It launched a process of finding a name for the new Catholic cathedral.

Catholics are being invited to suggest a name and offer an explanation why they believe it would be a fitting choice.

A short-list will be created based on nominations received over the next two weeks, followed by an additional opportunity for feedback.

Bishop Gielen will then prayerfully discern the name for the new cathedral in conversation with key advisers.

The cathedral name is expected to be announced in late July.

Read more: www.cdoc.nz/cathedral [sic]

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has expressed a heightened vigilance over the potential for mystical or spiritual elements to be exploited for abusive ends.

Speaking to OSV News, Cardinal Fernández spoke of "false mysticism" and outlined the Vatican's initiative to study and implement measures to forewarn and halt spiritual abuse.

"Today we are more attentive than before to the possibility of mystical or spiritual elements being used to take advantage of people and even abuse them" the Cardinal told OSV News.

This announcement comes amidst a backdrop of several high-profile cases that have shed light on the distortion of the Catholic faith and its mystical tradition by abusers to manipulate and coerce victims into sexual acts.

One such case involves Father Marko Rupnik, a former Jesuit and renowned liturgical artist, whom multiple victims accused of using spiritual justification to facilitate abuse.

Similarly, Third Order Franciscan Father David Morrier, a former chaplain at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, faced allegations and subsequent legal action for sexual battery of a student under the guise of spiritual counselling and rites purportedly aimed at deliverance and exorcism.

The posthumous revelations concerning Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities and his mentor Dominican Father Thomas Philippe, further underscore the gravity of the issue.

An independent investigation commissioned by L'Arche International revealed that Vanier, Father Philippe and his brother Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, also a Dominican friar, manipulated spiritual beliefs to justify sexual abuse, invoking religious figures and concepts of divine union to coerce their victims.

These cases have prompted the Vatican's doctrinal office to take a proactive stance in preventing the exploitation of spirituality for abusive purposes.

By raising awareness and developing strategies to prevent such abuses, the Church aims to safeguard its followers from those who might pervert its teachings and rituals for nefarious ends.

Local interest

In late 2023, the Vatican responded to Bishop of Christchurch Michael Gielen's request for help dealing with unauthorised exorcisms and related spiritual abuse in the Diocese.

The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin, has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations.

Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms by the Latin Mass Trans-Alpine Redemptorists, Gielen suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese in August this year.

Yet despite the suspension order, Newshub alleges more unauthorised exorcisms and concerns about the wellbeing of young people have emerged.

Sources

• OSV
• CathNews

The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin (pictured), has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations.

The former professor of Canon Law at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, McGuckin has also served as President of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand.

As the Apostolic Visitor, McGuckin represents the Pope in the matter.

His appointment is short-term and he will present a report to the Holy See at the end of the visitation.

Gielen suspended exorcisms

Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms, Gielen suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese in August this year..

Yet despite the suspension order, Newshub alleges more unauthorised exorcisms and concerns about the wellbeing of young people have emerged.

A man told Newshub he had two exorcisms and he was ‘absolutely' sure Gielen had not given permission for them.

"In my situation, I would count that I knew had exorcisms were about a dozen" (sic).

The man told Newshub that the exorcisms were performed by a man who has since left the Order of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists. He said that the current leaders of the Order, Frs Michael Mary and Anthony Mary, knew exorcisms were occurring.

However Michael Mary denies this, saying the priest was never a community member.

"If he did illegal exorcisms, I have no knowledge of it" Michael Mary said.

In July, Michael Mary said sprinkling Holy Water does not constitute an exorcism.

However, the Newshub source says he doubts what Michael Mary said.

"The Order is a law unto itself. They are above the law. They don't respect the Bishop or anyone else" he said.

"That sense of privilege must be removed."

Nothing happened

Former congregant Greg Price feels relieved that something is finally happening.

He says his and other complaints to former Church leaders were ignored.

