 4573 or

• Genevieve Wei on weigtp@gmail.com

Consider making Lent a special time with prayer and lectio divina on the Lenten Sunday Gospels in the context of the letters of Pope Francis. Case studies in Lenten Reflection Group link with the Lent Appeal which is run by Caritas on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference (NZCBC) to support our work of charity and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable around the world, including in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Morning and evening groups will be led by Grant Segar (thesegars@slingshot.co.nz) or by Kathleen Rushton RSM (kprushton@gmail.com) beginning after Ash Wednesday.

Perhaps consider doing LRP as a family group or as an individual.

A Family For All - where everyone is welcome.

We experience life together & share our Christian values with others (much the same as the early church might have done). Relationships are developed & grown by spending time together enjoying fun, inexpensive activities each month. Community is built in this way within the church to support & encourage one another in times of celebration & need.

Parish Co-Ordinator’s:

Helen & Chris Jordan - jorfamnz@gmail.com, 359 1176 or 027 66 111 81

Jan and John Hassan - johnandjanhassan@gmail.com or 355 6885

Keith & Kathryn Lewis - lewis.kk@gmail.com, 358 2658 or 021 140 6224

The Catholic Women's League supports and encourages the development of social, intellectual, and spiritual life in order to give Catholic women a voice in both Church and society.

We are affiliated to National Council of Women and the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations.

We have interesting speakers and offer opportunities to join with the women of the Diocese and other denominations. We raise funds to support missions at home and abroad.

President: Velma Maunsell - tandvmaunsell@gmail.com

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of praying before Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance on an altar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

St Alphonsus Liguori said that, “of all devotions … adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the Sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us."

We are looking for more adorers. For more info please contact Matt O’Connell on 366 9869 or email chchadoration@gmail.com

Children learn about the bible and the church through craft, games and role playing. Classes run on a Tuesday night during term time. It is aimed at children who attend state primary schools but wish to receive religious tuition. Numbers within the class vary but average around 14 in a session. We have a mix of boys and girls aged from 6 to 12. We also offer ourselves to high school students to assist with their service for school.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Wendy Martin (021 022 76221) and Ben James for more information.

What is Prayer Ministry and who is it for?

Prayer Ministry is simply the term we use when people pray with someone for their needs or for the needs of others. Prayer Ministry is for everyone who would like to be prayed with. No need or concern is too small to bring to our Lord, who is our Saviour, our healer, our brother. You may have a personal need, or you may want prayer for someone else.

Come forward and ask the team to pray with you for that concern or situation. Anything that you say to the prayer team is confidential.

At Christchurch North parish, one or two pairs of parishioners are available to pray after all Masses on the following weekends:

• Christ The King on the first weekend of every month.

• St Gregory’s on the second weekend of every month.

• St. Bede’s on the fourth weekend of every month.

The scripture group meets weekly on a Monday evening 7.30 pm starting with prayer, next Sunday’s readings and some study, using either programmes as below or presenters via YouTube talks.

Over the years we have studied some Ascension Press programs, such as:

• Revelations presented by Jeff Cavins

• Bible Timeline presented by Jeff Cavins,

• Epic (a journey through Church History)

• The Mass presented by Edward Sri

• The Word on Fire; Catholicism, the new Evangelisation by Bishop Robert Barron

Contact Pat McQuinn - patmcquinn@xtra.co.nz / (03) 348 2896 or 027 281 4096

Our members seek to visit the poor of our parish. This generally takes the form of food parcels or help with power and school expenses.

Thank you for your support and prayer

Papanui Conference - George Varghese

Burnside Conference - John Burns

Bryndwr Conference - Tony Tully

The group has the privilege of washing and ironing the sacred cloths used on the Altar at Mass. This involves collecting the soiled linen (consisting of the corporals, purificators and hand towels) each week, washing them in a particular way to preserve the remnants of the Eucharist, and returning the clean cloths for the weekend. Full training is given with written instructions.

Please contact Parish Office - admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz; (03) 359 1438

This special ministry is for our young people. The role of the altar server is to attend to the supporting tasks at the altar such as lighting the candles, carrying the Cross, ringing the altar bell, holding the book for the Priest and assisting the Priest during various parts of the Mass.

During special Masses, a senior altar server may also have to use the thurible and assist the Priest as directed.

To become an Altar Server, one must have made their First Holy Communion and to be in Year 5 and above.

Parish Office - admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz; (03) 359 1438

‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ (Mathew 25: 38 – 40)

Your role primarily is to greet and welcome our parishioners and visitors, with a warm and friendly smile.

Perhaps this could be your small Act of Service for our Parish?

Parish Office - admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz;
(03) 359 1438

During Mass, Liturgy of the Word (LWC) with Children caters for children from 4 years old through to those who have not yet received their First Holy Communion.

It is led by one or two adults with the support, when possible, of a Year 8 helper. It is a 20/25-minute sessions and while numbers attending varies. Those that attend enjoy the individual focus and the opportunity to experience the readings of the day, songs, prayer, and individual activities at their own level.

These are celebrated at:
9am & 11am - St Bede’s College Chapel
10am - St Gregory’s Church

Contact: Parish Office - admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz; (03) 359 1438

We operate a monthly roster; hence each person gets three opportunities per year to share in this Ministry. There is a process and a structure to follow when compiling the Prayer of the Faithful and coaching in this area is regularly available.

Have you ever thought about being a contributor and sharing your knowledge and thoughts with the Mass going parishioners?

If you would like that opportunity, please contact Parish Office admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz; (03) 359 1438

This important role is to operate the laptop, choose the right responses and hymns for that weekend (these have previously been put on), and to liaise with the organist and/or the musical director before/during Mass as necessary.

Contact Parish Office - admin@christchurchnorth.org.nz; (03) 359 1438

The role of reader (lector) at Mass is important - you are proclaiming the Word of God therefore it must be read with dignity and honour.

You are giving voice and life to the Word of God. Preparation, tone, pronunciation, and speed are vital.

If you would like to proclaim the Word and join our roster, please contact the Parish Office

Currently we have cantors for the 4:30pm Mass at St Gregory’s Church. If you are interested in leading the hymns and the Mass Parts, please contact Joseph William - (03) 358 8537 or jwil3001@yahoo.co.nz

The ‘Christ the King Choir’ under the directorship of Melanie Kitane-Williams, sing at our 4:30pm Masses regularly, during the Easter period, at Christmas, and on other special occasions.

We meet for practice every Tuesday evening in the Oratory of Christ the King Church between 7.30 - 8.45pm.

Contact - ctk.choir@xtra.co.nz

We are grateful to have the 'Our Lady of Fatima Filipino Choir' to sing at our Masses twice a month. They practice on Friday Evenings at St Joseph's Pastoral Centre. For more information about this wonderful group, please contact Arlene Wilkins, bawilkins@xtra.co.nz

Do you have a special gift of music, either instrumentally or as a singer, and would love to join us to sing our praises to God in Mass?

Once a month at the 9am St Bede’s Mass we offer a more contemporary choice of music, led by keyboard, guitars and other instruments (as available).

Contact Angel Moore if you’re interested in joining - angel.moore104@gmail.com