Eighth Week of the School of Mission

The week’s topic was on Catholic Church and Sacraments. Beautifully Fr. Francis began the week by sharing on the Sacraments. The Sacraments enable us to be born, to grow, to be healed, and to recover. The Sacraments are from God and lead us to God for they are Gods actions. Statements help us to celebrate life that Jesus brings us. We were enlightened as Fr. Francis shared a little about church history, about persecutions in the church and the importance of the first four councils of the church.

Fr. Alliston then explained to us how the Church was founded by Christ Himself as he then highlighted the four major marks of the Church; that of being One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. 

We concluded the week with an explanation on who Mary of Nazareth is: mother of God and our mother. We covered the four Marian dogmas: Mary as Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception, the Perpetual Virginity and the Assumption of Mary to heaven. Mary not only journeyed with Jesus through His life but continues to journey with the Church even after Jesus’ ascension. 

Christmas Street Outreach

The Staff and Participants of the School of Mission were blessed with the opportunity to reach out to people in the heart of Wellington CBD during this Christmas season. 

The skits, mimes, testimonials, short talks and meeting people one on one gave the participants firsthand experience of outreach as a community. It was an opportunity for all to share in the love and joy that Christ brings at this Christmas time.

Seventh Week of the School of Mission

This week was on the topic Spiritual Warfare. The speaker for the week was Fr. John Rea who is gifted in healing and deliverance. Fr. John shared on the topics intercession, spiritual warfare, inner healing including healing of memories and defending oneself spiritually. He also spoke about the harmful effects of dwelling into practices of some of the new age philosophies such as yoga, palm reading, horoscope etc. It was indeed a new revelation for some.

The week’s teachings were challenging. The key message was that the deepest desire in all of us is to be loved and when we fail to receive pure love due to our past wounds and hurts, we are lost, and we are affected physically and spiritually. It is only through Jesus who is the supreme intercessor, through His sanctifying love we have life and are set free.  

Sharing by one of the participants:

The week has been a real eye opener for me and I have loved every minute of it.  Spiritual warfare has always been a surreal topic to me but Fr. John Rea really made it personal. I have realised that spiritual warfare is real and powerful and have also learned about the power of interceding for others. I feel like Fr. John Rea’s talk on intercession has brought all the participants closer together. We are learning to submit to God and resist the devil. Thank you ICPE and Fr. John Rea for a wonderful life-changing week.

 - Amanda Abraham
   (United Arab Emirates)

Sixth Week of the School of Mission.

This week, the participants embarked on a time to grow in holiness as they had sessions on Christian Character. The participants were asked to look at the self and see the power of the tongue in the tearing down or up-building of our brothers and sisters. They saw the importance of practicing words of encouragement and also to respond to the call of being good stewards of God as God wishes for us to be collaborators in the work of creation, redemption and sanctification.

Participants were also reminded to be grateful of their daily experiences, to show gratitude to God’s daily blessings in their personal prayers, no matter how small they might be. They were shown the dangers of pride and how to ‘combat’ it through the virtue of humility.

We thank the speakers who shared God’s word along with their personal walk with the Lord. We thank Susilo, Wimpie, Fr. Alliston, Susan and Brian for their valuable teachings.

Please continue to pray for our participants as they enter into the week of Spiritual Warfare as they learn the power of intercessory prayers.

Sharing by one of the participants of the School of Mission 2016:

As compared to the previous weeks, this week was all about self-reflection, understanding and evaluating my own distinct character as a Christian. While at first I thought I knew the necessary virtues to be a true Christian, an in depth study of myself helped me see that I have to put in more practice and conscious efforts to develop a Christ-like character. I have begun this journey through the teachings on the virtues of stewardship, holiness, gratitude, humility and learning the power of words. It is humbling to see how God is using different circumstances to help develop my character. These circumstances always leave me with different choices and making the right choice is a matter of discernment, taking me one step closer to Jesus each time.

 - Michelle Almeida (India)

Fifth Week of the School of Mission

The fourth teaching week of the School of mission shifted our focus from God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit to ourselves and the nature of the human person. As the participants were encouraged to look at their personal journey, there was only one place they could go with all their fears and brokenness… to the feet of Jesus.

While the sessions enabled them to comprehend their human behavior with all its emotions, the evening sessions of prayer ministry enabled them to come face to face with their pain.

Fr. Francis gave the participants an introductory session on the significance of inner healing on the first day and from the second day onwards, Diana Mascarenhas shared insights and experiences about the stages of human development, our self-image and self- acceptance, emotional well-being, identity and certain aspects of our human sexuality. The main message given by Diana all through the week was, “The journey towards healing and wholeness has begun. Do not be afraid to take off your mask.” 





