The Holy Innocents

Wikipedia:

The Massacre of the Innocents is the incident in the nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. The Catholic Church regards them as the first Christian martyrs, and their feast – Holy Innocents' Day (or the Feast of the Holy Innocents) – is celebrated on 28 December.^[2] A majority of Herod biographers, and "probably a majority of biblical scholars," hold the event to be myth, legend, or folklore.^[3]

The Magi visit Jerusalem to seek guidance as to where the king of the Jews has been born; King Herod directs them to Bethlehem and asks them to return to him and report, but they are warned in a dream and do not do so. The massacre is reported in Gospel of Matthew:

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Saint Mark

July 26

Saint Mark is the patron saint of the Anglican church in Opawa

Saint Mark the Evangelist is the author of the earliest Gospel, based on memories of Saint Peter’s preaching. Church tradition holds that Mark founded the (Coptic) church in Alexandria.

Saint Mark symbolised as a winged lion

Saints days and commemorations

Saint Anne

July 26

Saint Anne is the patron saint of the Anglican church in St Martins

Church tradition holds that Mary’s parents were called Anne and Joachim. They were a pious but childless couple, whose prayers were eventually answered with the birth of Mary, who was brought up in the Temple.

Saints days and commemorations

Te Whiti o Rongomai

November 6

“Te Whiti o Rongomai was born at Ngamotu near New Plymouth, about 1831. He was educated by missionaries and developed an intense love of the Bible. During the turbulent 1860s he sought a peaceful means of fostering Maori claims.

At Parihaka he built a model community, and after the war encouraged his people to resist peacefully the unjust occupation of confiscated land. This led to conflict with the government.

On 5 November 1881 armed constabulary entered Parihaka. They were met by children chanting songs. Te Whiti was arrested and imprisoned without trial for a year.

He died in 1907.” ( For All the Saints)

 

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Further Reading

“Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti” (Dictionary of New Zealand Biography)

“Remembering Parihaka” (National Library of New Zealand)

"Parihaka o neherā, o nāianei : Parihaka – past and present" - Parihaka Schools Resource, Years 1-13 (Caritas)

Parihaka Marae

Saints Days and Commemorations

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