A Liturgical Calendar guides us, like pilgrims, one day at a time, through the liturgical year – which is the life of Christ, lived out in liturgical time – in the time and in the memory of the Church. Each day has its own name, colour, readings, texts and observance according to its time and place in the calendar.
Liturgical Calendar
Universal and National Calendars
Universal Calendar
| 1 January | World Day of Peace |
| 13 March |
Anniversary of Election of Pope Francis, 2013 |
| 21 May |
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church |
| 28 May | World Communications Day |
| 1 September | World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation |
| 18 October | World Mission Day |
| 19 November | World Day of the Poor |
The National Calendar for 2018 is available in the related resources icon above.
Extraordinary Missionary Month - October 2019
Pope Francis has encouraged preparations for an "extraordinary missionary month" to be celebrated in October 2019. This month coincides with the centennial of a major document on missionary activity issued by Pope Benedict XV, in 1919.
Resources for Days of Prayer
In the National Calendar put out annually by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, several dates are designated as a Day of Prayer for particular intentions.
2 February - Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
Messages from Pope Francis for World Day for Consecrated Life
National Religious Vocation Conference (USA) description and resources, including video and prayer card
USCCB description and resources, including prayer of the faithful
11 February - World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Messages from Pope Francis for World Day of the Sick from Vatican website (includes 2018 message)
National Association of Catholic Chaplains resources, including prayer cards, prayer of the faithful, a healing service in a hospital setting, world day of the sick programme
Catholic Health Association of the United States resources, including prayer card, video reflection
16 February - Day of Prayer and Penance for Victims of Abuse and Violence
Suggestions for Prayer of the Faithful
23 February - Prayer for Peace
Prayer for Peace, requested on this day by Pope Francis
4 March - Oranga Tamariki - Day of Prayer for Children NZ
Day of Prayer For Children 2018
14 October - Day of Prayer to Respect Life
USSCB Respect Life Program Pro-life prayers
21 October - World Mission Sunday
Prayer of the faithful for World Mission Sunday 2017 from Society for the Propagation of Faith, Canada
'What is World Mission Sunday?' video from Missio UK
19 November (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) - World Day of the Poor
This first World Day of the Poor Pope Francis has said, "It is my wish that Christian communities will make every effort to create moments of encounter and friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance."
After the 2015-16 Year of Mercy, the Pope established the day to encourage new initiatives fostering encounter, friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance to the poor. Pope Francis is scheduled to offer a luncheon to 500 people attending the Mass and the Vatican said it hoped parishes would do something similar.
Find Pope Francis' Message here.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and the Society of St Vincent de Paul have jointly produced a video on behalf of the Wellington Archdiocese for the First World Day of the Poor, available to view online via the Caritas YouTube Channel: @caritasaotearoanz from 19 November 2017.
Aotearoa-New Zealand Ordo
Order information and pages for coming months are available here.
This Ordo is distributed by the National Liturgy Office on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. It offers relevant page numbers of the New Zealand Roman Missal and Companion, The Interim Holy Week Book and the Jerusalem Bible Lectionary.
The NZ Ordo 2018 is now published. You find the information about the Ordo and how to order it by clicking on the related resources icon above.
NZ Ordo 2018 pages for the coming months are also available in the related resources icon above.