In an unexpected move, the contentious Transalpine Redemptorist Order asked to leave the Christchurch Catholic diocese earlier this year has taken over an historic church – in the Christchurch Catholic diocese. Last Friday the Order – also knows as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer – announced on its “Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch” Facebook Read more
An order of unregistered nuns can rely on help from supporters for the meanwhile. When the Vatican was investigating Catholic priests and brothers from The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer about abuse and unauthorised exorcisms, it found Canterbury-based women known as the Daughters of the Holy Redeemer to be operating as an illicit order Read more
The leaders of the Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer are taking legal action over their expulsion from the Christchurch Catholic diocese, reports Sinead Gill in The Press. Last month a Vatican investigation into abuse and unauthorised exorcism allegations recommended Christchurch’s Catholic bishop Michael Gielen ban the Order from performing Mass in the diocese. The Read more
Bishop Michael Gielen has announced the name of Christchurch’s new Catholic cathedral. Plans to construct the building on the Barbadoes Street site of the original Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament were confirmed earlier this year, a change from earlier plans to build it on Armagh Street. The older cathedral opened in 1905 but was demolished Read more
Concerned members of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer faithful have grave concerns regarding the calculated mischaracterisation of our Christchurch community and have prepared the following statement: The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and its congregation have been targeted by a deliberate and coordinated misinformation campaign. This campaign along with the outrageous, false, Read more
Bishop Michael Gielen’s decision to remove the faculties of the clerical members of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and to ask them to leave the diocese is a courageous act. The scandal-plagued group came to prominence through their illicit use of the rites of exorcism and have been investigated by both the local Read more
A name for Christchurch’s Catholic cathedral is likely to be decided and announced next month. Further input from the diocese’s Catholic community is being sought to help choose between those still on offer after numerous suggestions were pared back. The name search began last month when Christchurch’s Bishop Michael Gielen initiated a survey. He invited Read more
A pastoral letter from Bishop Michael Gielen has been read at Masses in the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch over the weekend. It launched a process of finding a name for the new Catholic cathedral. Catholics are being invited to suggest a name and offer an explanation why they believe it would be a fitting choice. Read more
It’s been a bruising April for many of Christchurch’s iconic landmarks, venues and events, teetering under the weight of their own financial turmoil. The Arts Centre’s management team continues to sound the threatening drumbeat of insolvency if the ratepayer doesn’t rush to their rescue. (The doom-mongering hasn’t stopped them frittering lavish operational sums on their Read more
After much debate, prayer and waiting, the site for the new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral has been announced. On Sunday, Christchurch diocese’s Catholic bishop, Michael Gielen, announced the decision to use the Barbados Street site. It will be on the same site which the beautiful Petrie-designed Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament occupied until the 2011 earthquake destroyed Read more