The following pages contain, in alphabetical order, the ministries and groups in our parish, with a paragraph explaining their purpose. Where appropriate, a link to the group's web page is provided.
Altar Service |
Boys and girls age 9 and upward are encouraged to
participate. Practice sessions are held so that the child feels
comfortable before serving at Masses. There is no obligation, but if
the role is taken on, it should be with dignity and respect and
attendance is considered a duty.
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Bereavement Group |
This group of people follows up on bereavement to ensure
those widowed are not left without care.
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Catholic Women's League |
The object of the League is to unite Catholic Women in
Christian fellowship in order to enhance the growth of their spiritual,
intellectual, family and social life and to foster mission and
charitable works and social action. The League is open to all
Catholic and non-Catholic women, and under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit they strive to fulfil their motto, which is "Faith and
Service". The League is the only national women's forum within
the Church for addressing social issues from a women's
perspective. Meetings are held monthly and advertised in the
Parish Newsletter.
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Children's Liturgy Of The Word |
This is part of the 9.30 am Sunday Mass and its purpose
is to give the
children a better understanding of the Gospel of the day. After
the greeting in the Mass, the children and leaders are invited up to
recieve their own lectionary, candle and cross. They have their own
time of sharing in the hall and return to their families at the
offertory.
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Choir |
The choir sings at Sunday Masses and special
celebrations in the Church's liturgical year. Practice is on
Wednesday evenings and new members are always welcome.
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Church Care & Cleaning |
The general cleaning of the church, the dusting and
vacuuming is done every week.
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Collectors and Bookstall |
Staffing the bookstall before and after Mass and
supervision of all collections.
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PREP (formerly CCD) |
The Parish Religious Education Programme (PREP) is
for school age children up to Year 8 and its purpose is to guide
children who attend non-catholic schools in their Catholic faith.
Classes are held at 10.15am – 11.15am every other Sunday, in Ss
Peter and Paul Education Centre.
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Counters and Bankers |
Counters are responsible for overseeing the counting and
recording of collections and the preparation for banking.
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Eucharistic Adoration |
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St
Elizabeth’s Chapel, 24 hours from after 7am Mass Thursday to 7am
Friday, every week except in January. You are invited to register
for a specific time (1 hour) to ensure that someone is present for each
of the 24 hours, or to just call in at your convenience. Prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament brings blessings to you, your family, the
parish and our world.
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Finance Committee |
Advises and assists the Parish Priest and the Parish
Pastoral Council in the management of parish finances, and attends to
Parish maintenance/improvements.
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Friends of Ss Peter & Paul |
A group of parishioners who provide a presence in the
church foyer to welcome visitors, answer enquiries and contribute to a
safe and secure church environment. The aim is to have a member
present on weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm, on a 2-hour rostered basis.
A service to the community particularly suited to retired or
semi-retired parishioners.
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Funeral Teas |
This Group assists bereaved families on the day of the
funeral to provide refreshments to those attending the funeral.
If required by the Bereaved family, tea and coffee is served in the
parish hall immediately after the Requiem Mass/Service.
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Indoor Bowling Club |
The Club formed on 14 February 1956 to promote sport and
foster parish goodwill, and over the past years members have enjoyed
success in a number of National and Provincial Championships.
Currently we meet on Wednesday evenings at Sacred Heart College
Assembly Hall, Laings Road at 7.30pm.
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Library |
A wide variety of books and videos are available for
borrowing. Parishioners are asked to fill out the card in the
back of the book and place it in the box provided. Many of the
books have been provided from parishioners' home libraries and are
books they have enjoyed and now wish to share with others.
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Liturgy Committee |
The committee meets every second Tuesday of each month
to plan liturgies and oversee their implementation. The committee
works closely with all parishioners involved with the different aspects
of parish liturgy.
