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Mackenzie
- WELCOME -
Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to the Catholic Parish of Mackenzie, located in the central South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Our parish encompasses a diverse geographical area, stretching across several beautiful towns and villages. With churches in Fairlie, Tekapo, and Twizel, we are deeply rooted in the heart of this captivating region.
Our parish proudly serves the local communities, offering spiritual guidance, support, and a welcoming space for all who seek solace, fellowship, and a deeper connection with their faith. From the rugged splendor of the Southern Alps to the tranquil shores of Lake Tekapo, our parishioners draw inspiration from the awe-inspiring surroundings that reflect the beauty of God's creation.
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The churches within our parish serve as spiritual havens, where individuals and families can come together to celebrate Mass, receive sacraments, and participate in various religious activities and events. We embrace diversity and warmly welcome people from all walks of life, inviting them to join us in worship, prayer, and service to others.
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I invite you to explore our website and connect with us. Should you have any questions, require pastoral assistance, or simply wish to learn more about our parish, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to support and accompany you on your faith journey, fostering a sense of belonging and providing spiritual nourishment.
God bless,
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Fr. Tien Cao
Parish Priest, Catholic Parish of Mackenzie
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"The very first truth I would tell each of you is this: 'God loves you.' It makes no difference whether you have already heard it or not. I want to remind you of it. God loves you. Never doubt this, whatever may happen to you in life. At every moment, you are infinitely loved"
(Pope Francis: Christus Vivit - No. 112).
A Group
of Favoured People
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Monsignor Tom Liddy, who grew up in Fairlie, died in Christchurch on 24 January 2002. In his sermon at the 90th Jubilee Mass on 11 October 1992 he reflected in a moving and powerful way on what his Parish had meant to him.
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Fr Tom Liddy, 1992
Now that I am old, I have more opportunities of looking back and recognizing God’s gifts in my life, and apart from the most evident ones of faith and grace, church and sacraments, good parents and faithful friends, I think that the most sustaining gift given to me over the years is the experience of growing up in the special atmosphere and the impressive surroundings of this town and this countryside. I hold the memories in my heart of mountains - awe-inspiring and immovable like God himself. The kinder hills and beautiful valleys, the river flats, and the willow-lined streams all combine to cry out the poetry of God’s presence here and God’s goodness. Each varied season has its mood and light; the crisp winter snow, the new surprise of spring, the clear summer heat, and the varied colours of autumn. They all speak of God in their own way. And I come back to join you in your thanks to God for all these treasures that surround us. But our memories today are of persons too and it is from the people of Fairlie that I learned as a child the experience of kindness, of faithfulness, and of generosity. I would like to pay tribute to the faith and example of the parishioners of St Patrick’s who came Sunday after Sunday, some from long distances in frost and rain in winter and howling northwestern in summer to draw spiritual strength from the Mass they loved and cherished. Their strength of faith becomes part of our faith and again we thank God for the power of their example. And we recall today the parish priests of those ninety years – the Marists first of all and then the priests of the diocese. Each one in his own way, contributed something to the total life of the parish and the pastors helped to make the parish what it is today. Some were respected, some were loved, some were practical, and others were more prayerful. Some had good business heads, others were friendly. Some were eloquent, others learned. It is the same with the Sisters and it is the same too with the people of the parish. Taken altogether they provided an atmosphere of living charity that benefits and inspires all. You see that is what a parish is for, to nourish us spiritually and to form us in Christ’s image, so that we can witness to others that God is present in our lives, that God is here amongst us, and that we are His people. That is what a parish is supposed to be – a group of favoured people united with their pastor and drawn together by the faith they love and cherish and blessed by God in that faith, in his Word and in his Eucharist and sacraments, so that they can witness by the way they live that Christ is present amongst us in his love. ​Fr Tom Liddy, 1992
"Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).
