Pope Francis has come under criticism for lavishing praise on China, but not mentioning human rights issues and restrictions on Christians. In an interview with the Asia Times, the Pontiff said the world need not fear China’s growing power. Francis said China had always been, for him, a “reference point of greatness” and “a great Read more
News Shorts
Accommodation to open, says Hato Petera’s trust board
Friday, February 5th, 2016Hato Petera College’s governing body hopes the Auckland school’s accommodation facilities will be open this year, despite an earlier announcement of its closure. On 28 January Vice Chairman Rudy Taylor said the renovated boarding hostel was ready for the arrival of this year’s group of students. He’s proud of all those who have worked hard Read more
New Catholic primary school planned for Papamoa
Friday, February 5th, 2016A planned new Catholic primary school in Papamoa East will help soak up growing pressure on the Ministry of Education to add a fifth state school to the rapidly growing Tauranga suburb. The Catholic Diocese was talking with Ministry officials on its plans that would likely result in a new school being built within the Read more
Waitangi Day Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral
Friday, February 5th, 2016St Mary of the Angels, Ngākau Tapu (personal parish to Māori) and Te Kainga Marae are hosting a Waitangi Day Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday 6 February 2016 at 9am. There is choir practice the night before at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It’s a great time, under the direction of Robert Oliver Read more
Pope’s post-synod document on family life to come in March
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation on family life will be published in March, a Vatican official says. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said this in an interview with a Portuguese Catholic agency. Archbishop Paglia said the document will “show that the Church is close to families in all stages of Read more
Former Manchester United player enters seminary
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016A former Manchester United footballer has started his studies towards the priesthood. Former Northern Ireland international Phil Mulryne, 34, has enrolled at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. During his time as a footballer Mulryne dated a model, Nicola Chapman. He was once sent home from the Northern Ireland squad in 2005 after breaking a Read more
Vatican looking at second Cardinal Newman-related miracle
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016The Vatican is reportedly investigating a possible miracle which may lead to the canonisation of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman. The Archdiocese of Chicago has investigated the inexplicable healing of a young American mother who prayed for Cardinal Newman’s intercession when she became afflicted by a “life-threatening pregnancy”. Doctors who treated her reported that they Read more
Pope and Archbishop Moxon share blessing
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016Archbishop David Moxon, director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, was invited to share the blessing with Pope Francis and Archbishop Gennadios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate during a service to mark the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Before taking up his present appointment Moxon was the Bishop of Waikato, The blessing Read more
Acclaimed movie about child abuse in Boston opens in NZ this week
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016Journalism, the Catholic Church, and victims of sexual abuse will feature at this year’s Oscars, thanks to best film nominee Spotlight. It’s the story about the newspaper investigation that uncovered widespread child abuse within the Catholic Church opens in New Zealand on Thursday. Spotlight is the name of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team of journalists from the Boston Read more
NZ Children cheer up Sailor’s Christmas
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016
International seafarers at the port of Auckland had some special Kiwi Christmas cheer last year thanks to four Catholic schools. The schools – St Leo’s, Devonport; St Joseph’s, Otahuhu; St Joseph’s, Orakei and St Mary’s, Ellerslie – made hundreds of hand-crafted Christmas cards for seafarers. These were given out on ships berthed in Auckland just Read more