Parish mergers, further sale of parish and diocesan land and building of a new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral have halted until the diocese hears back from Rome. The news was delivered by a letter read on behalf of the Bishop of Christchurch, Michael Gielen, at all Sunday Masses. Christchurch diocese parishioners told CathNews that Gielen had Read more
This month has seen over 330 new Catholic bishops taking part in a formation course in Rome. Among them was Archbishop Coadjutor Paul Martin, appointed the tenth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch in December 2017. He was consecrated in March 2018 (pictured). There isn’t usually such a time lag between being appointed bishop and attending the Read more
Evangelisation doesn’t depend on big parishes, says Hanoi’s Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien. Even tiny ones, like those with just 70-200 parishioners each, can still evangelise others. The way Catholics live out their faith is what’s important, he says. They should trust in God, who always loves and blesses them. They should also try to Read more
Archbishop John Dew is delighted to say that Coadjutor Archbishop Paul Martin is now living permanently in Wellington. He made the announcement in a newsletter to priests and lay pastoral workers. Last year Dew welcomed the news of Martin’s appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop, however, only occasionally in the Archdiocese, Martin resided primarily in Christchurch where Read more
The new Christchurch Catholic bishop, Michael Gielen, is quick to praise the work done by the previous Christchurch bishop and apostolic administrator, Paul Martin. Gielen says he is looking forward to continuing Martin’s work to consolidate the city’s parishes. “The work he has done in paving the way for the consolidation and strengthening of our Read more
Christchurch city centre’s new Catholic precinct will be a place people can bump into Catholicism says Christchurch diocese general manager Simon Thompson. Rising from the ruins of the devastating 2011 earthquakes, plans for the exciting development include a brand new Catholic cathedral, a commercial building, a 600-space car park, diocese offices, apartments and commercial space. Read more
Catholic Archbishop Paul Martin, the current Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Christchurch, accepts that survivors want the church to take responsibility for historical abuse cases and not just leave it to the particular order involved. He made the comment at the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care inquiry investigating historical abuse by the St Read more
Three of Christchurch’s former bishops have been disinterred and temporarily moved to a mausoleum at the Carmelite monastery, Halswell, in Christchurch. The move signalled earlier on, is part of the demolition of the old cathedral. Bishops John Grimes, Edward Joyce and John Cunneen were moved to the mausoleum over a period of three days during Read more
Ash Wednesday on Sunday is a possibility. Cardinal John Dew and Bishop Patrick Dunn identified the option in messages to pastoral leaders and people in their respective dioceses. “If the Alert Level changes back to Level 1 on Wednesday night, we will look at having the belling and distribution of the ashes at Masses next Read more
Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of Christchurch, Paul Martin SM, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington. The appointment was announced in Rome overnight and comes into effect immediately. Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew says he is delighted with the appointment, which comes at a time of a heavy workload in the Wellington Diocese. Read more