Father Martin is the parish priest on the Island of Abaiang, which is about two hours by boat from Tarawa, in Kiribati. Of the island’s population of about 5,000, some 4,000 are Catholics. Described as, “an intense man who wears thick black glasses,” he was until recently a climate-sceptic and feared that the message of activists Read more
New Zealand needs a greater commitment to measuring the children’s well-being say New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops. Responding to the release of the UNICEF Innocenti report into Child well-being in rich countries, Archbishop John Dew, speaking on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said it was a matter of concern that New Zealand does Read more
Thirteen years in the making, a new edition of Te Paipera Tapu (the Holy Bible in Māori) was launched during Holy Week at Te Rau College in Gisborne. A team from Bible Society New Zealand has been reformatting the Māori Bible for a new generation of Māori speakers. The current translation, first published in 1952, has been Read more
The appointment of Sister Veronica Casey PBVM to the role of Senior Catholic Prison Chaplain has been announced with the appointment effective 25 March. “I’m pleased that Sr Veronica Casey PBVM has accepted this role and look forward to working with her in this capacity. I’d like also to take the opportunity to applaud the Read more
In 2006 nearly 70,000 Maori identified with Catholicism but Pa Petera, Father Peter Tipene, believes fewer and fewer Katorika Maori are turning up on Sundays. He says that with the election of Pope Francis it’s a good time for the church – and for Maori who follow the faith – to reassess and take stock. Read more
Auckland Transport has pulled an advertisement depicting Chairman Mao performing the Gangnam Style dance. It has been banned from Auckland bus stops for fear it will insult Chinese residents. The advertisement for online electricity store Powershop shows the Chinese former dictator surrounded by Chinese people and soldiers posing with guns, and carries the slogan ‘Same Read more
Numerous assurances have been given that marriage celebrants who object, on the ground of religious belief or conscience, to conducting same gender marriage ceremonies will be protected in law. But Professor Rex Ahdar, from the Law Faculty of Otago University, says a flaw still remains in the most recent version of the Bill, despite the Select Committee’s hope that the Read more
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has told reporters a surprising story of how the newly elected pope decided to take the bus back to the hotel Wednesday with the rest of the cardinals instead of riding in the Holy Father’s car. Dolan said most of the cardinals had taken buses back to their residence in the Vatican Read more
The Wellington Homeless Women’s project, an initiative of four women – three religious, Srs Raye Boyle, Catherine Hannan, and Marcellin Wilson and Newtown lay pastoral leader Karen Holland, lead to the establishment of The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust which recently announced that it has been able to secure a 2 year lease from 19 April 2013 for accommodation Read more
There are ”communication issues” between Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) and Anglican leaders according to Justice Chisholm who is hearing a case brought by the GCBT challenging the Anglican decision to largely demolish the Christ Church Cathedral. Chisholm said “While it is not the role of the court to intervene, the applicant and first respondent might like Read more
