October 2026
Kia ora and greetings,
October is one of the three months that remind us of the old Roman Calendar which had only ten months. When the months January and February were eventually added, the month that is named after the Latin word for ‘eight’ became the tenth month of the year.
The month is known for many feast days and holidays. For Catholics, it is often called the ‘Month of the Rosary’. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter might be showing its first signs and in the Southern Hemisphere, we are hoping for warmer temperatures – in Aotearoa New Zealand, the month of October is National Gardening Month.
One of the many important feast days of the month is the 18th of October, the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist. Here is the link to a couple of short interviews I recorded with Kieran Fenn fms on St Luke a few years ago: www.studyjoy.nz/2021/09/02/the-gospel-of-luke/ If you would like to hear more about St Luke and his writings, please join us for Content & Characters – Gospel of Luke with Fr Kevin Waldie sm on 16 November 2026.
Our recent Muffin Talk interviews are:
- Dr Christopher E. Longhurst: SAIRD
SAIRD – the Structured Art-based Interreligious Dialogue is a method to encourage dialogue between people of different faiths, using pictorial art. Dr Christopher E. Longhurst introduces his book on SAIRD. - Fr Cyprian Consiglio OSB Cam: Interreligious Dialogue & Meditation
Fr Cyprian Consiglio uses music, dialogue and meditation for a new “Evolution of Consciousness” to bring people of different faiths together. - Shayne Mathieson: Democracy & Elections
Democracy comes from the words demo- (“people”) and -cracy (“rule”) – a country ruled by the people. Why is it important to vote and how does it work in New Zealand? - Derek Good: Light the World Giving Machine
“Light the World Giving Machines” – 10 years of special vending machines that are set up for Christmas time around the world. Derek Good explains how they work and how you can use them to make a small one-off donation. An interactive way to reach out and help someone in need.
Please also check out the News & Views page with short articles on events and reflections on the Sunday Scriptures.
Recent articles:
Serve with Good Will. Interfaith Event at Old Selwyn Church in Howick co-organised by the Anglican and Catholic members of the Auckland Inter-Faith Council.
Can Artificial Intelligence think? Scientists and philosophers are interested in finding out if AI chatbots can ‘think’. Just because AI might act like it is thinking, doesn’t mean that it can.
The Feast of the Rosary & Religious Freedom. On the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we remember the Battle of Lepanto (1571) in which Catholic forces from several countries defended Rome. However, there is another historical event that should not be forgotten.
Hope in Dialogue. St Francis of Assisi was a man of his time and yet has remained an inspiration not only for Christians for more than 800 years.
Upcoming Events
Our next Webinar:
Content & Characters in the Gospel of Luke with Fr Kevin Waldie
Monday, 16 November 2026, 7-8.30pm (Zoom)
Please register with us.
Many blessings,
Beate
Beate Matthies—Titipounamu Study & Joy
https://www.facebook.com/TitipounamuStudyandJoy
YouTube: @titipounamustudyandjoy
Between Two Popes – Journal of a Pilgrim
There is now a printed version of the accounts of my pilgrimage to Rome in 2025. My journey started two days after Pope Leo XIV was elected and finished one day before his inauguration.
This is a compact guide through the main churches and Holy Doors in the Year of Jubilee. A combination of historic facts, stories and a journal. Easy to read with many pictures. Available through this website.
