Almost immediately after the fire, two Anglican inner-city churches - All Saints' Dunedin North and St Matthew's - reached out with offers for St Paul's to join them for worship last Sunday morning.

But the new Level 2 restrictions on gatherings of no more than 100 meant the Cathedral congregation couldn't take up either offer.

So a new offer from Monsignor John Harrison and Bishop Michael Dooley was accepted.

The St Joseph's congregation had space free for St Paul's to use the downtown St Joseph's Cathedral building on Sunday afternoon.

"We were overjoyed that St Joseph's reached out to us with such generosity," said the Very Rev Dr Tony Curtis of St Paul's.

He said the Anglicans and Catholics like to work together closely anyway, "we're all good friends, and it's a really lovely gesture."

The blaze broke out in the newly restored apse - the rounded section at the rear of the Octagon-based church - about 3.30 am on Tuesday 11 August.

The ceiling and roof of the building were fire-damaged, the crypt and part of the church were extensively water damaged.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire risk management officer Scott Lanauze has confirmed the cause was an unspecified electrical event.

The cost of the damage was still being assessed by insurers; however, Curtis said the crypt had suffered extensive water damage, and the roof above the altar would likely need replacing.

"What the fire hasn't got, water has."

"We'll probably try to close off the far end and put a tent over it, then gradually deconstruct the roof and put a new one on."

The organ was also partly water damaged and much of the building's electrics were no longer usable.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• odt.co.nz
• rnz.co.n
• stuff.co.nz
• anglicantaonga.org.nz
• Image: anglicantaonga.org.nz

On May 3, Bishop Dooley wrote a letter addressed to his "dear brothers and sisters in Christ" announcing that he would spend some time away from the diocese for personal and spiritual renewal. Read more in NZ Catholic.

He says the appointment came as a shock.

But he says he has eased into the role after receiving much support.

Dooley succeeds Bishop Colin Campbell, who has retired after 14 years in the role.

After at first feeling a ‘bit sick' at the news, Dooley says he then thought that, no, it was the church's choice.

Dooley's new role means he is in charge of the whole Otago-Southland region.

His was one of three names sent to Rome for consideration for the appointment.

Pope France appointed him.

None of the three was aware that they were under consideration.

"It sounds a bit strange, but it's done to stop lobbying. 'It's a historical thing,' Dooley says, to stop lobbying.

Life before Bishop

Born in Invercargill, the 56-year-old was ordained a priest in 1989.

Dooley completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner before studying for a bachelor of theology degree at the University of Otago.

He earned a master of theology in Melbourne.

His first thoughts of a vocation after a priest suggested he attend a retreat for young men interested in the priesthood.

"I sort of resisted, but I went to the retreat," he says.

He says he had no confidence in public speaking. "I didn't think I was a suitable candidate at all," he says.

"In the engineering workshop you didn't need to do too much public speaking."

A few years back, Dooley offered land behind St Peter Chanel parish in Green Island, south Dunedin, to be used for a community garden.

He described the land as a "blank canvas" for the community to establish its garden.

Dooley describes numbers in the Dunedin diocese as static but he says church is in good health.

He says immigrants from countries like the Philippines and India are bolstering numbers.

He relates to Pope Francis' view of the church and its place in the world.

"Rather than being a fortress mentality, it's an idea of engaging with the world."

Sources:

• ODT
• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference
• Image credit: ODT

It was attended by A crowd of several hundred people - many of whom spilled out into the foyer.

Clergy from throughout Southland, Otago, New Zealand and Australia were in attendance at the mass, as was Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt and students from several Southland Catholic schools.

Boyle was the parish priest at St Mary's Basilica from 1972 until he became a bishop in 1983.

The mass began with a rendition of "Lift High The Cross," with accompaniment by organist Dr Raymond White. Later, soloist Rebecca Ryan sang part of "Pie Jesu" from Faure's Requiem.

In his homily Bishop Dennis Brown said Boyle's Southland charm had a way of rubbing off on others.

