DOMINICAN LAITY
Newsletter #9
January 2010
Dear members of the New Zealand Dominican family
Greetings and blessings on this day, the feast of St Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. In the words of St Thomas:
“Grant me grace, oh merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly. For the praise and glory of Thy name, Amen.”
And happy feast day to Sr Mary Thomas!
THE GATHERING OF LAY DOMINICANS
Our plans this year come to fruition: we hold our first national get-together of lay Dominicans to plan for the future.
And this is the invitation to YOU!
We need you to join with other people to consider how we as lay Dominicans can carry the gift given us by St Dominic and St Catherine, into New Zealand in the 21st century, as part of a family with the friars and sister. If you think this is important, then this gathering is for you!
WHEN? From the evening of Friday 30 April, all day Saturday, to the afternoon of Sunday 2 May.
WHERE? Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, Rhine St, Island Bay, Wellington.
The venue: The Home of Compassion has accommodation for up to 25 people, as follows:
3 rooms with double beds, 7 rooms with twin beds, 5 rooms with single beds.
The rooms are very comfortable. All on ground floor. Every room has a wash basin. Toilets and showers are very close to every room.
All meals will be provided.
We would like to be able to meet the needs of everyone, but it would be extremely difficult if everyone requires their own single room! We would ask you to be as flexible as possible. Married couples are easy to accommodate, but if you are coming with someone you know please consider asking for a twin room. Otherwise we could not manage.
COSTS
$160 per person – covers two nights accommodation and all meals and extras.
If you intend to arrange your own accommodation and attend the meetings, you can have meals only: Saturday day charge $35, Sunday day charge $20.
If you are arriving by air, we may be able to pick you up – let us know.
DETAILS
Please arrive at the Home of Compassion by 7.00pm on the Friday – we begin at 7.30pm.
We would appreciate bookings as soon as possible – and at the latest by Holy Thursday, 1 April.
The draft agenda is attached. When you book, we shall send you a copy of the paper called “ the Masterton vision.”