Price believes the 'Holy Sons' should be disbanded.

He told Newshub "I just pray that the truth comes to light and the right decisions are made."

The Press reports that in November 2021 an email from the Bishop of Christchurch, Paul Martin, said that the allegations against the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer had been referred to the Church's National Office for Professional Standards, and the matter was in its hands.

Martin said the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer follow the safeguarding protocols and are monitored by the Christchurch diocese's safeguarding officer like other parish groups.

Current Christchurch bishop Michael Gielen has been in the role for 18 months.

In a statement, he says that he sought guidance from the Holy See soon after his arrival in the diocese, and matters regarding the Institute of the Sons of the Holy Redeemer were brought to his attention.

Gielen recently returned from a visit to Rome and welcomes McGuckin's appointment.

"The Apostolic Visitor is appointed to act as a Papal representative tasked with reviewing circumstances identified by the Holy See. I have requested all parties involved respect this appointment and the visitation process.

"Out of respect for the Visitation, I have no further comment" writes Gielen.

Sources

• Newshub
• Newshub
• The Press
• The Press
• CathNews

The news - delivered at Mass last weekend - dashes hopes for a $2 million contribution from the Christchurch Catholic Diocese towards re-strengthening and reopening the existing church, which was closed 10 years ago.

Friends of St Mary's (FOSM) spokesman Mike Keenan said the diocese funds would instead be put into the new church, which was planned for the footprint of the recently vacated presbytery.

It follows consultation directed by the diocese on where the parish wanted to be in the next 10 years.

Mr Keenan said it was "disappointing" that the consultation did not include a buildings option.

Bishop Gielen wanted the closed St Mary's to stay on site. Continue reading

Gielen is currently in Portugal at World Youth Day.

The announcement arrives in the wake of a report by TV3 journalist Michael Morrah that exposed alleged unapproved exorcisms conducted by the fringe Latin Rite church group known as 'The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', or more colloquially, the 'Transalpine Redemptorists'.

Reports suggest that the group performed at least seven exorcisms, five more than authorised by a Christchurch bishop.

Disturbingly, one individual was allegedly subjected to repeated protracted sessions, including an exorcism that was performed for three consecutive days.

Notably absent were the standard medical and psychological evaluations required before performing an exorcism.

Despite their YouTube Channel having 263,000 subscribers, their most recent video having 563 likes, and 104 comments, a former member of The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, Greg Price stands by Gielen's call for a review.

"This goes much deeper and wider than just the exorcisms," Price said. He did not offer more details.

Suggesting that complaints were made to then Christchurch bishop, Paul Martin, Price expressed hope that Gielen would be proactive.

"There are people out there, and they will be willing to converse with the Bishop if he demonstrates a genuine interest in hearing them out."

Retired Professor Peter Lineham, a religious commentator, suggested: "Bishop Michael would be gravely mistaken if he ignored the pressing concerns."

Lineham also believes that in ordering a review, Gielen is looking to see whether these priests should be allowed to have standing in the Diocese of Christchurch.

In Tuesday's CathNews, Dr Joe Grayland questioned why a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms and why, in light of Pope Francis' most recent instruction, they are still permitted to use the old Latin Rite for Mass.

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Sources

• NewsHub
• CathNews - Christchurch exorcisms - Paddy Gower has issues
• CathNews - Poor Church communication helps trivialise exorcisms

Poor Church communication is in the spotlight.

The nub of the issue is why a fringe group, that does not belong to the mainstream of the Church and does not follow the ordinary form the Mass promuligated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 (Novus Ordo) is permitted to perform any sacrament, let alone a sacramental like a "major exorcism"?

Why did a Bishop of Christchurch give permission to this fringe group to perform exorcisms?

Why, in light of Pope Francis' recent tight restrictions on the old Latin Rite has the permission to perform the old Latin Rite not been withdrawn from this group?

