As the 21st Century progresses and tensions between Catholics and Protestants fade, we’re left with children asking “Penny for the Guy”. Victoria University historian Grant Morris says that, although the Guy Fawkes celebration is now stripped of its original meaning, “it retains that anti-Catholic title.” He says it is a “bit odd” the celebration of Guy Fawkes continues Read more
A hui for Catholic Māori in the Auckland diocese is to be held this month (November 2017). NZ Catholic reports that the hui, “Te Iwi Māori Katorika”, is to be held at Whaiora Marae in Otara. It aims to strengthen “Mana Māori” within the Church and the diocese and to “consider what leadership structure might Read more
On Sunday, Bishop Mark Whitfield of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand and Cardinal John Dew for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On this date in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses, concerning failings he saw in the Church, on the door of the All Saints’ Church Read more
During their recent meeting in Wellington, the New Zealand Catholic bishops discussed Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio ‘Magnum Principium’ (the great principle) which lays out the procedure for preparing translations of liturgical texts from Latin into local languages. They say they will be working in collaboration with English speaking Bishops’ Conferences around the world as they Read more
The persecution of Christians is now “worse than at any time in history” according to a report by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Persecuted and Forgotten? has been published by the UK office of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Some of the report’s findings are: Persecution of Christians reached Read more
The Bishop of Palmerston North Charles Drennan says the clunky sentence construction and often awkward vocabulary in the six-year-old translation of the Mass have tested us all, “Notwithstanding the introduction of some evocative language.” Writing in Welcom, Drennan made a plea for patience in regard to what action may be taken in New Zealand as a consequence Read more
A priest who is a former pupil of St Patrick’s College Wellington has asked the college to reconsider hiring out its hall for an arms auction. The auction features high-powered semi-automatic weapons and military memorabilia adorned with Nazi insignia. Monsignor Gerard Burns says while the arms auction – to be held this weekend at the Kilbirnie school’s hall – was Read more
A provisional decision to disaffiliate ProLife Auckland from the Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) will not proceed after legal advice found the move to be unconstitutional and void. In August, an online referendum was held that contained a double question: “Should AUSA disaffiliate the ProLife Club and ban any clubs with similar ideology from affiliating in the Read more
Compassion Housing is taking on the Community Housing portfolio in Horowhenua. All existing local tenancy agreements will remain in place. Residents will now receive an increased level of service aimed both at improving well-being and decreasing isolation. Sister Margaret Anne Mills, the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Compassion, says they are committed to Levin, Read more
The Sista’s Conference for Christian women took place at the beginning of September at the Trusts Arena in Auckland. Hosted by Life NZ, about 3,800 were expected to attend the opening night. The Saturday night crowd exceeded 6,000. Organisers estimate 50 percent of Sista attendees were from out of Auckland and participants were likely to Read more