The Dunedin diocese has blocked a proposal to transform the historic Holy Cross Mosgiel Seminary into a natural health and sustainability centre. The move ends efforts by a local charity to revitalise the 150-year-old complex. The plan, developed by Taste Nature Social Enterprise and chaired by Clinton Chambers, sought to use the site for organic Read more
Soaring insurance costs are leading Catholic churches in Otago and Southland to reconsider their options. Between them, the churches in the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin face a $240,000 insurance premium bill this year. It’s a lot of money. During the past 10 years the diocese has had just one significant claim as a result of Read more
In a tale that could be straight out of a religious fable, two celestial figures have emerged from over half a century of seclusion. But there’s a heavenly hiccup with the angels: their wings are missing. These angelic figures fell from grace during the sweeping changes ushered in by Vatican II in the 1960s. Destined Read more
In about the same time span as three new priests were ordained for Dunedin diocese, four priests of the diocese have died within weeks of each other. The first was Fr Tom Keyes (94 ) on May 10. His death was followed by that of Fr Vincent Smith (91) on June 9. Both priests died Read more
A proposed design for an Olive Leaf Church – so named because of its shape – has been rejected. The controversial design by Central Otago architect Fred Van Brandenburg will be decided by the public in May. The proposal has split the Central Otago town of Arrowtown, attracting 369 submissions last year. One-hundred-and-fifty opposed the Read more
Cardinal John Dew has referred to the Vatican the handling of historic sexual offending within the Dunedin Diocese. The period under review is when Bishop John Kavanagh was bishop. Recently Pope Francis’ published new procedures for making bishops accountable for their actions and non-actions. The new procedures give power to a Metropolitan Archbishop to refer Read more
Dunedin sexual abuse survivor, Darryl Smith, has been unsuccessful in his attempt to meet Pope Francis. “We were blocked by the Swiss Guard who dismissed the letter from Bishop Dooley”, writes Spokesman for the Auckland-based Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions, Dr Murray Heasley. Heasley is in Rome with Smith. Writing on Facebook, Heasley reports,”They Read more
Dunedin’s Bishop, Michael Dooley met with Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday. Bishop Dooley (top left) is among the 74 newly-appointed bishops from 34 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America including those as diverse as Algeria, Myanmar, Cameroon and Indonesia attending a 12-day seminar learning about the roles and responsibilities of bishops. Bishop Read more
The Church cannot “hide” from the story of Fr Magnus Murray, one of Dunedin’s top Catholics says. But nor can all Catholics be tarnished by the actions of one man, Monsignor John Harrison, (pictured), of the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin, says. “It actually reflects on the rest of us and everyone gets tarred, and yet Read more
Bishop Colin Campbell was the principal celebrant at last Thursday’s ordination of the new Bishop of Dunedin, Michael Dooley. There were 11 concelebrating bishops: Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop Martin Krebs, and bishops Patrick Dunn, Stephen Lowe, Paul Martin, Charles Drennan, Dennis Brown, Peter Cullinane, Owen Dolan, Basil Meeking and Stuart O’Connell. The ordination was attended Read more