Exorcism

The distinction between a "simple form" of exorcism, such as the one performed in the Rite of Baptism or when blessing ourselves with holy water, and the more elaborate "major" or solemn form used in sacramental exorcisms, has not been made clear.

Due to this lack of clarification, exorcism has been trivialised, along with the serious issue of potential religious or spiritual abuse.

Now we have a situation where people have heard about exorcism and abuse in the same sentence and wonder what is going wrong.

As a point of teaching, it is important to clarify the major or solemn form of exorcism is only performed by a priest who has the explicit permission of the bishop.

No ordinary priest is permitted to perform the solemn form of exorcism.

The priest chosen for this sacramental must be judged against external criteria before being permitted to perform a solemn or major exorcism. The priest must proceed with caution, follow the strict rule laid down by the Church and be in regular contact with the diocesan bishop.

The ritual for this sacramental is found in the Rituale Romanum.

The rite is used to protect a person or object against the power of evil or withdraw the power of evil from a person.

The solemn rite of exorcism must not take place where there is a physical or psychological illness. These illnesses are to be treated through medical science, and engaging in the solemn form of exorcism where it is not warranted is just a return to magic or witchcraft.

NZ Media

The trivialisation of such an important matter by TV journalists shows the sorry state of journalism in New Zealand.

When allegations of ritual abuse are juxtaposed with the nonsense of finding out where the best-fried chips are found, it trivialises something very serious.

Add to this the expressed bias of the main presenter regarding his own Catholic upbringing, and one is left saddened that New Zealand seems to have few informed investigative journalists worthy of the title.

New Zealand Bishops' Conference's Response

The trivialisation by society's media of potential spiritual or ritual abuse was not helped by the communications response of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference.

In this particular case, a prior communication informing clergy and other diocesan and school leaders of the programme's airing was sent, merely saying that the programme was being aired and that Church representatives had engaged with the journalists.

It was not very helpful, and we still do not know what the Church representatives said to the journalists.

Unlike other recent communications from the Bishops' conference, this one did not forbid recipients from publishing its contents. Nor did it slander a journalist.

The Catholic Church needs to be able to speak clearly and professionally for itself in these matters.

In this instance, the lack of Bishops' Conference communication; its silence left those interviewed to explain the situation when they lacked a working knowledge of the Church, theology and practice of the solemn rite of exorcism.

More generally, the situation shows the paucity of theologically educated people employed by the Bishops' Conference and available to Catholics and local media.

It reveals the lack of skilled communicators who are able to intelligently explain the nature of the sacramental of exorcism and the relationship of the fringe Christchurch sect to the Catholic Church.

Overall, the approach of the Bishops' Conference highlights the mentality that has landed the Church in the scandal of the abuse of minors and others.

Through its lack of communication, the Bishops' Conference seems to suggest it is incapable of addressing issues in adult ways to adult believers and questioners alike.

In this, the Bishops' Conference is poorly served.

As Catholics and members of civil society, we must ask:

• Why were there no informed commentators from the Catholic Church?
• Where was an intelligent and informative press statement from the Bishops' Conference before the programme aired?
• Why was an intelligent and informative follow-up not issued?
• Why didn't the Bishops Conference issue a general press release to balance the television reporting and inform people of the complexity of the issue?

One of the Church's roles is to communicate and engage constructively in dialogue with society.

Where religious authorities do not take up their role of engagement with Catholics and society's media, we are all prey to uninformed journalism.

In times when the Church, its practice and indeed Christianity is not as familiar as it once may have been, and when it is in the spotlight for sexual abuse, the onus is on the Church to communicate effectively.

As instanced by this example, the lack of proper communication increases the likelihood of the Church giving scandal to the Catholic faithful, other Christians and those who see Catholicism as a risk to public safety.

• Joe Grayland is a theologian and a priest of the Diocese of Palmerston North. His latest book is: Liturgical Lockdown. Covid and the Absence of the Laity (Te Hepara Pai, 2020).

