• Fr Chinnappa Thumma will be Assistant priest at Christ the King, Burnside,
• Fr Bala Allam will be Assistant priest at St Josephs, Papanui,
• Fr Benito Velasco will be Assistant priest at St Peter Chanel, Waimakariri,
• Fr Joaquin Camano will be Assistant priest for the Timaru parishes,
• Fr Sammichael Raj will be Assistant priest at Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn,
• Fr Chris Orr will be Parish priest at Holy Trinity, Bryndwr,
• Fr Rick Loughnan will be Parish priest at Christ the King, Burnside.
• Fr John O'Connor will be the Vocations Director.

These appointments will take place on the weekend of 31st January-1st February 2015.

Original URL

Bishop Barry Jones has issued "The House of God", to inform and guide Christchurch diocese in the task of building churches.

Aimed at parishes wanting to build or repair and strengthen a church since the earthquakes, the document emphasises that churches in the diocese will be beautiful, traditional and places of worship and prayer.

Bishop Jones echoed Vatican II's Sacrosanctum Conciliam (124) in calling the church building "the House of God".

He said such buildings should be able to be recognised as Catholic churches.

"It is a sacred place set aside for the sublime prayer of the liturgy and for personal private prayer. It is not a multipurpose building."

"The church building itself should reflect the transcendence of God, the beauty of his holiness and the divine truth he has entrusted to his Church."

Describing the altar as the "point of convergence of all that happens in a church", Bishop Jones wrote that "it is not correct historically to claim that in early Christian churches the altar was at the centre, nor should it be".

"Rather it should be at head of the assembly and the church building ought not be in the shape of a theatre or a stadium," he wrote.

"Generally modernist styles have not served the liturgy well. In building a new church parishes should seek architects capable of using traditional styles . . . but not simply replicating a particular church," the document continues.

Examples of suitable styles include Gothic (Darfield) and Classical Revival (Cathedral).

At several points in the document, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal is cited.

The document also states the essential division in a church is between sanctuary and nave.

"This reflects the differentiation of the ministry which derives from Holy Orders and the ministries which derive from Baptism and Confirmation."

The document also states pews are to have kneelers and confessionals should be visible, but should afford privacy to penitents who desire it.

Source

• Christchurch diocese
• Image: 3 News

They got another court win late last week and are now basically allowed to get on with the demolition, as in deed they should.

The cathedral has turned into one of those heated overly emotive debates that becomes counter-productive and saps energy time and money.

I don't doubt for one moment that those who oppose its demise aren't passionate or determined or indeed think they're right. But a couple of key things are at play.

Firstly, it's not their church. Secondly, the courts have failed to side with them.

Of course the church's role in Christchurch society goes well beyond its ownership.

Having grown up in the place, I am not Anglican but I always felt the cathedral was the city's.

I've been in it many times, I've climbed to the top of it many times. But despite that, I have never felt as though I owned it or that I had any more say than anyone else, and certainly not as much say as those who do own it - i.e. the church.

Christchurch has a lot of big fish to fry and they'll be doing that for many years to come.

And part of that scenario working out requires people to be reasonable in their approach to any given major decision.

Decisions like the city centre, the convention centres, the sports facilities, the general design - all of those big calls require input but not to the point where it becomes a fight and a delay.

The cathedral debate falls smack into the middle of that category. Continue reading.

Mike Hosking presents the breakfast show on NewsTalkZB, and has lived and worked in Christchurch, Wellington, currently based in Auckland.

Source: NewsTalkZB

Image: Joshua Drummond

The mass was celebrated by Bishop Barry Jones, the Bishop of Christchurch, and was part of a diocesan wide celebration known as Faithfest

There were five separate events:

• The Mass
• Cultural Festival with the 8 cultural communities singing and dancing
• Ecumenical Choral Festival
• Diocesan Expo

Pope Benedict XVI announced a Year of Faith beginning in October 2012 and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, to invite "conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world".

Look at Faithfest Photos /Peter Fleming

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
• Image: johnoconnor.blogspot.co.nz
  

The Holy Family parish was formed in 2012 by combining two Timaru parishes, Timaru North and Sacred Heart

There are two churches in what was formally Timaru North, St Thomas the Apostle and St Joseph's.

