Archbishop Gábor Pintér succeeds former papal nuncio Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa who returned to Rome in March after suffering a stroke last October.

Our new Vatican ambassador, who comes from Hungary, has most recently undertaken diplomatic missions as Nuncio in Belarus and in Honduras.

One of a Nuncio's key tasks is overseeing recommendations about potential bishops as incumbents approach the mandatory retirement age of 75 or when dioceses become vacant.

At present all six of New Zealand's dioceses have bishops, with no vacancies expected in the next 12 years or more. Across the Pacific's 17 dioceses most bishops are also much younger than 75.

Pintér says this means he will have more time to visit Catholic communities across the far-flung region and share Pope Francis' vision with them.

"It is important for nuncios to make pastoral visits, to be among the people and to transmit the message of the Pope," he notes.

"It's a great honour for me to be a representative of the Holy Father and to go in many countries of the world and to be some kind of bridge between the Pope and the local church.

"We cannot know the future, but I think much of my time will be dedicated to those pastoral visits, to talk to bishops, priests, religious and laity, to make connections and to have the chance to assure the presence and the closeness of the Pope among these peoples."

He is looking forward to the challenges of getting to know and understand the wide Catholic territory where he will be working.

"I know also that there are a lot of differences between New Zealand and the islands, and within the Pacific Islands there are a lot of differences. So I have to learn, and to learn, I of course have to listen to people. That's my first very important task."

Pintér will also participate in civic affairs with governments, with other ambassadors and with the diplomatic corps.

Source

• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference

Pintér succeeds Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, who returned to Rome in March after suffering a stroke last October.

The Apostolic Nuncio is the Pope's chief diplomatic representative - the equivalent of an ambassador.

Archbishop Pintér

Archbishop Pintér is currently the Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras.

He was born in Hungary in 1964 and ordained a Catholic priest in June 1988.

He has a doctorates in Theology and Canon Law and speaks Hungarian, Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, and Haitian Creole.

Since entering the diplomatic service at the Holy See in 1996, Pintér has served in Haiti, Bolivia, Sweden, France, the Philippines, Austria and Belarus.

He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras in November 2019. In that role he coincidentally replaced Rugambwa who had just been appointed to his Aotearoa New Zealand post.

Welcome mat out

Archbishop of Wellington Paul Martin SM, the General Secretary of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, is delighted to welcome Pintér.

"We are pleased to have a Nuncio of such experience and we look forward to working with him for the good of the Church in our country and the Pacific, and as the connection with the Holy Father" he says.

"We look forward to welcoming him when he arrives."

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

The archbishop left the country on Saturday and has arrived safely after a "smooth" journey, the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference says.

Rugambwa (pictured) is recovering from a stroke he suffered in Wellington last October. He will continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility in Rome.

Accompanying the archbishop was Sr Maria Ann Singer LSP and Fr Giosuè Busti, First Secretary-Deputy Head of Mission at the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See (papal embassy).

On Saturday, Bishop of Auckland Stephen Lowe, President of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, asked Catholics to keep Rugambwa in their prayers.

"It is with much sadness that we farewell Archbishop Novatus" Lowe says.

"The bishops acknowledge our deep gratitude for his services to the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific."

Rugambwa was appointed to his role as the Pope's chief diplomatic representative in New Zealand in 2019.

During that time, he oversaw bishops' appointments in five of the country's six dioceses.

These were Bishop Steve Lowe in Auckland, Archbishop Paul Martin SM in Wellington, Bishop Michael Gielen in Christchurch, Bishop John Adams in Palmerston North and Bishop Richard Laurenson in Hamilton.

Source

• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference

Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, our Apostolic Nuncio, has been moved to Kenepuru Hospital from Wellington Hospital to begin his rehabilitation proper, following the stroke he suffered last month.

Because of the intense rehab work Archbishop Novatus is doing, we have been asked to say that visits are not advisable for the moment. Thank you for keeping Archbishop Novatus in your prayers.

Article supplied

Asking for prayers for His Excellency, Catholic Communications says the 66-year old's condition is now stable.

Rugambwa is Pope Francis' Nuncio (ambassador ) to New Zealand, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Naru, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Micronesia and Apostolic delegate to the Pacific Ocean.

