An Italian priest has posted a notice on the door of his church telling racists they are banned from the premises. “Racists are not allowed in this church,” read the notice posted by Fr Gianfranco Formenton of Sant’Angelo parish in Mercole, Umbria. The notice adds: “For I was a stranger and you did not take Read more
Father Patrick Cooke is heading back to his homeland after 21 years serving the Catholic community at Our Lady of Lourdes in Havelock North. Fr Pat, 86, has been in New Zealand most of his life, since coming over from Ireland with his brother Walter in 1960. “There was an invitation from the bishop of Read more
One of New Zealand’s most influential women has been commemorated with a new portrait. The Sisters of Compassion recently unveiled the painting of Suzanne Aubert to mark the 180th anniversary of her birth. The oil on wood portrait of Aubert was painted by Paekakariki artist Elspeth Shannon and gifted to Sisters of Compassion by an Read more
Father Phelim (Phil) Michael Keane Died died on 13 July, after 70 years of priesthood. He was born October 1920, and ordained priest on 19 November 1944. Last November the parishioners of St Mary’s Parish gathered at Leighton House, where he was living, to celebrate 70 years of priesthood. Read Msgr Frank Eggleton’s article in the Read more
The Holy See reported about NZ$1.56 billion in net assets that had never been reported before, the Vatican’s final figures for 2014 showed. The accounts were produced using new reporting procedures that are more in line with international accounting standards. Last year, it was explained that the previously unreported assets did not represent “illegal, illicit Read more
A refusal to murder a bus driver has cost a Guatemalan 12-year-old boy his life. Gang members threatened to throw Ángel Ariel Escalante Pérez off a bridge if he did not murder the driver last month. Angel said no and was thrown off the Belice Bridge in Guatemala City, falling 400 feet. Branches and undergrowth Read more
Distinguished English religious historian Owen Chadwick has died, aged 99. Rev. Chadwick was best known for his work on the Victorian Church of England, Cardinal John Henry Newman and Michael Ramsey. He wrote a textbook called “The Pelican History of the Church: The Reformation (1964)”, which an obituary in The Guardian described as “the first Read more
Clendon Cottage is now a new visitor centre for the neighbouring historic Catholic mission printery Pompallier Mission. The new centre has an admissions area, gift shop and improved staff facilities, and replaces a cramped Gatehouse which has funnelled visitors on to the site for more than two decades. Pompallier Mission’s property manager, Scott Elliffe, said Read more
A US federal appeals court has ruled that the Little Sisters of the Poor must comply with the contraceptive mandate in the “Obamacare” health plan. The Tenth Circuit Court ruled that the Little Sisters are not an exempt religious institution because they are not directly affiliated with any particular house of worship. The court said Read more
A former Church official jailed for his handling of abuse complaints is no longer housed at a US prison Pope Francis will visit later this year. Msgr William Lynn is serving a minimum three year sentence for endangering children in Philadelphia archdiocese. He had been held at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Center, while he appealed his 2012 Read more