St Joseph's, was built in 1938 and has not been used since 2009

"We haven't used that building for a Sunday Mass in five years. It's surplus to requirements," Father Brian Fennessy said.

If the decision is approved by the diocese, Father Fennessy said it would likely go on the market later in the year.

There are about 600 Holy Family parishioners attending each week.

Father Fennessey said that the two "great facilities" - St Thomas Church and the Sacred Heart Basilica - which were still being used were sustainable and served the needs of the parish very well.

Other possible changes, including that offices be consolidated at St Thomas' church administration area and that potential buyers be sought for the Sacred Heart centre and carpark section in Napier St, were still just proposals, said Father Fennessy.

Source

• Timaru Herald
• Image: rootsweb.ancestry.com

Last week Christchurch, New Zealand, Catholic Education office manager Mike Nolan announced St Paul's School in Dallington and Our Lady of Fatima School in Mairehau are to merge.

"The minister has agreed in principle to the formation of a new state integrated full primary school with the new name of St Francis of Assisi Catholic School."

A parent of two St Paul's pupils says the community's views had not been listened to.

"Personally I don't like the fact [that] my choice is being taken away from me . . . my choice to have a small school, a school close to my house. I know the people I've spoken to would [agree]," she said.

"St Paul's, the school and the staff, have done an awesome job looking after [the children] and our best interests but personally, I don't like the way the bishop or [Catholic Education Office manager] Mike Nolan have handled it."

Nolan said there has been "extensive community consultation" about the merger, including community meetings that started in September last year.

Bishop Barry Jones favoured the plan to merge the schools, as their parishes had already combined since the quakes, Nolan said.

"The bishop's view was pretty clear. One parish, one school, one church."

Mr Nolan says there will be another round of consultation on how best to appoint teachers and staff with the aim that the school be open for term 1 of 2016.

Click here to read about the consultation process, the report and related matters.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• nz.news.yahoo.com
• Image: The Press

King saved the Nazareth roof when he demolished the chapel last year.

He says the ceiling, made of rimu, is the equal of the ceiling in the Arts Centre's Great Hall and Christ Church Cathedral.

It's 23.5 metres long, 10m wide and weighs about 30.1 tonnes, including the slate roof tiles.

The eight carved trusses could be worth $200,000, according to a truss maker he consulted.

King, who operates Graceworks Demolition and Recycling in Kaiapoi which specialises in church salvage and demolition, hoped the Nazareth ceiling and roof could be incorporated into an earthquake memorial.

He even had concept drawings prepared, but said the Christchurch City Council and the Historic Places Trust were "not interested in funding restoration of the church away from its site".

Other potential buyers fell away, King's demolition contract with Nazareth House ended and he couldn't leave the roof in Sydenham.

He dismantled the roof and it rests in pieces in his Kaiapoi yard.

"I'd sell it if the right amount came in," he said, but he would not consider selling components or for its timber value.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Historic Places Trust

But Father John William Fitzmaurice, 57, was refused bail pending his appeal after the jail term was imposed in the Christchurch District Court on February 27, so he has already served two weeks in prison.

The appeal was heard in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Graham Panckhurst today.

Fitzmaurice, who worked as a priest in the Christchurch diocese for 34 years, had admitted eight charges of dishonestly using documents and obtaining money by deception.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: 3News

Bishop Jones expressed "disappointment" that his once-trusted priest had been jailed, having pleaded to the court for him to receive home detention.

He was also saddened to lose the services of "a very able and gifted" priest.

"His offending has caused great scandal - he had a very high reputation amongst people and people were very shocked to hear this had happened."

"But he's exercised an excellent ministry for over 30 years, and now we don't have that from him anymore."

The church will continue to support him through his "turmoil", and after counselling, he expected Father Fitzmaurice to come out of prison "stronger".

They had paid his living costs, covered his legal fees and counselling costs, and since the convicted fraudster had no assets or any savings were realistic that he couldn't pay any reparation.

But Bishop Jones said: "Some kind of symbolic reparation when he's in a position to do so... we'd expect that."

Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintl said it had cost the church $31,000 in investigation fees to uncover Fitzmaurice's offending. Reparation of $149,000 was sought but the church was realistic in acknowledging Fitzmaurice's inability to pay.

Zintl said the offending involved 735 separate acts of dishonesty. It was highly calculated and premeditated offending.

