MacDonald had been in prison since May 2023.

He appeared in the Palmerston North District Court on Wednesday charged with arson.

He was also charged with additional offences including unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and possessing $13,000 worth of cancer drugs.

Restorative justice

The court was told Catholic church leaders had had a successful restorative justice meeting with MacDonald and he apologised for his actions.

MacDonald told the court he found the church to be a place of "solace and calm" and he had visited it several times while struggling with his demons.

The judge noted the church leaders were not seeking restitution.

Instead, they asked him to take note of concerns they have for MacDonald's wellbeing.

MacDonald also provided the court with a "well-written" letter of remorse.

Cars, drugs and a fire

MacDonald's foray into crime began two years ago in Blenheim when he stole a car. When police stopped him, they discovered he had 46 morphine tablets in his possession.

It was four months later that he set fire to curtains inside the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, causing significant damage.

The building was closed for a number of weeks while repairs took place.

Although MacDonald pleaded guilty to the arson charge, he said the fire was an accident.

Mid-2023 was a bad time for MacDonald as it was then - between April and May - that he also stole a MidCentral Health car along with $13,000 worth of oncology drugs.

Trauma noted

Before sentencing MacDonald to 28 months in jail, Judge Bruce Northwood noted he had been through his own personal trauma, which family said resulted in him turning to methamphetamine and alcohol to cope.

Contributing factors towards his offending were put down to trauma, grief and substance abuse.

A psychologist found he was suspicious and anti-social and had thoughts of conspiracy.

Northwood said a pre-sentence report found MacDonald lacked remorse for stealing the MidCentral Health car and felt confronted by the idea he set deliberately set the cathedral alight.

Source

• The Post

According to the Cathedral Parish Priest, Fr Joseph Grayland, the man was caught on camera lighting the fire.

Grayland says the fire shocked everyone.

The alarm was raised by a man who is in Palmerston North to learn English before training for the priesthood.

He and two others doused the fire and stopped it from spreading further.

Palmerston North Police say a 34-year-old man was arrested on Sunday and charged with arson.

He appeared in the Palmerston North District Court on Monday, May 1, and has interim name suppression.

The man is being remanded in custody and will reappear in court later this month.

Police used social media to distribute the photo of the man identified in the CCTV footage and are grateful to the public for information assisting them in apprehending the offender.

Physical damage to the Cathedral Day Chapel is described as minor.

Only the presider's chair and a table used in the celebration of Mass were destroyed.

The altar is also damaged at one end, and the carpet in the area is also fire and water-damaged.

"It was out within 15 minutes, but could have been much worse," said Grayland.

The fire brigade inspector said they were minutes away from losing control.

While the damage is minor, the smoke and ash damage means there is a consequential problem with the air quality in the cathedral, and, on the advice of fire and insurance assessors, the cathedral is closed until it is cleaned and the air inside is deemed safe to breathe.

Grayland said the smoke and ash had gone all the way to the organ at the other end of the church and out into the gathering area.

He says insurance assessors' have determined that scaffolding is need to clean the church's interior, and a special machine that sucks air out of the building is required to remove the smell of smoke.

As well as cleaning and repairing the Day Chapel, the smoke damage also means that all the vestments and linen must also be cleaned.

Grayland hopes that once the front of the church was cleaned, weekday services will be held in the Gathering Room.

He says the community is particularly grateful to the quick-thinking man who happened to be in the Cathedral at the time and raised the alarm.

The community also thank him and his two colleagues for dousing a potentially more significant fire.

"It is the fire assessment officer's view we were minutes away from losing control of the fire and probable loss of the cathedral," says Grayland.

Talking with CathNews, Grayland says that of the wide range of life events a parish priest helps people with, he never considered dealing with fire as part of 'the job'.

He says that while disappointed, the fire's destruction reminded him there is more to being human than being concerned with history and possessions.

"I'm thankful that no one was injured or life lost," he said.

In the meantime, Sunday masses are being shared between Our Lady of Lourdes and St Mary's churches, while weekday masses are all taking place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

"It is very lucky that we have three city churches that are within a short distance of each other that can people can get to," says Grayland.

Grayland has high praise for the quick responding Fire and Police services.

Sources

• Supplied
• Stuff
• Stuff
• NZ Police

The award was presented to Tony Murphy at a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North on Tuesday.

Recently-retired Murphy - who was the diocese manager for 18 years where he worked locally and nationally - says the award recognises the entire church.

"Across the diocese there are a lot of unsung heroes making our community, making our parish, making our country a better place by what they're doing.

I felt I was being recognised for something I was being paid to do. This is a recognition not just of me, but for the work of the diocese for the past 20 years."

During his time as the diocese manager, Murphy supervised staffing, co-ordinated chaplaincies and was an advisor to parish councils, finance committees and school boards of trustees.

With the national Catholic Church, he was a member of the New Zealand Bishops Federation finance committee, a committee member for the New Zealand Catholic Insurance Scheme and an executive chairman for a committee establishing a new Catholic Education Office in Palmerston North.

At the presentation, Cardinal John Dew said Murphy had a reputation for being kind, friendly, supportive and someone who listened.

"It wasn't just for the work Tony did, it was the way he did it, his personal character and reputation. The wonderful way Tony interacted with people in Palmerston North."

Catholic bishop emeritus of Palmerston North, Peter Cullinane, said the award recognised outstanding service to the church.

"Tony's service goes well beyond anything that's normally written in a job description."

"He combined professional skills and common sense with good judgment and compassion."

The Order of Saint Gregory the Great was established in 1831.

It honours citizens of papal states and is given to people who are distinguished for personal character and reputation and for notable accomplishments.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Diocese of Palmerston North Communications Team

"Their generosity has been outstanding, and it restores my faith in human nature", he says.

"They will literally help make Christmas for many who were likely to miss out".

His comments come after burglars broke into the Cathedral Saturday night stealing thousands of dollars of donated food and gifts collected by its local St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies) conference.

Grayland told CathNews that the Police are hoping to find the thief as they have timed security camera footage of the burglar entering and of his vehicle.

"I'm sure Vinnies would have tried to help him had he asked", Grayland said.

The stolen goods had been earmarked by Vinnies for families in need over the Christmas season.

Vinnies Palmerston North president Mike Keenan (pictured), discovered the burglary on Sunday.

He says thieves got away with 10 Christmas-wrapped and decorated parcels donated from a food drive at St James' Catholic School, plus cans, jam, coffee sachets, biscuits, chocolate bars, 500g packets of sugar, bread and 20 kilograms of meat.

He says the food would have been given to around 20 families in time for Christmas.

The church usually delivers 800 parcels a year, helping 3000 people.

"I was pretty upset all day yesterday. I can't understand why people would do that sort of thing," he says.

The burglars trashed the room as well as stealing the donated food and gifts.

"It was a huge mess," he says.

"Food had been tipped out everywhere and dropped as the burglars took what they wanted.

"There were two panels removed from one of the windows, which must have been how they got in."

Exactly how much food was taken is difficult to estimate, because the food bank doesn't keep detailed ledgers.

"We're grateful for the donations from the Manawatu area and wish everyone a great Christmas," Keenan said.

People wanting to help replace the Christmas gifts and hampers are welcome to donate food to Vinnies Shop on Rangitikei Street.

Police area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Darren Paki says police are asking for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning to come forward.

Anyone with information should get in touch by phoning 105 and quoting file number 201129/3944.

Sources

• Supplied
• TVNZ
• Stuff
• Image: Stuff