Bishop’s words of hope at Christian unity service
Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn spoke words of comfort, reassurance and hope, with reference to Christians working for justice, at an ecumenical service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in...
View ArticleFormer PM and GP wife oppose EOLC Bill
Some politicians changed the way they previously voted in order to oppose the End of Life Choice Bill at its second reading in Parliament, but the gap between the “Yes” and “No” votes is still...
View ArticleDangers of liberalising NZ’s abortion law
Imagine if the passion and energy being put into attempts to “liberalise” abortion law in New Zealand was instead directed to ensuring real choice and support for women? This was the question put at...
View ArticleLiving lay vocation as salt, light and leaven
US priest Fr Roger Landry’s second talk at the Auckland Eucharistic Convention might have been about the vocation of the laity and the importance of this in the renewal and reform of the Church and...
View ArticleWhat is needed to renew the Church in NZ
Three things transformed the early Church and made it dynamic — being devoted to prayer and praying in groups, being dynamic, loving communities and reaching out and caring for the marginalised. There...
View ArticleMsgr Ray Green had a great pastor’s heart
One story told after the funeral of Msgr Ray Green was an illustration of both the man and of his many years of pastoral ministry. A long time parishioner of St Mark’s parish in Pakuranga, where Msgr...
View ArticleRevitalising parishes Monday to Saturday
One of the big challenges for the Church in Christchurch diocese, and likely elsewhere in New Zealand too, is to revitalise the life of parishes from Monday to Saturday, says the Bishop of...
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Bishop O’Connell – approachable and encouraging
He could talk with anyone at any time, he was very approachable and he was a great optimist. These were some of the many positive attributes of Bishop Stuart O’Connell, SM, recalled by speakers at a...
View ArticleLeading Kiwi pro-life advocate in Sydney told to go back to Samoa
New Zealand barrister and bioethicist Rachael Wong has been on the receiving end of xenophobic mail in Australia because of her pro-life and pro-women advocacy. Ms Wong, who is managing director of...
View ArticlePope accepts resignation of NZ bishop
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan of Palmerston North diocese in New Zealand, following a complaint against him of unacceptable behavior of a sexual nature. A media...
View ArticleCatholic census numbers drop
Catholics are still the largest “religious” group in New Zealand, according to 2018 census data, but the number of people identifying as Catholic has continued to drop. In data released by Statistics...
View ArticleDouble deacon ordination
In ordaining two new transitional deacons, Christchurch Bishop Paul Martin, SM, expressed his gratitude and support for them, but also warned about the realities of their future ministries. Deacon...
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Msgr Brian Arahill called ‘a great priest’ by bishop
“Ecce sacerdos magnus — behold a great priest who has pleased God in his days.” The first three words in Latin kept going “round and round in my head” in the days after Msgr Brian Arahill died, said...
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Support questions at post-resignation discussion
In the wake of Pope Francis’ acceptance of the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan as Bishop of Palmerston North, “support” was a key concern of people gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit...
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Love, loss and a faith lifeline
November is a busy time of year. Exam season swings into action. Christmas plans are being made. There are major sports events like the Rugby World Cup, the Melbourne Cup and a cricket series between...
View ArticleBishop asks secondary schools to look at enrolment policies
Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn has asked that Catholic secondary schools in his diocese unable to accept all preference applicants have an enrolment policy or scheme that places very high priority on...
View ArticleNew Catholic secondary school proposed for Drury
The Minister of Education has approved an application by Auckland diocese to enter into integration negotiations for a proposed new Catholic year 7-13 secondary school in Drury in south Auckland. It...
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Holy Souls played part in recovery of statues
A Carmelite nun believes the fact that two precious statues allegedly taken from a monastery in Auckland were found in a nearby cemetery on All Souls Day was very significant. Speaking to NZ Catholic...
View ArticleThames parish upgrades security
A spate of petty crime has driven the installation of security cameras, solar lighting and an extra fence at St Francis of Assisi church in Thames. Five new security cameras costing a total of...
View ArticlePope uplifts secrecy obligation for those who report having been abused
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a Church trial or process having to...
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