The Vatican has appealed to diocesan bishops to encourage laicised priests to play a more active role in parish life. This information is contained in a letter from Cardinal Ivan Dias, the prefect for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The letter, dated February 2 2011, was to a priest who had written to the congregation on behalf Read more
Archbishop John Dew has announced a review into parishes in the Archdiocese of Wellington. A group has been set up to conduct the review, and will report back after August 28. He has told parishioners that parish closures or amalgamations “may well be inevitable”. “The viability of our fledgling pastoral areas, as well as our funding options, Read more
The average age of men ordained to the priesthood in 2011 is trending younger with the average age for the 2011 class at 34, with more than half between the ages of 25 and 34. This is slightly younger than in 2010, and follows the trend over the past five years of new priests getting Read more
The shortage of priests in New Zealand was highlighted by Archbishop John Dew in his homily at the Chrism Mass on Wednesday. He told his congregation that in the six years he has been been Archbishop of Wellington he has ordained one priest. In Cardinal Williams’, his predecessor’s, first six years, thirty two men were Read more