Smith, a long-time voice for sexual abuse survivors, was sexually abused as a child while at John of God Brothers residential schools in both New Zealand and Australia.

Pleased that finally the children's cries for help that were ignored by the Church, the Police, the State and the people running Marylands are now public, Smith took the report to Rome.

The John of God Brothers are no longer active in New Zealand, but their headquarters remain in Rome. On Friday, Smith visited Fatebenefratelli - Curia Generalizia, 138 Via della Nocetta 263, with the hope of delivering the report directly.

Introducing himself over the Fatebenefratelli intercom, no one came to greet Smith and receive the report.

Hoping the brothers would read the report, he deposited it in the John of God Brothers letterbox.

"This is the head office and they do absolutely nothing but hide behind a bloody wall, I'm furious," he told Newshub.

Apologies aren't enough, Smith told Newshub.

"We're not going away, you can blank at us by not talking to us, you can shut the door and never let us in but it makes us stronger," he said.

And louder than ever.

Describing his years of schooling in New Zealand and Australia as "hell on earth", he says the Royal Commission's report means a lot to him.

"It means a lot, it means they can't bury it ever again. It's a government document, it can't be buried. It means a hell of a lot to me personally," he told Newshub.

This is the Dunedin resident's second trip to Rome.

Armed with a letter of introduction from Dunedin bishop, Michael Dooley, Smith hoped to meet personally with Pope Francis.

Smith was interviewed by the ABC but failed to meet the Pope.

Smith's first trip was in part funded personally by Dooley.

For his second trip, he approached the Christchurch diocese for help with his travel costs, however, while wishing him well the Bishop of Christchurch declined.

In a statement, the Christchurch diocese said Smith had previously been given support, redress payments and further support to attend a similar 2019 Rome summit.

Though Smith has received a compensation payment from the John of God Brothers, he told the ODT he was in Rome to demand accountability from Brs Joseph Smith and Brian O'Donnell, two church provincials who were at the head of the Order at the time of his abuse in the 1970s and '80s.

The Catholic Church had no honour and was "worse than any criminal" in the country, he said.

"I'm nearly 60 and I won't stop until I get what I want.

"I want justice, not only for myself — we're talking about real justice.

"It's pretty big for me to actually do all this stuff, but I have to do it.

"I have to make sure they're held accountable," Mr Smith said.

Smith is in Rome also to attend an international survivor meeting at which he will be an ambassador for all New Zealand abuse survivors.

The survivor meeting coincides with the first stage of Pope Francis' Synod on Synodality.

Sources

• Newshub
• ODT
• CathNews NZ

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Darryl Smith (pictured) was one of dozens of boys who suffered "extreme abuse and neglect" at Marylands School. Complaints show the school's abusive reign ran from 1955 to the late 1980s.

Now 59, Smith is raising money to go to an international summit for sexual assault survivors in Rome next month.

He's scrimped and saved, and has a Givealittle account to help cover his costs. He also approached the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch for help.

"Unfortunately, the diocese is declining the opportunity to raise money for your trip," the diocese replied.

Smith says the diocese's response is two-faced.

Request and response

Smith says the diocese promised to ensure the abuse wouldn't happen again.

It also said it would help survivors.

"They lied," Smith says.

He made the comment after approaching the diocese recently for help to attend an upcoming summit as an ambassador for all New Zealand abuse survivors.

However, in a statement, the Christchurch diocese said Smith had previously been given support, redress payments and further support to attend a similar 2019 Rome summit.

The bishops wish him well, the statement concluded.

In 2019, Smith flew to Rome after receiving personal financial assistance from Dunedin bishop Michael Dooley, who also gave him a letter of introduction to meet Pope Francis.

While in Rome, Smith was interviewed by the ABC but failed to meet the Pope.

Disappointment

Smith is disappointed his request to the Christchurch diocese was refused.

He said he hoped to be an ambassador for all New Zealand survivors of abuse and meet others at the conference to discuss progress being made about sexual abuse in different countries, share ideas and consider ways to work toward continued change in the Catholic Church.

He had planned to take the Marylands School report with him to share with other survivors.

He said at the last summit, he found it healing to meet survivors from around the world and exchange stories.

He explained that he felt he got some of his power back by being there.

