The Cathedral Chapter and Standing Committee formally requested the Church Property Trustees provide a cathedral on the site at Cathedral Square. Last night Church Property Trustees formally resolved to provide a building on the site in Cathedral Square for a cathedral. This decision confirmed the on going commitment already made by these groups. Church Property Read more
Police from New Zealand and the Cook Islands and several prominent New Zealand rugby union and league players are teaming up to combat domestic violence. The Break the Silence End the Violence message will be delivered by a group including Hurricanes coach, Mark Hammett, TJ Perenara of the Hurricanes, former league star Awen Guttenbeil and Read more
Shine Kaikohe will unveil stage one of Northland’s first public, life-sized, interactive nativity scene on Saturday. The manger will be a contemporary maihi design with a fusion of traditional and contemporary Maori themes. There will be a few surprises in the depiction of the Christmas story. The designers of the display are utilizing the park Read more
Nigeria’s newest cardinal has condemned the deadly bombing of a Protestant church inside a military base, saying that terrorist attacks against Christians “could happen anywhere”. Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, who received his red hat from Pope Benedict on November 24, said: “This attack took place within one of the highest military establishments in Nigeria, Read more
The Vatican is selling stamps to raise funds for an ambitious restoration of the 17th-century St Peter’s Square colonnade, estimated to cost $NZ22 million. The Vatican’s Philatelic and Numismatic Office, which sells commemorative coins and stamps featuring popes, saints and the like, is offering a special 20-euro ($NZ31.50) stamp and certificate package to help offset Read more
The Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II on his 1979 Irish visit is now being hired out for stag nights, hen parties and corporate gigs. Businessman Paddy Dunning, who acquired the Irish Popemobile with the stock of a wax museum, has given it a makeover and expanded it to a 15-seater. He is charging Read more
Religious devotees need not flock to Kaikohe to see an image of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus in the town’s Christmas lights – the Marian apparition doesn’t exist, the head of the Catholic Church in the town says. Earlier this week Pastor Mike Shaw, from the heart of the North Celebration Centre in Kaikohe, Read more
The once-in-a-decade transition of power in China, at the recent congress of the Chinese Communist Party, bodes well for Christians, according to the president of a Hong Kong-based information resource. “There’s a lot going on,” says Brent Fulton. “But … if political reform is able to move ahead, it should bode well for the Church. Read more
The recent United States elections resulted in the highest-ever number of Catholics in Congress, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The 161 Catholics make up 30.4 per cent of all seats in the Senate and House of Representatives — well above the Catholic share of 22 per cent of the adult Read more
Representatives of Egypt’s three main Christian churches have jointly decided to end their participation in writing a new Egyptian constitution because it will not reflect the pluralistic identity of the Muslim nation. A primary concern is an article enshrining the “principles” of shari’ah law as the primary source of legislation. “The only ones who can Read more