The Salvation Army has attacked the Abbott government and its independent report on the Manus Island violence, maintaining the innocence of a worker accused of delivering the final blow to Reza Barati’s skull. Salvation Army’s chief executive Sharon Callister then attacked the government, claiming the organisation had been misrepresented by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, and Read more
Dominican friars in Britain are trying to raise one million pounds to cover costs following a rise in prospective vocations. The order has launched a training fund to try to accommodate a revival in its popularity. The Dominicans estimate it costs about 115,000 pounds to train each seminarian for seven years. There are 12 men Read more
Sister Malia Losalia Mulipola knows this much. In her 20 years of teaching, the greatest satisfaction is seeing how she has had an impact on so many young lives, simply by sharing what she knows. Last week when the Missionary Sisters of the Society Mary (SMSM) celebrated its 150th Jubilee Anniversary, it was an opportunity Read more
The Irish government is to set up a formal investigation into issues in mother and baby homes, which were run by churches and the state. A special commission of investigation will examine the high mortality rates, burial practices and secret and illegal adoption and vaccine trials on children at these homes. Irish minister for children Read more
Two men have made it their mission to spread the acceptance of DIY funerals, and to aid those who choose to go that way. They are Philip Tomlinson of Timaru and Paul Briggs of Nelson. The pair are in open rebellion against the funeral industry because both feel the New Zealand funeral industry has become Read more
Brazil’s Catholic bishops have given a red card to the organisers of the World Cup Soccer tournament in their nation. The bishops are critical that billions of dollars were spent on stadiums, but Brazil’s public services are still poor. In a red card-shaped brochure distributed in churches, the Brazilian bishops’ conference urged their government to Read more
This weekend marks a significant chapter in the vision to complete Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. Final services will be held in the Cathedral this Sunday before it is closed for three months to allow construction work to begin. During the closure, services will take place in the adjacent St Mary’s-in-Holy-Trinity. Dean of the Cathedral, the Read more
A new church is helping forge cultural roots for a small community. The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East opened its doors in Manurewa. Father Toma K Toma, who came to New Zealand from Iran in 1992, acknowledges the church has come a long way from its early beginnings and is happy to Read more
Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the first successor to St Josemaria Escriva as leader of Opus Dei, is to be beatified in Madrid on September 27. The ceremony is expected to attract 100,000 people from at least 50 countries. Some 3000 families will open their homes to those travelling to Madrid from abroad and 2000 young Read more