Despite the Royal Commission of Inquiry process being "scary", Smith says he feels very positive about what the Abuse in Care report found.

The Royal Commission identified multiple failures, including those made by the Police, the State and Marylands, and the Christchurch diocese.

Source

• The Press

They reap what they sow - and others from the community are invited to enjoy some too.

The community project began back in 2015 when Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Michael Dooley was the parish priest.

Marion Thomas, who heads the team of volunteers, says Dooley "couldn't have been more helpful".

Numerous volunteers, businesses, the Community Constable, the Greater Green Island Community Network and the Otago Community Trust (OCT) have backed the project.

Seven years after the initial ideas, the land on the "amazing site" is healthy and well-fertilised. Grass clippings from St Peter Chanel school grounds help support the compost, along with donated horse manure and spent oats.

Sheds and a tunnel house have been donated and are well used.

Potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and pumpkins are popular vegetables but "anything that's fresh and edible" is sought after.

An OCT grant in 2018 enabled Green Island's community gardeners to buy some fruit trees.

"We wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise," Thomas says. Today, apples, pears, plums and other stone fruit now line the garden perimeter.

"We planted known varieties as opposed to heritage varieties that people now don't recognise."

Volunteers have found using old practices to manage garden pests and revitalise the garden are often useful. So is drawing on older gardeners' knowledge and experience.

A great educational service is provided by a retired orchardist who teaches how to prune, shape and spray the trees to enhance health and fruit production.

Source

Otago Daily Times

The change takes place on January 1, 2023.

The move by Dooley comes after a report shows former Dunedin bishop, John Kavanagh, did not act on a complaint of sexual abuse.

Dooley says systemic failures at the time let survivors down badly and it is wrong to have a school associated with Kavanagh's name.

"A number of survivors of abuse in the Dunedin diocese have asked me to change the name of the college," says Dooley.

"Having the college named after the bishop of that time represents for a number of people the systemic failures of that time and contributes to their trauma.

"I would hope that the renaming of the college will contribute to some healing and reaffirm our desire as a church to listen to victims of abuse and work hard to provide a safe environment for those in our care," Dooley says.

Renaming the college is the result of an investigation after a number of Dunedin survivors complained that Kavanagh failed to act on claims of sexual abuse by priests.

The result of the investigation shows that seven priests, two brothers and one lay teacher sexually abused children and, in one case, an adult during Bishop Kavanagh's time as Bishop of Dunedin.

In line with Pope Francis' 2019 decree, "Vos estis lux mundi" the Metropolitan Archbishop of New Zealand, Cardinal John Dew, requested the inquiry.

In a statement, Dew reported that the investigation showed Kavanagh failed to act on one complaint.

Kavanagh was Bishop of Dunedin for 28 years; from 1957 to 1985.

Dew said the investigation found that Kavanagh knew of complaints relating to two priests: Fathers Freek Schokker in about 1963 and Magnus Murray in about 1972.

He said the investigation also showed Kavanagh did not know of the other cases because complaints were not made until some years after Kavanagh died.

"In the case of Murray, the Complaints Assessment Committee found that Murray admitted the abuse to Bishop Kavanagh and was sent to Australia for treatment," said Dew.

"Because of that admission, and by sending Murray for treatment, Bishop Kavanagh did what he was required to under the Church canon law at the time.

After returning from treatment in Australia Magnus Murray did not return to Dunedin but became a priest in the Auckland Diocese.

In 2003 he was jailed for five years after admitting 10 offences against four Dunedin boys from 1958 to 1972.

Murray was removed from the priesthood in 2019.

"In the case of Father Schokker, Bishop Kavanagh should have investigated the complaint, but failed to do so," Cardinal Dew added.

Freek Schokker was a priest from the Netherlands working in the diocese at the time of the complaint. He was accused of abusing two young people. He left New Zealand at some stage after the complaint and was told not to come back. He died in the Netherlands in 1993, at age 81.

"There has been considerable public interest in this inquiry," said Cardinal Dew.

"Survivors of abuse committed in the Dunedin diocese have called for Kavanagh College in Dunedin to be renamed, based on their belief that Bishop Kavanagh did not act properly on complaints of abuse.