This is his fourth year in this role after the Pope appointed him Nuncio on 29 March 2019.

Rugambwa's responsibilities

Rugambwa's responsibilities include recommending to Cardinal Luis Tagle in Rome those priests who would be suitable for appointment as bishops.

The Cardinal leads the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelisation.

In this regard, Rugambwa's term as the Pope's ambassador has been demanding.

Not long after his arrival, Rugambwa faced the resignation of high-profile Palmerston North bishop Charles Drennan. It took him over four years to find a replacement.

In between times, Auckland's Bishop Patrick Dunn retired. Bishop Steve Lowe from the Hamilton Diocese replaced him.

Lowe's move to Auckland left a gap in Hamilton, while Palmerston North's vacancy needed filling as well.

New Zealand bishops stressed

Thankfully, the four-year wait is now over and both vacancies have been filled. Not without some urging, which involved the remaining New Zealand Catholic bishops going public about their concerns.

Two new bishops were desperately needed for the Palmerston North and Hamilton dioceses, they said.

Their voices were heard, and one - John Adams - was recently ordained Bishop of Palmerston North.

At Adams' ordination, presiding bishop Steve Lowe, Bishop of Auckland - who is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Hamilton diocese - light-heartedly reminded the that the Hamilton diocese also needs a new bishop.

In a matter of weeks, the Church announced Richard Laurenson as Bishop-elect.

Pallium ceremony to go ahead

As the papal ambassador, Rugambwa was scheduled on Sunday to present Archbishop Paul Martin with his Pallium from Pope Francis.

The Pallium is a distinctive garment given to archbishops and bishops with metropolitan jurisdiction.

It does not elevate the archbishop's status. Rather, it shows a tangible representation of the unity between Rome and the local church.

Initially, Rugambwa's hospitalisation led authorities to advise postponing the presentation.

However, a later communication says the Pallium presentation should proceed this coming Sunday, 5 November, as scheduled.

Sources

• NZCBC Communications
• Wikipedia
• CathNews
• CathNews
• CathNews

He puts his avoidance of black down to Josie, his cat.

Late Wednesday night, Pope Francis appointed the 55-year-old Laurenson (pictured) the new Catholic Bishop of Hamilton.

Trust is fundamental

Laurenson says he is looking forward to his new role with a mix of fear and peace. He is praying that he does not disappoint.

Since learning of his appointment, Laurenson says he moves between peace and terror but emphasises that trust in God is fundamental to his life.

However, because the future is known only to God, he acknowledges that putting his trust in God is not always as easy as we sometimes make it sound, saying that it requires an ongoing commitment on his part.

"I find it hard to believe that the Lord wants me to do this," he says

"Trust is an easy word but difficult to live.

"I pray that I do not disappoint him too much."

Locally born

Born in 1968 in Hamilton, Laurenson was only 12 when the Diocese of Hamilton was established.

Now, the Bishop-elect will be the fourth Bishop of Hamilton - and the first of its bishops born within the diocesan area.

And, coming from within the diocese, he has some advantages. For example, he has an excellent working knowledge of the diocese, knows the clergy and, having served in several parishes, knows many people.

He is also the current Hamilton diocese Chancellor, Vicar for Marriage, a member of the College of Consultors and, since 2019, Defender of the Bond at the Tribunal of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. He was a judge and associate judicial vicar from 2016 to 2019.

Laurenson's appointment reverses a recent trend in New Zealand dioceses to have bishops appointed from outside the diocese where they serve as priests. Until Laurenson's appointment, Dunedin bishop Michael Dooley was the only bishop appointed from within a diocese.

The new role

Laurenson begs the indulgence of the people and his brother priests as he adjusts to his new situation.

It is too early to make pronouncements about what the diocese needs to do once the ‘dust settles' he says.

Currently, his thinking is about four areas:

• The RCIA and RCIC
• The promotion of good and Godly liturgy
• Calling young men to a life of brave adventure - priestly vocations
• Good parish-based Catechesis for adult Catholics

New Catholic Bishop of Hamilton - Richard Laurenson

Snapshot CV

Laurenson has served in many parishes in the Hamilton diocese and is currently parish priest at All Saints by the Sea, Papamoa.

