Sunday, 30 November 2025
1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Questions for the Week:
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 2:1-5
The prophet Isaiah envisioned a future with no more wars and nations united in belief and worship of Israel’s God. What does a world totally at peace look like?
SECOND READING: ROMANS 13:11-14
Paul encouraged the Romans to live with a sense of urgency in anticipation of their own salvation. What motivates you to live a moral life?
GOSPEL: MATTHEW 24:37-44
Jesus taught his disciples that no one knows when the Son of Man will return, so you must always be prepared. How do you plan to use the season of Advent this year to welcome Jesus into your life?
©LPi
A Word from Fr Danny:
This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, marks the beginning of the Church’s year. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning arrival, and it also gives us the word adventure.
This captures the season we are entering. It recalls the long awaited arrival of the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, and it also looks to the final coming of Christ. The Gospel tells us that he will come like a burglar, suddenly and unexpectedly. This is the adventure to which we as Catholics are called, walking with Christ in faith and readiness. Our Opening Prayer expresses this well: “Grant … we pray… the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.”
Our prayer, both personal and communal, especially in the liturgy of the Mass, is the finest way to prepare for every coming of Christ, whether through the sacraments, at his return, or when he calls us home.
- Fr Danny
PARISH NEWS & EVENTS
Here’s what's happening
Sunday, 30 November: 1st Sunday of Advent
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
8.30am | Chapel | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Monday, 1 December
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
10am | Chapel | Taupō
TimTam Connect | Bookclub
10.30am | Cafe | Taupō
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Tuesday, 2 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
10am | Chapel | Taupō
Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Youth Group
6pm-7.15pm (Year 7&8) | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
6.30pm-8pm (Year 9-13) ALPHA YOUTH | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Wednesday, 3 December
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
10am | Chapel | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Mahjong Connect
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
7pm | Chapel | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Thursday, 4 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
10am | Chapel | Taupō
Purl Connect | Knitting Group
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
Franciscan College Concert
1.15pm | Church | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Friday, 5 December
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
10am | Chapel | Taupō
Mass
12pm | Church | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Advent Retreat | with Fr Richard Shortall SJ
7.30pm | Chapel | Taupō
Saturday, 6 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Vigil Mass
5pm | Church | Tūrangi
Sunday, 7 December: 2nd Sunday of Advent
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass, Tūrangi | 9am Mass, Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
8.30am | Chapel | Taupō
Prayer for Life
After Mass | Chapel | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Parish Movie Night | Triumph of the Heart
6.30pm | Cafe | Taupō
Monday, 8 December
Mass
7pm | Church | Taupō
Tuesday, 9 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Healers Connect
9.30am | Cafe | Taupō
Community Lunch
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
St Patrick’s School Nativity Play
2pm | Church | Taupō
Youth Group
6pm-7.15pm (Year 7&8) | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
6.30pm-8pm (Year 9-13) ALPHA YOUTH | Taupō (Weekly during school term)
Wednesday, 10 December
Ave Connect | Rosary
11.30am | Church | Tūrangi
Mass | Tūrangi
12pm | Church | Tūrangi
Fair-Weather Gardeners
12pm - 3pm | Taupō
Ave Connect | Rosary
7pm | Chapel | Taupō
Thursday, 11 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Purl Connect | Knitting Group
1pm | Cafe | Taupō
St Vincent de Paul Meeting
5pm | Cafe | Taupō
Friday, 12 December
Mass | Anointing of the Sick
12pm | Church | Taupō
St Vincent de Paul Lunch
After 12pm Mass | Cafe | Taupō
Divine Mercy
3pm | Chapel | Taupō
Holy Hour | Adoration, Confession & Benediction
6.30pm | Church | Taupō
Saturday, 13 December
Mass
9am | Church | Taupō
Sacrament of Penance
9.30am | Taupō
Ministers for Sunday, 30 November
1st Sunday of Advent
Taupō
Tūrangi
THIS WEEK….
Don’t our gardens look beautiful?! If you’re keen to lend a hand on a casual basis, to pull a few weeds, come along on a Wednesday anytime between 12noon and 3pm and join some of our gardening team.
COMING UP…
Triumph of the Heart is a 2025 film about the final two weeks of St Maximilian Kolbe’s life in an Auschwitz starvation cell, after he volunteered to take the place of another prisoner. The film focuses on the claustrophobic and harrowing reality of the bunker as Kolbe uses his faith to forge a sense of brotherhood and find hope amidst starvation, fear, and internal conflict among the ten condemned men.
RETREATS
Are you a single man who yearns to follow Him as one of His priests?
Come - join Bishop Richard as he, Fr Adam and Fr Isaac lead a retreat to help you discern your vocation. Friday 5th December - Sunday 7th December, Cluny Retreat Centre.
Contact the Vocations team for expressions of interest, questions and registration: vocations@cdh.org.nz
Topics that may be discussed:
How can I be sure that God is calling me to be a priest?
Celibacy: is this something that Jesus is asking of me?
What are some of the joys and challenges of life as a priest?
What does daily life as a priest look like?
I don't want to end up lonely, can I have community; brotherhood; affection; and love as a priest?
What does the journey of discerning a vocation to the priesthood involve?
Participants may have their own questions to discuss also.
Retreats
Tyburn Monastery, Ngakuru &
Cluny Retreat Centre, Tauranga
DIOCESAN NEWS & EVENTS
END OF YEAR SAMOAN MASS
Sunday 30th November 2025, 4PM - 8PM
St Columba’s Church, 50 Rifle Range Road, Dinsdale
Please bring a plate of food to share
Contact person - Daphne M Godinet #022 395 5734
INTERNATIONAL NEWS & EVENTS
Click the image above to go to the Jubilee Year website.