Featured Catholic News

Palmerston North Bishop Charles Drennan has described a vocations retreat held at the historic Compassion Sister’s convent at Hiruharama (Jerusalem) as marked by “a spirit of openness to God’s call”. A dozen young people...

Newly-ordained Jesuit priest Fr Robert Morris said his parents, Ann and Russ, were the biggest influences on his faith. Fr Morris was ordained by Christchurch Bishop Paul Martin, SM,...

by MICHAEL OTTO WANAKA — Ten students at Holy Family School, Wanaka, have been writing and drawing to highlight the meaning of Christmas. The fruit of their work is a full...

by MICHAEL OTTO Pope Francis may have ventured where angels fear to go last month in raising the issue of responsible parenthood, but one Kiwi family is unafraid to share...

If one is working for social justice with people of faith, one should “touch them to” the Scriptures and into Christian tradition, biblical scholar Dr Kathleen Rushton, RSM, said,...

An amazing collection of exquisitely embroidered priestly vestments, lecturn banners as well as altar cloths has been on display at the Carmelite Monastery in  Christchurch.  The exhibition called Embroidery Treasures from Hidden Monastic...

by NZ Catholic staff VATICAN --New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae has invited Pope Francis to visit the country during an audience with the Holy Father yesterday. In his Facebook...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Sometimes when Dr Deborah Weissman teaches Christian students from Third World nations who are visiting Jerusalem, they ask if the Jewish religion still practises animal...

There is a need to increase awareness in parishes around the issue of domestic violence, particularly within Pasifika families. Auckland Catholic Social Services psychotherapist Sr Cabrini Makasiale, who is running the...

It is about one year ago that Lecretia Seales took her case for euthanasia and assisted suicide to the High Court in Wellington. One of the declarations she sought was whether her particular situation...

by Michael Otto As Bishop Christopher Saunders looked out across the warm, blue expanse of Roebuck Bay, from the comfortable Mangrove Hotel in Broome, he wondered out loud what he...

A New Zealand Catholic Church official has suggested that priests accused of sex abuse would be better dealt with regionally, rather than their cases being referred to Rome. Bill Kilgallon, the national director...

by Simone Olsen In a moving and joyful celebration of the Mass, Bishop Stephen Lowe was consecrated and formally installed as the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Hamilton, on Friday....

Passion, like-minded discussion and connecting with others are the top three things that young people in New Zealand are asking of the Catholic Church in this country. This is according...

NZ Catholic caught up with Pope Francis’ chief stargazer, Br Guy Consolmagno, SJ, the day he flew back to the Vatican from New Zealand on September 13. Br Guy,...

by BILL MOORE AUCKLAND — Not many Harvard professors give up their academic careers for faith. And perhaps only one — Dr Roy Schoeman — also converted from being an...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Kiwi priest Fr Marcel Smits might have 11 churches in his parish in the Netherlands, but getting to them by bicycle is no problem. Fr Smits,...

Bishop Colin Campbell of Dunedin may well have participated in a first for the Catholic Church in New Zealand. While visiting Central Otago to administer the sacrament of Confirmation in...

by Madelon Muschamp, Room 3, St Francis Xavier School, Dunedin (The following is a fictional account of ANZAC morning as imagined by a 6-year old girl.) We arrived at Anzac Cove...

by PATRICIA BROOKS Bags of gifts and more than $NZ1000 were presented to a group of Iraqi refugees by Holy Land pilgrims from New Zealand when they visited a Melkite...

by ROWENA OREJANA More than 750 devotees of the Our Lady of Penafrancia celebrated the 25th anniversary of their arrival in New Zealand with a procession around Our Lady of Assumption...

by ROWENA OREJANA Australian Deaf Catholic leader David Parker has always had to struggle in a world full of people who are not deaf. The key, he said, is to...

by SUE SECONI WANGANUI — A March 23 pipe organ recital by renowned organist, historian and composer Ron Newton proved not only an extraordinary treat, but a reflective occasion for...

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In more ways than one, Ash Wednesday -- celebrated March 1 this year -- leaves a mark. That's because not only are Catholics marked with...

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In their first overseas trip in three years, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, met April...

The decision by the Auckland Council not to extend Easter Sunday trading has been praised by Auckland diocese’s Justice and Peace Commission. On August 24, councillors voted 20-1 to retain...

by PETER GRACE The biggest group of pilgrims in Rome earlier in February were from the smallest islands, Cardinal Soane Mafi of Tonga told about 1400 people at a special...

The hallmark of good evangelisation is people enjoying themselves, said British Catholic author and catechist David Wells. An engaging and humorous speaker, Mr Wells reminded catechists and teachers in Auckland...

by PETER GRACE Last year Marist Brother Dunstan Henry’s 7A rugby team became the first Sacred Heart College team to put 80 points on a King’s College team. Making that more...

Whatever shape the new Government’s promised independent inquiry into historical claims of abuse of children in state care takes, the past actions of churches, including the Catholic Church, will...