New Zealand

St Patrick’s College students become English teachers in Thailand Comments 0

Ranong

During the recent summer holiday, eight students and two teachers from St Patrick’s College Wellington went on a two-week school trip to visit the Marist mission in Ranong, Thailand. The purpose of this trip was to experience what life is like for Burmese migrants, see Marist faith in action and teach English to the students attending Read more

Book on Loneliness one of the best in 2018 Comments 0

spiritual books of 2018

New Zealand-born author Father Gerald Arbuckle’s most recent book, Loneliness Insights for Healing in a Fragmented World has been included by the Spirituality and Practice website among the 50 best spiritual books of 2018. Arbuckle is noted scholar in both theology and anthropology. He is the author of many books, the most recent being:  Laughing with God: Humor, Read more

Analysis and Comment

Pondering in the heart: Prayerful reflection with Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” Comments 0

Fr Brian Cummings SM

For 25 years the possibility of Martin Scorsese making his film version of Shusako Endo’s novel “Silence” has been a matter of conjecture: Will he? Won’t he? Can he? With the film’s release, conjecture and debate continues. For some critics, it’s a major disappointment: slow moving (at 161 minutes); minimalist action; characters that fail to Read more

Slowing SE Asian economies will test social cohesion Comments 0

Social cohesion

Economics is too often under-estimated as a pillar of social cohesion. Southeast Asia’s growth is slowing alongside that of its biggest investor, China. And that will test a region united by a trading bloc but divided by religion, ethnicity, and forms of government. Potentially, the dangers are many. Indonesia experienced this harsh reality when it Read more

Ignatian yoga! Comments 0

ignatian yoga

Ignatian yoga, a new entity that is drawing enthusiastic crowds to retreats and workshops across the country, sounds like a gimmick. People love yoga. People love the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola. Mash the two together, and you have created a nice, marketable concept that can sweep a bundle of folks into the arms of Read more

Child sex abuse ‘serious and pervasive’ throughout all US society Comments 0

child sex abuse

Child sexual abuse in the United States is at epidemic levels. More than 60,000 children are reported to have been abused every year, outnumbering those killed by guns or cars. Those who survive are often left not only with physical wounds, but also with psychological wounds that may never heal. These wounds exact both a Read more

Archdiocese to review its stock of churches and presbyteries Comments 0

review

Cardinal John Dew, the Archbishop of Wellington, has directed every parish in the archdiocese to review its stock of churches and presbyteries. The review will identify how many churches the parish needs to cater for its Mass count, taking into account the availability of priests and lay pastoral leaders, and the ideal location of the Read more

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