The competition ‘Saints Next Door' is open to young people of all faiths and denominations.

In 2018, Pope Francis shared a letter about saints. He explained that saints needn't be mystical people from the past who cured lepers and floated above the floor.

In fact, anyone can be what the pope labels as ‘saints next door.'

"Let us be spurred on by the signs of holiness that the Lord shows us through the humblest members of that people which "shares also in Christ's prophetic office, spreading abroad a living witness to him, especially by means of a life of faith and charity." (Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate)

The competition has three categories, from year 7 to year 13, with one prize for each category.

Recent school leavers are welcome to enter. Their videos will be judged with those of senior students.

Winning entrants can choose new technology up to the value of $900.

Anyone wishing to enter the competition has to register their interest.

This is done by visiting the competition website and completing the online form.

Registration must be completed by Friday 23 August.

Finished films need to be completed and submitted online by Friday 30 August.

There is more information on the competition website including tips, inspiration and a resource kit for teachers.

Supplied: Amanda Gregan: Ko te Huinga Pihopa o te Hahi Katorika o Aotearoa - New Zealand Catholic Bishop's Conference

• videocompetition.co.nz

This year it sponsored Vatican Observatory Director and world-renown astronomer, Br Guy Consolmagno in a nationwide tour.

In addition, it has developed a new social media brand, Catholic Discovery and is working closely with Catholic agencies and schools in spreading the Good News.

Trinity Sunday (16 June) celebrates Christian belief in the Trinity and fittingly marks the National Day of Prayer for the Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC), supported by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops (NZCBC).

CEC Director, Fr Neil Vaney, has prepared reflections and other resources for the day that will be shared among parishes throughout the country.

NZCBC President, Bishop Patrick Dunn says, "Each one of us is called to be a disciple, to spread the knowledge and love of Christ.

The CEC is our agency, to promote this work. Today, through prayer and by supporting the CEC we become part of that work.

Please open your hearts and lives to this work."

To find out more about the work of the CEC, related resources or to donate, visit catholicenquiry or Catholic Discovery on Facebook.

Supplied
Amanda Gregan: Ko te Huinga Pihopa o te Hahi Katorika o Aotearoa The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC)

They are on the look-out for good stories, so if you have any to let them know.

To get an idea of what they are looking for:

• Click here to view the Catholic Discovery on Facebook
• Click here to follow Catholic Discovery on Twitter.

If you have any stories, you can send them to info@catholicenquiry.nz

The new approach has been taken because the CEC wants to engage with people who are not Christians, those who may once have been Christians as well as those active in the Church.

The aim is to provide an opportunity for all people to discover more about the community and today's Catholic church.

CEC Director, Fr Neil Vaney, says Catholic Discovery involves a process of learning about the Catholic faith.

"Our approach with teaching is to utilise online platforms. We know our audiences use these channels," he said.

Vaney said the CEC wanted to share faith-based messages that people may not be able to access anywhere else.

"As part of this we have built Catholic Discovery and established branding that is more visual and vibrant.

"This fresh look better reflects our commitment to today's missionary challenges."

Vaney said the new logo offers a more contemporary presentation and will be used on all their digital platforms.

He said the icon is deliberately ambiguous. When you look at it, you may see a flame, a path or even a dove.

It is a metaphor that shows you can find many things within the Christian faith.

The colour purple has been used to represent Christ's suffering on the cross.

The CEC is currently reviewing its website and creating an Instagram account.

Read the press release

Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa

Following the announcement that Fr Allan Jones would end his term and after some reflection it was decided to split the role

• A part-time Chaplain, responsible for supporting enquirers spiritually and pastorally and for connecting CEC with the wider Catholic community;
• A full-time Director, responsible for the overall operations of CEC.

The Bishops have expressed gratitude to Vaney, who will soon complete is appointment as Vicar Provincial of the Society of Mary.

He brings with him significant experience in and commitment to the work of evangelisation, with a particular gift in enabling young people to hear and respond to the call to faith.

"He is also a noted moral theologian, with a deep interest in the theology of nature and environmental ethics," said Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The Director role has proved harder to fill and as such the Bishops are grateful to David Mullin who has agreed to be seconded from his work in the Palmerston North Diocese to act as Director until March 2017. "

"David is a member of the CEC Board, and will bring a wide range of business and management skills to the role, along with considerable knowledge about and commitment to the work of CEC," said Dunn.