As well as many of his diocesan appointments, for more than a decade, Laurenson served as a military chaplain who, for a time, worked alongside peacekeeping forces in Bougainville and Timor Leste.

Laurenson attended Holy Cross Seminary in Mosgiel and has a Baccalaureate in Theology from Otago University (1992). From 2007 to 2010, Laurenson studied for and obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.

Ordination scheduled

Bishop-elect Laurenson is expected to be ordained on Friday 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at a time still to be determined.

His appointment fills the vacancy that occurred after Hamilton's former bishop, Stephen Lowe, was appointed Bishop of Auckland in December 2021.

With Laurenson's appointment, all New Zealand dioceses have a bishop for the first time in more than four years.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• CathNews NZ

Adams was ordained bishop by the President of the New Zealand Bishops Conference and Bishop of Auckland, Steve Lowe and also installed as the third bishop of Palmerston North.

Among the co-consecrating bishops was the emeritus first bishop of Palmerston North, Peter Cullinane and the emeritus Coadjutor Bishop, Owen Dolan who recently celebrated his 95th birthday.

Also in attendance, representing Pope Francis, was the Apolstoic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa.

By way of formality, Lowe welcomed Rugambwa, thanking him for Adams' appointment.

The diocese has been waiting for four years for a new bishop.

To the laughter of the large congregation, Lowe then gently reminded Rugambwa still has another job to complete: the appointment of a new bishop for Hamilton.

Rugambwa is responsible for recommending priests to Cardinal Louis Tagle, head of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, for their appointment as bishops in New Zealand.

Rugambwa read the letter of appointment from Pope Francis and afterwards held it high, showing it to the people and clergy.

Lowe ,while bishop of Auckland, still remains apostolic administrator of the Hamilton diocese.

Towards the end of the ordination liturgy, Adams spoke to the well-wishing congregation, saying that prior to the ordination he was given good advice.

"There's only one thing worse than a boring homily, and that's a long boring homily" he said.

Adams said he would be short, the all-knowing congregation laughed politely.

To his credit, without being rushed, he was short.

Despite describing his own abilities as "surely modest", Adams said that he was confident in approaching the role of Bishop of Palmerston North.

He then reminded everyone of Luke's gospel, saying he was not alone and the Holy Spirit accompanied him.

"Anything is possible for God," reflected Adams.

Principal ordaining Bishop, Stephen Lowe pours oil of chrism anointing Bishop Elect's head.

At times, an emotional Adams paused when thanking his family.

His mother was in the congregation, as were his brother and sister-in-law.

Saddened that his brother Tony and sister Maria were not able to join him today, he said it was a joy to come from a loving family.

Adams shared that not long after his appointment was announced, he was also informed that he needed to have open heart surgery and that during the course of the surgery, his heart was stopped for 90 minutes.

"What was the Lord doing?" he asked himself until he discovered the word Manawatu means to have a still heart.

"The Lord is mysterious in his providence."

Speaking words of thanks to numerous people and groups towards the end of his speech, Adams also addressed his brother priests, thanking them for the hospitable welcome to this person from Christchurch.

In return, he said he wanted to be a wise and loving father for them.

In conclusion, Adams also thanked his brother bishops, saying he is learning practically from them what it means to be a bishop and that he is looking forward to sharing the "happy burden" with them.

Reflecting on the Gospel, Adams opined that our common discipleship will have great power and efficacy if it is lived with Jesus, but he realised that even in Jesus' time, not all shared this view.

Indeed, he commented that in the Synagogue, soon after Jesus claimed to have the Holy Spirit with him, ‘they' tried to take him and throw him off a cliff.

"I was greatly comforted when I flew into Palmerston North to notice there weren't too many cliffs around this place."

Adams said he is looking forward to joining the people of Palmerston North in ‘our' attempts to keep Jesus Christ alive.

This marks a departure from the tradition of archbishops travelling to Rome to receive the pallium directly from the Pope. Instead, Martin will receive it by mail.

The pallium is a distinctive garment consisting of white woollen bands, approximately two inches wide, adorned with 12-inch pendants. It is worn over the chasuble.

