A beautiful library inspired by a New Zealand novel now stands complete in the middle of a conflict ravaged and warlord controlled town in the Pacific’s Melanesia, but it has only a solitary book after 5000 others fell into a corruption quagmire. Novelist Lloyd Jones, author of the 2006 novel Mister Pip that inspired the building, Read more
St Matthew-in-the-City put up their Easter billboard today. It depicts Jesus on the cross with the question “Is resigning an option?” Pope Benedict’s decision to resign caused an international stir. While we, from our outsider’s perspective, think his decision was a wise and even courageous one considering the history and tradition of his context, it Read more
The English millionaire behind a $4 million pledge for the Christ Church Cathedral could reconsider his offer if Anglican leaders do not restore the historic building, his former business partner says. English businessman Hamish Ogston pledged $4 million to the cathedral just weeks after the February 2011 earthquake. His former business partner, Michael Norris, who Read more
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, has told a Canadian newspaper that he has received “very concrete” directions from Pope Francis. The Canadian cardinal, whose congregation oversees the selection of bishops, said what the Pope told him “made me think this man knows where he goes and there is a determination. Read more
The election of a Latin American Pope has renewed speculation about the likelihood of beatification for Bishop Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador who was murdered at the altar 33 years ago. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has been examining Romero’s cause since 1996. Bishop Gregorio Rosa Chavez, Auxiliary Bishop of San Read more
The president of the Brazilian bishops’ conference, Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, has confirmed that Pope Francis will attend World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in July. Some four million young people from around the world are expected to attend the event, from July 23 to 28. The theme for the gathering will be Jesus’ Read more
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull congratulated Sister Marie Fitzpatrick on her recently awarded Queen’s Service Medal, at a function in her honour yesterday afternoon. Sr Marie, of the Little Sisters of the Poor Home and Hospital in Brockville, had been unable to attend an earlier mayoral gathering, held last month, to acknowledge Dunedin people who had Read more
St Mark’s Methodist church in Temuka will be sold, though the date of its going on the market has not yet been determined. The church was opened in December 1892 and through the years had a Sunday school building located on one side in 1872 which no longer exists, and a hall on the other Read more
Maori Catholic Runanga executive member Danny Karatea-Goddard says in addition to St Francis of Assisi, who was born in 1226, another namesake was St Francis Xavier, born in 1506. He says St Francis Xavier was known as a person who would go out and evangelise and share the gospel with the rest of the world Read more