The century-old St Colomba Centre at 40 Vermont St, with its high ceilings and timber floors, once a Marist Brothers primary school full of rich history is now the academic home for seminarians and those looking for Catholic tertiary qualifications in New Zealand.

The Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga is New Zealand's sole tertiary provider of Catholic theological, ministry and religious education qualifications.

It offers programmes of study towards a

• Bachelor of Divinity
• Graduate Diploma in Theology
• Diploma in Christian Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Christian Leadership and Catholic Culture
• Certificate in Personal Interest.

The Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga also offers a Safeguarding course for those working in Catholic organisations.

The Friday 13th celebrations which included Mass and a procession marked the move from the former Good Shepherd College on Ponsonby Road.

"It has been a long journey and we are most grateful for all the support and direction of the NZ bishops and the Te Kupenga Governance Board," says College Dean Dr John Evangelista.

Among those present were the Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe, Archbishop Paul Martin, Bishop Michael Gielen, Bishop-emeritus Patrick Dunn and Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga faculty and staff.

The Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe, blessed the new campus.

Those who work at the College are very positive about the change from the old premises.

"Everyone is looking forward to welcoming back the students at the new campus," says Assistant Dean Fr Merv Duffy SM.

The Catholic Theological College had outgrown its old site.

The College serves a Catholic community of more than 470,000 including 237 Catholic schools educating 70,000 New Zealand children.

Its core task is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for ministry in the New Zealand Catholic Church and to teach Religious Education in New Zealand Catholic schools.

The College's predecessors - Good Shepherd College and The Catholic Institute - left Catholic Theological College - Te Kupenga a legacy of resources including the century-old Marist Fathers' Colin library for for ministry and leadership formation.

Source

• CTC (supplied)
• Te Kupenga
  

The services provided by Good Shepherd College (GSC) and The Catholic Institute (TCI) are to be brought together under one governance structure.

This will strengthen capacity for excellence in theological and religious studies, academic formation for seminarians through a high standard Bachelor's degree, together with research and public engagement.

An Establishment Board, led by Sir Brian Roche, will guide the process of moving toward a single entity.

Sir Brian is a former chief executive of PWC New Zealand and New Zealand Post.

He has held a number of public sector roles and led the bid for New Zealand to stage the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Sir Brian was involved in the consultation with stakeholders as part of the review and brings a wide breadth of organisational and leadership gifts.

In the meantime, the TCI Council and GSC Senate will remain in place, providing oversight of each entity and ensuring the continuation of quality teaching, advocacy, research, curriculum development, and academic formation of seminarians.

President of the NZCBC, Bishop Patrick Dunn, commented that "the role of Catholic Tertiary education is vital for the mission of the Church in the world and offers tremendous benefit to the wider New Zealand public."

It is anticipated that the new entity will be in place by 2019 with confirmation on the timeline for changes taking place as the Establishment Board begins work in the early New Year.

Source

Supplied: Amanda Gregan New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference

Image: NZ Post

Dr Longhurst works at the Musei Vaticani in Rome as a researcher and scholar, covering theology and the visual arts, theological aesthetics, religion and the arts, and sacred art and architecture. Continue reading