The iconic St Patrick’s Church on Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, is to receive a major restoration. The 153 year-old category 1 Historic Church was built in 1864 by Irishman Patrick Joseph Cullen, funded by the Apostle of Canterbury, Fr Jean-Baptiste Chataigner sm, and has served the Catholic community all that time and is still doing so. Read more
St. Thomas More and Blessed John Henry Newman may not on first glance seem to be a good pairing: the twice-happily married lawyer and public servant and the celibate Oxford Fellow and Oratorian priest. The sixteenth century Catholic martyr and the nineteenth century convert and confessor; the witty teller of merry tales and the seemingly Read more
The compilation of the Bible as we know it today was a long, drawn-out process. It started with oral history that was passed on to each generation and then this history was written down by inspired authors and brought together to form various “books.” Then during the 4th century AD the need arose to officially Read more
“Science is a wonderful way to experience an intimate sentiment with Creation and, by it, to become intimate with the Creator,” said the Director of the Vatican Observatory, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno. In the pages of the Italian daily La Repubblica, he revealed that he venerates “the God of joy” through science. The American astronomer spoke about Read more
You probably recognise David Harewood from one of several major television series. In recent years the British actor has played significant roles in Homeland, Supergirl, The Night Manager and Doctor Who, to name but a few. Now he’ll be opening the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) at the BT Tower on September 6 with his Read more
The story of creation presents us with a panoramic view of the world. Scripture reveals that, “in the beginning”, God intended humanity to cooperate in the preservation and protection of the natural environment. At first, as we read in Genesis, “no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the Read more
BEIJING, China — As soon as the first sisters moved onto the church grounds in a rural region outside of Beijing, the babies started showing up on the doorstep. They were babies with severe disabilities, abandoned at a few months old, with no trace of the family who left them behind. China’s one-child policy was not Read more
The anniversary observed by many Protestants as Reformation Day (October 31st) has a special significance this year, since it will be 500 years since Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in Germany by sending his famous 95 theses to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther may also have posted his manifesto, following academic tradition, on the Read more
Being a teacher goes beyond just imparting knowledge. It’s a vocation. Teachers complement parents in the formation of children as human beings and, because of this, the best teachers are always remembered. Helen Keller maintained a friendship with her teacher Anne Sullivan for over 40 years and even was present at her death. The reason? Read more
In 2012, when Samoa celebrated 50 years of independence, Victoria University awarded an honorary doctorate to Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Samoa’s longest serving prime minister. The citation noted that Tuila’epa had “presided over the most politically and economically stable and successful small democratic country in the Pacific”. “He is, quite simply, the most successful, the most Read more