Mongolias first native priest will be ordained next week in the world’s youngest Church. The Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia was established in 2002 after missionary priests arrived in the early nineteen-nineties. It has not yet reached the status of a diocese, as it is still too young to support itself. Joseph Enkh was Read more
The New Zealand public are a perplexing paradox. They leap into paroxysms of patriotic fervour at the sight of 15 men charging with an oval ball, or one woman hitting a small round one with a stick. They break out “The End is Nigh” signs when attempts are made to regulate what lightbulbs they may Read more
French President Francois Hollande is travelling to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, less than a month after a Catholic priest was murdered as he said morning Mass by two men claiming allegiance to the Islamic State extremist militia. Hollande spoke with Francis on the day of the attack; his visit will be the second Read more
A witchdoctor arrived from India and advertised black magic and “good luck” services at a Hutt Valley hostel this month. The self-proclaimed astrologer and relationship guru’s emergence worried a community leader who helped get several faith healers deported last year. “We have got one who has snuck in the country, in Wellington,” Justice of the Peace Pratima Nand said on Wednesday. Continue reading
French prosecutors filed preliminary charges of terrorism against a third man detained on suspicion of collaborating in last month’s murder of Fr Jaques Hamel, a French priest, suggesting the slaying was the work of a broader group of Islamic State followers. The 21-year-old was detained Monday in the area of Toulouse, a city 500 miles Read more
Former Ngai Tahu Property CEO Tony Sewell, has accepted a contract to lead the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch property team. A long-time member of the Catholic Cathedral Management Board, he has a deep understanding of property matters in relation to the Diocese. “The Diocese has tread a very sensible and measured path in dealing with Read more
The Latin Mass Society’s (LMS) seventh annual pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham, England will take place from August 25th-28th. A sung traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated each day, while pilgrims walk 55 miles to one of the greatest shrines in England. Participants on the walking pilgrimage will be praying for the conversion of England. Inspired Read more
Two Christchurch church property teams have made prominent appointments as their earthquake-damaged cathedrals sit in ruins. Roger Sutton, who stepped down as chief executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) in 2014, has been chosen as one of the Anglican diocese’s Church Property Trustees. Continue reading
Caritas Bangladesh is launching a series of initiatives to help victims of the devastating floods in Bangladesh. The Catholic charity’s volunteers distributed 4,000 Bangladeshi taka (about 46 euros) and cleaning kit for each person, for at least 1,650 families affected by the emergency. Efforts are concentrated in two districts in the north of the country. Read more
Ministers rejected a plan to let individuals and groups sponsor up to 200 refugees a year, papers released by Immigration New Zealand show. The government eventually settled on a pilot scheme of 25 places, saying it would test communities’ commitment to supporting refugees. Continue reading Read the documents here.