Sharing by one of the participants of the School:

The week of inner healing was an important one for me. I didn't realize the impact of the early life experiences such as the prenatal period, my point of birth and my early childhood on me. All of these had the absence of my earthly father both physically and emotionally. It gave me answers as to why I felt and behaved in a certain way. Most importantly I experienced that truly all things are possible with God because He has healed areas in my life where I thought healing could never take place. Praise the Lord God Almighty!

- Bernadette Vidya

Fourth Week of the School of Mission

The fourth week of the School of Mission focused on the topic ‘Holy Spirit’. Fritz Mascarenhas and Fr Francis D’Souza were the speakers for the week. The week was filled with new refreshing insights of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit being a person and not something that did not matter. The Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity certainly has a depth of personality that includes Consoler, Paraclete, Healer and Creator. He bears gifts for the children of God. He wants to be present in our lives today.

The week included not just the teachings but ministries as well that brought more meaning to what was taught. The prayer ministry at the end of the week included the renewing of our baptismal promises with the lighting of candles.

Fr. Francis led the time of ministry exposing the Blessed Sacrament and carrying the Sacrament to each individual.

Everyone in some way experienced the touch of the Holy Spirit.

The week began with the ground shaking literally and ended with hearts being stirred up and warmed with the love of the Holy Spirit.

Sharing by one of the participants of the School: 

For me the Holy Spirit is like a coach. If I allow him, he can do great jobs within me. I have to be totally open for him to guide me, to instruct me, to lead me and to show me the path that leads to the eternal happiness – God. But I know that if I need the Holy Spirit to work in me I need to accept and to co-operate. The more I open myself to the Holy Spirit the more be given because the Holy Spirit is always a giver.

- Jonathan Debattista 

(Malta)

Third Week of the School of Mission

The second week SOM teaching was as on ‘Sin & Salvation’ where the participants were challenged to distinguish the various voices in their lives – the world, the flesh, the devil and God. They focused on the theme of ‘Surrender’, where they looked into the surrendering of sins that they are holding on to, as that had become an obstacle in their relationship with God. Sin wasn’t just about the rejection of the will of God the Father but it also showed disobedience towards God by not trusting in Him and His goodness.

Participants got the opportunity to recognize the love of God through His sacrifice of Jesus. It was constantly emphasized during the week that God loves us and wants us to experience true freedom, which happens through the surrender to the lordship of Jesus. Various therapies to combat sin were introduced to restore their relationship with God. It is important to not just know about Jesus but to really know Jesus.

The prayer ministry session had participants placing their sins (on a paper) at the cross, entrusting themselves to the mercy of God. The night ended with songs of victory and praise!

Please keep the participants in your prayers as they’ve just started a new week on the topic of the Holy Spirit.

“Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Romans 8:39. 

Testimony of one of the participants:


During the week, I understood how important it is to believe in Jesus. I have learnt that I have to trust and cling onto Him, because by my own efforts I can do nothing. I have also experienced the treasure of the Bible. To know Scripture is to know JESUS!

- Dominik Moser

Second Week of School of Mission 2016: Father - Heart of God

In the first week’s teaching on the ‘Father heart of God' as we sorted out some of the wrong images we may have of God based on our upbringing, we also heard the story of the prodigal son. We gleaned new insights from the father who runs to his son not just out of compassionate love but also to protect him from the shame that would fall on the son when he entered the village as he had squandered his inheritance among the gentiles and so was subject to undergo a shaming custom done by the townsmen.








The final session of the “our Father” was geared for all the participants to have a personal relationship with the Father as Jesus had done so with his disciples. Alongside the teachings were times of reflective adoration and a prayer ministry time to experience the father's embrace and hear words of affirmation. A blessed week indeed.








Testimony of one of the Participants of the School:

During the teaching on the Father Heart of God, I asked God numerous times why He called me to the School of Mission; for I personally know the Father Heart of God, and how merciful and loving He has been to me. I wasn't sure that the teaching was relevant to me. What I discovered was that my challenge was not knowing and trusting God; rather, it is with getting to know, trust and live in communion with other people in a healthy way. My history is such that it knows too well the fruit of rejection, neglect and abuse. I have traditionally and consequently kept people at a safe yet unhealthy distance. I met a Catholic priest earlier on in the year who spoke about how sometimes we just need to be the image of God with skin on so that others can find healing and God in any given situation. What I have found is that the Father Heart of God for me is so big that He has called me to live in this community for five months so that others can be the image of God with skin on to me. I know that through their love and support, I will find healing and a better, healthier way to live; a way that is more aligned to how God originally planned it. I know that, through tapping into His grace, I will be leaving St Gerard's Monastery in March a totally transformed and new creation. What that is going to look like...at this stage, I have no idea; but I am excited by the prospect. Life with my loving Father in heaven is an exciting adventure; and I know because I know because I know that all He wants is the best for me.

- Rachel Blackaby

First Week of School of Mission 2016: Bonding Week

The participants of the school of mission got a taste of the school in the bonding week. It was a time of getting to know each other and was the beginning of forming new friendships. Each had an opportunity to share their different life stories and also their individual call to the mission school.

