A claim that New Zealand’s Catholic bishops trace their lineage back to the Apostles through New Zealand’s first bishop, Jean-Baptise Pompallier has been disputed. The claim was made by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference on Facebook. As their time in Rome was ending, Bishops Laurenson and Adams visited the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione Read more
Two New Zealand bishops, Richard Laurenson and John Adams, have been attending the Baby Bishops course in Rome, a formation programme for newly ordained bishops. The event ran from 15 to 22 September and gathered 267 baby bishops worldwide for training, reflection and dialogue on their roles within the Church. Building global connections The Baby Read more
Palmerston North bishop John Adams is doubling down on a culture change in the Catholic Church and its efforts to make the Church safe. Adams had commented earlier in response to a letter to the editor published in the Manawatu Standard by Dr Christopher Longhurst, leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Read more
I was given my first parish as a reasonably new priest just three short weeks before the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. For Kiwis it was a big parish — a Mass count approaching a 1000 people on the weekend. It was a contented parish, well organised, it had some money in the bank, its biggest age Read more
At last weekend’s Parish Renewal Conference in Sydney, New Zealand’s Bishop John Adams (left) spoke of the wisdom he gained after his parish was all but destroyed during the Christchurch earthquakes. Adams was a special guest speaker at the weekend conference which included discussions, workshops and inspiring testimonies. Transforming parishes The conference organisers aimed to Read more
Bishop of Palmerston North John Adams has not ruled out accepting the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer’s priests into his diocese, reports the Christchurch Press. However Adams is being cautious, saying he will seek advice if the Sons’ ask to move to his diocese. He will also be considering recommendations from a Vatican investigation. Read more
New Zealand’s only liturgically trained theologian, Dr Joe Grayland, has accepted the offer of a long-term position teaching at the University of Würzburg, Germany. Currently on sabbatical and lecturing at the University of Tübingen, he is recognised for his expertise in liturgy and sacramental theology. Grayland’s new role at Würzburg includes teaching, research and pastoral Read more
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
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
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