"The outcome of the inquiry is that Bishop Kavanagh failed to act as required at the time on one of the two complaints he knew of. It is now for Bishop Dooley to decide the future of the name of the college.

"I accept that some survivors may not be happy with the decision that Bishop Kavanagh acted properly in respect to Magnus Murray. But that was in the context of canon law of the time.

"We take immediate action on complaints of abuse today. We are committed to a safe environment for all within the Church community," said Dew.

The inquiry was conducted by the Church's complaints body which engaged senior Christchurch investigator Micky Earl of the firm Corporate Risks.

Earlier Male Survivors Otago spokesman Michael Chamberlain said he was quietly hopeful the name would change but was unhappy the investigation was to be conducted by the Church's National Office of Professional Standards.

"It's coming out, and it will come out from others, how much blood Kavanagh's got on his hands," Chamberlain told the Otago Daily Times in 2020.

Sources

• ODT
• Supplied Catholic Bishops Conference
• Scoop
• CathNews

Chittilappilly had been working in New Zealand as an assistant priest in Mercy Parish South Dunedin since January 2020.

However, following a complaint of sexual harassment from an adult woman, towards the end of last year, he was stood down from working in ministry and residing in the Dunedin Diocese.

He left the diocese late last year.

In March the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, Michael Dooley (pictured) told the Otago Daily Times (ODT) the church's procedures began immediately once the complaint was made and the Church's authorities were engaged in an investigation of the complaint and that included the Church's National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS).

NOPS reported back to Dooley.

However, in a move that surprised some, Dooley announced the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has directed him to conduct a further investigation into the priest's behaviour.

Dooley provided the update to the ODT on Sunday.

Dooley told the ODT the further church investigation will involve taking statements and examining evidence.

It would be undertaken by canon lawyers — men and women in the church who are trained in canon law.

"The lockdown in Auckland has unfortunately delayed the process but I am hopeful that it will be completed as soon as possible," he added.

The ODT Sunday report does not say why a second investigation is necessary nor specifically how it will differ from the Church's NOPS process.

The NOPS process has been agreed to by all the New Zealand Catholic Bishops and leaders of New Zealand's religious orders.

Sources told CathNews Chittilappily had complied with the initial investigation and subsequently done what was asked, did not engage in ministry and lived outside the Dunedin diocese waiting to hear the final result of the NOPS inquiry from Dooley.

However, on Sunday, Dooley told the ODT that Chittilappily had left New Zealand in September and returned to India because his visa to remain in New Zealand had expired.

"He is now living in a Rosminian house in India, under supervision, and is not involved in any public ministry until the investigation is concluded," Dooley confirmed.

Source

• Otago Daily Times
• Image: NZ Herald

"Using the technology available enables us to support and inspire each other. The more we can do together, the better we can make connections, that will enliven us and enable us to carry out the mission of Christ," Dooley says.

The platform's developers came together from three long-standing and wide-reaching Catholic networks: the Pastoral Ministry Network, Christian Initiation Australia Network and the Mission Planners Network Oceania.

They launched the platform to inform the upcoming Assembly of the Plenary Council - the first the Catholic Church in Australia has held since the second Vatican Council - and to enliven Catholic faith communities.

Australian bishop Parramatta's Vincent Long saying is also keen on the platform.

"I fully support the Alive in the Spirit Conference, and warmly encourage you to take full advantage of this excellent initiative."

The virtual platform offers a range of Australian-sourced keynote addresses, workshops, prayer and worship spaces and interactions with an array of Catholic organisations offering services and networking opportunities.

Alive in the Spirit organisers say each workshop experience is available until the end of 2021, offering "a 30-minute video, designed to inspire, enrich and provide practical insights in the topic area addressed."

Organisers say the workshops are suitable for individual faith enrichment and professional development, or for group sessions with catechists, RCIA teams, youth groups, pastoral councils, parish/school reflection days, or faith-sharing groups.

There is a long list of beneficiaries of the new platform's inspiration and support, including both "lay people and clergy, staff, leadership teams, finance teams, pastoral councils, pastoral ministers and volunteers, those in education, counselling, pastoral care, youth ministry, family ministry, aged care and chaplaincies and anyone who wants to be Alive in the Spirit."