He clarified that sprinkling Holy Water around a child does not constitute an exorcism.

The controversy surrounding the 'Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer', also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, emerged after TV3's programme 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' aired a segment Wednesday night.

The programme claimed that the group had performed exorcisms on children, and one child was allegedly told the Devil possessed them.

It was also reported that the group conducted exorcisms on seven individuals, with one person undergoing multiple lengthy sessions, some lasting for several hours, and one exorcism purportedly spanning three consecutive days.

There were also claims that individuals were restrained during these rituals.

Bishop Steve Lowe, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledges that exorcisms occasionally occur in New Zealand but said it is very unusual for people to be restrained.

Lowe describes the act of binding people during an exorcism as 'cinematic.'

Drawing from Church data, Gower stated that the official Catholic Church sanctioned 12 exorcisms over the past five years. Six of these were authorised for Auckland and Hamilton dioceses, though not all occurred.

An equal number were sanctioned in the Christchurch diocese.

In a YouTube video, Michael Mary stated that then Bishop Paul Martin of Christchurch permitted two exorcisms; both occurred, and he denies any illicit use of the permission.

Catholic community reaction

CathNews received feedback from a number of concerned Catholics regarding the 'Paddy Gower Has Issues' segments.

One correspondent accuses Gower and investigative journalist Michael Morah of trivialising a very serious matter and accusing the reporting as lacking maturity.

"A really nuanced topic is treated interspersed with getting fried chips!

"The juxtaposition shows the true level of New Zealand journalism,' said one.

"The country needs an injection of journalistic maturity,' another wrote.

The Church's perceived silence also drew attention.

"I think we can reasonably expect some response or even engagement from an official church spokesperson,' said another.

"The rather bizarre nature of these reported events, surely the Church must have something to say.

"It certainly needs to be more transparent and engage more fully.

"It's not the 1950s,' yet another said.

"It's not apt for the Church to remain silent. We, the regular Catholics, bear the brunt of public scrutiny."

A person said over the phone that concerns arose on Thursday while chatting after Mass about the medical and psychological evidence the bishop considered before granting permission for these practices.

"Tying up people, stabbing them with a crucifix is extreme.

"People have their dignity.

"With the Church so much in the spotlight, you'd think it would have something to say," they said.

A communications specialist expressed astonishment at the Church's seeming detachment and weak recent communication strategies.

"It feels like the Catholic Church leans heavily on Peter Lineham for its representation," he said.

Professor Peter Lineham has for many years written and lectured extensively on the religious history of New Zealand. Now retired, he is a member of the Anglican and Baptist Church.

"It would be better if there were a Catholic someone attached to the community.

"These days, the perception of the Church is that the church leadership seems more interested in being spiritual and holy. They're good ideals but are not sufficient. The Church also needs to engage in the here and now.

"The bishop at least needs to explain what training and expertise these priests have to perform exorcisms.

"The Church lacks engagement at critical times" said the communications specialist.

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer entered the Christchurch diocese in 2009.

Upon their arrival, Bishop Barry Jones cautioned Catholics that the group's services lacked authorisation and weren't in communion with the Pope.

In 2012, Pope Benedict granted his approval and the group continues to be responsible in the diocese for the Latin Mass chaplaincy.

However, in an expression of lex orandi, lex credendi - how we pray reflects what we believe - Pope Francis is not disposed to the belief behind the old Latin Rite.

In February 2023, Francis admonished bishops who permitted the Latin Mass in their dioceses without Vatican consent, urging them to obtain retrospective authorisation.

Following up on correspondence from a reader, CathNews sought clarification from the Catholic Bishops Conference on the practice of the traditional Latin Rite Mass and whether the required authorisations had been applied for.

Sources

• Paddy Gower has Issues (TV3)
• CathNews NZ
• Stuff
• Transalpine Redemptorists
• Earlier this article said that Peter Lineham is involved with the Charismatic Movement and the Pentecostal Church. In making this statement, CathNews used a reference from the National Library. (Reference dated 27 July, 2023).

