On Easter Sunday Cardinal John Dew was interviewed by Wallace Chapman on New Zealand’s National radio. He talked to Chapman about being called to the priesthood, the church’s work for social justice, the meaning of Easter in the modern world, and the hope placed in the Pope. “Easter is a wonderful opportunity for us to Read more
The “greatest story ever told”lit up the stage in a dazzling spectacle at Villa Maria Winery last weekend. And Jesus Christ rose again – in the form of a large Samoan man. They Crucified Him, a Passion play directed by Ross Jennings and co-directed by Terri de’Ath, portrays Christ’s last days on earth but with Read more
In a letter to Pope Francis, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church Tawadros II has proposed making one date for Easter celebrations for all Christian Churches. Differences in Easter dates are based on differences between the Julian calendar, which eastern churches follow, and the Gregorian calendar of western churches. Finding one Easter date for Read more
Australians may be among the largest consumers of Easter eggs in the world, with Cadbury Australia alone producing more than 270 million Easter eggs each year, which equates to about 12 eggs a person, but the Easter bunny is falling out of favour. But in recent years the Bilby has been put forward as a replacement Read more
New Zealand is now a secular, pluralist country with citizens who hold all kinds of views. Many people worship Jesus Christ, and practise restraint at Easter time as part of their beliefs. Many more do not. Christianity still has a powerful place in the culture – it underpins our ethics and our judicial system, much of Read more
We have reached our celebration of Easter, the centre of the Church’s liturgical year and the source of Christian life and faith. Yet Easter often appears as the poor relation of Christmas. Whether you believe or not, there is something about Christmas that manages to touch everyone. But without Easter there would be no Christmas. Read more
In his traditional Easter message, Pope Francis has prayed for people suffering from war, violence, abandonment and disease around the world. An estimated 150,000 people were gathered on Easter Sunday in St Peter’s Square. The Pope delivered his traditional blessing and address Urbi et Orbi, “to the city and to the world” from the balcony Read more
The Hui Aranga, the annual Maori Catholic gathering, took place in in Upper Hutt near Wellington this year. The Hui Aranga celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and involves kapa haka and sports competitions as well as a religious procession. The chairperson of a Palmerston North Maori Catholic club, Rawiri Tinirau, says many non-religious Read more
Thirty Christian leaders in Auckland New Zealand have published a joint Easter message. The message reminds people that the resurrection is not just a Bible story from long ago. “It is a present reality and the Gospel of peace has been an intrinsic part of Aotearoa since the message was first preached here 200 years Read more
The Equippers church, the organisers of a public Easter egg drop, have apologised after children were injured during the event – by parents desperate to get their share of the chocolate treats. The Egg Day Out was held across three locations in Auckland on Good Friday. It was organised by the Equippers church and sponsored Read more