WelCom June/July 2021 Bishops in the United Kingdom have spoken out against the British government’s New Plan for Immigration, which they claim will create a ‘two-tier’ system for asylum seekers. Bishop Paul McAleenan, from the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and Bishop William Nolan, Chair of the Scottish Bishops’ Commission for Justice and […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has approved a new multi-year, three-stage process for the next gathering of the synod of bishops. It aims to involve the whole church at diocesan, national and continental levels through a process of ‘listening and discernment’ on the important theme of synodality: ‘For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.’ […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Pope Francis has warned newly ordained priests against the twin perils of worldly ambition and love of money. Speaking at a Mass in Rome, where he ordained nine deacons to the priesthood, the Pope acknowledged that in the past there used to be talk of the ‘ecclesiastical career’. But he continued: ‘This […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Boston composer, Linda Chase, has written an oratorio based on Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, Laudato si’, On Care for our Common Home. She said of the project: ‘I am interpreting Laudato si’ as a call to action through music’. The ambitious work is to be sung by 16 vocalists accompanied by a […]
WelCom June/July 2021 Andy Warhol is synonymous with pop art and celebrity but one driving force in his work that people may not know about is his relationship to Catholicism. A new exhibition illuminating the ways Catholic themes appear in Warhol’s work will be hosted at the Brooklyn Museum this fall (US Autumn). Born Andrew […]
WelCom May 2021 Michael Fitzsimons The Bishop Viard College Hall in Porirua was filled to the brim for the 500th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines. Around 700 people from Wellington’s Filipino community gathered for the joyous occasion. The first Mass in the Philippines was celebrated by the Spanish priest, Fr Pedro […]
WelCom May 2021 “The New Zealand Catholic bishops are strongly urging everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.” COVID-19 information The Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics, an agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops, is producing information to communicate the Bishops’ support for the COVID-19 immunisation and vaccine programme. […]
WelCom May 2021 Caritas has expressed its deep appreciation for the recent response of the Catholic community to the Lent Appeal. ‘We were truly humbled by the response we have received from the Catholic community this Lent. We have faced a number of challenges due to Covid level changes and uncertainty around Masses. A few […]
WelCom May 2021 19 January 1949–20 April 2021 It has been with sadness we learned of the passing of Rīhari (Richard) Tiki te Aroha Puanaki of Wairoa, who died on Tuesday, 20 April 2021. Known and loved by many people across Aotearoa and the world, Rīhari gave so much to his whānau, communities and Kaupapa […]
WelCom May 2021 Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow at the death of Prince Philip in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, his wife of 73 years. ‘Saddened to learn of the death of your husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Holiness Pope Francis offers heartfelt condolences to your majesty and the members of […]