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Marian Mothers |
Marian Mothers is network of groups of women who meet for prayer and discussion. Marian Mothers Groups began in 1981 when Fr John Allardyce sm went to the assistance of a group of mothers in Wellington, New Zealand, who were looking for support and encouragement in their role as Christian mothers. Since that time a number of different Marist priests have taken on the role of spiritual guide for the groups, which have spread the length and breadth of New Zealand and have become a focus group for mothers of all ages. The current spiritual director is Fr John Craddock sm, assisted by Jane Langham. Our parish currently has 2 groups. A Senior group (of mostly grandmothers) meet the second Monday of every moth at 10:00am. A second group meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm. More information here.
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Marist Third Order |
A lay group, which supports the Marist religious and
parish priests and imitates the Marist way of life in prayer.
They meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 11 am-12 noon, in
the Church Library, for rosary, a tape and short discussion.
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Neighbourhood Parishes |
“Neighbourhood Parishes” were established in
1993 as a means of linking the parish through personal
visitation. The parish now comprises about 1,300 homes divided
into 150 “neighbourhoods”. This gives an average of
eight homes for every visitor. Visits are made twice yearly and
all parishioners are given information about the parish and encouraged
to participate. Keeping a supply of visitors is the biggest
need. The idea is extremely worthwhile.
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Our Lady's Missionary League |
This group meets every Tuesday afternoon in the parish
hall, where they pack parcels of necessary goods for the Mission
stations in Oceania. New members are very welcome.
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Our Lady of Perpetual Help Sodality |
A sodality devoted to St Alphonsus and Our Lady of
Perpetual Help. This group began over 40 years ago in our
parish. They attend the first Saturday of the month Mass for the
First Saturday devotions and afterwards pray the rosary for world
peace. The co-ordination of the flowers and the brass for the
altar also comes under the auspices of the Sodality.
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Passionist Family Group Movement |
Begun in Australia in 1972 by the Passionist Fathers the
movement has quickly taken hold in New Zealand, and is strong in Lower
Hutt with 13 groups, each consisting of between 10-16 families.
Families are of every size and age – married couples, solo
parents, widows and widowers, non-Catholic partners and divorced and
remarried couples. Family groups meet socially, once a month, for
family outings and through belonging to this smaller community, soon
feel more of a part of the larger community of Ss Peter & Paul.
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Play Group for Preschoolers |
This Group meets every Thursday, 9 am – 11am in
the Church Hall. Mums and Dads have an opportunity for to meet
other parents in our community in a relaxed and social atmosphere.
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Preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation |
Members of this group are responsible for the
programmes, which prepare the children and their parents for the
Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.
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Quilting Group – Work of Human Hands |
This group meets regularly in the Parish Hall with
experienced tutors giving classes in Patchwork and Quilting and related
needlework. The group caters for beginners to advanced stitchers,
and there is a fee for classes.
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults [R.C.I.A.] |
The R.C.I.A. is a process for adults wishing to enquire
into the Catholic Faith. It is a spiritual journey of faith in
progressive steps beginning with enquiry evenings, followed by a period
of instruction. During this period, known as the catechumenate,
the enquirers decide whether they wish to proceed with steps towards
becoming a Catholic. The process culminates in the candidate
being received into the Catholic Church at Easter.
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Sacristy Care |
Members of this Group see to the washing of towels,
serving gowns and altar linen.
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Seasons for Growth |
”Rainbows” is a
programme for children who have lost a parent through either death or
separation. Children work through their grief and into a positive
appreciation of their new life by meeting children of similar
ages. A trained facilitator guides the
meetings [once a week for 8 weeks] so that the children develop four
gifts: good self-esteem; forgiveness; love and a sense of God who is
love. An enriching experience for all involved.
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St Vincent de Paul Society |
This is a Catholic, international, fraternal
organisation of lay people who practise Christianity by helping those
in need, on a person-to-person basis. It is open to all who wish
to live their faith by loving their neighbours in the persons of the
needy. More information here.
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Welcomers |
Provide a welcome with a smile to all
of us as we arrive for Mass on Sundays and help people feel part of the
Parish.
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Young Catholics |
Young people are welcome at Ss Peter and Paul’s and are invited and encouraged to get involved in all parish ministries. College youth have opportunities to socialise and to develop their own spirituality through group activities and participation in special liturgies. Young adults are welcome in youth ministry leadership; training programmes are available through the Archdiocese. |