A chance meeting with a small dog changed Peter Irving’s life. Two years ago, Sandringham resident Mark Ward was walking his dog, Taco, when they bumped into Irving. He and Ward struck a deal that would ultimately affect thousands of families in need across Auckland. Ward is a business development representative for Mrs Mac’s Pies. He Read more
The Catholic Church in a Swiss region is to offer a counselling service for prostitutes in what is thought to be a world first. Beginning in January, a female theologian will be employed to talk with sex workers in the Basel region about their concerns and burdens. She will also be available for spiritual and Read more
The Vatican has asked consumers to be conscious of the human and labour conditions of people working in the fishing industry. In a 2015 World Fisheries message, Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio said that in order to restore the dignity of the work of fisheries, all social forces had to work together. He called for the Read more
A Vatican judge has indicted five people following a scandal over leaked documents that formed the basis for two recent books on the Holy See’s finances. Those indicted are Msgr Lucio Vallejo Balda, Francesca Chaouqui, Nicola Maio, Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi. Balda and Chaouqui were both chosen by Pope Francis to be members of Read more
The service, ‘Prayer For Our Common Home’, will take place at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday 28th November at 2pm, immediately following the march.
In Advent 2014, more than 50,000 people participated and 17,000 pictures were posted. In 2015, AdventWord
The government needs to urgently prepare for the impact of the rising sea level, both in New Zealand and in Pacific Island nations, says Catholic social justice agency Caritas. “Caritas welcomes the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, which warns around 9,000 low-lying New Zealand homes are most at risk from sea level Read more
The Vatican’s Secretary of State has supported military intervention to disarm an unjust aggressor in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. Speaking on Sunday, Cardinal Pietro Parolin cited conditions stipulated under Catholic just war doctrine. He said comments Pope Francis made in 2014 that it is “licit” to use force to disarm an unjust Read more
Cardinal George Pell is one of 15 prelates who will plan and organise the next synod of bishops. He was one of 12 prelates elected at the recent 2015 synod. Pope Francis added three others to the “synod’s ordinary council”. While the names of the 12 elected members had been circulating for some time, the Read more
The Vatican’s Christmas tree will be unveiled early this year in order to coincide with the jubilee Year of Mercy. The 32-metre spruce tree from Bavaria was erected on November 18 in St Peter’s Square. It will be unveiled on December 8, a date when world attention will be on Rome at the start of Read more