The week also consisted of a lot of games, a picnic day and a music jamming session. The games were a time for the participants to discover their inner child as some of the games involved their artistic skill in drawing and acting on the spot and some others involved water where they had to think on their feet.

The participants got to explore a bit of Wellington and surrounding scenic areas as we spent time at Rivendell in Kaitoke Regional Park followed by sport at Avalon Park and spent some time enjoying the view from the Mt Victoria lookout.

The Jamming session was a way to let loose, to sing and give thanks to God with one’s whole being. We saw the participants enjoyed praising God with their voices and musical instruments, some even trying their hands on certain musical instruments for the first time.

The bonding week was indeed a time for the participants and the staff to get closer to each other and work to the goal of being rooted in Christ by being ourselves and loving each other the way Christ has called us to.

Testimony of one of the Participants of the School: 

My highlight was the picnic with everyone in the community. I felt that through this bonding week, I was able to settle in comfortably. I didn’t feel like a stranger as everyone were very friendly and generous. It also helped me to get to know each of them as a personal level through their life stories. It made me feel like home and I am now prepared for the upcoming week of teaching. I know that I am in a safe and secure place where I can seek God earnestly with all my heart. 

– Louisa Cyprinus

SCHOOL OF MISSION 2016: OPENING

Excitement was in the air as the participants of the School of Mission (SOM) arrived in Wellington to embark on a 20-week journey to see what God has in store for them. Hailing from nine different nations, with varying cultures and languages they have some to make St. Gerard’s their homes for the next 5 months. Each of them having left their families, friends, careers, homes for something far greater than what this world could offer i.e. to be rooted and built up in Christ’s love for them. The theme for this year’s School of Mission being, “I Have Called You by Name” (Col 2:7).





Cardinal John Dew, the archbishop of Wellington welcomed the participants at the Opening Mass on World Mission Sunday 2016 addressing the participants with words of wisdom, encouragement and comfort. He reassured the participants saying that though things may not be comfortable at the start with having to adapt to new surroundings, at the end, this place would feel like home because of the hospitality they would receive here. He prayed that at the end of the School of Mission their hearts will be touched with the love of God and will have grown up as a people on mission.





The day continued with the Sunday congregation moving to the lawn of St Gerard’s Monastery on a beautiful sunny day for fellowship over finger food. It was as if Wellington put on its best weather to welcome our SOM participants. The celebrations continued in the evening with a formal agape meal as the staff prepared a sumptuous meal for the participants as we endeavor to live as one ICPE NZ Mission Community.









We look forward to what God will unfold in the lives of these participants in the months to come. Do keep us in your prayers too.

Opening Mass of School of Mission

23rd Oct at 10:30 am

at 75 Hawker St, Mt. Victoria, Wellington. 

Come join us as we celebrate the opening mass of the 5-month School of Mission along with participants from ten different countries who are embarking on this new journey to deepen their relationship with God. The Main celebrant will be Cardinal John Dew. 

All are welcome to attend. 

New Plymouth Outreach - 9-11 Sept 2016

The 9^th -11^th of September 2016, saw a team from ICPE Mission NZ go to New Plymouth for an outreach with the parishioners at Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), as well as have a day’s retreat for the Year 9 girls from Sacred Heart Girls College.

At the college, the team shared with the girls the understanding that they are God’s beloved ones. True love costs and God shows just how much we are loved when He sacrificed His son for us. Personal life stories were shared with the fundamental encouragement that the girls should not find their identity from the people around them. Instead, their truest identity is from the Lord.

At the Church of OLHC, we had the opportunity to meet some young adults and to encourage them to have a relationship with Jesus; we reflected on growing in that relationship as they were encouraged to spend more time with God through reading the scriptures and going for the sacraments.

The Friday evening session at OLHC church was a time of reaching out to the wounded of the church. To acknowledge that as wounded people we hurt others, but all are able to receive the mercy of God. With the call to be instruments of healing to others, the parishioners went through a time of  ‘Lazarus ministry’ during which individuals spent some time in silence being bound up followed then by the community calling each one out and unwrapping them. It was indeed a beautiful time of healing.

The following day, we focused more on the mercy of God, who just like the father of the prodigal son, has great compassion for His children. Our God is a just God, and by His justice, we should all go to the cross for our sins. It was not cheap grace that cost God His only Son as we have been bought with a heavy price. And just as our Heavenly Father is merciful, so must we, the Church be merciful. In the encouragement to be the fifth gospel to those around us, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy was shared and discussed among those gathered. Later in the afternoon it was time to empower the parishioners to live mercifully and reach out with the good news in the power of the Spirit. We ended with a time of adoration to empower all those who were in attendance.

 

We are truly grateful for this opportunity and continue to pray for the people of New Plymouth to rise up and grow deeper in their relationship with God.