Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the Amazon region will be published on 12 February, the Vatican has announced. The document, which follows October’s Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, is highly anticipated for how the pope will respond to the recommendation to allow the ordination of married men to the priesthood for ministry in the Read more
News Shorts
Interfaith Council starting courses on language and diversity
Monday, February 10th, 2020Waikato based community organisation Earth Diverse and Waikato Interfaith Council are starting language and diversity classes in the city from the second week of February. The schedule of Term 1 of the classes was announced earlier in January that offers several regional, and national language classes along with sessions on different world religions and their Read more
Tim Tebow and the Vatican join forces to give disabled an epic prom night
Monday, February 10th, 2020Perhaps the last thing one would expect booming from the speakers of a Vatican-sponsored event is “Scream & Shout” by Will.i.am and Britney Spears. But the Catholic Church teamed up with sports celebrity Tim Tebow on Tuesday night (Feb. 4) and set formalities aside to give people with special needs a night to remember. “I Read more
Church backed programme celebrates new drivers
Monday, February 10th, 2020More than 100 people from Auckland’s Pacific community have achieved their goal of gaining a driver’s licence – free of charge. Their success came through a new programme supported by government agencies and business leaders in the city. Pacific community churches helped to identify people who needed to learn how to drive, and those who Read more
Pope Francis met woman who grabbed him New Year’s Eve
Monday, February 10th, 2020Pope Francis in January met and shook hands with the woman at whom he lost his patience after being grabbed in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 31. After his general audience Jan. 8, Pope Francis spoke briefly with the woman. In photos the two can be seen smiling at each other as they shake hands. A Read more
Basilica closed after wind damaged dome
Monday, February 10th, 2020One of Invercargill’s oldest churches will remain closed for at least another week after high winds damaged its dome. Invercargill South. Pastoral Area parish priest Fr Pat McGettigan said gale-force wind of 150kmh damaged the dome of St Mary’s Basilica. “Fortunately, nobody has been hurt because it probably happened in the middle of the night.’ Read more
New Zealand doctors suffering from a burnout ‘epidemic’
Thursday, December 12th, 2019Nearly half of New Zealand doctors have considered leaving medicine because of burnout, a survey has found. A survey of 300 Kiwi doctors by the Medical Protection Society found half felt unable to take a break between procedures, and almost as many did not feel their wellbeing was a priority at work Read more
Cosi club again denies entry to men wearing a turban
Thursday, December 12th, 2019A South Auckland based club – Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club has once again denied entry to Sikh patrons citing archaic rules around “headgears,” which is the fourth such incident in the last decade. One News on Monday, December 9, reported that Jagdip Bajwa went to the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club with some friends on the evening of Read more
White Island tradgedy: NZ Bishops statement
Thursday, December 12th, 2019Along with all New Zealanders, we are deeply distressed and saddened by the tragedy of the volcanic eruption at Whakaari/White Island. Our prayers are for those whose lives have been lost, and for the injured, conscious that their injuries are of a most serious and painful nature. We cannot begin to imagine the grief and Read more
Christmas cancelled in Iraq
Monday, December 9th, 2019
The Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq has announced it will not hold public Christmas celebrations this year. Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church is one of the largest in Iraq and the diaspora. Cardinal Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, head of the church, said the decision was made “out of respect” for victims; those killed and wounded in Read more