Features In May several staff members of Catholic Social Services attended Professor Sir Mason Durie’s seminar entitled ‘Māori Concepts of Wellbeing’. Mason Durie is from Rangitane, Ngati Kauwhata and Ngati Raukawa and holds the position of Professor of Māori Research and Development at Massey University. The participants were challenged to consider whether there is a […]
Features Christmas is a time for family and those of us lucky enough to have family to spend Christmas with look forward to this time and to exchanging gifts. Unfortunately there are always those who have neither family nor gifts. Many of Catholic Social Services clients fit into this category. During the year we work […]
Features Barbara Gilray15 February 2012 Church-based agencies like Catholic Social Services are increasingly expected to meet a wide range of social needs in the community. Our role is not to judge but rather to search for ways to help them. Catholic Social Services is a generic counselling and social work agency and is part of […]
Features Edwina Gateley15 February 2012 Recently I was asked to write an article on ‘The two halves of life’ which, I was given to understand, was all about how we move from youthfulness/adulthood into age and wisdom. As I pondered on this, it occurred to me that there weren’t two halves of life but, more […]
Features Cecily McNeill15 February 2012 Being able to say in complete honesty ‘This is who I am and this is my problem’ is a first step on the long road towards inner freedom. Ignatian spiritual writer Margaret Silf told a group of people during a two-day seminar in St Joseph’s, Mt Victoria, last November (2011) […]
Features Cecily McNeill15 February 2012 Today more than ever as global financial systems break down and climate change upsets the seasons, we need to be on a firm foundation in our spiritual life. UK spiritual writer Margaret Silf told a seminar in St Joseph’s church Mt Victoria last month that it was important to see […]
Features Mgr John Broadbent31 March 2012 The television screening late last year of the series The Borgias on the 15th century Pope Alexander VI prompted questions about the papacy in general and particularly about the series subject, portrayed as sensationally bad. Though the series won wide acclaim as a solid drama and was nominated for […]
Features 31 March 2012 Teachers throughout the archdiocese were commisioned at a special Mass last month and reminded of their particular role in enabling others to grow, fostering a love of learning and encouraging pupils in their development. St Patrick’s College Kilbirnie principal Paul Martin sm told a packed cathedral on Tuesday February 19, ‘Teachers […]
Features Cecily McNeill31 March 2012 The new director of Caritas is keen to boost the agency’s profile so that whenever Catholics want to support development and humanitarian work through donations, they think Caritas. Julianne Hickey took over from Mike Smith at the start of the year after a long involvement as a volunteer for the […]
Features Julianne Hickey31 March 2012 When my new colleagues in the Caritas office heard that I was going to go to Napier before the first week in my new role was finished, some were puzzled particularly as I was going to watch a test cricket match. However, I have been a supporter of Zimbabwean cricket […]