News Shorts

Very Rev Dr Sheilagh Kesting named a Dame by Pope Francis

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

Very Rev Dr Sheilagh Kesting has been named a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Francis. She is a former moderator of the Church of Scotland. She was awarded the honour for her ecumenical work. Read more

US to resettle Nauru and Manus refugees

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

“I can now confirm that the Government has reached a further third country resettlement arrangement for refugees presently in the regional processing centres. The agreement is with the United States,” Turnbull told a press conference in Canberra. He said the agreement, to be administered with the United Nations Refugee Agency, is available only to those Read more

Mass for scientists

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

A Mass for scientists will be celebrated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) chapel today. It is the first time such a Mass has been celebrated. The Society of Catholic Scientists is a recently formed group of American Catholic scientists as well as undergraduate, graduate or postdoctoral students pursuing research in a natural science. Read more

Cathedral plans revealed soon

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

Bishop Victoria Matthews has returned to New Zealand to consider plans for the future of the Christ Church Cathedral, according to sources close to the process. In June, the Government tasked a working group with breaking deadlock on the earthquake-damaged building, which has been holding up the redevelopment of Cathedral Square in central Christchurch. The working group Read more

Vatican permanent UN observer wants action to combat biological weapons

Friday, November 11th, 2016

The Vatican permanent UN observer wants action to combat biological weapons. To do this, countries need to work together Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič says. Read more

New Chair at Victoria to research in ethical leadership

Friday, November 11th, 2016

Victoria University of Wellington has appointed Professor Karin Lasthuizen from the Netherlands to a newly established Professorial Chair. She is as the inaugural Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership, which is within Victoria Business School’s School of Management. She joins five other Professorial Chairs at the Business School who lead research on important contemporary issues Read more

Accepting transpeople is like accepting euthanasia says Dutch cardinal

Friday, November 11th, 2016

Accepting transpeople is like accepting euthanasia says a Dutch cardinal. He expressed his disapproval at “the view of the body as something that is moldable”.  Read more

Wellington’s Sikh community open new temple

Friday, November 11th, 2016

Hundreds from around the country went along to the lower North Island’s largest Sikh temple to pray, eat and celebrate yesterday. The president of the Sikh society said it is not something he thought he’d ever see when he moved to New Zealand three decades ago. The new temple in Naenae is going to cater Read more

Holy Doors of Papal Basilicas will close to mark end of Year of Mercy

Friday, November 11th, 2016

The Holy Doors of Papal Basilicas will close to mark end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. They will close this Sunday for seven days until the Feast of Christ the King. Read more

Pam calls it a day after 79 years with church choir

Friday, November 11th, 2016

Music has been a constant in Waipukurau nonagenarian Pam Hewitt’s life, but last month she set down her song sheet and resigned from the St Mary’s Church Choir of which she had been a member for 79 years. “I was hoping to hold out until September next year when it would have been 80 years, Read more