Source

• Catholic Outlook
• Image: NZ Catholic

Bishop Patrick Moran founded the magazine in Dunedin in 1873 with the immigrant Irish Catholic population in mind.

Moran was noted as a strong-minded and literate speaker and the paper gave him the opportunity to voice his views on religion, the church, and politics - especially the latter.

He was also noted for his opposition to the secularisation of education (a New Zealand government policy) and was strongly vocal on the issue of Irish nationalism.

He used the publication as a pulpit from which to write on both subjects until his death in 1895.

Although the editor who succeeded him - Henry Cleary - adopted a more gentle approach to politics, James Kelly, editor from 1917 to 1931, adopted a line closer to Moran's — so much so that Cleary founded 'The Month', an opposition Catholic journal.

Kelly's editorship raised hackles with its pro-Irish republican leanings and he was eventually forced to resign.

After Kelly's time the Tablet took a less outspoken approach.

It remained a political force, however, especially during John Kennedy's editorship (1967-1989).

He was a close friend of then-Prime Minister Rob Muldoon and the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children president Des Dalgety, with all three sharing similar views on moral and social issues.

Kennedy adopted a pro-Muldoonist editorial standpoint favouring the National Party.

Muldoon contributed several articles.

During the 1980s, The Tablet had an adversarial relationship with the left-leaning Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development.

One columnist, Bernard Moran, published an article in 1989 alleging the Philippines Solidarity Network had left-wing or pro-Communist leanings, which created controversy in NZ's Catholic Church hierarchy.

The NZ Tablet remained in its original journal-style form until 1996. Declining readership saw the publication 'lose' its NZ prefix and morph into the Tablet newsletter for the Dunedin diocese.

Twenty-four years later, Bishop Michael Dooley announced the last issue - Number 247 - would be published in March 2021.

"During this year in the diocese, we have continued to investigate being more financially sustainable, while maintaining effective pastoral outreach to people.

"One of the issues raised in the area of communications has been the future of this publication, the Tablet," he says.

A smaller digital diocesan newsletter provides a continued communication channel to the parishes and schools.

As not everyone has access to online publications, printed copies of the newsletter will be available in parishes.

Dooley is grateful to the Tablet's last editor, Tony Hanning, "for his great contribution" and to the publication's loyal advertisers.

"It is difficult to cease a publication that has been part of our lives in the diocese for a long time, but I hope we will go on to develop further forms of communication in a financially sustainable way, and, most importantly, to the glory of God."

Source

• NZ Catholic
• Wikipedia
• Image: NZ History

Cardinal John Dew and Bishop Patrick Dunn identified the option in messages to pastoral leaders and people in their respective dioceses.

"If the Alert Level changes back to Level 1 on Wednesday night, we will look at having the belling and distribution of the ashes at Masses next Sunday", Dew wrote.

Meanwhile, there will be no liturgical events nor parish gatherings in the Archdiocese, including weekday Masses, until the Alert Level changes back to Level 1.

Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn is also looking to the possibility of transferring Ash Wednesday celebrations.

"I need to advise you that all weekday and Ash Wednesday Masses are to be postponed in the Auckland region until at least Thursday", Dunn said on Facebook.

However, he also is not ruling out distributing the Ashes at Sunday Mass.

In contrast, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Christchurch, Bishop Paul Martin SM is calling on Christchurch Catholics to sacrifice the liturgical celebration of Lent and asks the people of Christchurch to pray for those in Auckland, especially those affected by the latest COVID outbreak.

Given what Ash Wednesday means Martin said it is a source of sadness for people in the diocese to be unable to mark the beginning of Lent in this way.

Despite the short notice, he asks that no Ash Wednesday liturgies take place this year, however, notes that Catholics can still begin a time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

He has undertaken to distribute a prayer resource to parishes for use at home. The resource will be available today to anyone who calls into a parish to collect one.

Michael Dooley, Bishop of Dunedin, acknowledges the disruption to the start of Lent but calls on Catholics in the name of the common good to use the denial of Ash Wednesday to draw closer to God.

Dooley says that it is over to the parishes to determine whether there will likely be too many in attendance to meet social distancing requirements and the 100 person limit.

He told Dunedin Catholics that there will be no public gatherings of more than 100 people.

