NZ Catholic

21/05/2024

We wanted to share with you the news that NZ Catholic will transition from a fortnightly printed publication to a monthly digital publication in the coming months. Like all newspapers, NZ Catholic has been impacted by dramatic shifts in print and broadcast media. Now, with less than 1000 subscribers, it has reached the point where it is no longer sustainable to publish NZ Catholic as a printed newspaper. Bishop Steve has written to subscribers today thanking them for their support and providing details on how to receive a refund for subscription balances.

At this time, it is right to give thanks for the work of the NZ Catholic staff, past and present. They have been amazing. They have told the stories of our Church and society. They have published the joys and the sorrows of people’s lives. We ask for your prayerful support as we make this transition.

18/04/2024

Great story about Kiwi-Aussie Bishop Richard Umbers....

The Kiwi-born and bred Bishop Richard Umbers has officially crossed the ditch, becoming an Australian citizen.

14/04/2024

Masses and prayers were offered across Sydney for the victims, with the Bondi Parish of St Patrick’s and St Anne’s offering three Masses for its grieving community. . .

The joy of Eastertide has turned to shock and bewilderment across Sydney's Catholic community in the wake of a deadly knife attack at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre on April 13.

11/04/2024

https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2024/04/12/introducing-first-year-seminarians-2024/

Six young men entered the Holy Cross seminary this year, double the number of first year seminarians in the past few years.

11/04/2024

https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2024/04/12/dunedin-diocese-eyes-self-insurance-as-premiums-soar/

Parishioners throughout Dunedin diocese have spent recent weeks in coming to terms with an unpleasant financial reality – how best to provide for a means of coping with damage to parish assets.

11/04/2024

https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2024/04/12/new-anglican-deacon-appointed-as-sisters-of-compassion-co-chief-executive/

The NZ Catholic website aims to help you keep abreast of Catholic news worldwide without having to scan the contents of dozens of websites every day. Although it is an online companion to New Zealand’s national Catholic newspaper, it is not an online version of NZ Catholic.

11/04/2024

https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2024/04/12/festival-of-new-life-date-announced/

The sixth Sunday of Easter, which falls on May 5 this year, has been designated by the New Zealand Bishops Conference and the Lutheran Dialogue group as the “Festival of New Life”, an occasion meant to signal hope and confidence in the move towards Christian unity.

03/04/2024

The general manager for the Vinnies Tamaki Makaurau hub in Onehunga, Delphina Soti, said that the Young Vinnies Programme typically attracts between 500 and 1600 secondary students annually. This year's participation is expected to hit north of 1600.

The leaders of the Vinnies (Society of St Vincent de Paul) in Auckland are gearing up for 2024, which they anticipate will be a momentous year for them.

07/03/2024

https://nzcatholic.org.nz/2024/03/07/no-police-charges-vs-cardinal-dew/

New Zealand Police found no evidence to substantiate allegations of abuse against Wellington Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal John Dew and will not be laying charges against him.

The NZ Catholic website aims to help you keep abreast of Catholic news worldwide without having to scan the contents of dozens of websites every day. Although it is an online companion to New Zealand’s national Catholic newspaper, it is not an online version of NZ Catholic.

01/03/2024

The event was fully booked in a span of four weeks. It was asked for by women within Christchurch diocese, in response to the Men’s Breakfast event in May of 2023, said diocesan special projects assistant and event co-organiser Grace Challies. . . .

Christchurch Bishop Michael Gielen has met with dozens of women from throughout the diocese, at an event aiming at connecting, inspiring and also sharing some laughs and banter.

28/02/2024

At his general audience on February 28, his voice was hoarser and softer. Besides briefly telling the crowd he would not be reading his prepared text, he took the microphone only to pray at the beginning and end of the gathering, and to read his appeals for peace and for an end to the use of landmines.

Arriving in a wheelchair instead of walking with his cane, Pope Francis began his weekly general audience by telling visitors and pilgrims, "I'm still a bit sick”, so an aide would read his prepared text.

22/02/2024

NZ Catholic for sale in church foyers again. Price $4 (unchanged for 8 years). Some headlines for this issue: St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College opens. Pounamu taonga for national shrine. Campaign for living wage for lowest-paid school workers. Chch Catholic women encouraged to form little communities.

22/02/2024

“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jemma Brunton who has served Hearts Aflame faithfully, tirelessly and through great personal sacrifice for more than a decade,” said Jessica Jackman, incoming director for Hearts Aflame Summer School.

After nine years in the role, Jemma Brunton has stepped down as director of Hearts Aflame Summer School.

21/02/2024

May he rest in peace.

Please pray for the soul of Efeso Collins. We give thanks for Efeso's ministry in our church and his mahi in the world. Please join me in praying for his family and all those who are struggling with this sad news. Rest in peace Efeso.
To read a statement from our Justice & Peace Commission:
https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Statement-Faanana-Efeso-Collins-2024-1.pdf

21/02/2024

In a letter from the Vatican that surfaced over the weekend, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Robert Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, called on the German bishops to suspend a planned vote on the creation of a mixed decision-making body for the Catholic Church in Germany because it would violate canon law. The cardinals said that their letter was "brought to the attention of Pope Francis and approved by him".

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna has warned of schism as German bishops want to keep to their reform course despite the latest letter from Rome, which halted the vote on the statutes of a Synodal Committee.

20/02/2024

The addition of the wings produced a new dimension to the figures by increasing their height. The artist noted that the figures themselves were now about two metres in height. . . .
Parishioners are very pleased with the changes brought about in the sanctuary with the completion of this well-supported project, initiated by parish priest Fr Vaughan Leslie.

The restoration of the sanctuary at St Joseph's Cathedral in Dunedin is complete, now that wings have been restored to angel statues flanking the high altar.

19/02/2024

Auckland's St Peters College Year 12 student Christian Domilies got the highest score in religious studies in the world for his Cambridge exams. About 1.5 million students from 150 countries and more than 6000 schools enter Cambridge exams every year. Annually, it hands out about 2,750,000 grades globally.
He has been given a badge and certificate to commemorate his achievement. Read the Herald article here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-st-peters-college-student-is-top-of-the-world-in-religious-studies/PEVV5OUHBNCX7KTFBG6HQA5H5Q/