The surviving relatives of the late Pope Benedict XVI stand to inherit small amount of money from his legacy, according to the executor of his last will and testament. When the retired pope died at age 95 on December 31, 2022, his longtime assistant, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, got to work as executor of the will Read more
A Catholic priest, who stumbled across a war zone in his church, saved three children’s lives. He is being hailed as a hero. Two Mexican gangs had taken refuge in the cathedral as they engaged in a bloody shoot-out. Mexico’s Lady of Guadalupe cathedral was left completely blasted with bullet holes and grenades. A beheaded Read more
Informed religious conversation and public discussions around religion could become even more scarce if the proposed cuts to the Religious Studies department at Victoria University are implemented. Dr Sara Rahmani, a lecturer in religious studies at the university (pictured), voiced her concerns about the potential impact of eliminating the programme in a recent interview with Read more
Men are New Zealand’s most vulnerable when it comes to housing. Men seem particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity, says Greg, a peer support worker with Lifewise, who works with men experiencing homelessness. He told RNZ’s The Detail they’re often facing a web of other personal challenges. Thinking of the people he works with now, Greg Read more
A married Balclutha man has been ordained the first permanent deacon in the Catholic Church in Dunedin. “I went to Fiji to complete my studies to become a priest in 2017, but I got married to Fania. “The following year we began the journey towards me becoming a permanent deacon.” Deacon Iosefa and Mrs Fania Read more
Incorruptible bodies attract attention. Recent images of a dead nun’s body in Missouri have created a buzz online, amid reports that the religious sister’s body may be incorruptible. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, was the foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. She died in 2019. When the abbey community at Gower Read more
A Texas bishop has issued dismissal threats against an entire monastery of Carmelite nuns as he investigates sexual misconduct allegations by their superior. The Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, located in Arlington, Texas, is embroiled in a conflict with Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth. Olson claims to be investigating allegations of sexual Read more
Offering spiritual direction to teachers could transform Catholic school communities. That’s leading religious education scholar Associate Professor Michael Buchanan’s opinion. Schools have become a more diverse workforce. This has led many learning communities to introduce formation opportunities. These enable all teachers to participate in enhancing the Catholic school’s mission. Buchanan (pictured) said a growing number Read more
Hastings charity Thermals for Children surprised a group of young Cyclone Gabrielle survivors with a swag of unexpected gifts last week. With the Hastings Catholic Parish support, the charity fundraises and supplies local schools with hundreds of bundles of thermals and track pants each winter. This year the parish have raised more than $26,000 for Read more
Russia has reacted positively to the Pope’s Ukraine peace initiative. There are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow, however. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement about the peace initiative was Moscow’s first public acknowledgement of the pope’s overtures. It followed the Vatican’s weekend announcement that Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (pictured), has been suggested Read more