I was surprised recently to learn that Rome’s Dicastery for the Clergy upheld two more parish merger recourses opposing St Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski’s decision to merge their parishes. This makes an unprecedented three parish merger appeals won by St Louis Catholics determined to defend their parish homes. Historically Rome has upheld bishops in merging Read more
Some planned parish closures and mergers in the US St Louis archdiocese have ground to a halt following appeals and a Vatican directive. Pastoral planning The proposed parish closures and mergers were part of a major archdiocesan pastoral planning initiative. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced the parish closures and mergers a year ago in a plan Read more
In a significant about turn, Christchurch bishop Michael Gielen is proposing Barbadoes Street, the location of the original cathedral, as his preferred site for a new Christchurch Cathedral. The new thinking marks a departure from the construction plan on Armagh Street. As part of the change in thinking, Bishop Gielen has initiated consultations with professional Read more
A new Christchurch Cathedral is a step further ahead with the Catholic diocese advertising for a Fundraising and Development manager. The role is newly created, and the successful person will work closely with the bishop, general manager and senior leadership team to provide revenue growth, supporting the diocese’s mission. In the position’s Candidate Brief, the Read more
Three days after not allowing the printing or publication of a letter concerning parish restructuring and rebuilding a new Cathedral, bishop of Christchurch, Michael Gielen, released the letter. The 29 March move came after there was considerable interest in the letter’s contents, particularly from Catholics who could not be at Mass on the Sunday it Read more
Parish mergers, further sale of parish and diocesan land and building of a new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral have halted until the diocese hears back from Rome. The news was delivered by a letter read on behalf of the Bishop of Christchurch, Michael Gielen, at all Sunday Masses. Christchurch diocese parishioners told CathNews that Gielen had Read more
Today the most common experience of church and Christian community is in a parish. In many dioceses and archdioceses, parishes are being clustered into pastoral areas,2 and often the number of Masses in these pastoral areas is being rationalised and timed so that it is easier for neighbouring priests to celebrate Masses in the other Read more
Because of its historical and heritage values, a member of St Joseph’s at Riversdale Beach Charitable Trust is confident that the church will remain a community asset and not sold by the Catholic parish to a private owner. After consultation over the past year, Cardinal John Dew announced in June that of the five Wairarapa Read more
Well, I guess we have had just about everything here in Christchurch since September 4, 2010. Two years of death-defying earthquakes then the grief-stricken, the demolition, the dying, the rebuilding aftermath. Followed by March 15, 2019, with 51 people dying while at prayer in the mosques, and while we are prayerfully and painfully recovering ourselves, Read more
Bishop Paul Martin, the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, is proposing to create five new parishes in Christchurch by merging 12 existing parishes. The proposed changes were announced at Sunday masses throughout the Diocese via a video message on Pentecost Sunday. Parishioners have been asked to provide feedback by August 30. The five new parishes would Read more