Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel says if there is to be any certainty on the Christ Church Cathedral’s future, the Anglican Church’s synod must vote in favour of restoration. At Thursday’s city council meeting Dalziel said there was only one decision the synod could make in September that would provide that certainty – voting for restoration. Read more
New Zealand
St John Paul’s NZ chair has a few secrets to keep
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017
A chair was especially constructed for St John Paul to use during his visit to New Zealand in 1986. The fact that a Protestant was the first person to use it is a source of quiet amusement for the man who constructed it. Upholsterer Colin Loach tells how he put the very large chair in Read more
Dumping: Just a few can’t tell a landfill from an Op Shop
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017
“It’s not all good, but there is a lot of good.” says Mike Rolton Hamilton’s St Vincent de Paul manager. It appears that while a few don’t know the difference between a landfill and a charity Op Shop, the Vinnies in Hamilton say the good outweighs the bad by a country mile. Last month TVNZ Read more
Mission Centre – school and parish administration in one shared building,
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017
On Sunday May 28th people from St Joseph’s school and parish in Hawera gathered for the opening of a new Mission Centre. The Mission Centre is a unique venture for the Diocese of Palmerston North. It combines the school and parish administration areas in one shared building. The school and parish secretaries work alongside each Read more
Bishop Justin calls politicians to welcome more refugees
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017On 2o0 July about 100 people from faith and community groups and many political parties gathered together on the front lawn of Parliament to call on politicians to vote with their conscience to at least double the refugee quota. Bishop Justin was there, he spoke to the crowds and urged us to ask, as Jesus Read more
Pā Steve Hancy RIP
Thursday, June 22nd, 2017Pā Steven Thomas Hancy was born in Wairoa on 23rd September 1953 and passed away in Whanganui on 27th May 2017. Pā was ordained at Mohaka Marae by Bishop Peter Cullinane on 6 February 1988 and served in the parishes of Hawera, Taradale, New Plymouth, Patea and Waverley, Hastings West, Central Hawkes Bay and Whanganui. Read more
Polls on euthanasia – Applying a blunt instrument to a sensitive subject
Monday, June 19th, 2017
“These polls rely on one or two very simple questions and, on a sensitive issue such as euthanasia, give people very little time or information to consider the issue in depth,” said Dr John Kleinsman. The director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre was commenting on a recent survey prepared for the Voluntary Euthanasia Society Read more
Auckland priest says marriage should be for free
Monday, June 19th, 2017
In a country that says it want to value marriage, a licence should be granted on application for no fee says Fr Brian Prendeville. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) last month increased a range of celebrant-related fees. A spokesman for the DIA said the new fees will help the Department manage costs. The changes Read more
National day of celebration marks Suzanne Aubert’s progress to sainthood
Monday, June 19th, 2017
The Sisters of Compassion and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have announced the first Sunday of October as a day of celebration for the Venerable Suzanne Aubert. Suzanne Aubert was the founder of the Sisters of Compassion, New Zealand’s only home grown order of Sisters. In 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference supported Read more
Former doctor to return as a bishop
Monday, June 19th, 2017A clergyman who worked in New Zealand as a doctor in the 1990s is returning there as the new Bishop of Dunedin. Revd Dr Steven Benford, currently serving in the Diocese of London, was a doctor for twenty nine years. Making the announcement, Archbishop Philip Richardson welcomed the appointment: “I look forward to welcoming Steven Read more