  Peter Lineham has been in touch, objecting to our initial reference. He accused CathNews of making a false statement about him and told us to do some research.

  By referencing the National Library, we thought we were using an authoritative source; however, in light of his correspondence, we wish to apologise to Peter for what was a genuine mistake and thank him for pointing out the error.

Currently, Thompson is Manager, Strategy and Planning at Otakaro Limited, the Crown-company responsible for the construction and operation of Te Pae Christchurch, New Zealand's newest large-scale convention centre.

He has also held positions at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Christchurch International Airport and Air New Zealand.

The appointment was announced by the Apostolic Administrator of the Christchurch Diocese and Co-adjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Wellington, Paul Martin SM.

Thompson says he is interested in the position because he will be working for a faith-based organisation where priorities are different from the business world.

He replaces Andy Doherty, who after six years is now working in an administrative capacity with Bishop Paul Donoghue SM in the Cook Islands. Read more

The move signalled earlier on, is part of the demolition of the old cathedral.

Bishops John Grimes, Edward Joyce and John Cunneen were moved to the mausoleum over a period of three days during May, The Christchurch Press reported yesterday.

Bishop Grimes was Christchurch's first Catholic bishop. He died in 1915.

Bishop Joyce died in 1964, and Bishop Cunneen died in 2010.

However, the purpose-built mausoleum is only a temporary resting place for the bishops.

Their remains will be moved once more when the new Catholic cathedral planned for the corner of Colombo and Armagh streets nears completion.

"The disinterment went as planned with no surprises."

"The next of kin were consulted and engaged where possible," Catholic diocese general manager Andy Docherty said.

Docherty confirmed the disinterment was managed by John Rhind Funeral Directors, who removed the bodies "carefully and respectfully, by hand."

The Apostolic Administrator of the Christchurch Diocese and Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington Paul Martin led the disinterment ceremony over three days, May 12-14.

Presented with a massive decision, the new Christchurch bishop decided to demolish the badly damaged current cathedral.

Martin said projections to fully restore the former cathedral were costed at $149 million.

Early in May 2021, he announced the old cathedral would be replaced by a new $40 million traditional-looking cathedral and a $60 million diocesan administration centre, open courtyard, garden and parking overlooking Victoria Square in the centre of Christchurch City.

In May 2021, the Christchurch Diocese Apostolic Administrator said that raising money for the new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral will be a challenge but that he remains 'prayerfully optimistic'.

Experienced Cathedral architects, American firm Franck & Lohsen, have been chosen as the lead design team.

Renowned Christchurch firm Warren and Mahoney will support them.

Martin's appointment as Archbishop of Wellington came as a surprise to him.

At his episcopal ordination in 2018, and to much applause, he told an optimistic crowd that "Christchurch is now home".

Sources

• The Christchurch Press
• CathNews
• CathNews

Meeking was first ordained as a priest in 1953 and served as Bishop of Christchurch from 1987 until 1996. Read more

Two years of death-defying earthquakes then the grief-stricken, the demolition, the dying, the rebuilding aftermath.

Followed by March 15, 2019, with 51 people dying while at prayer in the mosques, and while we are prayerfully and painfully recovering ourselves, we now have, on June 9, 2019, Paul Martin turning up with his Roman-like directions to demolish or sell off seven of Christchurch's 12 Catholic parish community churches that have managed to survive the earthquakes.

All this is not because we don't have enough parishioners in our churches.

Our parishes are full and some overflowing.

It is because he hasn't enough male celibate priests to minister to them.

He is using a North American big church heavily oil-dependent model - parishioners travelling, not the priest.

And because he can't seem to consider the practice that is common in the rest of Oceania, Latin America and Africa - in fact throughout the whole of the Southern Hemisphere, where lay ministers - married folk and women - can minister the liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion, without a priest being present, and the priest can turn up once every month or two and celebrate Mass and support them.

