Category: News

Progress has been made cleaning and restoring the damaged areas to the interior of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit after the deliberately lit fire in April.

Reuben Norris has been appointed to replace John Prendergast as the new General Manager for the Archdiocese of Wellington. Reuben is from Perth and has worked for the archdioceses of Perth and Brisbane in their Catholic Education Departments.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry’s case study report into abuse in the care of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands, is expected to be released in early August.

The president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) says the 10 non-bishop members from the region chosen for the upcoming Synod of Bishops will help amplify the voice of the Catholic population.

The Catholic bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand meeting in conference in Auckland last month agreed on their new leadership roles.

Bishop of Auckland Stephen Lowe is now President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, the national body for the bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Dr Mary Eastham is an active member of the Catholic community in Palmerston North supporting interfaith activities. Through this work she helped establish the Palmerston North Interfaith Group (PNIG) in 2011, comprised of members of different faiths, aimed at representing the different religious traditions and faiths in the community and to work together. 

Caritas has welcomed last month’s Budget initiatives to assist low-income households but is calling for more urgent action on reducing emissions.

On World Environment Day, 5 June, Pope Francis appealed for our shared responsibility to take action to protect the planet. He drew attention to increasing violent natural disasters devastating the globe, as he urged the international community, and people of good will, to do their part in safeguarding our Common Home

A deliberately lit fire in Palmerston North’s Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 27 April, could have been much worse if not for the quick thinking and actions of three people present who were able to douse the fire before it took hold and spread further.

Damian Dempsey has been appointed the new Executive Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. Damian, was a member of the Society of Mary for 25 years, working in formation, education, and community development in New Zealand and in Asia.