Sacraments
General
The Diocesan policy is that preparation is important for the Sacraments and so preparation is provided across the Pastoral Area in different ways for different sacraments. Times for celebrating the Sacraments are recommended, but may be able to be moved depending on what else is happening. With a small number of older priests across the Area (compared with about 20 in years gone by) wide flexibility is no longer possible
Baptism
The first Sacrament. Baptisms take place during a Sunday Mass or at 12:00 midday on a Sunday at St Peter Chanel and Sacred Heart. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Havelock North maybe at a different time. Contact your parish office to arrange for your child's baptism.
First Reconciliation ('confession') and First Communion
Children 8 yrs and older can join preparation for these sacraments. The preparation is Parish based and runs during October for 1st Reconciliation with the Sacrament in November, and during March for 1st Communion which take place in Eastertime. Newsletters carry details of registration for several weeks ahead.
Confirmation
This is for teens 15 and up. Registration for the preparation programme takes place in June/July with the programme running in August and the celebration of Confirmation in September in one of the 3 parishes of Hastings.
Weddings
Special preparation programmes are run across the Hastings a
nd Napier Pastoral Areas. These are a couple of times a year. As there are sometimes difficulties with freedoms to marry etc. it is requested that couples meet with a Priest or Lay Pastoral Coordinator at least 6 SIX months ahead of the planned date for marriage (phone and office for appointment). The Madonna Maria church seats up to 200 and suits many couples.
Anointing of the Sick
This Sacrament is celebrated approximately quarterly across the parishes, with Mass. A lay Chaplain (currently Mrs Fay Evans) visits and takes Communion to the sick in hospital, and will arrange for a priest to administer the Sacrament in hospital as required. In case of emergency hospital staff can make the arrangements.
R.C.I.A. [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]
The programme for non-Catholics who might be interested in becoming a Catholic.The programme runs from September to the following Easter.
Catholics Returning Home
This programme is for Catholics who may have left Catholic practice and now wish to return.It runs over 6 weeks, twice a year, before Easter and Christmas
Hastings Pastoral Area, now Hastings & Havelock combined Parishes
The Hastings Pastoral Area established 2002 is the grouping of 3 parishes (Sacred Heart est. 1882; St Peter Chanel est. 1966) both in Hastings City - and Our Lady of Lourdes - Havelock North (est. 1968) plus the Maori Mission centre at PakiPaki, and the Aubert Centre in Flaxmere (Home of Compassion Sisters. There is also a church (Madonna Maria) in Frederick St in front of St Mary's School. On Pentecost Sunday 2008 Bishop Peter promulgated a new Pastoral Plan which made the whole of the Hawkes Bay deanery into one Pastoral Area, covering from Central Hawkes Bay to Wairoa.
Fr Simon Story is Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish and is resident there;
Fr Pat Cooke is Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, and is resident there;
Fr Terry Carr is priest assistant to the Pastoral Area, resident at St Peter Chanel Parish and has a special ministry to the Hospital.
Fr Vince Onesi is resident at Sacred Heart Parish. Assistant priest to the Hastings combined parishes.
Fr Felix Ngapere lives at St Peter Chanel Parish. Having lived in Flaxmere for many years before being ordained in Hastings, he has responsibility mainly at Pakipaki and with Sr Mata at the prison.
The day to day affairs of the St. Peter Chanel parish are looked after by a lay Pastoral Coordinator Mrs Margaret Harding
The priests rotate among the Churches for Sunday Masses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my child baptised?
How do I find out more about the Catholic Church?
I am not a Catholic, but I wish to marry a Catholic, what do I have to do?
Catholic News from NZ
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