St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hāwera was founded in 1875 and is now on its fourth church building. Its current home, on Victoria Street, opened in 1993 and the congregation will celebrate its 25-year jubilee on December 16. Continue reading
New Zealand
Samoa: Sister Emanuela marks sixty years of service 
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Monday, December 10th, 2018
Sister Emanuela Betham yesterday celebrated 60 years serving as a Sister of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (S.M.S.M.) Marist Missionary life. A church service was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church at Mt. Vaea yesterday evening to commemorate her achievement, which was attended by members of the S.M.S.M. sisters, Read more
68 children will spend Christmas at de Paul House for homeless Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
In total, 68 children including one newborn baby will spend Christmas at Birkenhead’s de Paul House, a housing and support service for homeless families. Manager Jan Rutledge said the number of families they will be providing for at Christmas this year is the most it ever has experienced. De Paul House was established in the early Read more
Euthanasia: “Catholics can keep their opinions to themselves” Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
Catholics are trying to dominate the euthanasia debate, says Heather du Plessis-Allan. As far as she is concerned they can keep their opinions to themselves. Du Plessis-Allan was commenting on a piece in Wellington’s DomPost, More than a moral dilemma: The religious and community views on euthanasia. She is the host of NewtalkZB’s morning programme in Read more
Summit ineffective unless “victim-centred listening” at its heart Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
Three female survivors of sexual abuse by priests have called on church leaders preparing for a February summit at the Vatican to listen to the voices of victims and to end a “culture of cover-up.” One of the three is Dr Rocio Figueroa Alvear, a Peruvian theologian, who is currently a lecturer in Systematic Theology at Good Read more
The global migration agreement causing a stir Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
The New Zealand Government has not yet decided whether New Zealand will be among the signatories: Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has said he and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters are still considering what to do.
Theatre group rides into church with home-grown Christmas tale Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
Geoff Allen, pondered how a donkey got into the tale of Christmas? Allen, who heads Galatea Theatre, has come up with his own explanation of why we think Mary rode into town on a donkey. He’s written, and is directing, a “first-millennium farce about virgins, mules and art”. The Madonna’s Mule is set in 999 Read more
The Sikh community’s Free Kitchen helps the homeless Comments 0
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
The Sikh Sangat Free Kitchen provides food to the homeless and needy. The project began in Auckland at the beginning of winter in 2017 and is now spreading around the country. On this Saturday night, we’re joined by volunteers who run the Te Puke, Tauranga and Hamilton branches of the Free Kitchen, which also operates Read more
Volunteers from Auckland helping refugees in Thailand Comments 0
Monday, December 3rd, 2018
LOGOS, the Marist Youth Development agency in Auckland, on November 20 farewelled Tayla Fa’aofo prior to her departure to work at the Marist Asia Foundation in Ranong, Thailand. Tayla will be helping people from Myanmar who have come to Thailand either as refugees escaping conflict and living in refugee camps or as migrants seeking work. The farewell Read more
Anglican church apologises to Māori for selling land Comments 0
Monday, December 3rd, 2018
A delegation from the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand has apologised to Māori for its roll in ancestral land being lost to the Crown 151 years ago. The apology took place on the former site of the Otamataha Pā in the Bay of plenty on Saturday, December 1. The church’s apology centres on a Read more
