Māngere Refugee Centre’s mental health support service is under pressure as it faces an increase in demand and an expected influx in coming years. While news of the refugee quota increase from 1000 to 1500 in 2020 and the offer to resettle 150 refugees per year from Australian offshore detention has been welcomed by advocates, Read more
New Zealand
Auckland churches given a reprieve before new rates come in
Thursday, November 22nd, 2018Auckland churches are getting a one-year breather before Auckland Council brings in higher rates on facilities not used for religious purposes. Three months ago the council contacted hundreds of churches telling them to ignore big rates increases, which came into effect this financial year without political input.
St Bernard’s College students raising awareness of mental health
Monday, November 19th, 2018
A group of Year 12 students from Lower Hutt’s St Bernard’s College are spreading only good vibes with their Posi Vibes business. Set up at the start of the school year, five students decided to sell wristbands to raise money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation. John Balao, 17, Andrew Hislop, 16, Sam McCloy, Read more
1918 influenza epidemic: Sisters of Compassion involvement recalled
Monday, November 19th, 2018
The Sisters of Compassion’ involvement during the 1918 influenza pandemic is remembered in a temporary exhibition. The exhibition is open from 11 November 2018 – 31 March 2019 at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion at Island Bay in Wellington. Eight Sisters of Compassion responded. As the disease worsened they were joined by a further eight Read more
21 New Zealanders to attend World Youth Day in Panama
Monday, November 19th, 2018
A contingent of 21 New Zealanders will attend the international celebration for 2019 World Youth Day (WYD2019) in Panama. The event in January next year will be attended by thousands from around the world. Bishop of Palmerston North, Charles Drennan, who will be accompanying the New Zealand pilgrimage to Panama, commented “it’s my first World Read more
One in five Kiwis can’t afford Christmas this year
Monday, November 19th, 2018A new survey has found that more than in five Kiwis can’t afford to celebrate Christmas this year. The survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army, found when asked to disagree or agree with the statement “I can’t afford to celebrate the festive season”, 23 per cent of respondents agreed. Read more
New murder charge for NZ euthanasia advocate
Monday, November 19th, 2018A New Zealander who was convicted of assisting his mother’s suicide is now facing two charges of murder in South Africa. In September Sean Davison was charged with murder after helping a quadriplegic friend die. On Friday he was charged with another killing of a man suffering from motor neuron disease. Mr Davison is a Read more
NCRS publishes family discussion book based Amoris Laetitia
Monday, November 19th, 2018First published in 2016, Amoris Laetitia, which simply means ‘The Joy of Love’, is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis addressing the pastoral care of families including marriage and the day to day challenges faced by families throughout the world. Amoris Laetitia encourages both clergy and members of the laity to accompany and care Read more
Faith, food and martial arts celebrated
Thursday, November 15th, 2018
Close to two hundred people were fed physically and spiritually at the Family Banquet featuring celebrity chef and priest Father Leo Patalinghug. The charity event was hosted by the Centre for Marriage and Family (CMF) on 10 November in Tawa, near Wellington. The American Filipino-born priest who travels the world sharing the importance of family dinners, Read more
Revisiting the 20-year-old secondary school RE curriculum
Thursday, November 15th, 2018
The New Zealand National Centre for Religious Studies (NCRS) is providing secondary religious education teachers with a new curriculum guide. The Secondary RE Bridging Document (SREBD) Poipoia te kakano kia puawai – Nurture the seed and it will blossom – is intended to provide some common ground while a formal longer process of preparing a new year 1 – 13 RE Read more