He said he fondly remembered the time Boyle patted Pope John Paul II on the back as a gesture of support.

"That made him eligible for excommunication, because he had struck the Holy Father," he joked.

"He was outstanding. A humble, beautiful man who had a deep appreciation for everybody."

Boyle's niece, Catherine Morrision, also spoke at the mass.

"He was a wonderful storyteller, and could captivate an audience," she said.

"He had a remarkable memory. He was so proud of being brought up in Nightcaps and Winton."

Following the service, students from Invercargill's Verdon College performed a haka outside the basilica.

Boyle's casket was then taken to the Ascot Park Hotel for a reception, and then to Wreys Bush Cemetery where he was buried next to other members of his family.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

He came from a distinguished and well known Winton family known for their involvement with racing, rugby and the hotel trade.

Boyle himself had a love of horses. He often said "I'm away to a course" and on return would say, "I failed and have to repeat the course".

As well as being a farmer, shearer and freezing worker, he was a keen rugby player before training as a priest in Christchurch and Mosgiel in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Boyle, who had been living in Mosgiel, recently moved into the Sacred Heart Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Brockville, Dunedin.

He died peacefully on Wednesday morning.

Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said, "It is with sadness that we pay tribute to our brother bishop, recalling his commitment to the people he served and his ministry as a priest and bishop".

"He was a proud son of Southland. He would remark about the community spirit in Southland.

"Community was very important to him and his approach to priesthood over more than 50 years.

"In retirement he continued to serve as parish priest in various parishes throughout the Diocese wherever he was needed".

Len Boyle was ordained a bishop in Dunedin's Town Hall in 1983 and two years later was installed as Bishop of Dunedin on the death of Bishop John Kavanagh.

He was the first 'local' appointed to head the diocese, and was not trained in Rome as his predecessors had been.

Boyle was the subject of a biography in 2012, written by former Otago Daily Times journalist, Claire Ramsay.

It was aptly named 'The Good Shepherd'. The book described his unusual pastoral path to the priesthood.

At the time the book was launched Bishop Boyle joked that it was too flattering as it "included all the good but not the bad".

Months later he told the Otago Daily Times that he was growing fonder of the book, having resisted the suggestions by others to write an autobiography, and eventually giving in to the persistence of others for the book to be written.

"I wasn't too keen on it at first. I thought only grand people had books written about them," he said.

A natural storyteller, he had enjoyed being able to relate anecdotes and memories.

Bishop Boyle was born in Nightcaps, Southland, and educated at convent schools in Nightcaps and Winton and then later at St Kevin's College in Oamaru.

He served as a bishop until his retirement in 2004.

Boyle had five brothers, Jack, Eddie, Frank, Vincent, Cliff, and two sisters Patricia and Margaret (who died in infancy).

He is survived by his brother, Cliff, sister-in-law Eileen Boyle and his 27 nieces and nephews and their families.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: Supplied

The Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Reverend Colin Campbell, purchased a property on Speargrass Flat Road, Arrowtown, in 2006. A school for 60 pupils was planned, as the Catholic school in Queenstown had grown too big for its premises. The Diocese had in mind to build a school in Arrowtown catering for the whole district.

The lodge on the property was destroyed by fire, so it was decided to build a 112 pupil school. The classroom block was to be 480 square metres and the administration block 220 squm. There is also room for a playing field and a 42 space car park. The cost estimate was between $3 and $5 million.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council granted a resource consent for the school in 2009 even though 26 of 28 submissions were against it. Residents and landowners on Speargrass Flat Rd appealed the consent in the Environment Court, which ruled in favour. Eight groups then appealed against this ruling, again including residents and landowners.

It was alleged by those appealing against the ruling that there were errors in the decision of the Environment Court. The decision said that there was no evidence of error in the court's consideration of the 'nature and scale of activities', nor was there a failure to consider traffic.

Although there were two errors of law in the court's decision, Justice French dismissed the appeal because the court had dealt properly with matters relevant to its decision.

Sources

• The Southland Times
• Image: Chris Gin Photography