The Pope confers the pallium upon archbishops and bishops with metropolitan jurisdiction. While it does not elevate the archbishop's status, it serves as a tangible representation of the unity between Rome and the local church.

According to reports from America Magazine, Pope Francis believes that this modified ceremony encourages the active participation of the local Church in a significant moment of its life and history.

Additionally, Francis sees this new custom as a way to advance the synodal journey further.

Traditionally, palliums are blessed annually on June 29, during the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul. Before the blessing, the palliums are placed on St Peter's tomb beneath the basilica's high altar.

During a homily at the ceremony of blessing, Pope Francis urged the archbishops to be like Peter and Paul.

He highlighted Peter's unwavering response of "follow" to Jesus' call, while noting that Paul's mission was to "proclaim and preach" the Gospel.

While several of the 32 new archbishops joined Francis for the occasion, they will still receive their pallium from their nuncio in their home archdiocese.

Archbishop Martin's pallium is yet to arrive.

He will receive it in a special pallium ceremony that will take place at the metropolitan pro-cathedral of St Teresa in Karori, Wellington.

Source

• Supplied
• America Magazine

The appointment was announced in Rome at 10pm New Zealand time, Thursday 22 June and it fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan in 2019.

Ordained as a priest in 2003, Christchurch-born Adams is the parish priest of St Peter Chanel Parish in North Canterbury.

He is a trained teacher who has served as the Christchurch Diocese Vicar for Education since 2013 and the diocesan Council of Priests chair since 2015.

"I was initially surprised but then joyful to hear, just over a week ago, about the invitation to become the next Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North," says Adams.

"Whilst I am saddened that my very happy and fulfilled days in the Diocese of Christchurch will soon come to an end, I have experienced God's providence in my life enough to know that the power of his grace is not limited by location.

"Surely, we now live in a time that urgently needs to hear the 'good news' of the Gospel.

"To the people of the Palmerston North diocese, I want to say that my prayers for you have already begun, and I am looking forward to living and sharing with you that same 'good news'," said Bishop-elect Adams.

Pope Francis has put a synodal way of being Church at the forefront of the minds of Catholics, and Adams is known for his collaborative leadership style.

After attending a talk by Divine Renovation's Fr James Mallon Adams became completely convinced that the Divine Renovation model was a genuine path forward.

"The path forward, a breakthrough for me, was when I realised that one of the strategies for leadership is collaborative leadership, where the particular weaknesses and faults that I have can be ameliorated by having a team, a senior leadership team.

"That's just absolutely suited me," said Adams on the Divine Renovation Ministry YouTube Channel.

The President of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop of Auckland Stephen Lowe, warmly welcomed the Pope's announcement.

"We are delighted with Fr John's appointment as the new Bishop of Palmerston North," says Bishop Lowe.

"Bishop-elect John is a loved parish priest who will bring a rich experience of pastoral and spiritual leadership to his new diocese.

"We look forward to sharing with the people of the diocese in the ordination of their new shepherd."

A date is yet to be set for the ordination of Bishop-elect Adams, but it is likely to be by the end of September.

Bishop-elect John Adams' CV

Date of Birth: 18 November 1963
Place of Birth: Christchurch, New Zealand
Priestly Ordination: 4 July 2003; Diocese: Christchurch

Education
Northcote Primary School, Christchurch 1968 - 1974
Casebrook Intermediate School, Christchurch 1975 - 1976
St Bede's College, Christchurch 1977 - 1981

Degrees, awards, diplomas
Bachelor of Science Canterbury University, NZ
Diploma in Teaching, Christchurch Technical College, NZ
Bachelor of Theology, Auckland, NZ
Advanced Diploma in Theology, Sydney, Australia

Priestly formation
Good Shepherd House, Christchurch 1995
Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland, NZ 1996 - 2003

Priestly ministry
July 2003 - February 2004: St Teresa's Parish - assistant priest
2004 - 2005: St Patrick's Parish, Greymouth - assistant priest
2005 - 2007: St Patrick's Parish, Greymouth - administrator
2008 - 2010: Christ the King Parish - assistant
2011 - 2018: St Joseph's Parish - parish priest
2019 - current St Peter Chanel Parish - parish priest

Other Christchurch diocese appointments
Tertiary Chaplain 2008 - 2010
Clergy Trust Fund 2011 - 2021
Council of Priests 2009 - current
Chair, Council of Priests 2015 - 2023
College of Consultors 2014 - still current
Episcopal Vicar for Education 2013 - current
Chair, Education Council 2015 - current

Source

• Supplied NZCBC
• Divine Renovation Ministry

At their November meeting the bishops re-emphasised the need for two bishops to the Pope's diplomatic representative to New Zealand, His Excellency, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa (pictured).

