A special Mass to launch the unification of three Hastings Catholic parishes into one was held at St John’s College yesterday. The inaugural Mass for the combined parishes of Heretaunga Plains drew almost 1000 Catholics. The celebrant for the service was Bishop Charles Drennan, the second Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North. The move to unify Read more
Posts Tagged ‘parish mergers’
Radical priest calls for new ways of parish leadership
Friday, June 5th, 2015
A former vicar-general in Vienna says the Church is at a crossroads in terms of lay parish leadership because of the shortage of priests. Fr Helmut Schüller said merging independent parishes into vast, impersonal parish associations is “pretty much the most unimaginative thing one can do”. In the long run, the Church will not be Read more
Bunnings site in Paraparaumu purchased for a new parish centre
Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
Cardinal John Dew has signed off on the purchase of the 4.2 hectare Bunnings site in Paraparaumu for a new church and parish centre. The move is part of the plan to centralise parish facilities on the Kapiti coast. The parishes in Waikanae and Paraparaumu were merged just over a year ago to form the Read more
School merger – parents thought options were still open
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
Some parents of Our Lady of Fatima School students were shocked to see a sign promoting a new school that would close their own because they believed consultation on the details of the decision was open until late July. The school, in Christchurch New Zealand, is to be closed along with another school, St Paul’s Read more
All of Wairarapa to become one parish
Tuesday, June 17th, 2014The Catholic parishes of Masterton, Carterton (including Greytown) and Featherston (including Martinborough) are merging into ”One Wairarapa Parish”. In an open letter to Catholics in Wairarapa, Father Julian Wagg says all parishes in New Zealand face unprecedented challenges because of a wide range of factors and the Archdiocese of Wellington. “As a result we are required to undergo the Read more
Plans afoot to merge three New Plymouth parishes
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Plans are being made to merge three New Plymouth parishes; St Joseph’s in the central city, St Philomena’s Brooklands and Fitzroy’s Our Lady Help of Christians. About 200 people turned out last week to a series of presentations given by a steering group which has the task of explaining the move and organising consultation with Read more