Oversimplified headlines have been giving the impression that Pope Francis has spoken definitively on the matter of women deacons. That is not my understanding. I understand that wider possibilities for the sacrament of Holy Orders need to be explored first, and simply latching on to the existing structures could further delay the wider discussion that needs to take place. We may lament the time this takes, but we can hardly dispute the need.
Fr Denis O’Hagan sm made a life’s work out of companionship and compassion, said Fr Tim Duckworth sm in his homily at the Requiem Mass for Denis in August.
Timothy Ross Faith of Ōtaki died on 20 September 2024. ‘Tim’ was a well-known personality, especially for his 33 years’ service at the local New World.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
I am writing this at the end of the first day of the third week of the Synod here in Rome. We have just completed the third section of the document that we are working through. It is entitled ‘Pathways’ and it laid out possible ways that we might move into the future as a Church.
28 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?
29 Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the one only Lord! 30 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
What would you like to ask God? I put that question to some under ten-year olds at one of our schools. They were given time to think about it. Here are some of the results.
WelCom’s Season of Advent calendar is for whānau to reflect on each day during Advent Season, 1–24 December 2024.
What an enormous question from a visiting enquirer this week. Variations of this query are common, as people struggle to understand a God who seems to allow good people to perish just because they are not baptised, or perhaps practice a different faith.
During the month of November 2024 Pope Francis’ intention is: for anyone who has lost a child. We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
Past and present students, parish priests, whanau, members of the parish community and guests, including Archbishop Paul Martin sm and representatives from the Archdiocese of Wellington, gathered at St Theresa’s Catholic School in Plimmerton on Thursday 12 September to celebrate the 75th Jubilee of their kura.