New Zealand bishops are appointed through the Dicastery for Evangelisation headed by Cardinal Luis Tagle.

Rugambwa is the intermediary in New Zealand who recommends suitable and worthy candidates to Tagle.

Once a suitable and worthy candidate is found, Tagle recommends his name to Pope Francis to make the appointment.

Rugambwa, who has recently returned to New Zealand from Rome, was a distinguished guest at the opening session of the bishops' November meeting. He shared the Pope's greetings and blessings with them and the people under their pastoral care.

They in turn, spoke plainly of their concern about the bishopless state of both the Palmerston North and Hamilton dioceses.

After the unscheduled resignation of Charles Drennan, the Palmerston North diocese has been without a bishop for more than three years.

The Hamilton diocese has been without a bishop for nearly a year. On December 17, 2021 then Hamilton bishop, Steve Lowe, was appointed Bishop of Auckland.

At his installation as Bishop of Auckland in March, Lowe thanked Rugambwa for his presence.

"Can I please ask you to work hard to find a great bishop for Hamilton? I think Palmerston North and Christchurch are looking for one too," he remarked to laughter in the congregation.

In the meantime, Auxilary Bishop Michael Gielen was translated from Auckland and installed as bishop of Christchurch.

In early November, Lowe, Secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, commented that it takes a long time to appoint a bishop.

Lowe was responding to a piece in the international publication The Pillar, where Luke Coppen suggested the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand's need to find two bishops.

Pointing the finger for the delay at Rugambwa, Coppen suggested Rugambwa might have a different model of Church than is commonly accepted in New Zealand.

Sources

• Supplied
• CathNews
• CathNews

Lowe is responding to a piece by Luke Coppen in The Pillar, suggesting the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand's need to find two bishops.

Coppen points out that the Diocese of Palmerston North has been leaderless for more than three years, and on December 17 it will be a year since Lowe moved from Hamilton to become Bishop of Auckland.

"The process of appointing a bishop is not fast, and this can lead to frustration and speculation on what is happening.

"Behind the scenes, however, the process is happening," Lowe said to a recent media enquiry.

He said the process is in the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio. The Apostolic Nuncio is Pope Francis' diplomatic representative in New Zealand.

Coppen says the current Nuncio is Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, who has served in this role since 2019.

He suggests Rugambwa might have a different model of Church than is commonly accepted in New Zealand.

Outlining the process to appoint a bishop, Lowe says the Apostolic Nuncio starts a process of consultations with a range of lay people and clergy to look at the pastoral needs of the diocese and suggest names for potential candidates.

The Nuncio then passes this information on to the department in the Vatican responsible for New Zealand, the Dicastery for Evangelisation, headed by Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle.

The Dicastery for Evangelisation then confirms a short list of possible candidates called a Terna, at which point the Nuncio starts a second consultation process.

The consultation is with a wide variety of lay people and clergy who are also asked to suggest others who might be consulted.

Once the consultation is complete, the Nuncio sends his report back to the Dicastery for Evangelisation who then makes the recommendation to Pope Francis.

When the Pope nominates a new bishop, the Nuncio informs the nominated priest that the Pope has appointed him as the bishop of a diocese and asks whether he is willing to accept.

At no point along the process are prospective candidates asked if they agree to their names going forward.

Coppen notes appointing bishops in New Zealand has not previously been too much of a problem, but his Excellency Archbishop Rugambwa did not respond to Coppen's request for comment.

In response to the same media request, Cardinal John Dew said: "The process to appoint new bishops for the two dioceses is underway and under the supervision of the Apostolic Nuncio, which is the standard way bishops are appointed."

