The important service of Catholic education for society was again highlighted in the Honours List announced on Queen’s Birthday. For their services to Catholic education, Jenny Gordon and Patrick Walsh are featured on this year’s Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours list. Both have become Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Jenny Gordon Read more
Australian Catholics could soon acknowledge the land’s traditional owners on which their churches, schools and parishes stand with a ‘Welcome to Country’ before Mass and meetings. The recommendation to open meetings with ‘Welcome to Country’ is contained in proposals to the Church’s Plenary Council. The proposal will be voted on at an assembly of bishops Read more
Synodality is not populism, it means communion, says Pope Francis. Synodality is “a path of ecclesial communion that seeks to open minds and hearts to the will of the Holy Spirit.” What synodality is not, is a reorganisation of church structures, he emphasises. In a video message to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America last Read more
New Zealand canon lawyer Msgr Brendan Daly (pictured) says the Church needs more lay people in governance roles. Its episcopal appointment process could also be altered so it is more open – it could save a lot of unnecessary distress, he says. The clerical sexual abuse scandal shows the necessity for these changes, he wrote Read more
A new St Vincent de Paul Centre opened in Levin on Sunday 15 May and immediately received civic approval. Speaking at the opening Levin, Mayor Mr Bernie Wanden, (pictured) described the Centre as “a wonderful venture for our community.” Wanden observed that Levin probably has the lowest rating for household income in New Zealand. He Read more
Holiness is open to everyone and does not consist of a few heroic gestures but of many small acts of daily love, Pope Francis told 45,000 people gathered at the Vatican last week. The reason for the massive outdoor gathering was the pope’s official proclamation of 10 new saints. It was the Catholic Church’s first Read more
We need to use the past as a source of inspiration while moving forward, instead of wanting to go back to the way things were in the past, says Pope Francis. It’s not Christian. Wanting to go back in time is different from drawing inspiration from one’s roots in order to move forward with Christ. Read more
Pope Francis said he wants LGBTQ Catholics to know that God is a father who “does not disown any of his children.” The pope’s comment came in response to a question asked by Jesuit Father James Martin, a prominent catholic priest involved in gay ministry. Martin posed three questions to the pope for the America Read more
April was New Zealand’s deadliest month for Covid-related deaths since the pandemic began, according to recently-released statistics. New Zealand’s COVID-19 death toll has increased more than tenfold over the past two months. The government’s decision to keep schools and non-essential businesses open and to remove most public health restrictions is being blamed for the spike. Read more
A submission to the 2023 synodal process from 58 of over 100 members of Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa is asking for a new, inclusive model of the church. Formed by the scriptures and teachings of the Catholic Church and the circumstances of today, Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa (BCCCA) says their vision Read more