It chronicles the transformation of the Sisters from a closed order to a congregation of religious women who became integrated in the wider community.

The author, Susannah Grant, was commissioned by the Dominicans Sisters to write Windows on a Women's World.

Grant relates that five years ago she was approached, out of the blue, by a Dominican Sister to write the book.

"She was such an interesting, passionate woman. The more she talked, the more I felt the urge to write the story," says Grant.

Grant, who has a PhD in History from the University of Otago, has completed a large number of oral histories with the sisters.

She has a background in the study of New Zealand history, the history of ideas, religion and science.

Grant was given full access to the congregation's archives in order to write this book, from the point of view of an ‘outsider'.

The sisters wanted the book to be written to have their history chronicled but also to show the work they do in the community now as independent people who come from a strong women's culture.

"This moving and beautifully written book she chronicles the astonishing transformation of the New Zealand Dominican sisters from a strictly enclosed body of religious teachers to a congregation of religious women who are integrated in the wider community and engaged in a range of active ministries while still remaining deeply committed to shared Dominican ideals." one reviewer has written

Grant says the Sisters, are instilled with social conscience, and are now integrated with the communities they live in.

"They are true sisters. It's a very courageous thing. They face the future head-on."

Source

• gisborneherald.co.nz
• culturewaitaki.org.nz
• Image: dominicans.org.nz

Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive has been written and compiled by Patricia Alfonso-Sison.

It is based on the preparatory catechism of the same title from the 8th World Meeting of Families, an international gathering founded by St. John Paul II "to strengthen the sacred bonds of the family across the globe."

The book features reflections from a number of New Zealanders who are involved in ministry, especially to families including:

• Michelle Kaufman from Family Life International
• Pol Nerona from Couples for Christ
• Bro Kieran Fenn FMS
• Wayne Mulqueen from Focus on the Family

Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive is supplemented by videos of talks from the 8th World Meeting of Families that shed light on each of the ten topics featured in the book.

"I have been working on the book since August or September 2014 when the preparatory catechism of the 8th World Meeting of Families first came out," said Alfonso-Sison.

"Although it was meant to be a series of articles to be published in parish newsletters, God had other plans and it is now a book."

Ewen Laurenson, chairman and co-founder of the Open Home Foundation says the highlight of the book for him is the collaboration of family ministry organisations.

"This is what Centre for Marriage and Family is about: getting people to work and collaborate to promote marriage and the family since we believe that it is only by working together we can achieve our mission."

Love Is Our Mission: The Family fully Alive will be launched on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at the Churton Park Community Centre ,Wellington, 6:30 pm.

Copies of the book are available. Inquiries may be made by emailing centreformarriageandfamilynz@gmail.com

Read full press release

Source

• Supplied
• Image: Supplied.

Subtitled Faith Communities & Social Justice, the book is edited by Neil Darragh, and explores a faith response to inequality in using 31 people's stories about faith communities that promote fairness in New Zealand.

Darragh has divided the book into five sections:

• Sources and traditions,
• Existing faith communities working for fairness,
• Groups struggling for justice,
• Shelter and housing,
• Schools and the next generation.

The publisher has expressed the hope that the stories will to gives encouragement and ideas for action in the struggle to reduce inequality in society.

A second launch will take place in Wellington on Friday 4 April at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace.

During the formal part of the evening Neil Darragh will introduce the contributors to the book.

The launch will also include a response to the book by Brian Easton, a blessing, and some refreshments and socializing.

Source

• Supplied by Accent Publications
• Image: Anglican Youth Accent Publications

Fr Gutierrez, a Peruvian theologian, contributed two chapters to "Poor for the Poor: the Mission of the Church" by Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the head of the Church's doctrinal watchdog.

Pope Francis wrote the preface to the book, launched on February 26.

Fr Gutierrez, a long time friend of Cardinal Müller and a co-author with him of a previous book, spoke briefly at the launch.

Cardinal Müller told CNA that he and Fr Gutierrez have had significant discussions on "some, let's say problematic issues of the Liberation Theology",

He said the elimination of Marxist influences had produced an important "clarification" of the controversial movement

Speaking informally with journalists, Fr Gutierrez also underscored that his discussions with the cardinal have been very important for him.

The 85-year-old theologian said that the inspiration for liberation theology came directly from Vatican II, with its call for the Church to serve the poor.

He said that the Church is always called "to serve and to search for the image of Christ in every man and go toward the ends of the earth and peripheries, as Pope Francis invites us to do".

In the 1980s, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Cardinal Müller now heads, issued two instructions about Liberation Theology.

The first condemned the movement's Marxist orientation, while the second acknowledged Liberation Theology's "preferential option for the poor".

After the launch, Cardinal Müller said "when a new theology is developing, there are issues to clarify".

Sources:

• Catholic News Agency
• Associated Press
• Catholic World News
• Image: The Daily Mail

"I'm feeling quite, wow, chuffed," he told about 100 academics, Destiny Church members, and the public who packed the room for the launch in Auckland last Thursday.

The few issues he has with the book revolve around four or five "porkies".

The one that annoys him most is an incorrect tale about him buying son Sam a Corvette, which he most certainly didn't. Other than that, he's happy enough.

The book's author, Associate Professor Peter Lineham, believes the public will have to think again about what their views are.

Tamaki attended and welcomed the book's launch, despite the author being gay, a sexual orientation Tamaki says he disagrees with.

He said contrary to popular belief: "I do not hate anybody. I do not dislike gays."

Mr Lineham says that issue was put to the side during his writing of the book, and Destiny Church members actually embraced what he was doing.

"I mean it's very interesting because I think in the relationship of just talking to them they came to respect what I was doing and I think that says something for them, that they're willing to do it."

Source

• NewstalkZB
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Penguin Books

The author is David McCarthy.In his review of the book Mike Crean says, "School histories often gloss over negative aspects. True to his calling as racing editor of The Press for many years, McCarthy would not stand for this. As a boarder at St Bede's in the 1950s (five years ahead of me), he describes some unflattering features of our teachers."