WelCom July 2017: A new Mission Centre for St Joseph’s school and parish in Hawera was opened and blessed by Bishop Charles Drennan on Sunday 28 May. Speeches and a performance from the school Kapa Haka group followed. Kaumatua Ray Edwards said whaikōrero and karakia. Bishop Charles said it was a joyous occasion and the Centre is unique […]
WelCom July 2017: “At this time, it’s more necessary than ever for everyone to not just stop with words, but to take concrete action so that food aid can reach suffering populations.” – Pope Francis Thousands of households in South Sudan are receiving emergency food supplies from Caritas and other organisations, as food shortages and political instability […]
WelCom July 2017: Hundreds packed Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday 4 June to witness what could be described as a second Reformation. It was New Zealand’s formal commitment to healing the divisions of the Reformation: the 500 year-long separation of Lutherans and Catholics. The atmosphere was joyful, positive and affirming. In response to the karanga, Cardinal […]
WelCom July 2017: Martin Luther has been given many titles, complimentary and otherwise. Among the positives, I’m drawn to ‘Visionary Reformer’, ‘The Accidental Revolutionary’ and ‘Resilient Reformer’. His opponents saw none of that, one of them describing Luther as a child of the devil. But both sides would have to agree that Martin Luther was a cleric […]
WelCom July 2017: The Sisters of Compassion and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have announced the first Sunday of October as a day of celebration in New Zealand for the Venerable Suzanne Aubert. Suzanne Aubert founded the Sisters of Compassion, New Zealand’s only home-grown order of Sisters, in Hiruharama in 1892 on the banks for […]
WelCom July 2017: Marking 100th anniversary of the battleground death of Fr James McMenamin Sharron Cole In a Mass at the parish church of St Nicolas in Mesen on 8 June, 100 years after the death of Petone Parish Priest and Army Chaplain Fr James McMenamin, his chalice was returned to the place just a few […]
WelCom July 2017: The NZ Catholic Bishops congratulated Fr Bernard Espiritu SVD on his reappointment National Director of MissioNZ by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Rome. Fr Bernard Espiritu has been the New Zealand National Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies since 2012. He was born in the Philippines, and following ordination with the […]
WelCom July 2017: Dr Rebecca Miller, Programme Manager for People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons, Immigration New Zealand, spoke at a recent evening meeting with members of ANZRATH in Wellington. She described the extent of labour exploitation in New Zealand and the intimidation and coercion that often accompany this. ANZRATH is a group of Religious and […]
WelCom July 2017: Cardinal John Dew presented Margie Crook a Benemerenti Medal on behalf of Pope Francis at Mass at St Benedict’s Church, Khandallah, on Sunday 23 April. Margie was awarded the papal honour for her services at St Benedict’s parish as secretary for 19 years, from which she retired last year. During those years Margie worked […]
WelCom July 2017: Parishioner, Merrilyn George of St Joseph’s Church, Ohukune, and teacher at Ruapehu College, has been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Queens Service medal for services to education and the community. Merrilyn has taught at Ruapehu College since 1966 including in areas of technology, art, mathematics, science and Te Reo Māori […]