Maybe he sees the writing on the wall for clericalism and wants to finish it all off as quickly and painlessly as he can.

So he looks at the oldest, strongest base community parishes, churches like Sacred Heart Addington, St Teresa's Riccarton, Christ the King Burnside, strong parishes with high daily Mass attendance and university student communities and sells these churches or bulldozes them.

These communities and their attached schools have taken decades to build to the strength they are today.

You don't get rid of the places where your strength lies.

These churches and halls are our marae - the places where we gather to celebrate our births, deaths, weddings, first communions and ordinations. They are like cloaks that support our schools.

They were built with the blood, sweat and tears of our communities over generations.

Consultation?

He has not consulted with the priests, with the staff, nor with the parishioners. He simply announces his plan. He claims it is a proposal.

We are to pray and discuss it, but that his proposal will all be carried out within one year.

Our priests and staff and parishioners should have been consulted, involved and listened to, not just briefed.

Announcing a fixed plan and pretending it is a consultation, when it has been already decided upon, is the practice of clericalism at its very worst.

Shortage of priests

Currently we have 30 ordained priests in the diocese.

In 10 years we will have 12.

What about in 20 years?

In 20 years we will have four priests - if the trend continues. Something needs to be done about this.

Unlike the Anglicans, there is not a shortage of parishioners.

We need lay ministers - married people and women to be able to minister, for the Catholic Church to survive in the Christchurch diocese in 20 years' time.

Ten years is far too short a timeframe.

Knocking down churches and building a few new ones is not going to solve the long-term problem.

We need to be planning for 20, 50 and 100 years' time.

These lay ministers need to be trained and supported in ministry and in preaching and this is the place where our empty seminaries need to be putting their energy.

Working from strength

We need to work from the old strong base hub parishes and support the work the priests do there, with work by lay ministers in the surrounding churches.

In South Christchurch we want none of our four churches to be sold or destroyed.

We have had enough of death, destruction, building, selling and rebuilding.

Sacred Heart, Addington is the oldest and largest parish in our region and the safest church earthquake-wise - it is on good ground that doesn't break open or have springs or liquefaction rise up from below. (It is well worth checking the old black map of Christchurch springs.)

We suggest that Sacred Heart be our hub church.

The other three parish churches can remain having Mass celebrated once a month there by a Priest and a liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion by lay ministers on the other Sundays and days of the week if the community has able lay ministers.

We don't want more church name changes.

Name changes are not new here, they are old hat, we have had enough name and street and church and building changes to last a lifetime.

We want the emphasis to be on strengthening our communities and educating our lay ministers, not on demolishing and erecting buildings.

We want energy to go into how we can minister to one another in the absence of a priest.

We want to know how to be present to each other and to our beloved priests, who have done an amazing job in our parishes of all shapes and sizes through such a long difficult and continuing period of unrelieved upheaval.

• Kathleen Gallagher is a Christchurch author, playwright and film-maker. She is a member of St Peter's Church, Beckenham.
• First published in the Christchurch Press. Republished with permission.

This follows the news on Monday that Bishop Barry is currently very low and his family has gathered to be with him.

Late last year, Jones suffered a series of strokes.

Please continue keep him in your prayers.

Source:

• www.chch.catholic.org.nz

Jones was rushed to Christchurch Hospital on November 9 after he had a stroke at his Christchurch home.

A Catholic diocese spokesman said although Jones was improving slowly, he tired easily and his prognosis was unclear.

"The bishop has agreed that it is in his best interests to have a complete rest and break from his work until at least the end of February, when he would have been returning from his holidays," the spokesman said. Continue reading

He spent one night in hospital for assessment and has been resting at home last week will do the same this week. Bishop Jones intends after this week to return to work.

Please keep him in your prayers.

