WelCom February 2022 This month, February 2022, WelCom reaches a major milestone with the publication of its 400th edition, after almost four decades since our diocesan newspaper was launched in September 1984. Creating 400 hundred editions of WelCom is a wonderful effort. The Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North owe an enormous […]
WelCom February 2022 Pope Francis has appointed Bishop of Hamilton Stephen Lowe as the new Catholic Bishop of Auckland. The appointment was announced from Rome in December. Bishop Lowe is the twelfth Bishop of Auckland and replaces the retiring Bishop Pat Dunn, who has served since 1994. The Diocese of Auckland has almost 40 per […]
WelCom February 2022 Fr James B Lyons, Cathedral Restoration Committee Two quite remarkable gifts have been offered for auction in support of Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral’s restoration. They were to be part of a fund-raising dinner this month, regrettably cancelled, due to Covid-Omicron restrictions. A painting by famed New Zealand artist, Ralph Hotere (1931–2013), is […]
WelCom February 2022 The sale of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference’s half share in the former Good Shepherd College site in Auckland to its other half-owner, the Society of Mary, will help Te Kupenga-Catholic Theological College to move to modern premises. The site at 20 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland is currently used by Te Kupenga-Catholic […]
WelCom February 2022 Save the Date – Sacred Heart Online Charity Art Auction, 19 March 2022 Debbie Matheson, Parish Leader/Lay Pastoral Leader, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish The parish fundraising efforts for the Cathedral restoration fund are set to begin this year with an online art auction to be launched Saturday, March 19, 2022. […]
WelCom February 2022 During late 1918 the worldwide ‘Spanish flu’ pandemic swept across New Zealand. World War One cost 18,000 New Zealand soldiers’ lives over four years. The Spanish flu pandemic took about 9000 lives across the country. Of these the calculation is that about 2500 were Māori, a number highly disproportionate to their percentage […]
WelCom February 2022 Chris Gallavin, appointed CEO of the Sisters of Compassion Group nine months ago, talks with Michael Fitzsimons about the bright future he sees for the organisation. Chris Gallavin, the Compassion Group’s youthful chief executive, does not pretend to have a balanced life. ‘I’m not a nine-to-fiver. I can’t ever imagine retiring.’ Chris […]
WelCom February 2022 WelCom’s Hīkoi of Faith this month visits Our Lady of Hope Catholic Parish in Tawa and Tītahi Bay. Tawa is about 15km north of Wellington’s CBD between Churton Park and Porirua. Tawa, a mainly suburban area, is known for its large number of churches, representing a wide range of Christian denominations. Within […]
WelCom February 2022 On his December visit to Greece, the birthplace of democracy, Pope Francis sounded the alarm that democracy is under threat across the globe, as authoritarian leaders fuelled by populist and nationalistic interests are on the rise. ‘Today, and not only in Europe, we are witnessing a retreat from democracy,’ the Pope said, […]
WelCom February 2022 Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s death in South Africa has drawn tributes from all walks of life, among them, the Pope, bishops and clergy. Tutu who helped to end apartheid in South Africa and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner died in a frail-care centre on Boxing Day, 2021, at the age of […]