On 29 March 2019, Pope Francis named Rugambwa apostolic nuncio to New Zealand and apostolic delegate to the countries of the Pacific Ocean. On 25 May, the responsibilities of Apostolic Nuncio to Fiji and to Palau were assigned to him, then on 30 November, he was given additional responsibility as Apostolic Nuncio to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga.

On 17 April the following year, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa, then on 2 February Rugambwa was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Cook Islands, a post that had been vacant since 2018, and on 30 March to Micronesia.

Other than the New Zealand dioceses of Palmerston North and Hamilton, currently, only one other diocese from the vast array of dioceses Rugambwa is responsible for is vacant, and this vacancy follows the August 7 death of Koru Tito bishop of Tarawa and Nauru.

Coppen suggested that an option the Vatican might consider is uniting the Hamilton and Palmerston North dioceses under one bishop without merging them. This process, known as linking dioceses in persona episcopi, has been used in recent years in Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Wales.

Several CathNews sources say bishops in New Zealand are busy, and there is no suggestion that merging dioceses is being considered.

Source

• Supplied
• CathNews
• Wikipedia

It is three years since Charles Drennan resigned as Bishop of Palmerston North.

Coppen points out it appointing bishops in New Zealand has not previously been too much of a problem.

He reports that outside observers of the Palmerston North diocese say the local Church has fared surprisingly well without a bishop for the past three years. But there are certain decisions that must wait until the arrival of a new bishop.

Speaking with local clergy, one mentioned to The Pillar he could name five good candidates for the vacant dioceses.

"The problem is not the availability of candidates, but rather the criteria by which they are chosen."

He told Coppen the way bishops are chosen is "outmoded."

He said he had been asked to fill in forms about potential bishops that asked questions such as whether there was any reason in the candidate's family that would cause scandal to the Church.

How do we measure scandal these days; life and family life is complex today? he asked.

"We're looking for these men who are pluperfect," he said.

"The model still looks for men who are able to be subservient and at the same time almost be careerists. And so it becomes a sort of oxymoron that you're looking for," proffered another priest.

He told Coppen that he thought the group that probably suffers most from the Vatican's inactivity is the diocesan team.

"They sort of work for the bishop."

"They're his people who do his bidding. And I would say of everybody, they're a little bit lost."

Looking for a reason for the delay Coppen says the Dicastery for Evangelisation that controls the process of appointing bishops in New Zealand is considered to be adequately staffed and is 'fairly efficient.'

Noting that the Dicastery needs to cooperate with the powerful Secretariat of State, Coppen asks whether this interaction is slowing down the process, however, concluded there is no evidence to suggest this is the case.

Since 2019, the Tanzanian Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa has served as apostolic nuncio to New Zealand.

He is also the nuncio for a dizzying array of other territories, including Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.

One of the priests interviewed by Coppen suggested that the problem seems to be the relationship between the New Zealand bishops and Apostolic Nuncio.

He opined they have different "visions of Church".

At his installation as Bishop of Auckland in March, Bishop Lowe, the former Bishop of Hamilton, thanked Archbishop Rugambwa for his presence.

"Can I please ask you to work hard to find a great bishop for Hamilton? I think Palmerston North and Christchurch are looking for one too," he remarked to laughter in the congregation.

Coppen says there was nothing in the light-hearted comment to suggest there was a gulf between the nuncio and the bishops. But it did imply that the lack of new bishops is weighing on Church leaders' minds.

Archbishop Rugambwa has not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Source

• The Pillar

The nuncio met with the college's staff and students on August 19, and presided over a college Mass which celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

"We should never forget to focus our heart and mind on our vocation to holiness - a vocation inviting us to willingly and sincerely avoid sin and avoid all the ideologies that, today more than ever before, are leading our society to justify what is wrong and to demonise what is right," Rugambwa said in his homily. Read more

The a diminution of the true identity of the Church and her mission, from which distorted or diluted efforts to evangelise can only bring about mediocrity he said in his homily.

"Today — more than ever before — the world is strongly opposed to those who uphold sanctity as the purpose of life,".

Persecution of Christians happened in ancient times and still happens today in some parts of the world, the Apostolic Nuncio said.

It is "still very frequent in many countries where killing a Christian is sometimes considered as a holy service to Almighty God (John 16:2)".

