New Zealand

NZ bishop to lead parish renewal conference in Sydney

New Zealand’s Bishop John Adams will be leading talks at this year’s Parish Renewal Conference in Sydney. It could be said his experience seeing his church reduced to rubble during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes uniquely qualifies Adams for the task. He has a broader sense of parish renewal perhaps. “I was standing next to our Read more

Tour parties get first look inside Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral

The quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral has opened its doors to members of the public for the first time since the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Tour parties are being invited to explore the historic Christchurch building. Once there, those on the tours (restricted to 25 people) learn about the cathedral’s architecture and the ongoing work to rebuild Read more

Analysis and Comment

Love driven Church reform is beyond the documents

Love driven synodal reform

The synodal process within the Catholic Church demands a profound call to love that resonates at the very heart of Synodal discussions and decisions. This period of reflection and dialogue, aimed at rejuvenating and reforming the Church, must fundamentally be rooted in love. Central to this journey is the challenge to embody the greatest commandment—love. Read more

“Apprentice” deacons disrespect diaconate and priesthood

diaconate deacons

In an October 2023 interview, Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago said that the General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality raised the question of “reimaging” or “revisioning” the diaconate as a whole. It is precisely such a “revisioning” that many historians and theologians of the diaconate have been Read more

Can social investment shift the dial on welfare and wellbeing?

social investment

“The period over the next few years scares the hell out of me, quite frankly,” says social services expert Professor Michael O’Brien. Poor outcomes predicted “We’ve seen a series of decisions taken around benefit levels, around Working for Families, and if anything that will become more difficult and tighter and meaner, and more poverty-creating. “In Read more

Anti-genocide college protestors inspire moral courage 

War

With over 34,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza– 14,000 of them children – hospitals bombed, churches attacked – including Holy Family Catholic Church – elementary schools and universities destroyed, water and sanitation facilities demolished, ambulance and medical aid convoys fired upon, I ask what else could all of this non-stop Israeli military carnage be called other Read more

Filipino ordained coadjutor bishop of Rarotonga

ordination

Filipino Fr Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado was ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Rarotonga on Saturday. In what is described as “a significant and deeply moving” ordination ceremony, the Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, witnessed the beginning of a new chapter. The ordination signalled the end of 53 years’ New Zealand leadership in the diocese. A sign Read more

  • Oddly

    • Mega Church’s mega circus

      A promotional video for the upcoming annual women’s conference sponsored by the James River Church, a Pentecostal megachurch based in Springfield, Missouri, features a pink record player and the voice of the late televangelist Kathryn Kuhlman, who encourages women to Read more

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  • Candlelit Mass attracts hundreds of students

    Candelit Mass

    A 10pm candlelit Mass is drawing hundreds of young students to worship each week in Lille, France. Every Tuesday night, 800 to 900 students converge on a chapel at Lille Catholic University for the Mass. Burning attraction For the six students who initiated the Masses, the unexpectedly successful candlelit formula is one they want others Read more

  • Alarm sounded over Artificial Intelligence “diabolic” threat to kids

    Artificial Intelligence threat

    In a joint address, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) raised serious concerns about the escalating artificial intelligence threat. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said they were increasingly concerned about how AI was being “weaponised”. Commissioner Kershaw said he was particularly concerned about Read more

  • Archbishop interrupted by protestor at transgender inquiry

    transgender

    A NSW parliamentary inquiry into proposed transgender legislation was momentarily disrupted by a protester, targeting Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher during his testimony. The interruption occurred as Archbishop Fisher expressed concerns about what he termed an “anti-religious undercurrent” in the legislation. Pride in Protest activist Quay-Quay Quade, rising to her feet, exclaimed “That’s a load Read more

  • Pope responds with ‘open heart’ to LGBTQ document criticism

    open heart

    Responding with an “open heart,” Pope Francis has replied to Maltese parents of LGBTQ individuals who criticised a recent Vatican document denouncing gender theory and gender-affirming surgeries. In a letter dated April 30 Francis commended Drachma Parents, an organisation supporting LGBTQ Catholics, for their efforts. He described their work as “very beautiful and good”. In Read more

  • Partially blinded Sydney bishop returns to church after stabbing

    bishop

    The Assyrian Christian bishop who lost the use of his right eye when he was stabbed in an alleged terrorist attack in Sydney last month returned to the site of the attack on Sunday. Greeting members of his congregation who gave him a standing ovation, he said he was “absolutely humbled” by the abundance of Read more