Featured Catholic News

Fr Marchellino Park realised his calling to priesthood after God granted him a second lease on life following a robbery and brutal beating several years ago that sent him into a coma. And...

by LYNDSAY FREER After 15 years as general manager of New Zealand’s largest Catholic diocese, Auckland, Kerry Coleman has decided that the time has come for him to move on to pursue other interests...

A year after Pope Francis released his encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, the New Zealand Church is still in the process of learning of how to work together to bring about...

Palmerston North Bishop Charles Drennan has urged the faithful to reflect on what place Jesus is given in the Church’s efforts at evangelisation, as he challenged his staff to plan for growth...

A senior New Zealand priest has questioned the idea that celebrating parts of the Mass towards the east is “essential”, as has been advocated by the Vatican’s liturgy head. Msgr...

Pro-life and disability groups held peaceful protest actions against the movie Me Before You which started screening in New Zealand cinemas on June 15. The protest actions led by disabled persons were held in Auckland, Hamilton,...

An Auckland Computer Science academic says he is at a loss to understand what many see as the modern dichotomy between science and religion. Dr Robert Sheehan, from the University of Auckland’s Department...

by ROWENA OREJANA Parishioners of St Joseph’s in Upper Hutt powered through more than 30 kilometres of a “Hikoi of Mercy Walk” with prayers, songs and camaraderie. Hugh Steel, one of...

The school that has won the Prime Minister’s Education Supreme Award attributes its success to the Catholic character and Mercy values that are intrinsic to everything the school does.  Rachel Williams, the acting principal of...

The Government’s 2016 Budget, announced on May 26, has not been warmly welcomed by Christian agencies and others working with those in poverty. Several groups immediately noted what they described as an inadequate response to...

Refusing to forgive someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die, says pastor, counsellor and radio broadcaster Aaron Ironside. Mr Ironside was one of three keynote speakers at the 13th...

A throwaway cuss line resulted in a book that deals with the question young Catholics are grappling with today: the why of Faith.  Sydney-based Jesuit priest and author Richard Leonard, known for his interdisciplinary work in theology, education and culture,...

by DAVE CRAMPTON Lower Hutt athlete Nathaniel Sulupo may have started throwing shot put and discus seriously only about 18 months ago, but he is already on his way to his first world championships in...

St Catherine’s College Wellington has kept its winning streak alive, taking home the grand prize, the O’Shea Shield, for the fourth year in a row. English Department head Kathy Ryan said the college takes...

Sixty one Auckland priests left behind their parish work and other duties in May to spend a few days at Waitangi. Auckland diocesan priests came together at the Copthorne Resort in Waitangi for an assembly...

Welcoming migrants and refugees, showing mercy for victims as well as perpetrators, and caring for the environment are concrete things Catholics can do in this year of mercy, according to Fr Stephen Bevans, SVD, professor...

The woman tried everything. For 50 years, she battled depression and used every medical cure available, including shock therapy, to no avail. She eventually sought help from Christchurch-based prayer counsellors and was set free from...

New legislation will mean that Catholic dioceses in New Zealand will have different timeframes for assessment and strengthening of any earthquake-prone buildings.  The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act passed by Parliament in mid-May divides the country into...

It was a far cry from the humble 2011 procession, the first, behind a broken cathedral in honour of Our Lady of Christchurch — the unattached statue that had turned to stand facing...

A priest with a guitar and songs criss-crossed Dunedin diocese over 10 days from the end of April to early May. According to the diocese’s website, Fr Chris Skinner, SM,completed a tour around the diocese...

A programme to help people on benefits was launched with a Mass in Wellington on May 10.Cardinal John Dew celebrated Mass that day to launch the Wellington archdiocese initiative, Benefit Impact. Benefit Impact...

by Jeff Dillon Residents of the Sacred Heart Home and Hospital run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Brockville, Dunedin, were treated to a special visit in early May when Governor-General Sir...

The “Kiwi drift” is the elephant in the room in the Church in New Zealand, according to the Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn. Bishop Dunn, the president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference,...

Cardinal John Dew has said he thinks parishes and communities need to start looking at how people can be helped to know Pope Francis’s latest document on the family. The cardinal, writing in...

When Carmel College old girl Loren O’Sullivan asked God where she could volunteer her services, he answered her the way millennials communicate these days: through Facebook.“I was thinking about volunteering overseas when I...

The continued success of fundraising for the St John Vianney House extension project had shown the affection Catholics have for their priests, says a senior Auckland priest. A diocesan-wide appeal was launched in November to...

Emeritus Bishop Len Boyle of Dunedin passed away, surrounded by family and his brother priests, after a short period of ill health. He was 85. New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference...

Catholic Social Services (CSS) is rolling out a programme called Train the Trainers — Pacific Living without Violence for the central and south Auckland Pacific community. The programme was initiated with the assistance...

The Nathaniel Centre – the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre, has produced an 8 minute video, “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Real Life Implications” to help explain the complex issue...

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...