"The offender was a man of faith, but the very faith that was placed in him by the Catholic church and the community, he has betrayed."

Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton told the judge: "He stands before you for sentencing truly ashamed and deeply remorseful for the harm he has caused."

Eaton said Fitzmaurice was aware of the breach of trust towards the bishop, the church, parishioners, family, and friends.

He said said a report described the offending as "a spiralling vocational and emotional meltdown over several years".

He said Fitzmaurice, who had entered the seminary at 17 and became a priest at 23, could still work for the church he had devoted his life to.

While he could never work in Christchurch again, Eaton said an "olive branch" had been extended by the Bishop of Auckland.

Eaton also indicated they would be challenging the sentence and applying for Father Fitzmaurice's release on bail pending the hearing of an appeal.

Source

• NewsTalkZB
• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: 3News

Two years on from the February 2011 Canterbury earthquake, Catholic agency Caritas is still maintaining a commitment to long-term recovery in the region.

"The deeper issues are only just surfacing," say two workers on Christchurch recovery programmes. Cinnermon Buckley is a specialist social worker with the Catholic Education Office, while Matt O'Connell is Earthquake Recovery Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.

Matt and Cinnermon are now seeing more sustained problems which people have not been able to overcome, which require a longer recovery or rehabilitation process. Together with many workers and volunteers across the region, they help identify issues and work on the needs.

Meanwhile a programme run by the Waipuna youth agency to help Christchurch young people with serious housing needs is the latest to receive funding from Caritas' earthquake recovery programme. Programme Coordinator Paul McMahon uses Facebook and text messaging to keep in touch with an often transient population, helping them with information, advocacy and the processes of dealing with Housing New Zealand, Work and Income, MPs' offices and landlords.

‘We've been inspired by the resilience, tenacity and hope of people - often with problems themselves - who just get ‘stuck in' supporting others and helping recovery,' says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. ‘It's been a privilege to accompany and support dedicated people in Canterbury who are standing alongside those who suffer the most - especially those who were already vulnerable before the quake hit.'

Read more about Paul, Matt and Cinnnermon's work here.

Information on programmes funded is available here.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.

For more information contact Martin de Jong +64-4-496 1782 or +64-21-909 688.

Source

• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Image: StraightsTimes.com

He committed the fraud while he was the parish priest at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and at Addington's Sacred Heart Parish.

The charges relate to his using 242 cheques drawn on the Catholic Cathedral Parish and Addington Parish accounts, which were either cashed or paid into his account.

He also admitted dishonestly making 358 automatic teller withdrawals totalling $54,430.

Fitzmaurice was suspended by Bishop Barry Jones in September 2011.

What he did with all the money remains unclear, but on Monday the Bishop of Christchurch Barry Jones told The Press : "I understand there was gambling involved."

Judge Jane Farish remanded Fitzmaurice on bail for sentencing on February 27.

She called for a pre-sentence report and a report on his suitability for home detention, and his ability to pay reparations to the church.

Source

• The Press
• The Press
• Image: AnglicansAblaze

The policy is with Ansvar and expires on November 30.

Christchurch diocesan financial administrator Paddy Beban says the diocese was shopping around to see what insurance company and what policy it would go with as of December 1.

"My gut feeling is there might be some (earthquake cover) available, but how affordable that is is something that one has to weigh up, and the signals are that it will be a significant amount of money," Beban said.

Earthquake cover could prove expensive not only in terms of the premium, but the excesses could also be large.

"We will have cover in place for the first of December for risks excluding earthquakes, and if earthquake cover was deemed to be affordable we would consider taking it," he said.

He expected premiums to increase regardless.

The Ashburton Guardian reports that the $6.5 million dollar Holy Name Church in Ashburton and its accompanying presbytery, churches at Rakaia, Methven and Tinwald, and the district's two Catholic schools of St Joseph's in Ashburton and Our Lady of the Snows in Methven, are already without earthquake cover under the diocese's current policy.

Earlier this year Beban said the lack of earthquake cover for the two schools meant the church was technically in breach of its integration agreement with the state, to maintain standards as a proprietor and have the buildings fully insured.

Source

• The Ashburton Guardian
• Image: Historic Places Trust

"But we're feeling very sorry for our colleagues down the road. We're all in close proximity and it's going to be a very difficult time for people," she said.

