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 |
| 13 March |
Anniversary of Election of Pope Francis, 2013 | Resource |
| 21 May |
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church | Resource |
| 28 May | World Communications Day | Resource |
| 1 September | World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation | Resource |
| 18 October | World Mission Day | Resource |
| 19 November | World Day of the Poor | Resource |
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
Related to United Nations Universal Children's Day
13th March - Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis
Mass for the Pope - NZ Roman Missal pg. 1245
9th April - Day of Prayer for Family Life
General Audience of Pope Francis on 25 March 2015: Prayer for the Synod of Bishops on the Family
Local Diocesan Offices for Family Life Ministries
3-9 June - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019
WPCU Introduction to Resources
21 May - Mary, Mother of the Church
Inaugural memorial for Mary, Mother of the Church. Locate the texts for Celebration in the New Zealand Church here.
17 June - Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants
2018 Message from Pope Francis
Welcome Songs for Refugees and Migrants
8 July - Day of Prayer for Seafarers
The Apostleship of the Sea New Zealand
22 July - Feast of St Mary Magdalene
Click here to view the resource.
5-12 August - National Vocations Awareness Week
Contact your local diocesan website.
15 August - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation. Patronal Feast of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Readings at the Vigil Mass:
New Zealand Roman Missal 2010 pg. 953 ff
L1:956, L2:1082
Readings at the Mass during the Day:
New Zealand Roman Missal 2010 pg. 955 ff
L1:958, L1:1084
1 September - World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
This Day of Prayer initiates the Season of Creation 1 September – 4 October. This link provides a great resource for the season.
See also Pope Francis's Prayer in Union with Creation here.
8-14 September - Social Justice Week
This year, the 8th to the 14th of September, we focus on fairness.
'Do unto others what you would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12)
Individuals and communities are invited to use the See-Judge-Act method to reflect on what is fair and unfair in their own context and act toward fairness in our world. Click here to learn more.
6 October - Day of Celebration for Suzanne Aubert
Visit suzanneaubert.co.nz for more information.
13 October - Day of Prayer to Respect Life
Respect Life Sunday is an opportunity to focus together on how our Catholic tradition celebrates and protects human life.
In 2019 the focus is on Care of the Environment. Resources will be available soon.
For resources linked to previous pro-life foci see
USSCB Respect Life Program Pro-life prayers
14-21 October - Week of Prayer for World Peace
Religious communities throughout New Zealand are encouraged to celebrate the Week both in their own observances and together with people of different faiths.
The Week will be observed in New Zealand between 14th and 21st October this year. A leaflet has been produced by the New Zealand organising committee with prayers, readings and affirmations from many faiths to use each day. The theme of the leaflet is developed for worldwide distribution by the Week of Prayer for World Peace multi-faith committee based in Great Britain.
Leaflets may be ordered by sending a cheque made out to WPWP to: Week of Prayer for World Peace, c/- Paddy Payne, 161 Seatoun Heights Road, Wellington 6022. Or email WeekOfPrayer@outlook.com or phone 021-505-215. Internet banking details are: WPWP 06-0561-0072821-000
The cost of the leaflets is: 100 for $40; 50 for $25; 20 for $12; 10 for $7; 1 for $1.50 (all prices include postage and packing).
20 October - World Mission Sunday
Prayer of the faithful for World Mission Sunday from Society for the Propagation of Faith, Canada
'What is World Mission Sunday?' video from Missio UK
18 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 for this years World Day of the Poor 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.
General Audience of Pope Francis on 25 March 2015: Prayer for the Synod of Bishops on the Family
November - 20th Anniversary of Ecclesia in Oceania in 1998
More information will be provided soon.
Aotearoa-New Zealand Ordo
Order information and pages for coming months are available here.
Click the red button for additional resources
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.
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
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 Mycoplasma Bovis
Until recently New Zealand was one of two countries that did not have cattle infected by the Mycoplasma bovis cattle disease. The outbreak is interconnected with our Catholic faith. Click here for a prayer for the time of turmoil that our farmers are in.
Prayer for Families
The overall theme for this year’s World Meeting of Families is “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World.” Before Cardinal John Dew flew to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, he created this prayer: Click here.
Prayer for Protection Against Fires
Find resources here: 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