A Wairoa pharmacist refuses to sell the emergency contraceptive pill over her counter because of personal beliefs. To be eligible to sell the emergency contraceptive pill, commonly referred to as the morning-after pill, pharmacists have to complete a course. Owner Elsa Norvil says she will not do this, for personal reasons. “I am not prepared Read more
An old creche in Memorial Park could bring an influx of tourists and millions of dollars to Wellington, but it’s not without headaches according to Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre director Francis Fanning. Fanning said a key part of that plan would be to turn the Home of Compassion creche, which was built by Mother Aubert in Read more
Last Wednesday part of Christchurch’s St Bede’s College was evacuated after a chemical spill. Two fire engines, a command unit, and the Hazardous Substance Unit were called to the school at 10.35 am on Wednesday, Fire Service communications centre shift manager Lyn Crosson said. “They have some sort of chemical spill in a prep room near Read more
Two couples were married in Dipton, a small town in New Zealand, within minutes of each other last Friday, with an in-demand priest dashing between the two ceremonies. It’s believed to have been almost two decades since there has been a wedding at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in the Northern Southland town, 60km north of Read more
Three Catholic parishes in Khandallah, Johnsonville and Newlands are the latest in Wellington to merge. The move will mean a new name and structure for St Andrew’s in Newlands, St Benedict’s in Khandallah and St Peter and Paul’s in Johnsonville. The new parish will be established at a mass at St Andrew’s on February 28, Read more
A 15-year-old Kavanagh College pupil who identifies as neither male nor female has been a “little surprised” at just how supportive the Dunedin Catholic school has been. During the last term of last year Arryn, who identifies as non-binary and asks to be referred to using the pronouns they, their and them instead of he Read more
Hundreds gathered at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral on Friday for the funeral Mass following several days of prayer, tributes and Masses paying respects to Bishop Barry Jones. Faith leaders, civic leaders and the Catholic community joined with his family for the Requiem Mass led by Cardinal John Dew yesterday. Cardinal Dew began by acknowledging Bishop Read more
In September last year, Wellington’s Anglican and Catholic Bishops asked the Red Cross how they could help the Syrian refugees coming to New Zealand. They were asked to kit out homes, and people have been giving from right across the region. So far religious groups in the lower North Island have gathered household supplies for Read more
Obscene graffiti has been daubed across Wellington College buildings and its artificial sports turf, apparently by rival students from St Patrick’s College. Staff and students Wellington College found the graffiti on Monday morning. It included one-metre-high male genitalia and “F… you” scrawled on the new $1.4 million turf, which was partly funded by Wellington ratepayers. Read more
A new roof for Dunedin’s Dominican Priory, considered one of New Zealand’s most important and at-risk historic buildings, is a big step closer following a $100,000 grant. Dunedin City Council’s Dunedin Heritage Fund had committed the money from its 2016-17 budget. The 139-year old priory was built to house the city’s Dominican nuns and provide Read more