Pope Francis announced on October 6, 2024, that he will create 21 new cardinals on December 8. Of these, 20 will be eligible to vote for a new pope. Angelo Acerbi: The eldest Cardinal-Elect At 99 years old, former Apostolic Nuncio Angelo Acerbi is the only cardinal-elect ineligible to vote in the next conclave. Acerbi Read more
Government agencies have warned a lack of resources will limit what they can do to prevent suicide in the new suicide prevention plan. The Ministry of Health has launched consultation on its new five-year suicide prevention plan. It comes just months after shutting down the Suicide Prevention Office, which was the first action set out Read more
The recruiter offered work, and a chance at a new life. But when the group of Fijians landed in New Zealand, they were sent a casual contract, replacing the permanent contract which had guaranteed 30 hours’ work. The promised work didn’t eventuate, and now the workers, some living in poverty, will have to leave the Read more
Roncalli College is one of two Timaru secondary schools unable to accept new enrolments for next year. Their enrolment books are closed. One – Craighead Diocesan School – must even shed pupils. Like Roncalli College, Craighead Diocesan is a special character school. And like Roncalli, Craighead has had to close its books to new enrolments Read more
A year exploring ways to secure Waiapu Cathedral’s future has provided just one viable option for the building says Di Woods, the Cathedral’s Dean. Repurpose and save Repurposing part of Napier’s iconic but earthquake-prone Art Deco Anglican cathedral for commercial use is likely, she told parishioner’s last Sunday. A developer’s concept drawings could see the Read more
Taking part in the Synod on Synodality is much like participating in a hui says Manuel Beazley, currently in Rome as a New Zealand member of the Synod. Beazley is also Vicar for Maori in the Auckland Diocese. “As Māori, synodality is nothing new to us. In a sense it’s part of our DNA as Read more
An underground sect that the FBI is investigating after it was exposed for historical child sexual abuse has many markers of a high-control group, cult experts say. The Christian sect has no official name or buildings, but is known to outsiders as the Two by Twos or The Truth, and has about 2500 members and Read more
A claim that New Zealand’s Catholic bishops trace their lineage back to the Apostles through New Zealand’s first bishop, Jean-Baptise Pompallier has been disputed. The claim was made by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference on Facebook. As their time in Rome was ending, Bishops Laurenson and Adams visited the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione Read more
Dame Joy Cowley must be one of New Zealand’s most well-known authors. She’s also a mother, suicide survivor, woman of faith, spiritual director and wise woman. Amongst other things. Now almost blinded by macular degeneration, 88-year old Cowley is about to launch a new book of rhymes and nonsense, where shadow and light play a Read more
Catholic abuse survivors who continue to remain unsatisfied want New Zealand Catholic Church leaders to do more than just make statements. “We have made changes, and we remain committed to continuing this work to ensure accountability and healing” Bishop Stephen Lowe, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference, and Rev. Tom Rouse, president of the Congregational Read more