A Wellington developer was reportedly told by a priest that his whole congregation would be praying for him before he faced an Environment Court hearing. This probably had something to do with Mark Dunajtschik’s proposal to give $5 million each for the restorations of St Mary of the Angels and St Gerard’s Monastery. The offer Read more
A priest in Auckland diocese has celebrated his first extraordinary form Mass in Latin within days of his ordination. Fr Jeremy Palman was ordained by Bishop Patrick Dunn at St Patricks’ Cathedral on August 9, and the new priest offered a thanksgiving Mass in the ordinary form at Te Atatu the next day. On August Read more
The Salvation Army will be the front door for a new Government-backed loans scheme aimed at saving low income families from loan sharks. The inspiration for the scheme came from a similar one run in Australia by a financial institution and a microfinancing body which was started by Catholic nuns. The Community Finance Scheme in Read more
The priest dubbed the Vatican’s point man for clerical sexual abuse says the media did the Church a service by revealing abuse scandals. In an interview with the Sunday Star Times, American Msgr Robert Oliver praised the media’s role, echoing a tribute he paid early last year. “It’s hard for any group over time to Read more
More than 1000 people packed St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Wellington for a Catholic and Anglican initiative to hear politicians address child poverty. Catholic Archbishop John Dew and Anglican Bishop Justin Duckworth invited the Children’s Commissioner, Dr Russell Wills, and politicians to speak on child poverty in the lead-up to the election. At the forum Read more
A Safe Church Programme is to be introduced to the Catholic Church in New Zealand and a person with education experience has been appointed to run it. Maria Noonan, who will develop and deliver the programme, was introduced at a Safe Church Training Day held in Wellington on July 30. She will work as part Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have asked Pope Francis to declare a global prayer vigil for peace in Gaza and the rest of the Holy Land. In a letter, the New Zealand bishops praise the Pope for his efforts to bring about peace. But the bishops pick up on a request from a Gaza priest, Fr Raed, Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have written a statement on the 2014 General Election, with particular emphasis on remembering the poor and vulnerable. According to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference website, the statement is written for Catholics to read and reflect upon. It begins with a quote from Pope Francis: “The goal of economics and Read more
An editorial on the Suff website labels as “plain silly” a woman’s complaint that her son could hear religious instruction from the classroom next door. He was in the room for the duration of a religious education class that he had chosen not to attend. Tanya Jacob says she pulled her son out of Harewood Read more
Death Cafes are the latest twist to New Zealand’s cafe culture. However, interest in Tauranga’s Death Cafes has been disappointingly low says chairwoman, of the Tauranga’s Voluntary Euthanasia Society and rest home nurse Tess Nesdale. The society hosted its first Death Cafe in April at the Grindz Cafe, but with such low interest the society plans Read more