Shorter fasting days during the Islamic holy month could be the attraction to draw wealthy Muslim tourists to New Zealand, a University of Auckland academic says. In New Zealand Ramadan runs for a month over the shortest winter days. This means MuslimsIn New Zealand fast for just about 11 hours each day — one of Read more
Firefighter Tom Colucci is now Father Tom Colucci and he has been settling into his new residence at St. Mary’s Mother of Church parish in Fishkill, New York. In his 20 years with the FDNY, Colucci moved up through the ranks to become a captain. It was after responding to the attacks on the World Read more
Outstretched hands, heavy breathing and laughter fill the room as about 100 yogis raise funds for the Christchurch City Mission. The One Giant Practice event was held in Christ’s College auditorium on Tuesday night – and International Yoga Day. Rows of chairs were shifted by students to make way for colourful yoga mats and even Read more
“Buon Appetito, Swiss Guard” was written by 24-year-old David Geisser, who had worked as a chef and published two popular cookbooks in his native Switzerland before joining the Swiss Guard nearly two years ago. The book contains the recipes for favourite dishes of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and Saint John Paul II. There are Read more
We all know Friday 13 is believed by many to be a bad day to do business on But did you know lemon peels can help you predict if you’ll land a lover? Or that crazy things happen if you kiss your own elbow? Max Cryer’s new book, Superstitions and Why We Have Them was published in May tells you Read more
Soon-to-be bishop Fr. David Konderla is carving his very own staff – or crosier – to signify his new position and duty as a teacher and head of a diocese. “Every Jedi has not completed his training until he’s made his own light saber that he uses to fight evil with – so this is Read more
A Californian diocese has been commended for wines produced from grapes grown within the grounds of three of its cemeteries. Instead of spending some $50,000 per acre to plant weed-free, irrigated turf, Robert Seelig, executive director of cemeteries for the diocese of Oakland and Tom Richardson, director of development, decided to plant some grape vines Read more
Some parents say that getting toddlers out of the house only to go to a stuffy, preachy church service is not worth the effort. But as a mom of four children under 10, including twin toddlers, I’ve come to appreciate those church outings. Here’s why. Continue reading
The Bible has been translated into every imaginable language for centuries, but this seems to be a first: a complete King James Version Bible, Genesis through Revelations, all using emoji. The book “Bible Emoji: Scripture 4 Millennials”came out on iTunes’s Books app on last week. Can you decipher these verses from the new book? Click Read more
Father Glen O’Connor is a real petrol head. He saw his first race at the speedway as a fan in 1969, and he started working in the pits in 1975. This year was the 100th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” on May 29, and it’s the 41st year that the priest has been Read more