The Vicariate for Catholic social services is the social outreach agency of the Archdiocese of Wellington. Our work includes social work, short term therapeutic interventions, prison chaplaincy, hospital chaplaincy, support for refugee resettlement, community advocacy and support for people going through loss and change through the Seasons for Growth programme. All are welcome and our services are available to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Supporting people on benefits Many beneficiaries find New Zealand’s welfare system hard to understand. It can be confusing and difficult to understand how to ask for the support they need. One of the ways Wellington Catholic Social Services works with beneficiaries to support communities is through working in partnership with... Keep Reading
Prison Ministry will inspire you and those whose lives you will touch Do you care deeply about supporting people who are grieving? Can you a listen deeply? Can you facilitate a small group? We need people with these skills to help with our Seasons for Growth Programme in Rimutaka and Arohata Prisons. Seasons for Growth is an... Keep Reading
When you think of Prison Ministry what is your reaction? Positive or Negative? Do we listen to God as much as the media? We need people to Companion the Seasons for Growth Programme in Rimutaka and Arohata Prisons Seasons for Growth is an education and support programme which deals with Grief and Loss and achieves wonderful results among.. Keep Reading
During the COVID-19 Lockdown, Good Grief Australia conducted global research on children’s response to the pandemic in comparison with other disasters and crises. The result is a detailed presentation available to all Seasons for Growth trainers in Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales to help understand how best to support... Keep Reading
“The poor remind us how we should live the Gospel. Instead of feeling annoyed when they knock on our doors, let us welcome their cry for help as a summons to go out of ourselves, to welcome them with God’s own loving gaze” Pope Francis World Day of the Poor. On the 5th of May Catholic Social Services sent out the call... Keep Reading
The country is now at Level-2 in its campaign to fight COVID-19. Staff at Catholic Social Services are looking forward to returning to their office under Level-2 but protective procedures eg hand-sanitizing, social distancing and limiting numbers will be operating to ensure the safety of both clients and staff. CSS social workers return to the... Keep Reading
Catholic Social Services provides support to Kahungunu Whanau Services, a Kaupapa Māori social service agency, and Housing First Provider. Just before Christmas last year many parishes and communities of the Archdiocese contributed household goods that enabled Kahungunu Whanau Services to house 2 families in time for Christmas. Over the... Keep Reading
Restrictions due to the COVID-19 lockdown haven’t prevented Wellington Catholic Social Services (CSS) community facilitator Paul Alsford from getting on with reaching out, making connections and building relationships. Part of the realignment of CSS’s mission in 2019 included giving a higher priority to moving out into parish communities... Keep Reading
Support to overcome language barriers is one of the ways Wellington Catholic Social Services (CSS) are assisting vulnerable and isolated former refugees during the lockdown. Families and single people who have been settled in New Zealand as former refugees make up around half the CSS social work caseload, and the the CSS social... Keep Reading
Wellington Catholic Social Services is grateful for a grant from the Tindall Foundation, which has been distributed to five organisations in the Archdiocese of Wellington who are assisting to meet the needs of the most vulnerable during the Covid-19 lockdown. CSS Director Karen Holland said the funds will support grassroots activity that is... Keep Reading
Catholic hospital chaplains are continuing to work from home, connecting with patients and hospital staff by phone and other devices. New skills are being developed to enable hospital chaplains to offer their ministry in a whole new way in our current circumstances. Wellington Catholic hospital chaplain Lizzie Wootton says they are learning... Keep Reading
Seasons for Growth is an education programme which explores the effects of change, loss and grief. The programme recognises that change often hurts and can be confusing, frustrating or threatening. It also recognises that we need support in understanding and coping with the effects of change and loss. Katrin Eickhorst is Seasons for Growth... Keep Reading
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the Catholic social services office in Tory St is closed from 23 March 2020. However, we are still offering the following services remotely Social Work: Our social workers are fully functional with the use of phone, txt, Zoom and email. All our clients have been contacted and are actively engaged with our... Keep Reading
The Archdiocese of Wellington and Society of St Vincent de Paul are supporting parishes in continuing to “go forth” safely to our communities, within the strict lockdown and distancing required by the COVID-19 response. As Cardinal John said this week: “We know that many people are hurting, and that potentially there is further.. Keep Reading
Catholic Social Services is changing the way it responds to the needs of the community, says its new director, Karen Holland, who was appointed in September last year. Karen said a review of the service was carried out in 2019 to explore ways in which CSS could better carry out the aspirations of Synod 2017. ‘Out of the review came the... Keep Reading
Wellington Catholic Social Services