The documentary begins with filmmaker Gerard Smyth telling Paul Martin, the Catholic bishop of Christchurch, that he has heard "rumours" that the cathedral might be moving.

To which Martin replies "It is very interesting that you are hearing that Gerard."

Three options have been under consideration after the cathedral was damaged in the Christchurch earthquake: restoration of the existing structure, a new cathedral constructed on the present site, or a new cathedral in a new site close to the centre of the city.

Martin said that it is ultimately up to the bishop to make the decision about the future of the cathedral. He said there would be no voting on the options.

If restoration was not a possibility, his personal preference was to be more in the heart of the city.

In November, Stuff reported Martin as saying the church was in talks over the purchase of a city centre site near Cathedral Square.

He declined at that time to name the site.

In the documentary Smyth suggests it is located on Oxford Tce between the Margaret Mahy Playground on Manchester St and Victoria Square on Colombo St.

It currently has about five owners, including the former PWC building site partly owned by developer Philip Carter and the site of the former Copthorne hotel.

At the end of the documentary, Smyth asked the bishop if he was "leaning towards a certain decision, would you be able to tell us now?"

"If you turn the camera off you mean?" was the reply.

Smyth, an award-winning filmmaker, is the owner of Christchurch based Frank Film.

He has produced and/or directed more than 60 documentaries. A short, easily digestible film is uploaded to Frank Film weekly on Monday mornings.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• frankfilm.co.nz
• gerardsmyth.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: screenshot stuff.co.nz

Martin, ordained the tenth Bishop of Christchurch on 3 March 2018, by Cardinal John Dew, succeeds Bishop Barry Jones, who died in February 2016.

In a ceremony involving Latin, Maori and English, Pope Francis' diplomatic representative to New Zealand, Archbishop Martin Krebs, read the pope's message mandating Martin's appointment.

Service, not honour

Speaking at the ordination Dew highlighted the important role of service in the life of a bishop.

"Service is never far from the mind of a bishop", he said.

"A bishop's role is not one of honour but of function; striving to serve rather than rule".

Addressing the people of Christchurch, he told them, "Today you are gifted with someone who is ready to serve you.

"I am sure the people of Christchurch will delight in Bishop Paul as someone who is here with you and for you".

Describing Martin as a "humble servant", he told the congregation that the only authority Martin had was that of service.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Martin spoke with raw honesty and showed what a gift he will be to the diocese of Christchurch.

Thanking his family, particularly his mother and late father, he said, "I am very blessed being born into a family that is stable, loving, and showed me what living a Christian life looks like."

He continued, "Growing up in Hastings, there were 14 Marists living in the presbytery and so I had lots of great examples of how Marist life could be lived.

"I could see myself living that way also.

"So today, I am who I am because of my natural family and religious family."

Reflecting on his 24 years of priestly ministry in various dioceses in New Zealand he told the people that he now belonged to them.

"I'm no longer a wandering religious. Christchurch is my home", he said.

Installation as bishop

On Sunday, Martin presided at St Mary's pro-Cathedral for the first time.

In his first homily as Bishop of Christchurch he told the congregation that we may use words to express our faith, but what is important in life is what we do.

"If we are to be Christian, actions must be consistent with our words", he said.

Post Christchurch earthquake, Martin is faced with a major decision whether to rebuild the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.

The estimated cost of rebuilding the Cathedral is $100m.

Making reference to the scheduled Sunday Gospel reading about the money lenders in the temple, a good-humoured Martin smiled saying, "I hope the choice of Gospel reading is not a sign of things to come."

Calling the appointment 'a fresh start' and a 'new beginning for the diocese', those attending the ceremonies were optimistic about the choice of Martin as their bishop.

Martin is aged 50 and will serve as bishop until aged 75 when it is mandated he offers the pope his resignation.

Sources:

• Image: Christchurch Diocese

Wellington City Council covered $800,000 of the floodlit artificial turf's $1.7 million bill. The responsibility for finding the remaining $900,000 to fund the artificial turf has been accepted by the St Patrick's College Foundation.

Some avenues of revenue generation have already been identified. The Marist St Pat's Rugby Club, which will be a prime user of the turf, is committed to a contribution of $300,000. The College's parents' association will provide $50,000.

The College is facing further major expenses; in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes, the school, which was built on reclaimed land, has been assessed by engineers.

The assessment shows there is a need for $8 million worth of seismic work on the land and the buildings.

Last week's opening of the artificial turf was attended by Attorney-General and St Pat's old boy Chris Finlayson, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and several Wellington City councillors, including John Morrison, the driving force behind the venture, and Paul Eagle who is an old boy of the college.

They were welcomed by a student haka and the formalities ended with Archbishop John Dew blessing the facility.

The artificial turf will be available for use by pupils and local sports teams, including the Marist St Pat's Rugby Club.

St Pat's rector Fr Paul Martin said the field would help students train more often.

"That's our only field, in terms of our own college space. Therefore if the weather was no good, we had nowhere for the kids to train.

"The option of being able to train at night is a huge plus for us."

Source

• The Wellingtonian
• The Cornerstone
• Image: MSP

Pupils at St Pat's Town in Kilbirnie emerged from the school hall chanting "All Blacks" after the school called an early end to their punishment this afternoon.