However, in an interesting twist, Dooley noted that although the 100 person restriction obviously means most schools will not be able to join with parishes for Ash Wednesday, they will be able to hold their own school liturgies.

Mindful of the 100 person limit and social distancing, Palmerston North parishes are doing their own thing.

Where possible, due to numbers, some will proceed, while others with larger congregations are either opting not to hold an Ash Wednesday ceremony or will work on a first come first served basis and lock the doors once the 100 person limit has been reached.

Officially the Diocese remains in wait for the announcement of a bishop, however as one parish priest told CathNews today, "We don't need a bishop, we're getting on nicely as we are."

The Bishops met early Monday morning to discuss the latest Covid-19 alert level restrictions and given the limited time between the Prime Minister's announcement and Ash Wednesday decided to respond best they could for each diocese.

Their first concern was the safety of people.

In making their decision the bishops noted the potentially volatile nature of the situation and agreed that if necessary, they will meet again later this week to consider what action is needed pending the further expected Government announcements.

The need to change Ash Wednesday arrangements came about due to the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern's Sunday announcement that from midnight Sunday, Auckland would move to alert level 3 and the rest of New Zealand to alert level 2.

The increase in alert levels follows the diagnosis of a south Auckland, mother, father, and daughter with the UK variant of Covid-19.

The new alert level status remains at least until 11:59pm Wednesday 17 February.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Supplied: Archdiocese of Wellington, Diocese of Auckland, Diocese of Christchurch, Diocese of Dunedin, Diocese of Palmerston North.
• Image: Crosswalk.com

On May 3, Bishop Dooley wrote a letter addressed to his "dear brothers and sisters in Christ" announcing that he would spend some time away from the diocese for personal and spiritual renewal. Read more in NZ Catholic.

In a letter dated May 3 and addressed to his "dear brothers and sisters in Christ", Bishop Dooley said that he was looking forward to returning after his time away "with new energy and focus". Continue reading

In March, the diocese struck a memorandum of understanding with the Male Survivors of Aotearoa (MSA) support group.

The document details the process where abuse survivors are referred to MSA, which in turn will help survivors access counselling and other services.

The commercial deal includes funding from the diocese.

However, Dr Christopher Longhurst (pictured), founder of the newly established New Zealand branch of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), wants more transparency over the agreement.

Last week he contacted the ODT expressing his concern the signatories were not prepared to make public a copy of the document, saying SNAP wants to use a copy as a template for its agreements.

Longhurst said he emailed Bishop Michael Dooley in July, but MSA replied declining to release the confidential document.

Longhurst again emailed Dooley in September asking him to "desist" from signing the confidential agreements, arguing that in the past secrecy had harmed victims.

Describing itself as New Zealand's recognised national organisation for male survivors of sexual violence, MSA says it supports more than 1500 survivors across the country and more than 40 in Dunedin.

MSA trustee Tony Chamberlain calls the requests "totally disrespectful and completely inappropriate".

"We consider the letter (email) a totally offensive affront to the integrity of all concerned", Chamberlain wrote to SNAP international chief executive, Zach Hiner.

Longhurst maintains the Diocese's approach is wrong, but stresses his opinion is not a personal attack on Dooley.

Longhurst is a survivor and lecturer at the Wellington based NZ Catholic Bishop's Catholic Institute.

"The issue is very clear. It's wrong for any peer support group to get into confidential agreements with the Catholic Church - absolutely wrong", Longhurst told the ODT.

However MSA Chairman, Philip Chapman defended the agreement and Dooley.

He says the existence of the agreement is not confidential and that Dooley had been totally supportive and clearly concerned for survivors.

Chapman acknowledged the modest financial contribution from the Church.

He said the funding was invested directly in the support services for the referred survivors.

Contacted in Rome, Dooley indicated his happiness with the document.

"This is an agreement between our two organisations with the good of survivors the priority", he told the ODT.

At the time he started SNAP NZ, Longhurst told CathNews that all it takes to heal is a little support.

"None of our members are experts. We're just survivors helping survivors", he said.

Sources

• ODT
• CathNews
• Image: TCI

The period under review is when Bishop John Kavanagh was bishop.

Recently Pope Francis' published new procedures for making bishops accountable for their actions and non-actions.

