Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have appeared together at a major public service for the first time since the former Pope’s retirement. The former and present pontiffs were at a ceremony at St Peter’s Basilica to formally install 19 new cardinals on February 22. Benedict entered the basilica discreetly from a side entrance Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has produced a document about the Catholic education system in New Zealand. Catholic Education of School-Age Children outlines the Bishops thoughts about the Catholic education network, the principles which they believe should always underpin its operation and their concerns and hopes for the young people who move through it. The Read more
The former Home of Compassion Creche is going to get a new lease of life and a new location in the Buckle Street Memorial Park, complete with a picket fence and garden reminiscent of the original. The category-1 heritage listed building at 18 Buckle St will be rolled to the back of its site and then Read more
The president of the Methodist Church in Fiji Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu passed away on 11 February after a short illness. He was elected president of the Methodist Church in Fiji in August last year following its annual conference. Tuikilakila Waqairatu had promised to reform the church and made a significant step by banning the consumption of yaqona Read more
In 2012 Immigration and Associate Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said “Migrant workers make up a small but significant part of the dairy industry workforce, filling the gaps where there are not enough New Zealanders available.” “There are now around 1500 migrant dairy workers in the country, making up 6% of the workforce. The majority come Read more
The Studio of John the Baptist in Takapua, Auckland, New Zealand has recently completed a commission to produce a mosaic for the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Basilica of St Joseph in Edmonton, Canada of the Lamb of God based on the book of Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Begun in 2013 six months were spent Read more
Christian education in state schools is in the spotlight again after to parents laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission about bible lessons at St Heliers primary school in Auckland New Zealand. A third parent is considering laying a complaint as well. The Education Act allows a school to close for up to 60 Read more
Emeritus Catholic Bishop of Auckland John Mackey, 86, died 20 January, in Auckland after a short illness. Calling him a “friend”, the current Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn, asked the people of Auckland to thank God for Bishop Mackey’s long life, his leadership as bishop, contribution to education, and as a spiritual guide and companion for so Read more
Pope Francis Sunday, baptised the child of an unmarried couple during a ceremony in the Sistine Chapel, reports Christianity Today. The unnamed parents and their child took part in the traditional Baptism Of The Lord mass with 31 others, commemorating the day St John baptised Jesus. Pope Francis has been critical of priests who refuse Read more
Popular and sometimes controversial sports journalist, Doug Golightly has begun the new year with an appeal for New Zealanders to take seriously the country’s suicide epidemic. Urging his media colleagues to “red card” references to suicide, Golightly cited an incident from the Ashes Test, when Shane Warne commented that a run-out had been ‘suicidal’. “It’s sickening Read more