He also pointed out in developed countries, the methods some people use "appear in a form of ideology, legislation, deceit, foul propaganda, calumny, bullying, etc. against Christianity, especially against Catholicism".

He said the weight of these methods make it difficult for baptised Christians - especially in countries where secularist states declare laws against Christianity.

"We are living in an epoch that is telling us not to present in public a religious point of view, even in matters regarding life, culture and morals; that religion must be taken as a mere private matter; not to pray; not to expose any religious sign, such as a cross, in public — in schools and hospitals and squares...

"Consequently, even children at school and in higher education institutes are intentionally induced to regard religion as irrelevant, superstitious and ridiculous. We can say that we — as Christians — are living moments of suffering; moments of both aggressive and non-aggressive persecutions."

At the same time, these difficulties offer Christians many opportunities — "to bear witness ... not to yield or cave in; to persevere, not to despair; to evangelise more and more, not to dilute the doctrine of the Church; to be the salt of the earth, not to be tasteless; to be the light, not darkness.

"Unfortunately, it is becoming frequent, even among Catholics, that some individuals think that many people will be attracted to the faith if we follow the spirit of the world, or if we reduce our belief to mere actions of convenience and nicety!

"There are even people who are happy to see the Church lose her identity, transforming herself into a ‘non-governmental organisation', thus with nothing to do with conversion of the people and salvation of the souls."

Rugambwa asked those at the Mass to intensify "permanent formation in the discipleship of Jesus Christ in our families, our schools, our workplaces, and in our parish communities.

"We can bear fruits only if we are truly and fully in Christ, just as the branches remain connected to the vine," he explained,

Throughout his homily, Rugambwa cited teachings by St José Maria Escriva, whose Feast day he was commemorating. Escriva's teachings focus on carrying out one's ordinary daily activities with love, following Jesus, and lovingly embracing sufferings on the path to being saints.

Source

• NZ Catholic
• Image: Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
  

His move is in line with guidance from New Zealand authorities to help prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

On 2 March the New Zeland Government recommended that people who have been in northern Italy or the Republic of Korea (excluding airport transfer) should self-isolate for 14 days after their return.

Rugambwa arrived back in New Zealand on March 3.

Deputy head of mission and first secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wellington, Msgr Edward Karaan said the nuncio is not ill, but he is following the guidance issued by the government.

"He just came from Italy. He is doing the normal thing, following the rules of the New Zealand government."

"Two days ago, there was an update from the New Zealand Government regarding travellers from Italy. These are just precautionary measures," Karaan told NZ Catholic.

In Italy, Rugambwa visited his superiors at the Holy See and some of his friends, Msgr Karaan said.

As well as representing the Vatican State in New Zealand he is also the Nuncio for Fiji and Palau, and apostolic delegate in the Pacific Ocean.

The Archbishop was born in Western Tanzania in 1957 then ordained a priest in 1986 and Archbishop in 2010.

He previously served as secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio in Wellington, New Zealand.

Rugambwa entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1991 and has also served in Nunciatures in Panama, Republic of Congo, Pakistan Indonesia, Angola, and Honduras.

For a period of time, he was also Under Secretary of the Holy See's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS.

Source

• nzcatholic.org
• busiweek.com
• press.vatican.va
• health.govt.nz
• Image: dailynews.co.tz

Archbishop Rugambwa was born in Bukoba, Tanzania in 1957, ordained a priest in 1986 and Archbishop in 2010.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1991 and has served in Nunciatures in Panama, Republic of Congo, Pakistan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Angola and Honduras.

For a period of time, he was also Under Secretary of the Holy See's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

Archbishop Rugambwa has diplomatic experience in Panama, The Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Indonesia and he previously served as secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio in Wellington, New Zealand.

Archbishop Rugambwa has a degree in Canon Law.

He replaces the previous nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs who last year was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay.

President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop Patrick Dunn said of the announcement, "we're delighted with the appointment of Archbishop Rugambwa and warmly welcome him back to our shores in his new role.

"Our prayers are with him as he prepares for his move and we look forward to working with him in the years ahead."

Source
Supplied. Amanda Gregan New Zealand Catholic Bishop's Conference.
Ko te Huinga Pihopa o te Hahi Katorika o Aotearoa

Image: Daily News