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
Click the red button for additional resources
Universal Calendar
Click HERE to view the resource for the General Roman Calendar
| 1 January | World Day of Peace | Resource | |
| 22 January |
Word of God Sunday | Resource |
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| 13 March | ||
| 21 May |
World Communications Day | Resource |
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| 24 May | Memorial of the Blessed virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Resource | |
| 1 September | World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation | Resource | |
| 22 October | World Mission Day | Resource | |
| 1 November | Month dedicated to All Holy Souls | |
| 19 November | World Day of the Poor | Resource |
The National Calendar for 2023 is available HERE
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
USCCB description and resources, including prayer of the faithful
11 February - World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Message from Pope Francis for World Day of the Sick 2023 HERE. Compassion as a synodal exercise of healing.
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
12 February - World Marriage Day
Catholic Network of Marriage Educators HERE
Worldwide Marriage Encounter New Zealand HERE
22 February - Ash Wednesday
24 Feb - Day of Prayer and Penance for Victims of Abuse and Violence
Suggestions for Prayer of the Faithful
Te Rōpū Tautoko - the group coordinating Catholic engagement with the Royal Commission
5 March - Children's Day (NZ) Te Rā o Ngā Tamariki
Link to National Childrens' Day NZ HERE
13 March - Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis
Mass for the Pope - NZ Roman Missal pg. 1245
25 March - Day of Prayer for Family Life
Contact your Local Diocesan Offices for Family Life Ministries
30 April to 6 May - National Vocations Awareness Week
Contact your local diocesan website.
21 May - World Communications Day
21-28 May - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023
Theme 2023 is 'Be-Longing: Praying for Unity amidst injustice.'
21-28 May - Laudato si' Week
Theme 2023 is 'Hope for the Earth: Hope for humanity.'
18 June - Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants
9 July - Day of Prayer for Seafarers
The Apostleship of the Sea New Zealand
23 July - World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
15 August - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Patronal Feast of Aotearoa New Zealand.
1 September - World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
This Day of Prayer initiates the Season of Creation 1 September – 4 October.
Pope Francis's Prayer in Union with Creation Here.
3-9 September - Social Justice Week
This year the SJW resources will feature the theme "Imagine peace for all - Peace begins with you."
1 October - Day of Celebration for Suzanne Aubert
Visit suzanneaubert.co.nz for more information.
8 October - Day of Prayer to Support Life
Support Life Sunday is an opportunity to focus together on how our Catholic tradition celebrates and protects human life.
12-18 October - Week of Prayer for World Peace
Communities throughout New Zealand are encouraged to celebrate the Week both in their own observances and together with people of different faiths.
22 October - World Mission Sunday. (Collection 29 October)
"Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move." Inspired by the Disciples on the road to Emmaus.
October Extraordinary Missionary month. Read more
'What is World Mission Sunday?' video from Missio UK
19 November - World Day of the Poor. (Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Mass)
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."
“The hope of the poor will not perish for ever” (Ps 9:19).
26 November - World Youth Day
For more information about WYD look HERE
Aotearoa-New Zealand Ordo
The ORDO is an indispensable aid in the preparation of liturgies throughout the year.
ORDO for New Zealand & Australia 2023 available in mid-October.
For those seeking the 2023 ORDO we suggest you contact Pleroma and they will manage your orders.
Stock will be available at the retail price $24.99. Pleroma can offer quantity discounts.
For more information on making an order for Ordo 2023 from Pleroma click HERE
A link to view all other Annuals 2023 available from Pleroma click HERE
You can also order directly from Liturgy Brisbane, Australia via their website HERE
Resources for Prayer of Various Occasions
Find here the resources for prayer specific to current affairs, specific times and various other occasions.
Click the red button for additional resources
Prayer during the Royal Commission - December to January 2021
Offer these prayers for inclusion in the Prayer of the Faithful during Advent and the Sundays in the new year .
Let us Lament
Check out what the Auckland Diocesan Liturgy Centre published in the June 2018 edition of Liturgy.
Click here to view the resource.
Welcome Songs for Refugees and Migrants
If your church is a member of One License or CCLI, you are encouraged to report your usage there as you would customarily do. At the end of this collection you can find copyright information.
This resource can also be found in the National Days of Prayer page on this site.
Click here to view the resource.
Prayer for Elections
Currently the world faces change of power and direction through elections. This resource was created for the 2017 New Zealand Election and can be adapted for all other elections.
Click here to view the resource.
Prayer for Protection Against Fires
Click here to view a resource. Click here to find an additional resource.
Prayer in Light of Sexual Abuse Scandals: A Holy Hour
In light of events of sexual abuse, find here a resource of prayer: Holy Hour For the Purification of the Clergy and Ministers of the Church, and In Reparation for Sins Against Chastity and the for the Abuse of Clerical Power. See also Pope Francis's letter to the People of God.
Prayer for Hope
For the victims, survivors and rescue workers of the Queensland and Victorian floods, Christchurch earthquake, Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and for all those in civil wars in the Middle East. This resource serves all disasters and dire times where hope is needed.
Click here to view the resource.
Prayer Upon Returning Home After the Hurricanes
Credited to Michael Kwatera, O.S.B. Click here to view the resource.
A Prayer for Seafarers
July 8th serves as the Day of Prayer for Seafarers. This resource can be used anytime.
Click here to view the resource
Prayer for Those Seeking Work
Many people struggle to find work; those people have gifts and talents that could be used in their work. Click here for a Prayer for Those Seeking Work.
Prayer for Students
Students all around the world face great pressure. They require blessings to devote themselves to their study. Click here for a prayer for Students.
Prayer for a Recent Natural Disaster
Every so often natural disasters shake peoples lives around the world. Find here a resource of prayer in times of a natural disaster.
Prayer for Protection from a Volcano
Click here to view the resource.
A Prayer in Union with Creation
Click here to view Pope Francis' prayer for the Season of Creation
For Social Justice Week 2010 (12-18 September) New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are asking parish communities to commit to the equality of all people and reconsider how they can live out church ideals of inclusion and respect.
The theme – Your people will be my people: Creating inclusive and connected communities – builds on a booklet of the same name that the bishops recently sent to all parishes.
The booklet is designed to help parish councils respond to increasing cultural diversity in parishes, and reflects the bishops’ Pastoral Priorities Plan which seeks to encourage parishes to recognise the gifts and life that migrants and diverse cultures bring to the church.
The bishops’ social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has produced a range of Social Justice Week resources, including a booklet with information and analysis of cultural diversity within the New Zealand church, and examples of how parishes are incorporating diversity into parish life.
Other resources include a CD-Rom for school students in years 1-13 called ‘No longer strangers: recognising our cultural diversity’, and material for parish liturgy committees, youth groups, children’s liturgy and newsletters.
“There are both blessings and tensions arising out of the growing number of different groups which are transforming the cultural identity of the church in Aotearoa New Zealand,” say the bishops.
“We share the concern expressed by Pope Benedict however that Catholic parishes remain unified, even while we celebrate increasing diversity. It is our hope that through Social Justice Week materials our community will be better equipped to embrace a future which brings together the best of the traditions of Maori, Pakeha and all our new arrivals”.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference statement on Social Justice Week 2010 is available at http://tiny.cc/yiqae