The new procedures give power to a Metropolitan Archbishop to refer to the Vatican possible mis-handling of bishops from suffragan dioceses.

Kavanagh the fourth Catholic bishop of Dunedin died in 1985.

In 2018 public controversy arose about Dunedin city's only Catholic secondary school being named after him.

• Source: ODT

The Otago branch senior manager of MSSAT Aotearoa, Dugal Armour, said the agreement meant survivors of faith-based abuse would be referred by the church to a new MSSAT Aotearoa group launched in Dunedin to cater for them.

The group could then work with survivors to help them access whatever services they needed, such as counselling, either one-on-one or as part of the group, he said.

About 40 survivors in Dunedin are presently being assisted by MSSAT Aotearoa.

They are from a variety of settings including state care.

The new Dunedin faith-based support group had only recently been launched but already had nine members, Armour said.

MSSAT Aotearoa chairman Philip Chapman said the agreement was initiated by his group and was believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

It was hoped the agreement could become a template for other dioceses across the country.

The agreement would "keep survivors together and ensure they are getting the support they need", he said.

He praised Dooley for taking the steps necessary to address the impact on survivors of faith-based sexual abuse.

Dooley said the "goodwill" between him and the MSSAT Aotearoa group was "really important" and would help deliver better outcomes for survivors.

He hoped other dioceses would follow in Dunedin's footsteps, regardless of how they did so.

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (MSSAT) was registered as a charitable trust in 1997.

A hui in 2015 agreed to establish the national organisation - Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Poari o Nga Morehu Taitokai o Aotearoa [MSSAT Aotearoa].

The national organisation includes support groups in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• malesurvivor.nz
• Image: twitter.com

Last week he told the Otago Daily Times Insight the international gathering of bishops was about getting "attitudes right".

Pope Francis had indicated new guidelines would follow on the response to the sexual abuse crisis within the church, and it was hoped those would contain concrete steps to address the issue, Dooley said.

He was also positive about the Pope's commitment to "spare no effort" in tackling abuse, despite outrage from survivors who wanted a "zero tolerance" commitment from the Vatican.

"My gut feeling is that Pope Francis wants to deal with this," Dooley said.

"I think the 'spare no effort' is, to my mind, a strong indication to do something. I would take it in a positive light - that we are to do everything we can."

In New Zealand, the Vatican statements gave fresh "impetus and encouragement" to cement new safeguarding principles for clergy and volunteers within the church, he said.

He was also hopeful the church was moving towards the kind of greater disclosure demanded by victim and survivor advocate Dr Murray Heasley.

"I think what [Dr Heasley's] resolution wanted was very much what the general thrust of the summit was, but they mightn't be quite up to there yet."

Many activists and survivors were expecting more from the Vatican Summit.

Time Magazine reports that Francis offered no detailed plan on how to prevent abuse or binding rules on how to deal with abusers and cooperate with law enforcement.

A promise to issue a new guidebook for bishops received short shrift from advocates.

"Over the years, we've seen many church leaders write new guidelines, which are then developed, watered down, published and ignored," says Colm O'Gorman, an Irish survivor of clergy abuse who now heads the Irish branch of Amnesty International.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• time.com
• cbc.ca

"We were blocked by the Swiss Guard who dismissed the letter from Bishop Dooley", writes Spokesman for the Auckland-based Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions, Dr Murray Heasley.

Heasley is in Rome with Smith.

Writing on Facebook, Heasley reports,"They looked at us as if we were crazy, even thinking such a meeting was possible".

Heasley says the Swiss Guard told them that to get an audience with the Pope they had to follow a long and time-consuming protocol.

"It was of no importance that a survivor be given priority in Survivor Week, despite a 40 hour flight from Dunedin", he wrote.

After a demonstration in St Peter's Square with massive international media attendance, (pictured) Smith was interviewed by ABC (Australia).

Smith flew to Rome with a letter of introduction from Dunedin bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Dooley.

Dooley also helped pay for his trip.

Speaking at Auckland Airport before his departure on Tuesday night, Smith said he was both excited and nervous ahead of his long flight.

He expected the nerves would be joined by a feeling of anger as he finally met with church officials at the Vatican.

"It depends what they have to say. If they're negative, I'll tell them what I think of them.

