Once a place of closed doors and obedience, a former nuns’ convent in Timaru is to become a centre for the district’s mental health support trust and addiction and substance misuse clients. Since the 1980s, 7A Craigie Ave has been home to the Sisters of Mercy in a 14-bed home adjacent to Roncalli College. However, Read more
New Zealand
Immigration ‘could hit 100,000 new arrivals in a year’: Here’s what that means
Thursday, September 14th, 2023Migration into New Zealand is still running at record levels, and could top a net migration gain of 100,000 in a year within the next few months, one economist says. Stats NZ said there was a record net migration gain of 96,200 in the year to July. It said it was driven by net gains Read more
Life membership award to NZ Catholic editor
Monday, September 11th, 2023
Michael Otto, the editor of New Zealand Catholic, was honoured with Life Membership of the Australasian Catholic Press Association – ACPA – during their annual conference held in Perth, Australia from 5 to 7 September. The ACPA conference saw over 50 Catholic media and communications professionals in attendance from across Australasia. This year’s conference was Read more
Portrayal of Jesus merges faith, life and culture
Monday, September 11th, 2023
A vivid, multicultural portrayal of Jesus now graces the halls of St Joseph’s Cathedral School in Dunedin. The mural, which veers away from traditional iconography, aims to represent a more modern and inclusive image of Jesus Christ and is the work of a unique collaboration between local artist Aroha Novak and the school’s pupils. Novak, Read more
Catholic Cathedral cleanup complete after arson attack
Monday, September 11th, 2023
Palmerston North’s Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit reopened over the weekend after an arson attack in April closed it for several months. The fire, lit inside the day chapel, caused minor damage and nobody was hurt. “It was out within 15 minutes,” Father Joe Grayland said at the time. “The fire brigade inspector said Read more
Moriori call for official week to celebrate indigenous language
Monday, September 11th, 2023Moriori are calling for their own official week to celebrate its indigenous language in New Zealand to save it from extinction. Moriori, who are the original inhabitants of Rēkohu, the Chatham Islands, want to revitalise their language, showcase traditions and debunk commonly held myths. Read more
New chapel next to locked St Mary’s Church in Hokitika
Monday, September 11th, 2023
A new chapel will be built next door to the locked St Mary’s Church in Hokitika, parishioners have been told. The news – delivered at Mass last weekend – dashes hopes for a $2 million contribution from the Christchurch Catholic Diocese towards re-strengthening and reopening the existing church, which was closed 10 years ago. Friends Read more
Migrant exploitation exposure swells under Immigration probe
Thursday, September 7th, 2023
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) officials are further exposing New Zealand’s migrant exploitation shame. House by house by house across Auckland they are exposing places scammers are holding their victims. Investigations to date INZ officials investigating Indian and Bangladeshi migrant exploitation had already found 115 workers living in appalling conditions. They all had accredited employer work Read more
Church blessing – all creatures great and small
Thursday, September 7th, 2023
Blessing creatures, great and small, is a much loved tradition at St Mary’s Church in Timaru. Last Sunday, the church’s pews were filled with cats and dogs along with their human friends for the Blessing Of The Animals Service. The annual service – accompanied by a children’s choir – is a highlight for many says Read more
Fire at central city church suspicious
Thursday, September 7th, 2023A fire at a central Dunedin church this morning is being treated as suspicious. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they received reports of a fire at the Coptic Orthodox Catholic Church of the Archangel Michael in Melville St at 9.25am. Units from Dunedin City and Willowbank responded, and an aerial appliance was Read more