Last Sunday, newly ordained Patrick Bradford celebrated a thanksgiving Mass in St Joseph’s church in Waitara. Bradford, who is 29, grew up in St Joseph’s Parish. He studied for the priesthood at a seminary in Melbourne and was ordained in Melbourne on 12 September. After leaving Francis Douglas Memorial College, Bradford majored in accounting at Read more
The Christchurch diocese is calling on international expertise to make sure the restoration of its earthquake damaged cathedral, if possible, is consistent with Catholic traditions. American architect James McCrery arrived from Washington DC this week and saw the cathedral for the first time on Tuesday. In an article in the NationaL Catholic Register McCrery is Read more
Cardinal John Dew has left New Zealand for Rome to take part in the “Synod on the Family” which will take place, 4 – 25 October. Before leaving he asked Catholics to “remember all who will participate in the Synod especially our own participants from New Zealand and Oceania – Sharron Cole, Bishop Charles Drennan Read more
Collectivist beliefs may be holding back Maori economic success, three economists say. The trio have found that Maori are much more collectivist and non-materialistic and have stronger kinship ties than other New Zealanders. They say these values may explain why many Maori enterprises are built on a “stakeholder” model, where profits are shared with all Read more
The Catholic church is about to sell off a clutch of high-profile properties in Kapiti to fund a new church and school. Following the merger of its Paraparaumu and Waikanae parishes, the church has decided to sell both its existing churches and the current St Patricks School site in Paraparaumu. In their place, the church Read more
St Peter’s College, principal Kieran Fouhy resigned this year after a 27-year tenure, during which the Epsom Catholic school’s roll doubled and its reputation soared. At 68, the life-long schoolteacher was contemplating retirement and the prospect of spending more time with his grandchildren. But after becoming convinced St Paul’s College in Ponsonby would benefit from Read more
After an earlier career in the forestry, industry the recently appointed Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe, seems a natural choice to lead this largely rural diocese. The Hamilton diocese covers the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Cape and King Country. “I have a love for the rural areas, both the people and the countryside,” Lowe Read more
The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch has announced the appointment of Andy Doherty as general manager. Answerable to the bishop, his areas of responsibility cover the rebuild of diocesan properties following the earthquakes including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, finance, education, pastoral services and the Catholic Development Fund. He takes up his position on November Read more
The tukutuku panels were handmade by 40 Māori weavers and were presented to the UN earlier this year in addition to New Zealand’s original rimu wall, which was gifted in 1952. Each of the panels has its own unique story: some are traditional, while others were designed especially for the UN. Prime Minister John Key Read more
A Marist brother has be found guilty of indecent assault The actions of Brother Patrick Bignell, 69, had a considerable “adverse impact” on each of his three teenaged male victims a judge said as she sentenced him on Friday to eight months’ home detention and ordered him to pay $8000 each to two of the victims Read more