"It's going to be quite a big step to go and see these people and actually talk to them," Smith said.

This last weeks some 190 participants, including New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew, were in Rome at the request of Pope Francis to discuss the sexual abuse crisis engulfing the church.

Sources

• Facebook - Dr Murray Heasley
• CathNews
• Meeting the Protection of Minors in the Church

Smith is hopeful of an audience with Pope Francis while in Rome.

With him he is carrying a letter of introduction from Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley.

Dooley helped pay for Smith's trip, using personal rather than diocesan funds.

Speaking at Auckland Airport before his departure on Tuesday night, Smith said he was excited and nervous ahead of his long flight.

He expected the nerves would be joined by a feeling of anger as he finally met with church officials at the Vatican.

"It depends what they have to say. If they're negative, I'll tell them what I think of them.

"It's going to be quite a big step to go and see these people and actually talk to them," Smith said.

"I don't think the Vatican or the Church has accepted anything yet."

A self-published book, A Shattered Life, outlining his experiences, will be on hand to give to church leaders.

Dooley helped fund the trip after being moved by Smith's story.

"He's a survivor who's actually done extremely well considering what he's gone through.

"In a way, he represents a lot of other people."

Referring to a possible meeting with Pope Francis, Dooley said he would not underestimate what Smith could achieve.

"Pope Francis has got a particular interest in smaller places, in the parts of the world that sometimes don't get much publicity, so who knows?

"It could be that Darryl is regarded as someone who could be a good representative to meet.

"He's realistic to know that even if he doesn't ... being over there, it's an important thing that he's doing."

Also flying to Rome is Dr Murray Heasley, an Auckland-based spokesman for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions and Their Supporters.

He has been named as New Zealand's representative on the Ending Clergy Abuse Global (ECAG) group, which is holding five days of meetings and events during the bishops' gathering.

Source

radionz.co.nz

odt.co.nz

stuff.co.nz

Image: stuff.co.nz

Bishop Dooley (top left) is among the 74 newly-appointed bishops from 34 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America including those as diverse as Algeria, Myanmar, Cameroon and Indonesia attending a 12-day seminar learning about the roles and responsibilities of bishops.

Bishop Dooley is intrigued by the meeting.

"I found it fascinating to listen to bishops who came from countries that had great challenges with poverty and violence.

"At breakfast, a bishop from Central Africa told me how his Vicar General had been shot and killed last month in a robbery," he told CathNews.

The vast cultural differences were reinforced when discussing priestly vocations, he said.

"One Nigerian bishop had 150 seminarians for his Diocese, a Vietnamese bishop had a seminary in his Diocese with 500 students".

With enormously different challenges, Bishop Dooley is impressed with the participants' openness and genuine concern for people.

"We have very different environments to minister in but a common mission in Christ," he said.

No to power, rich in relationships

Describing Pope Francis' address as 'energetic,' Bishop Dooley said the pope encouraged the new bishops to be people of prayer, to be shepherds who consult with their 'flock' and to share the passion and cross of Jesus.

Revisiting his strong anti-clericalism message, Francis told the new bishops to "Just say no to abuse - of power, conscience or any type," reports Crux.

He also warned the new bishops about being dominating leaders, saying that bishops must reject the clerical culture that often places clergy on a pedestal.

"The bishop can't have all the gifts - the complete set of charisms - even though some think they do.

"Poor things," he said.

"Don't think you are lords of the flock - you are not the masters of the flock, even if some people would like you to be or certain local customs promote that," the pope told them.

"Be men who are poor in things and rich in relationships, never harsh or surly but friendly, patient, simple and open."

Prayer is who you are, and what you do

Pope Francis encouraged the bishops always to pray, saying prayer is not just one of a bishop's daily tasks, but rather must be the foundation of everything a bishop does, reports America.

"It is easy to wear a cross on your chest, but the Lord is asking you to carry a much heavier one on your shoulders and in your heart: he asks you to share his cross", he said.

Unity

In perhaps a sideswipe at the outspoken and self-serving Archbishop Vigano, Pope Francis encouraged unity within the Church and among bishops.

"The Church needs unity of bishops, not lone actors working outside the chorus, conducting their own personal battles," Francis said.

Bishop Dooley: a man of the people

A Southland farm boy, Michael Dooley used to watch over his father's flock.