27th - 28TH APRIL 2024
5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Year B
Jesus Is the Vine; We Are the Branches. Remaining In Him, We Bear Fruit in Plenty (John 15:1-8)
In today's era, many people advocate for spirituality without religion. Some are not interested in any specific form of institutional religion but pay attention to their inner life, maintaining necessary purity in the hope of freeing themselves from what causes unhappiness, insecurity, and concerns. They believe that purely human, secular, experiential practices accumulated over time can liberate them from negative thoughts, words, and deeds by accumulating positive energy. Such practices may bring about certain psychological and physical results, but they can hardly fill the constant void in the human soul. Why does it not work? Being made in the image of God, our heart is only fully satisfied when centered on the Creator. As St. Augustine prayed, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." As social beings, humans always need to connect, to relate, to have 'Someone' to accompany and guide them, and to give them the necessary light to nurture true hope in radical liberation, the sense of divine peace of the Holy Spirit that the world cannot provide. From a Christian perspective, we can only experience heaven when we know how to connect with God through a life of prayer and carry out God's will in the most faithful way. In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks to us in the language of the vineyard. He presents himself as the true vine, God the Father as the vinedresser, and we, his disciples, as the branches. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, we cannot bear the spiritual fruits of the Holy Spirit unless we abide in Christ. Thus, remaining in Christ means making our home in him, allowing his words to dwell richly within us. It means surrendering ourselves to him, aligning our will with his, seeking to abide in his love and truth. When we do so, we bear fruit in abundance, reflecting the glory of the Father.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH
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READINGS TODAY
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Acts 9:26-31.
Barnabas explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul on his journey,
Ps 21.
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
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1 John 3:18-24.
The commandment of faith and love.
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John 15:1-8,
I am the vine, you are the branches.
READINGS NEXT SUNDAY
6th Sunday of Easter - Year B – 5th May 2024
Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48. Ps. 97. 1 John 4:7-10. John 15:9-17.
PARISH MASS TIMES
FAIRLIE - ST PATRICK'S
Sunday 9:30 am
Tue - Fri
Adoration: 8:00 - 9:00 am
Mass: 9.15 am
Reconciliation every day during adoration
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TWIZEL - All Saints'
Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm
Reconciliation by appointment
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TEKAPO - Good Shepherd Church
5th Sunday of Easter Mass 28th April 2024 at 6:00 pm
Reconciliation by appointment
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FOLLOW ALONG
"Invoking the Holy Spirit: A Prayer for Parish Transformation and Growth"
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
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O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
NEWS AND NOTICES
1. Parish AGM: This year's Parish AGM will take place in Twizel before Mass on Saturday, May 4th, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. All parishioners are warmly invited to attend, so please mark your calendars for this date. We look forward to seeing you there; your presence and feedback will be very helpful for the community. If you can’t be there, you can still send your feedback via one of the parish council members. Thank you.
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2. Pray Before Every Sunday Mass: We are excited to reintroduce this ancient prayer that we believe encapsulates our shared aspirations for our community: 'Invoking the Holy Spirit: A Prayer for Parish Transformation and Growth.'
In this prayer, we call upon the Holy Spirit to reignite our hearts with love, to renew our spirits with courage, and to guide us with clarity in our journey of transformation and growth as a parish. As we gather together in prayer, may the Holy Spirit empower us to be wise and to find solace in His presence, leading us closer to Christ and His abundant blessings. Let us join together in invoking the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into our parish, to inspire us to greater heights, and to strengthen our bonds of faith and fellowship.
Alongside this prayer, we will also introduce to you a new advisory body of the parish – the Senior Leadership Team who work closely with Fr. Tien Cao for the commitment that is entrusted to our parish. This body will meet every second week for 1.5 hours; further details will follow. The Parish Council will continue functioning as usual. Please keep them in your prayers
3. Praying the Rosary for the Parish: By praying the Rosary, Catholics seek Mother Mary's intercessions and guidance in our spiritual journey, asking for her help in living a life more closely aligned with the teachings of Jesus Christ. It's also a way for us to express our love and devotion to Mary, whom we believe holds a special place in God's plan for humanity. The Rosary, with its repetition of prayers and meditation on various mysteries from the lives of Jesus and Mary, is considered a powerful tool for spiritual growth and reflection.
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In Twizel: There is a New Rosary group that will start meeting at Kathleen and Brian Carpenter's house every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Please join them in praying for the parish.
4. Mass Offerings: For Ian Munro, sister Dieu, Maurice Reese-Jones, and those whose death anniversaries occur during this time