"We are sincerely grateful to Fr Allan for his leadership of the Centre through a time of considerable change."

" He has responded with characteristic generosity and patience to the extended process of replacing him, and remained focused on CEC's vital work of invitation and introduction," said Dunn.

Mullin will begin on Monday 17 October, in a half-time capacity. Fr Allan's last day as Director on Friday 28 October.

The Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC) promotes the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith. Based in Wellington since 1961, the CEC is an agency of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand, and is supported spiritually and financially by Catholics throughout the country.

CEC invites people - via TV, online advertising, social media - to enquire about the Catholic Faith and we respond to enquirers by means of printed booklets introducing the essential aspects of faith.

Source

Supplied

Until yesterday the Catholic Enquiry Centre's virtual home was catholicenquiry.org.nz however from around 1:15pm yesterday the New Zealand Catholic Enquiry Centre can be reached at www.catholicenquiry.nz.

"It's a positive way to brand the Centre", Catholic Enquiry Centre Director, Fr Allan Jones SM told CathNews.

"When you think about it, we're clearly not a .co.nz, nor a .net.nz, and while from among the choices the .org.nz was the best fit for us, we're really not an organisation either", he said.

"We're simply the Catholic Enquiry Centre in New Zealand and so www.catholicenquiry.nz is the best fit."

At 1pm Tuesday 30 September, the New Zealand Domain Name Commission (DNC) made third-level domain names optional, giving New Zealanders the choice to either register .co.nz, .org.nz, .net.nz or simply register .nz at the second-level.

Many other countries have already made this change.

Those in New Zealand with existing names have until 1pm, 30 March 2015 to stake a claim on their .nz equivalent.

In cases where several groups want the same .nz domain, the DNC has established mediation process. If mediation is unsuccessful it could mean the .nz second-level domain remains unallocated.

Fr John Murphy of Church Resources, who manages a number of domains for various Church organisations, told CathNews that The Catholic Enquiry Centre's application was actually very straight-forward.

"The Centre pre-registered early and didn't have any other competition for the name."

"They've also actually been pretty smart and have both spellings "inquiry" and "enquiry" for the Centre", he said.

Launched 53 years ago, the Catholic Enquiry Centre is modernising its communications, reaching out to new New Zealanders, beyond the Church walls and in ways modern society uses.

"Our television and internet advertising is very successful", Fr Jones said.

"Getting the .nz domain name just makes sense".

To celebrate this milestone there will be a display of art works from local parishioners and senior Catholic school students who entered the CEC ‘Faith in Art' competition. The theme was ‘Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God: "Repent and believe the Gospel." '(Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:12-17).

Celebrations will be held in each diocese. The diocesan bishop and Father Allan Jones SM, Director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre (CEC), will speak at the events, which will be held on a Sunday afternoon in July or August.

Around 100 entries were received for the nationwide competition. Diocesan judging is taking place early in July with the national finals to be held in Wellington on 16 July. There were two categories - ‘Years 12 & 13 students from Catholic Schools' and ‘Anyone from the Catholic Parishes of New Zealand'. The winner of each category will receive $1000 and the two winning artworks will become part of the CEC's permanent collection. All artworks entered will be returned to the artists' dioceses in time for display in the jubilee events.

Fr Jones SM, says the principles underpinning the CEC have not changed in 50 years.

"Since its beginning in 1961 the principles of priests and people working together in faith, placing advertisements, recording responses and mailing the "free and confidential course" of booklets have remained intact," he says. "We use today's technology and expertise in their various forms, but we remember that the handing on of the Gospel is done by the Holy Spirit working through people of faith. Technology and expertise are at the service of this holy work".

CEC Diocesan Jubilee Events

Wellington 24 July, 2-5pm Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Hill St, Wellington

Palmerston North 31 July, 2-5pm Diocesan Centre, 33 Amesbury St, Palmerston North

Dunedin 7 August, 2-5pm Catholic Pastoral Centre, 300 Rattray St, Dunedin

Christchurch 14 August, 2-5pm St Bede's College, Main North Rd, Papanui, Christchurch

Hamilton 21 August, 2-5pm Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 494 Grey St, Hamilton

Auckland 28 August, 2-5pm St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland

Source
New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
Image: Catholic Enquiry Centre