Leaving the farm, Dooley completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner and didn't expect to enter the seminary, let alone become a bishop.

He completed a bachelor of theology degree at the University of Otago and later earned a master of theology degree in Melbourne.

A few years back, Dooley offered land behind St Peter Chanel parish in Green Island, South Dunedin, to be used for a community garden.

He described the land as a "blank canvas" for the community to establish its garden.

Dooley relates to Pope Francis' view of the church and its place in the world.

"Rather than being a fortress mentality, it's an idea of engaging with the world," he told the ODT.

Sources

• Rome Reports
• ODT
• CathNews
• Crux
• America Magazine
• Image: Rome Reports

There were 11 concelebrating bishops: Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop Martin Krebs, and bishops Patrick Dunn, Stephen Lowe, Paul Martin, Charles Drennan, Dennis Brown, Peter Cullinane, Owen Dolan, Basil Meeking and Stuart O'Connell.

The ordination was attended by more than 1000 people including the Otago and Southland members of parliament, the mayors of Dunedin and Invercargill, representatives from community groups and councils throughout the diocese and representatives from various religious orders and Catholic secondary and primary schools.

There was a significant bicultural theme to the service and participation from a number of ethnic groups.

As well as a combined choir, choristers from the Samoan, Tongan and Filipino communities sang.

Children from St Mary's School Mosgiel and St Peter Chanel School Green Island also performed.

Members of Bishop Michael's family offered the prayers of the faithful.

The following morning, the liturgical installation of Bishop Michael was held in St Joseph's Cathedral which was full to capacity.

The Cardinal Dew presided over this celebration.

The service was a moving one with the new bishop knocking on and entering the doors of the Cathedral, accompanied by Dew.

The new bishop received addresses of welcome from Fr Wayne Healey, representing the diocesan clergy, Sr Judith-Anne O'Sullivan OP representing the religious priests, brothers and sisters of the diocese and Tui Pasco representing the laity.

Dooley's family also took part in this celebration.

At the end of the service, all the bishops and clergy stood for a photo on the stairs at the rear of the Church, while white doves were released.

Following this, members of the congregation and clergy met for morning tea and a cutting of the cake at Kavanagh College.

• Click here for an explanation of Bishop Dooley's coat of arms
• Click here to see photos on Dunedin diocesan website
• Click here to see photos on Bishop Lowe's Facebook page
• Click here to see photos on NZCBC Facebook page

Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops /Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
• www.odt.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: Facebook

Over 1000 people are expected to attend including clergy, the Vatican's diplomatic representative, the apostolic nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs, civic leaders and other Church leaders.

The ordination will be followed on Friday morning with the Installation Mass at 9.30am in St Joseph's Cathedral.

This Mass marks the reception of the bishop in the cathedral church of the diocese, at which he will preside for the first time with the priests and members of the diocese.

The President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC), Bishop Patrick Dunn, expressed the joy of the Conference and the New Zealand Catholic community on the ordination.

"We welcome wholeheartedly Bishop Michael Dooley. Thursday, 26 April 2018 will be an important day for our new bishop and for everyone in the Dunedin diocese. We pray for Bishop Michael as he prepares for his ministry among us."

Colin Campbell, the current Bishop of Dunedin, said of the appointment "We feel most blessed to be able to welcome bishop-elect Michael into this role, and know his extensive knowledge of and work in this diocese will be welcome and gratefully appreciated.

"I have been blessed with Michael as my vicar-general and in the last eighteen months, taking on the role of financial administrator he has done a sterling job with this portfolio in the diocese. We are all truly blessed by Pope Francis' choice of Michael as the seventh bishop of the Dunedin Diocese."

Michael Dooley was born in Invercargill in 1961 to parents Joseph Dooley and Mary Hogan.

He was educated at Heddon Bush Primary School and Central Southland College.

Before entering Holy Cross College in 1984, Dooley completed an engineering apprenticeship as a fitter and turner.

He has Bachelor of Theology degree from Otago University and a Masters from Melbourne's College of Divinity.

Dooley was ordained on 13 December 1989. From 1995, he has served as a member of the Priests Council and was a Parish Priest for over 10 years in Southland and Otago.

His other roles have included: