Johann Go says he was wrong to make assumptions about how his peers and teachers would react at St Patrick’s College Silverstream. It took two years for him to build up the courage to confide in his Catholic schoolmates that he was gay. When college rector Gerard Tully gave the green light to same-sex partners Read more
St Joseph’s Church in Douglas St, Timaru, New Zealand, was deconsecrated during a service last Sunday. The church has not been used for regular mass for the past five years and its deconsecration gave about 200 past parishioners a chance to say goodbye. Deconsecration removes the religious blessing placed on the building, in preparation for Read more
A Palmerston North judge has criticised the cultural pressures put on Pacific Islanders to give money to churches in New Zealand. His criticism came after a woman stole more than $27,000 from her workplace to keep up payments to her church. Ana Fangaiuiha, worked for Countdown in Palmerston North for five years, and was promoted Read more
Time magazine’s choice of Pope Francis a Person of the Year has prompted interest from the New Zealand media. Auckland Diocese spokesperson Lyndsay Freer was interviewed on RadioLive last Thursday. Mrs Freer told CathNews, “It’s no surprise, after reading his apostolic exhortation, Joy of the Gospel, and the many impromptu homilies at his daily Masses and Read more
Kieran Fouhy, Principal of St Peter’s College, Auckland, was the recipient of a Papal Knighthood at the college prizegiving last week by Monsignor Paul Farmer, Vicar General of the Auckland Diocese representing Bishop Pat Dunn at the investiture ceremony. Fouhy comes with an impressive background in Catholic education since 1971, teaching at St John’s College Read more
In a recent interview in the New Zealand Herald, All Black, Keven Mealamu was asked how big a part faith played in his life. “It’s always with you,” he replied. “I’m Catholic. Go to church whenever I can. When we were on tour in Italy I stopped into a church with a couple of the other boys Read more
New Zealand Catholic Bishops welcomed the Census 2013 figures on religious affiliation published today and noted that the majority of New Zealanders identify with a diverse range of religions, although the number that don’t have a religious affiliation is increasing. “The number of Catholics is fairly similar to the number published in 2006, with about Read more
Aucklander Kirsten Sloan is a volunteer on mission with Fr Frank Bird and others at the Marist Family Mission in Ranong, Thailand, where she manages the HIV/AIDS Health Project. The mission has been serving Burmese migrants for the past 6 years providing community support, education for Burmese children and support and health access for HIV/AIDs sufferers Read more
Declining numbers in all the mainstream churches means that Catholicism has emerged as the most populous religion in New Zealand. The 2013 New Zealand census shows that of the total population of 4.2 M, population, 3.9 M stated their religious affiliation. Of those, 1.635 M, (1 in 4), say they had no religious affiliation, up from Read more
On Dec. 10th, 2013, Pope Francis is inviting the world to join him in a global wave of prayer to end world hunger. New Zealanders will be among the first to have the chance to catch the wave. The Pope’s message will be available from 9am New Zealand time. In the video Pope Francis invites all people – organisations and Read more