Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary time: 11 October 2026
Each year, on the second Sunday of October, the Church in Aotearoa celebrates Support Life Sunday. As the New Zealand bishops reminded us in the 2023 document, Te Kahu o te Ora: “We do not need to look far to recognise that our world requires a lot of healing. All around us, we experience divisions that are the result of human behaviours and institutions.”
Support Life Sunday 2026 is a time to focus on how we can better support a culture of love and life through prayer and action, with a particular emphasis this year on the need for peace in our world.
The Nathaniel Centre — the bishops’ bioethics agency — has prepared a number of resources for use this Sunday (found below).
Readings:
Psalm 22(23) – I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me
Matthew 22:1-14 – The Parable of the Wedding Feast
SLS Poster
Download the printable Support Life Sunday poster, designed for classrooms, church buildings, offices and gathering spaces.
PowerPoint
A ‘holding slide’ to be used before or after Mass, or during other gatherings.
Liturgical Suggestions
Readings for the day, homily notes and prayers of the faithful can be found here.
Post Communion Prayer (option 1)
A prayer inspired by Evangelium Vitae.
Post Communion Prayer (option 2)
A prayer for peace, justice and compassion.
Post Communion Prayer (option 3)
Adapted from the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.