University life offers you the gift of being exposed to ideas, beliefs and lifestyle. Often, our best decisions result from careful discernment, involving personal reflection, talking with others and conversation with God. So I want you to be aware that there is The Auckland Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy present and active on the university campus. I wish all involved in university life – students, faculty members, other staff – God’s blessing.

Bishop Patrick Dunn

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

Loved by God

The Rugby Cup World is in our country - the World’s here to play. All areas of the news are dominated by Rugby events. We welcome the different delegations with all gracious and hospitality. The nation prepares an opening extravaganza on Friday; private sectors funded and sponsored some of the events and our government the major sponsor and benefactor. Many talents and time have poured out for the success of this World Cup. Some Churches offer prayers for the success of World Cup. The World Cup becomes the unifying events of the country.

My question is where is God in this event? Our theme for our chaplain news this month is ‘Loved by God’.  What do you think - God loves to join and participate in the Rugby World Cup? Remember God loves us first before we love him.  I hope and pray we don’t isolate God in this event. God wants and loves to participate in every human state either in our joy and sorrow, play or work, prayer or party.

God is not out there looking on us. We must pray for good weather that each player plays with love, each spectator enjoys and supports their player with love, and God protects our country from harm. We feel the love of God when people know how to recognize God’s presence in everyone and every human event.

Let the Rugby World Cup 2011 be a witness of God’s love and presence in this country through our prayers, respect to all our visitors and other nationalities.

“For the greater glory of God - We pray and You play!”

God Bless,

Fr Samuel Pulanco