Featured Catholic News

by MARJORIE DAWSON PALMERSTON NORTH — Bishops, priests and people from the diocese of Palmerston North gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on July 31 to celebrate the...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — An Auckland priest, Msgr David Tonks, has challenged Catholics disillusioned with the Church not to split away into a merely privatised relationship with Jesus. Speaking at...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Having the heart of Jesus and trying to be like him is the essence of being a disciple of the Lord, Bishop Patrick Dunn told...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — University of Auckland researchers have concluded that many Indonesian crew on Korean chartered fishing vessels in New Zealand waters are victims of human trafficking for...

by JUSTIN GLYN SYDNEY — I was born in what is now Namibia and grew up in South Africa. Although I was baptised an Anglican, church attendance was not all...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — Auckland’s diocesan priests undoubtedly enjoy the company of their religious confreres, but they still enjoyed getting together on their own from July 9 to 11. Fifty-six...

by KATE MAHONY WELLINGTON — Every day, students at Bethlehem University in Palestine Occupied Territories face a barrage of barriers on their way to and from campus. For one third...

by NZ CATHOLIC staff AUCKLAND — This year is doubly special for Arthur and Maretta Solomon of Mangere. Not only is it 50 years since the young Arthur and Maretta arrived...

by KATHLEEN CASEY CHRISTCHURCH — The pastor believed to be New Zealand’s oldest Catholic parish priest has been promoted. At age 92, Msgr Tom Power of Beckenham left to meet...

by MICHAEL OTTO As a doctor, Dr Miriam Grossman’s biggest challenge is not dangerous diseases, but dangerous ideas. And some very dangerous ideas underpin the ideology of the sex education industry,...

by PETER GRACE CHRISTCHURCH — After nearly two years of use in one diocese, a New Zealand-made pre-marriage programme is expanding its reach. Commit was developed and introduced in Auckland diocese...

ADELAIDE — About 140 leaders of religious institutes and lay partners gathered in Adelaide from 26-29 June for the 36th national assembly of Catholic Religious Australia. For the first time,...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — European Union diplomats, politicians and other dignitaries had front-row seats at Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland on June 10. The Mass was for representatives...

by MICHAEL OTTO THAMES — The mornings might be frosty of late, but the spirit of about a dozen sidewalk pro-life witnesses in Thames is cheery. On Friday mornings since November...

by MICHAEL OTTO The first bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to visit New Zealand has heard of the deep love that migrants who belong to this rite have for...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Auckland diocese’s newest priest Fr Alfredo Garcia likes the multicultural character of his adopted home, New Zealand. “It is like serving the whole world in a...

by NZ CATHOLIC staff TE KUITI — The centenary of St George’s Catholic church in Te Kuiti was celebrated in true King Country style on March 10, with about 120...

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...

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...

by LYNDSAY FREER WELLINGTON — The Society of Mary has moved into a new province centre in Thorndon Quay in Wellington. It is the culmination of many moves over the...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — A Catholic missionary who became a Kiwi is now working with poor communities in India. Tony Vijayraj told NZ Catholic on a visit to Auckland in...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — Fr Peter Murphy of St Mary’s Parish, Papakura, may be the Johnny Appleseed of meditation. It seems that wherever Fr Murphy goes, meditation grows. And some...

by KATHLEEN CASEY CHRISTCHURCH — Earthquakes have plunged Christchurch into a city of contrasts, from badly damaged to almost normal, a situation reflected in Catholic primary schools. School is not usually...

by MICHAEL OTTO WELLINGTON — The many years of work among Wellington’s poor and forgotten by Sr Felix Breen, DOLC, has been acknowledged with a Local Heroes Award. A Sister of...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — The most difficult task Claudette Habesch faced in raising her children in Palestine was not letting hatred grow in their hearts. “It has not been easy,”...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — God’s job description is mission, Jesus’ is evangelisation, and ours is discipleship, says priest and professor Fr Anthony Gittins, CSSp. But the concepts of mission and...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Economist and journalist Rod Oram has issued a challenge to Christians who advocate for social justice — that they update their message in contemporary,...

by MICHAEL OTTO AUCKLAND — Five New Zealand dioceses have seminarians starting at Holy Cross Seminary in Ponsonby in 2012. The diverse group of 10 new seminarians features Kiwis, an American...

by PETER GRACE RONGOTEA, Manawatu — There must be something in the Manawatu water that develops apostolates and service. Three parishioners from the country parish of Rongotea received Benemerenti medals and...

by PETER GRACE AUCKLAND — Thirteen-year-old Aaron Dahmen scored the winning goal for New Zealand in a football match against Australia in January — but, sadly, his Dad was not...