The Ministry of Education last week proposed to merge five state schools and one integrated school on to one site called the Aranui Learning Community Cluster.

The ministry said Avondale, Aranui and Wainoni primary schools would merge with Chisnallwood Intermediate and Aranui High.

It was part of a proposed $1 billion overhaul of Canterbury schools announced yesterday. See the proposal document here.

Continue reading

Most recently assistance has been provided to the Parish of St Mary's Pro-Cathedral for a project to identify and support parishioners who have been disadvantaged by the earthquakes and to continue to facilitate a sense of community post parish amalgamation and to the Riccarton Parish to help take a group of senior retired parishioners on a bus trip to get them out and let them enjoy the company of others. During the trip, the parish team will speak to them and discover their needs and thoughts.

The Christchurch Catholic Diocesan Earthquake Recovery Fund was set up by Bishop Barry Jones to distribute money donated to him following the earthquake of September 4th, 2010 and the subsequent earthquakes.

The fund exists to help parishes and those within parishes to respond to the needs those people affected by the earthquakes in their own community and also to the wider community.

Click here to see full list of projects funded

The Diocesan Strategic Planning Committee, which has the task of preparing a draft plan on the future location of Catholic churches and schools in the Christchurch diocese, has been formed and has held its first two meetings.

Source

• The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
• Image: The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch

The Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Barry Jones, after consultation with parish priest Father Brian Fennessy, accepted the structural engineers' recommendations to close the buildings.

The St Joseph's Catholic Church in Temuka has had ongoing engineering assessments, particularly after the February 22 earthquake last year. Following a recent review the building was considered to be earthquake prone. Work will begin immediately to remove the spire from the church to lessen the risk of it falling.

Sunday Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph's Hall, with weekday Mass continuing at the St Mary MacKillop Chapel.

A recent survey of the St Mary's Catholic Church in Pleasant Point confirmed some parts of the building were no longer vertical, compromising its strength.

Mass will be celebrated in the adjacent Kerry Hall.

Read more

St Mary's School hall has been suggested by engineers as a suitable alternative for the parish in the interim. The parish and school are working together to enable this to happen.

The church needs to be further assessed and will likely require remedial work in order to meet appropriate building standards and allow it to be re-occupied. A schedule of temporary strengthening works has yet to be completed and put forward to the Diocese for consideration.

The parish will be fully consulted as part of this and the works agreed to. As this process continues Bishop Barry Jones is concerned and has given instruction that the parish be involved and consulted in this process.

Continue reading

The 126-year-old St Mary and Francis de Sales Church is now having a safety barrier put up around it and services will be shifted into the neighbouring Chervier Centre from the end of this month.

The church in Mairehau will remain out of use while engineering solutions and the future of the building are considered. The Hall has also been assessed and requires remedial work in order to meet appropriate building standards and allow it to be re-occupied. A schedule of temporary strengthening works has been produced for consideration by structural engineers. It is envisaged that the strengthening works, once underway, will take a minimum of two weeks to complete.

The Catholic Social Services building located at 336 Cashel Street has been temporarily shut based on the advice of OPUS Structural Engineers due to being deemed earthquake prone. Further investigation into these matters is required with a view to developing repair solutions to raise it above the standard of an earthquake prone building.

Source

• The Catholic diocese of Christchurch
• Northern Outlook
• Image: The Catholic diocese of Christchurch

Management Board chairman Lance Ryan said discussions leading up to a decision on whether the cathedral would be rebuilt or demolished could well be at least six, and more likely 12, months away.

Continue Reading

Catholic Education Office manager Mike Nolan said classrooms at St Peter's, Christ the King, Our Lady of Assumption, St Bernadette's and St Mary's schools will have to be vacated for between 10 and 12 weeks while the repairs were done.

In February they were moved into marquees for a couple of weeks while temporary work was carried out to get the buildings to 67 per cent of the building code.

This time the diocese has obtained four portable buildings, which will be moved on to school sites to house pupils and staff while the permanent repairs were being done.

Source

• The Press
• Image: VCBC

Five churches have been demolished, and a further 16, including the Basilica, have been out of action since December.

Financial Administrator, Paddy Beban, says at this stage the bill for rebuilding and repairing the churches is in excess of $120 million.

Source

• NewsTalkZB
• Image: The Press