Feature April 2014 Emily Makower The act of humbly letting go of what we are thinking and simply believing can lead to a deeper spirituality, Carmelite priest Fr Greg Homeing told archdiocesan leaders in February. Priests, lay pastoral leaders and archdiocese staff members joined together for a ministry formation day on 25 February. Fr Greg, […]
Feature April 2014 Robert McClean On Sunday 2 March, around 80 people from the parish of Ss Peter and Paul Johnsonville and the wider community held a blessing of graves in the historic Ohariu Valley cemetery which marks the start of the Catholic community there. All that remains is a gate leading into a peaceful […]
Church April 2014 Elizabeth Julian rsm When discussing Pope Francis’s call for a deeper theology of women, we need to be aware that any new theological development can cause hope for some, fear or anger in others. As Susan Wilson reminded us in her February article, it is important that we don’t allow fear to […]
Feature April 2014 Two leading academics are calling on New Zealanders to use the coming general election to press for an end to child poverty. Mike O’Brien and Susan St John of Auckland University say politicians must address the fact that one in five children lives below the poverty line and the government’s own figures […]
Opinion April 2014 Fr Kevin Neal London’s Clapham Common became very familiar when I lived in London because I often crossed it on my way home to Putney. In earlier days, Clapham Common was an enormous graveyard. Here, many centuries ago, victims of the Black Death were quickly buried. According to Wikipedia, ‘The Black Death […]
News April 2014 Mary Woods, Judith McGinley, Roderick Milne SM On Saturday 15 February in Paraparaumu L’Arche Kapiti celebrated its 16th birthday and 50 years since Jean Vanier started the first L’Arche community with Phillipe and Raphael in Trosly-Breuil, France. Family and friends joined the community from all around the lower North Island with representatives […]
History April 2014 Catherine Jones smsm This Christmas marks the 200th anniversary of the first recorded preaching of the gospel in Aotearoa New Zealand. On Christmas Day 1814 Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden preached at Oihi Beach in the Bay of Islands on the Christmas theme of joy: ‘Listen, I bring you news …’ Ruahara of […]
Palmerston North April 2014 Mary-Grace Williams Palmerston North’s Catholic Young Adult community Te Ahi Kaa has started the year with several events already and the year has only just begun. Te Ahi Kaa or ‘The Hearth Place’ is in its third year and is run by Jonny Boon and Mary-Grace Williams. Others living in the […]
Feature April 2014 The inclusion of the taualuga in the celebration of the Eucharist, especially at the presentation of gifts, signifies the willingness of the participants to present what is considered sacred to God. The taualuga is the Samoan traditional dance performed at special celebrations. It is considered the apex of Samoan performances and the […]
Feature April 2014 With the focus on a Future Full of Hope, the Launch Out candidates and several mentors gathered for a workshop to help connect the pastoral projects required of the candidates, with Archbishop John’s expectations as outlined in the document ‘A Future Full of Hope’. This workshop was a chance to gain a […]