Time-tables

Mass
​Monday: 9.00am Liturgy of the Word, St.Joseph's, Hawera
Tuesday:  9.00am Mass, St Joseph's Hawera
Wednesday: 10.30am Mass Trinity Home Hawera
Thursday: 9.00am Mass, St.Joseph's, Hawera
  • 3rd Thursday of month - additional service at Annie Brydon 10.30am
Friday: 9.00am Mass, St.Joseph's, Hawera
Saturday: Vigil Mass 5.00pm
  • 1st & 3rd Saturdays of month - Manaia
  • 2nd 4th & 5th Saturday of month - Hawera
Sunday: 9.30am Mass, St.Joseph's, Hawera
  • First Sunday Month 11.15 am Mass at Hoani Papita
  • Evening Prayer Church 5pm Sunday Evenings St Josephs Hawera
  • CHRISTMAS VIGIL 9pm   2019
  • CHRISTMAS DAY 9am  2019

Reconciliation
​4-30pm Saturday before Vigil Mass (where the Mass is being held) or by appointment phone 06 278 5656

Adoration
Tuesday: 1-2pm - St. Joseph's, Hawera
Friday: 8.30am before Mass

St Vincent de Paul
Saint Vincent de Paul Society - meets 4th Wednesday of month 1-30pm St. Joseph's Meeting Room. Contact Barbara Hurcomb Ph2784663

Newsletter - 22 December 2019

​Rejoice Sunday: The third Sunday in Advent used to be called “Gaudete Sunday” from the first word of the Entrance Song, in Latin. Gaudete means Rejoice! Not all that long ago, Advent was a much stricter penitential season, much like Lent. Fasting and abstinence were compulsory. Even though the church has relaxed it’s demands for this season, we are still encouraged to make spiritual preparation by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spending extra time in prayer leading up to Christmas. This third Sunday of Advent was (and still is) intended to be a break from penitential practice, reminding us of the celebrations soon to come. As a symbol of this, the third and pink candle, on the Advent wreath will be lit. In some parishes, the priest is forced to wear pink vestments. Thank God this is Taranaki and our priest is saved from this!

Despite the commercial aspect of Christmas with all its unrealistic expectations, these few weeks leading up to the great feast of Christmas are a wonderful time for ourselves as Christians. At Mass today the Mass prayers and readings are full of joy, especially the Entrance Song, the Opening Prayer and the First Reading from Isaiah. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice!” is the cry of the Entrance Antiphon. Why? Because “the Lord is near”. The Opening Prayer asks that we, “who look forward to the birthday of Christ, experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.” In the First Reading the prophet Isaiah goes overboard with excitement and enthusiasm: Let the wilderness and dry lands exult, let the wasteland rejoice and bloom…let it rejoice and sing for joy. And the reason for all this? They shall see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God. And is it just a matter of being able to see him? No, for Look! your God is coming… He is coming to save you! Salvation means bringing healing, wholeness and holiness as we become closely united to him. This healing, wholeness and holiness is depicted graphically: The eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the mute sing for joy. These words will be applied explicitly to Jesus who brought this healing and wholeness into so many people’s lives. However, we should not confine this healing only to the physical. It will also include healing on the emotional, social and spiritual levels. We are not made whole until harmony and wellbeing flows through our whole self. May these next 10 days of preparation for the great feast of Christmas be a time of healing and renewed wholeness for you and your whole family. This is the season for miracles. My prayer is that Christ who heals the blind and deaf, the lame and the outcast will bring you and your loved ones the healing you long for. Fr Craig and the Irish Jesuits

Parish Council

Chairperson
Pauline Annabell

Council Members
Joe Clough
Joyce Luke
Frances Stockman
Pam Hawken
Sophie Cunningham

Contact details

​Parish Priest: Fr Craig Butler
Parish Secretary: Patrea Clement

Postal Address: P.O. Box 488, Hawera, 4640
Telephone: 06 278 5656

E-mail: stjoshw@xtra.co.nz
Physical Address:

St Joseph's Hawera: 38 Victoria Street, Hawera
Sacred Heart Manaia: 45 Ngatai St, Manaia

Office hours:
9am – 12noon, Monday to Friday