A celebrated Auckland master chef who spent some time as a teenager living in a Catholic presbytery is helping feed some of the city’s poorest kids. Michael Meredith, 41, was named as the city’s outstanding chef by the Auckland hospitality industry earlier this year, the second time he was been given this accolade. That is Read more
The Bishop of Christchurch has issued a pastoral letter on the Diocesan Recovery Plan. In the letter, Bishop Barry Jones stated that the plan for the diocese is a “single plan” including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The letter sets out the goals in terms of time frame and building standards to be achieved. The Read more
Society of Mary provincial Fr David Kennerley preached the homily at a Mass on August 23, commemorating the first Mass celebrated in the South Island. Bishop Barry Jones led the Mass of Commemoration at a packed St Patrick’s Church in Akaroa, with Frs Paul Shannahan, SM, and Peter Conaghan, SM, also concelebrating. French Marist missionaries Read more
An Australian court has heard about the Crown’s attempts to establish a pattern of behaviour by a Catholic brother extradited from New Zealand. Bernard Kevin McGrath, 68, is facing 252 child sex charges relating to 35 victims, dating back to the 1970s. McGrath appeared by video link in the Newcastle Local Court last week. Hundreds Read more
Catholic publications from New Zealand won several awards at the Australasian Religious Press Association Awards in Brisbane on Saturday. NZ Catholic journalist Rowena Orejana won a bronze award in the best new writer category for a story about the difficulties facing rural parishes. NZ Catholic also won a silver award in the best headline category Read more
A large crowd attended a concert at St Peter and Paul’s Lower Hutt last Friday. The concert took place to launch Angel of the Forest, a new album by well known singer, Fr Chris Skinner. A special feature of the concert was the performance of five songs with lyrics by another well known priest Fr James Read more
Eleven NZ Defence Force chaplains who have died while serving their country will be remembered in a commemorative service at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on 28 August 2015. It is one hundred years since the first NZ Defence Force chaplain was killed on active duty. The service will be attended by the Governor-General, Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops have welcomed the Terms of Reference released by Parliament’s Health Select Committee for an investigation into ending a person’s life in New Zealand. The inquiry will look at the factors that contributed to a person wanting to end their life, as well as the experiences of other countries who have Read more
“We know from long experience how precious our few remaining shop-free days are for families and communities,” says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. She was responding to the announcement by the Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse that The Government will change “arbitrary” national Easter Sunday trading restrictions and put the onus on local councils Read more
Maori Anglican Church leaders launched into a “spontaneous” and “thunderous” haka after voting to support the current New Zealand flag. About 160 people met at the church’s synod in Wellington this month, where the possibility of changing the flag was raised and discussed. The church unanimously voted to support keeping the current flag, arguing it Read more