New Zealand’s Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, has returned to Rome. The archbishop left the country on Saturday and has arrived safely after a “smooth” journey, the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference says. Rugambwa (pictured) is recovering from a stroke he suffered in Wellington last October. He will continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility in Read more
The New Zealand catholic Bishops’ Conference has announced what it describes as “joyous news”. Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, our Apostolic Nuncio, has been moved to Kenepuru Hospital from Wellington Hospital to begin his rehabilitation proper, following the stroke he suffered last month. Because of the intense rehab work Archbishop Novatus is doing, we have been asked Read more
On 29 October the papal ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, suffered a severe stroke. Asking for prayers for His Excellency, Catholic Communications says the 66-year old’s condition is now stable. Rugambwa is Pope Francis’ Nuncio (ambassador ) to New Zealand, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Naru, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Micronesia Read more
The new Catholic Bishop-elect of Hamilton, Fr Richard Laurenson, does not wear clerical black. He puts his avoidance of black down to Josie, his cat. Late Wednesday night, Pope Francis appointed the 55-year-old Laurenson (pictured) the new Catholic Bishop of Hamilton. Trust is fundamental Laurenson says he is looking forward to his new role with Read more
People from Christchurch joined with those from Palmerston North to fill the Palmerston North Holy Spirit Cathedral on Saturday for the episcopal ordination of John Adams. Adams was ordained bishop by the President of the New Zealand Bishops Conference and Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe and also installed as the third bishop of Palmerston North. Read more
In a historic development for New Zealand, Archbishop Paul Martin is set to receive his pallium in Wellington from Papal Nuncio Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa. This marks a departure from the tradition of archbishops travelling to Rome to receive the pallium directly from the Pope. Instead, Martin will receive it by mail. The pallium is a Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Fr John Adams from the Diocese of Christchurch as the new Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North. The appointment was announced in Rome at 10pm New Zealand time, Thursday 22 June and it fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan in 2019. Ordained as a priest in 2003, Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are again stressing the importance of bishops to the Palmerston North and Hamilton dioceses. At their November meeting the bishops re-emphasised the need for two bishops to the Pope’s diplomatic representative to New Zealand, His Excellency, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa (pictured). New Zealand bishops are appointed through the Dicastery for Evangelisation headed Read more
It takes a long time to appoint a bishop, says Steve Lowe, Bishop of Auckland and Secretary of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference. Lowe is responding to a piece by Luke Coppen in The Pillar, suggesting the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand’s need to find two bishops. Coppen points out that the Diocese of Read more
Antipodean New Zealand is not in the Holy See’s neighbourhood, but it is no real excuse for having two dioceses without bishops for so long, says Luke Coppen, in The Pillar. It is three years since Charles Drennan resigned as Bishop of Palmerston North. Coppen points out it appointing bishops in New Zealand has not Read more