Wellington’s Blessing of the Boats ceremony took place on Sunday 12 February as part of the annual Island Bay Festival. The ceremony is a southern Italian tradition that dates back to the sixteenth century. It has been adopted in Island Bay by its Italian community since 1933.
‘As we move forward to a changed St Francis of Assisi Ohariu Parish it is my hope, we take our St Andrew’s spirit with us. That each and every one of us will join with our fellow parishioners from St Benedict’s and Ss Peter’s and Paul’s as a vibrant, culturally-diverse, faith-sharing, and prayerful congregation. That by working together we will continue to form and grow a strong community, committed to the Gospel teachings of Our Lord, Jesus Christ,’ Anna Mika-Hunt Walsh said at the closing of St Andrew’s Church on Saturday 11 February 2023.
John Ellis Carde was raised in Whanganui district. His early education was at the Holy Infancy Convent, Aramoho, and the Marist Brothers Whanganui, then on to Secondary School at St Joseph’s College Masterton. At school he was a talented rugby player and was selected to captain rep teams. Aged 18, he went to Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in July 1958 at Whanganui by Cardinal Peter McKeefry.
Robert Oliver
When I began at St Mary of the Angels in 1999 as Director of Music, I had the idea we could bring together Māori waiata and chanted karakia, with gregorian chant – two powerful streams of spiritual music. I asked the choir members if they knew anywhere in Wellington where there was a congregation celebrating Mass in Māori, and was told about the parish of Te Ngākau Tapu.
Two former Army Chaplains, Fr Julian Wagg and Fr Brian Fennessy, celebrated Mass on on Sunday 13 November, with a small community. They dedicated a Board of Chaplains that records the ministry of 18 Catholic priests who served as Military Chaplains at Waiouru Military Camp over the past 70 years.
A thanksgiving Mass at Bell Block Mass Centre in the Catholic Parish of New Plymouth on Sunday 27 November, celebrated 41 years since the centre’s opening. Bishop Peter Cullinane, who blessed and opened the centre in 1981, presided.
‘Gobsmacked, humbled and overjoyed’ were long-time and popular Whanganui parishioner Mrs Merle Manson’s immediate thoughts when it was announced she was to receive the Benemerenti medal. The announcement was made at the Vigil Mass on Saturday 8 January at Holy Family Church. The congregation clapped loudly in approval.
Fr Lourdes (Anthony) Zaw Htun, Hastings Parish Administrator, passed away unexpectedly at Hastings Catholic Presbytery on 26 November 2022, aged 51 years.
The news of his sudden death was met with shock and sadness. He was in his 20th year of ordination.
Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver, Island Bay – Annual Mission Fair, Saturday 25 February 2023
Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Ghana are all a long way from Island Bay, yet distance is no barrier to the Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver when missionaries and the poor amongst whom they work are in great need.
Results of the Archdiocese of Wellington’s two-year review of its ethnic communities, released late last year, indicate that the Catholic community’s multicultural population is continuing to grow and develop. ‘This raises significant pastoral issues,’ says Maya Bernardo, the Archdiocese’s Launch Out Programme Formator and Manager. ‘The review was a response to the recommendation from the […]