One of New Zealand’s most prolific TV producers, Ross Jennings, died a year after directing a Passion play in Auckland. Mr Jennings, 71, died on Good Friday after a battle with cancer. Last year he directed “They Crucified Him”, a Passion play which portrayed Jesus’ last days on Earth. It featured a largely Pacific Island Read more
New Zealand
29,000 Kiwis have no friends or supportive family
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016An estimated 29,000 New Zealanders are completely alone. While most have at least one or two people they are close to, one per cent of Kiwis aged 15 or over say they have no supportive family or friends, according to research from Statistics NZ. The New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS), conducted over a year, asked almost 9000 Read more
21 Baptisms at Hui Aranga
Friday, April 1st, 2016
There were 21 Baptisms at Easter Sunday Mass at the 2016 Hui Aranga gathering held in Whanganui. Several hundred people attended the event over Easter weekend this year. The occasion marked 70 years since Hui Aranga first started. Fr Phil Cody, SM, said the Baptisms were linked with Catholic Māori clubs from Whanganui and Hawkes Read more
Trump Easter billboard stolen from outside Auckland church
Friday, April 1st, 2016
An Auckland church’s billboard about Donald Trump was stolen while the church’s minister was conducting a funeral service. The billboard was put up for Lent several weeks ago outside St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Remuera. The sign depicted US presidential candidate Donald Trump standing in front of the crucified Jesus, holding a hammer and saying, Read more
NZ bishops encourage Reconciliation in letter on mercy
Friday, April 1st, 2016
New Zealand’s bishops have produced a pastoral letter on Mercy in which Catholics are asked to give themselves generously to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The letter, titled, “Be Merciful“, notes the interest in the jubilee Year of Mercy throughout the Catholic world. The bishops state that “as a way of life, mercy directs our outlook Read more
Mass at South Dunedin basilica for first time since 2014
Friday, April 1st, 2016On Holy Thursday, St Patrick’s Basilica in South Dunedin held its first public event in the building since its refurbishment began in 2014. Mass was celebrated despite the $2.6 million project not yet being complete. Continue reading
Historic Marlborough convent to be luxury accommodation
Friday, April 1st, 2016A historic convent outside Blenheim has been bought by the Marlborough Tour Company to provide luxury accommodation for the jet-set crowd. The old St Mary’s convent was built in 1901 for the Sisters of Mercy in Blenheim. It was later moved to its present location in Rapaura, 10 minutes outside Blenheim, where it has been used as Read more
Three Dunedin Catholic churches close
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
Masses were celebrated at three Catholic churches in Dunedin for the final time at the weekend. St Bernadette’s(Forbury), St Brigid’s (Tainui) and St Alphonsus (Waverley) are closing and their congregations will merge with the parish at St Patrick’s Basilica. Special items from each church were taken to be delivered to St Patrick’s. Dunedin South pastoral Read more