On Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern encouraged people to use restaurants that did their own food deliveries instead of using Uber Eats. Uber Eats continues to charge high commission rates. When the country moves to Alert Level 3 the problem for some may well be to decide how their restaurant meals will be delivered. But Read more
The Salvation Army’s Napier food bank had 2 break-ins in two days. “It’s especially disappointing when we’re in the process of helping people at this difficult time. The food that was taken would have helped quite a number of Napier families and individuals,” he said. Read more
Ramadan is a month filled with communal prayer, eating and charity work for Muslims across the world, normally, mosques are brimming with people and large groups of family and friends gather for iftar, the meal that breaks the Ramadan fast at sunset. In 2020 however, these traditions will not be able to happen. Read more
Celebration colours; photos or other mementos that recall happy times, fun and laughter. Prayer O God, creator of all. I see you at the birth of time excited and joyful, thrilled by the splendour and beauty of what was about to be. Even before that moment you could not contain your delight, knowing the gifts Read more
With the Cross, a memento or symbol of a time when you were encouraged or helped out of, saved from a difficult situation. Prayer to begin Today, enter this time of prayer with your own words. Speak to God from the feelings in your heart at this moment. Then, clear your mind and listen. Believe Read more
Catholic agencies and individuals around Aotearoa-New Zealand are busy working from home and still-open “essential services” supporting communities in need during the Level 4 COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown. Work that is less visible nationally but very important locally is happening everywhere. Foodbanks and soup kitchens are two very busy basic services working hard behind the scenes. Read more
Tropical Cyclone Harold has presented the challenge of how to respond to two over-lapping emergency responses; COVID-19 and Harold. The executive director of the Council of International Development, Josie Pagani, said that during the lockdown the charities aren’t able to fundraise and the public can’t donate. She said the international aid charities typically get about Read more
Father Maurice Carmody met the funeral directors — at the required social distance – by the roadside outside his home, which is close to the parish church, to conduct a simple funeral rite. Standing near the open rear door of the hearse, he said the prayers of final commendation while the family watched and prayed Read more
A multi-cultural team comprising staff and students from the University of Otago’s School of Pharmacy has been aiding New Zealand’s fight against the COVID-19 virus. Read more
Residents in a Hamilton suburb were concerned when a woman from a local church knocked on their door on Good Friday and presented them with pamphlets espousing religious views. Her actions were in breach of Alert Level 4 rules. Read more