50 years ago this year, Fathers Brian Ashby (later to be Bishop of Christchurch) and Maurice Ryan established a Catholic Enquiry Centre where people could anonymously or confidentially enquire about matters Catholic and receive an authoritative reply.
To celebrate this milestone there will be a display of art works from local parishioners and senior Catholic school students who entered the CEC ‘Faith in Art’ competition. The theme was ‘Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God: “Repent and believe the Gospel.” ‘(Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:12-17).
Celebrations will be held in each diocese. The diocesan bishop and Father Allan Jones SM, Director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC), will speak at the events, which will be held on a Sunday afternoon in July or August.
Around 100 entries were received for the nationwide competition. Diocesan judging is taking place early in July with the national finals to be held in Wellington on 16 July. There were two categories – ‘Years 12 & 13 students from Catholic Schools’ and ‘Anyone from the Catholic Parishes of New Zealand’. The winner of each category will receive $1000 and the two winning artworks will become part of the CEC’s permanent collection. All artworks entered will be returned to the artists’ dioceses in time for display in the jubilee events.
Fr Jones SM, says the principles underpinning the CEC have not changed in 50 years.
“Since its beginning in 1961 the principles of priests and people working together in faith, placing advertisements, recording responses and mailing the “free and confidential course” of booklets have remained intact,” he says. “We use today’s technology and expertise in their various forms, but we remember that the handing on of the Gospel is done by the Holy Spirit working through people of faith. Technology and expertise are at the service of this holy work”.
CEC Diocesan Jubilee Events
Wellington 24 July, 2-5pm Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Hill St, Wellington
Palmerston North 31 July, 2-5pm Diocesan Centre, 33 Amesbury St, Palmerston North
Dunedin 7 August, 2-5pm Catholic Pastoral Centre, 300 Rattray St, Dunedin
Christchurch 14 August, 2-5pm St Bede’s College, Main North Rd, Papanui, Christchurch
Hamilton 21 August, 2-5pm Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 494 Grey St, Hamilton
Auckland 28 August, 2-5pm St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland
Source
New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Image: Catholic Enquiry Centre