Hamilton’s new district plan, released this week, lists Euphrasie House as a Category A heritage item, giving a timely boost to those fighting to save the 75-year-old mission house. The Hamilton East Community Trust will head to the Environment Court next month to fight plans by the Catholic Diocese to bulldoze the Clyde St landmark. Read more
New Zealand
Suzanne Aubert quilt exhibition
Friday, July 11th, 2014
The life of Suzanne Aubert will be illustrated in an exhibition of quilts at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Whanganui beginning next weekend. The exhibition, Set Apart, will be made up of more than 20 quilts by Ohakune quilter Merrilyn George – all of them about Suzanne Aubert, known as Mother Mary Aubert. The exhibition Read more
Key addresses 500 Pasifika church leaders
Friday, July 11th, 2014
Prime Minister John Key spoke to more than 500 members of South Auckland’s Pasifika community on Tuesday. The meeting, with Pacific church leaders at the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mangere, was also a platform to promote National’s candidate for Mangere, Misa Fia Turner. Key says there had been a shift in support Read more
Charity muggers’ offered free flights
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014Fundraising firms recruiting foreigners to tout for donations on our streets and want job put on Immigration NZ’s skills-shortage list. Many of those annoying people hustling passers-by in city streets for charity donations are paid professionals from overseas – and more could be on the way. Read more
Lighting of Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament a sign of hope
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014Something beautiful happened in Barbados St recently The Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament was once more illuminated, its sacred magnificence shining out to the city, proclaiming “Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum Hominibus” (behold the dwelling place of God among His peoples’). A recording of a choir singing a Thomas Tallis motet played as many people gathered Read more
More delays over McGrath extradition
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014Attempts to send a former Catholic brother back to Australia to face hundreds of child sex charges are subject to further delays. Bernard Kevin McGrath, 65, faces 252 child sex charges in Australia, and the Australian government is seeking to extradite him. A Christchurch district court judge agreed to McGrath’s extradition on June 11, 2013, Read more
Key will not support Street’s Bill on euthanasia
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Prime Minister John Key has signalled possible loosening of euthanasia laws. But he said he would not vote for a bill proposed by Labour MP Maryan Street. Street’s bill allows any adult suffering from a condition likely to cause their death within 12 months to request medical assistance to die. “If it’s the same bill, I’ll Read more
Celebrating unity in diversity
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Representatives of regional interfaith groups from throughout New Zealand participated in the National Interfaith Forum, held in Dunedin in the last weekend of June. People from a diverse range of faiths and beliefs came together over three days to deepen their mutual understanding, respect and cooperation, and celebrate our ‘unity in diversity’. The group Stated its Read more
Archbishop Balvo calls for ethical economic reform
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Archbishop Charles Balvo has called for an ethical economic reform. Balvo, who was recently the Pope’s representative [apostolic nuncio] in Wellington was addressing the United Nations Environmental Assembly. He said that while the desire to moderate the consumption of goods was commendable, it was necessary to abandon the model of “an uncontrolled consumerism, an immeasurable Read more
Historic first for young Catholics and Mormons
Friday, July 4th, 2014Around 40 Catholic and Mormon youth came together over two days for a service project assembling personal care kits for men at the Wellington Night Shelter, a visit to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, a presentation on the work of Caritas, an evening devotional service in Porirua, and a visit to Parliament for lunch Read more