The event had been postponed from April because of COVID-19 restrictions.

And because COVID-19 Alert level remains at 2, numbers were still restricted.

Nguyen said that while he was happy to be ordained he was sad none of his family from overseas were able to attend because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The ceremony was streamed online, and he plans to visit his family once things return to normal.

The 31-year-old is originally from the city of Vinh, about 300km south of Hanoi in Vietnam.

He has been living in New Zealand for eight years.

He has family in seven countries and three of his brothers are training to be priests in India, Colombia and the United States.

Nguyen started helping his parish when he was 12. He later studied a philosophy degree.

When he came to Palmerston North he had to learn English at the English Teaching College.

He then moved to Auckland to train at the Good Shepherd College for six and a half years, which included a one-year placement in Hastings.

Fr Trung said that adapting to the culture and learning English, had been difficult; "but the love from the people around and the encouragement helped me to overcome those challenges."

He has been appointed as an assistant priest in the parish of Hastings.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• cpon.org.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

While driving, he noticed a truck and trailer unit in the opposite lane before seeing the flash of another car heading straight towards him.

The other motorist had attempted to overtake the truck

Barte said it all happened so suddenly, but he was able to swerve in time to avoid a head-on collision with the other motorist.

But in doing so, he collided with the side of the truck.

"The only word I said was 'my god'," he said.

After a full assessment at Taranaki Base Hospital, the only injury discovered was two broken toes on his right foot.

People who had seen the damage done to his car can't believe that he walked away from the crash.

It's not the first time Barte has been caught up in a serious crash. About 25 years ago, when he lived in the Philippines and was embarking on his career, Barte was knocked off his motorcycle by a truck.

He suffered a badly broken leg and pelvis and was in hospital for days.

Barte said he held no ill will toward the other driver but hoped his experience would serve as a reminder for all drivers to stick to the road rules.

From the Tagum Diocese in the Philippines, Barte has been living at St Joseph's, Waitara, since November 2013.

He was ordained a priest in 1991 after ten years of study.

He said he decided to enter the priesthood at the age of 12, a choice which was influenced by his parents who were lay ministers. As one of five boys from his family, he was the only one to become a priest.

Source.

• Taranaki Daily News
• Taranaki Daily News
• Image: Taranaki Daily News

Father Alex Kapiarumala left India to work as a priest in Bay of Plenty nine years ago.

He said he quickly became ostracised by certain colleagues, as well as deceived, exploited and stereotyped for his Indian heritage. Continue reading

Fr Brendan Hoban of the Association of Catholic Priests said that there is a risk that old fashioned pastoral approaches by overseas priests could empty some Irish parishes in a decade.

Two Nigerian priests have recently started ministering in Kilmore diocese.

Two more are scheduled to start work in Clonfert diocese and there are plans to bring Indian priests to Waterford diocese.

"Priests are not like footballers who can be transferred for a given fee from Real Madrid to Manchester United and hardly notice the change, as what they do and how and where they do is exactly the same," Fr Hoban said.

"Priesting is different. Language matters. Culture matters. Tradition matters. History matters.

"Understanding is about more than knowing the words.

"Appreciating the weave and waft of Irish society is essential to ministering to people's needs at parish level," he said.

Fr Hoban noted the history of Irish priests going on mission to other nations, but said that missioning in Ireland now is completely different to past practices.

He expressed concern over the pastoral styles African and Indian priests might bring to Ireland, trying to replicate those from their homelands

If priests "are used to not allowing laity to be involved in worship, how long will they survive in an Irish parish?", Fr Hoban asked.

"If priests are used to not allowing women to be involved in parish life, except in a peripheral and patronising way, how long will they survive in an Irish parish?

"Or more to the point how long will an Irish parish survive them? They could empty our emptying churches in a decade," he said.

Last year, the ACP asked Ireland's bishops to forward a request to Rome that proven married men be ordained as priests.

Sources

• Irish Times
• Irish Times
• Image: Irish Independent

The review by a working party in Maitland-Newcastle diocese, north of Sydney, recommended continuing the programme.

But it said further invitations to overseas priests should be delayed until appropriate polices and structure are put in place, and that the programme should be part of a "well-discerned broader plan" to meet future pastoral needs.

It also said attention should be given to the age, health and experience of those invited; the qualities needed for integration into the Australian culture; the pastoral needs of their home dioceses; their preparation before they come; and the need for appropriate contracts.

The working group said the introduction of overseas priests in 2008 coincided with a difficult period in the diocese, when clergy morale was low and the local presbyterate was not functioning as a united body.

Communication between the then bishop and diocesan clergy was inadequate. Some parish priests were not aware they were to receive an overseas priest until the bishop rang them. This led to, at best, a lack of enthusiasm for overseas priests, who were seen as a "band-aid solution" to pastoral needs.

Among the issues diocesan priests felt should have been dealt with were overseas priests' lack of familiarity with the Roman Rite and knowledge of local liturgical customs; the egalitarian culture of the Church in Australia compared with the hierarchical culture to which the overseas priests had belonged; language and communication skills; and cultural differences including skills needed in everyday domestic life in Australia.

The overseas priests themselves reported they were used to discussing their faith when they got together and found it strange that the Australian priests didn't do that.

The overwhelming majority of 3818 parishioners who responded to a survey in seven parishes where overseas priests had worked believed their presence had a positive effect on the faith and spirituality of their parishes, and that the programme should continue.

Source:

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Image: Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said until now there was no residence option for religious workers and some communities had struggled to fill positions.

"This new policy provides a path to residency for religious workers as well as an updated temporary work visa for shorter stays," he said.

"Immigrant priests and religious are making a significant contribution to the Auckland Diocese," said Lyndsay Freer, director of Catholic Communications Auckland.

"The change in policy is significant for us and very welcome."

Religious workers could apply for residence later this year.

They would have to have:

• A religious organisation's sponsorship;
• proof that the organisation needed someone long-term;
• proof that the worker had already spent three years here on a temporary visa.

The changes would be effective from November, when an updated temporary visa for religious workers would also be introduced. The temporary visa would allow a person to stay for up to four years, at the end of which they could apply for residence.

Over 1100 migrant religious workers were in New Zealand in 2009-2010.

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Namaste