Bush work no sweat for 93-year-old
by MICHAEL OTTO
AUCKLAND — Roye Hammond is 93 years of age and still swings a pick and shovel with a vigour that would put men decades younger to shame.
For...
Blenheim young people help poor village
by NZ CATHOLIC staff
BLENHEIM — A village in Kenya now has its own well, thanks to fundraising by a Blenheim youth group.
St Mary’s youth group in Blenheim has...
Events encourage cultural awareness
by MICHAEL OTTO
A visit to a marae in south Auckland was the culmination of a series of events organised by Te Ngakau Waiora Mercy Spirituality Centre, focusing on Maori...
Great Barrier ministry full of local interest
by JUDITH CRIMMINS
The ministry I undertake at Great Barrier Island is always full of interest.
There is a joint use agreement of St John Community Church between the Anglican, Catholic,...
Church leaders concerned at plight of Indian students facing deportation
Cardinal John Dew and leaders of the Anglican and Methodist churches in New Zealand have spoken out about the plight of the Indian students currently facing deportation from this...
New president for Vinnies NZ
For just the second time in its long history, the St Vincent de Paul Society in New Zealand has elected a woman to be its new national president.
The new president is...
Destiny Church challenge for Catholics
Many questions and challenges are being raised as a result of parish small group discussions in Hamilton diocese’s “With Hearts Burning” programme, reflecting on the Emmaus story for our...
Guide helps parishes to be welcoming to all
by ROWENA OREJANA
Is your church welcoming? Or does it have hurdles that discourage some people from attending Mass?
Creating Welcoming Churches, a book written and published by the Disability, Spirituality...
Churches tell PM: Housing security essential for healthy communities
Representative church leaders have met with the Prime Minister and Government ministers to ask for more action in the areas of immigration, housing and social investment. Their views are...
Faithful encouraged to make submissions
by ROWENA OREJANA
Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn has strongly urged the faithful to consider making a submission to the Health Select Committee, opposing the legalisation of euthanasia.
“It is important...
Minister’s Filipino-Catholic jibe ‘hurtful’
New Zealand First may have an “uphill battle” in gaining the support of Filipino immigrants and Catholics after Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones’ hurtful remarks against Filipino Catholics early this month.
Mr Jones...
Memorial wall could remember those shut out
One of New Zealand’s oldest Catholic parishes long ago ran out of land for the burial of lay parishioners. But several current and former parishioners are proposing a memorial wall to ensure parishioners are...
Six hundred walk the capital for life
Six hundred people from all over New Zealand joyfully walked the streets of Wellington on December 9, marching in defence of human life from conception.
The National March for Life,...
NZ co-hosts safeguarding conference in Rome
New Zealand representatives at the Anglophone Safeguarding Conference in Rome said they want the Church’s safeguarding journey in New Zealand to be “a journey of conversion”.
Ethnic mix increasing at Catholic schools
by MICHAEL OTTO
AUCKLAND — Maori, Pasifika and Asian children and young people make up about 40 per cent of students enrolled in Catholic schools in New Zealand, according to...
Passionist group leaders bring youth closer to God
by ROWENA OREJANA
Three Palmerston North youth workers were recognised for their outstanding service in evangelising
to young people through the Passionist retreats that they have held every year for the...
Faith firmly behind work to help those in crisis
by ROWENA OREJANA
AUCKLAND — A young mum had just given birth and was leaving hospital with nowhere to go. A 14-year old girl caught trains and buses at night...
Who stole two Steele artworks?
by NZ CATHOLIC staff
Two Louis J. Steele works with connections to the Catholic Church are being sought by PhD researcher Jane Davidson-Ladd.
The missing works are a pastel of...
$10,000 or more not out of line to say farewell
by PETER GRACE
The cost of a standard funeral, from death to cremation or burial, can be in the range of $7000 to $12,000 —
and even much more.
The most significant...
Faith helped lawyer in workplace crisis
Catholic lawyers have been told the legal profession can overcome its current crisis after being forced to face major issues like bullying in the workplace, sexual harassment...
‘Translation wars’ running out of steam?
More than a year after Pope Francis issued his Motu Propio on liturgical translations, Magnum Principium, the fight over the “translation wars” seemed to have lost steam as bishops’...
Social justice focus at WYD
by ROWENA OREJANA
“Open your eyes and look around!”
With that, Bishop Patrick Dunn exhorted more than 1000 young people from Auckland and Hamilton
at a World Youth Day celebration to live...
Ash Wednesday: Ancient tradition still thrives in modern times
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...
NZ milestone for ancient order
by PETER GRACE
An ancient Church order established in New Zealand for more than 100 years achieved a local milestone this year.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem...
Exuberant crowds greet pope in unofficial welcome to Philippines
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Although it was not called a welcoming ceremony, Pope Francis was greeted by government and church officials and an exuberant crowd...
NZ principal thanks Sydney students for their support
SYDNEY (CW) — The principal of a New Zealand school destroyed by the Christchurch earthquake last year visited Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta, last week to thank students...
Random acts of kindness abound
by MICHAEL OTTO
AUCKLAND — If you are in east Auckland in the next few months, you might be the surprised recipient of a random act of kindness from a...
Remembering the core teaching of Jesus at Christmas
Bishop Colin Campbell of Dunedin has sent a very sobering Christmas card this year.
It features a painting of Mary and Joseph being turned away from the inn at Bethlehem,...
Kiwis in Rome for youth-focused meeting
Auckland diocese Youth and Young Adult Ministry team leader Teresa McNamara and Isabella McCafferty from Wellington archdiocese’s Family and Young Church Vicariate have been chosen as delegates to an international meeting in Rome...