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Catholic agencies and individuals around Aotearoa-New Zealand are busy working from home and still-open “essential services” supporting communities in need during the Level 4 COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown. Work that is less visible nationally but very important locally is happening everywhere. Foodbanks and soup kitchens are two very busy basic services working hard behind the scenes. Read more
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Catholic Social Services (CSS) is no longer included in City of Philadelphia’s’ foster care programme. The city says it has stopped using CSS because it does not place children with same-sex couples. Last week one of the Philadelphia Councillors asked for the city’s Public Health and Human Services to investigate Philadelphia’s partnership with organisations that Read more
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The new Director Catholic Services in the Wellington archdiocese is David Olivier. He replaces Lesley Hooper, who retires on 29 September after nine years with Catholic Social Services. Olivier comes from the Diocese of Palmerston North, where he is currently Principal of St Peters College, a position he has held for eighteen years. He was Read more
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Wellington’s Catholic Social Services are in the process of moving from their offices in Brougham Street to new offices in the same building as the Soup Kitchen in Tory St, run by the Compassion Sisters. In his Newsletter Cardinal John Dew says, “This essential agency of the Archdiocese will now have the opportunity to work Read more
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Catholic Social Services in Otara are on the move. The service’s old building was damaged by fire last year so its staff have taken up residence next door at 12 Otara Rd. The service has staff who use a faith-based approach to social work, counselling, prison chaplaincy and working with other agencies. Issues raised often Read more
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Social workers in Dunedin say there are more and more single fathers but services to support them are still in their early stages. Catholic Social Services social worker Mike Tonks, who has been running a fathers-only play group for the past year, said solo fathers needed support services specially designed to their unique experience of Read more
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Dunedin’s Catholic Social Services (CCS) director Ian Donnelly says that while investment in housing would be part of a solution to South Dunedin’s socioeconomic deprivation, the real key was jobs. South Dunedin is the most deprived area in Otago, according to the latest Socioeconomic Deprivation Index, ”Meaningful work that gives people a decent income to Read more
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The fight against family violence in South Auckland has a new ally. The Catholic Church is extending its social services arm across the region. Bishop Pat Dunn has blessed and opened the new southern base of Catholic Social Services at St John the Evangelist Church in Otara. Previously the service had just one office in Read more
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The Catholic Church is no stranger to criticism from those who disagree with its teachings, but the petition posted recently on the White House Web site to label the church a “hate group” is beyond the pale, even in an age when an aggressive secularism seeks to marginalize the influence of religious belief. The church has long been Read more