Source

• chch.catholic.org.nz

Answerable to the bishop, his areas of responsibility cover the rebuild of diocesan properties following the earthquakes including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, finance, education, pastoral services and the Catholic Development Fund.

He takes up his position on November 16. Read more

In the letter, Bishop Barry Jones stated that the plan for the diocese is a "single plan" including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The letter sets out the goals in terms of time frame and building standards to be achieved.

The strategy is to focus on getting parishioners back into churches where they are closed as soon as possible.

It is hoped to advance the planning for new churches where churches have been demolished.

Approval has been given for a number of projects to proceed.

These projects include temporary repairs for St Anne's church, Woolston, and St Peter's church, Beckenham.

Work on St Anne's has begun with St Peter's to follow on shortly.

The work required for St Matthew's, Bryndwr, has been put out to tender and is soon to start.

Plans to reopen three closed heritage churches are well underway.

The letter expresses a hope that work will start on St John the Evangelist church, Leeston, in early spring.

When the necessary consents have been received, work will commence on St Mary's church, Hokitika.

With knowledge gained from these two heritage buildings, strengthening plans are in place for St Joseph's church, Temuka, which is hoped to be reopened in twelve months time.

All the necessary consents have been received for the work to extend St Bernadette's church at Hornby and to complete the necessary repairs.

The letter states that building five new churches is being investigated.

Initial plans for St Mary's church, New Brighton, have been presented and St Patrick's, Lincoln, and St Mary's, Pleasant Point, are hoping to do the same in the near future.

St Joseph's, Papanui, is seeking expressions of interest from qualified organisations to draw up comprehensive documentation for the diocese.

In Mairehau the team from St Francis of Assisi has shared its initial thoughts and concepts.

Sources

• Diocese of Christchurch
• Full text of Pastoral Letter
• Image: Diocese of Christchurch

A complex of four portable buildings will be built by the Catholic diocese on land it recently purchased on the corner of Barbadoes St and Ferry Rd.

The buildings will then be leased to the school.

Catholic diocese property and development manager Keith Beal said, "We want to step up our role in adding to the vibrancy of the city."

"This is about generating a buzz. This is the diocese playing its part in the recovery of Christchurch."

"We have been a silent force for four years."

"That has been about planning."

"We are ready to move now."

For 17 years the CSM's home was in the former convent for the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, but the building had to be pulled down after the earthquakes.

Since then the school's office has been in temporary facilities in Waltham Road.

Beal said that in the long term, they hope to build something more permanent for the school on the site.

The school, which has about 800 students, has not had a permanent home since the 2011 earthquakes destroyed their former building on Barbadoes St.

Expensive musical instruments and a large collection of sheet music are currently stored in a warehouse with no temperature control.

Source

• chch.catholic.org.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: chch.catholic.org.nz

In June, the diocese applied to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) for a section 38 notice.

They had expected a decision in weeks but are still waiting approval.

A section 38 notice would give the diocese approval to demolish parts of the protected category one heritage building.

In May, the diocese announced plans to deconstruct most of the earthquake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament but retain and restore the building's main space if possible.

The demolished parts of the cathedral could then be rebuilt around the retained central space.

If the section 38 notice is not approved, the diocese would have to get demolition consent through the normal planning process, which could take years.

A CERA spokesman said the section 38 application was complex.

"CERA needs to gather and thoroughly consider all of the relevant information, including complex engineering reports and input from the relevant parties such as Heritage New Zealand, before reaching a decision," he said.

The spokesperson said there was no timeframe for a decision on the application.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

The new parish complex includes offices for use by the parish, an expanded space that will include the former Catholic Shop, which was in Chancery Arcade, and facilities for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Choir, other music groups and the wider community.

Father Chris Friel, St Mary's Pro-Cathedral Administrator, said that after three years of development the new parish complex will be a welcome re-start for the diocese and city.

"It will incorporate a state-of-the-art acoustically designed choir area, music and instrument storage areas, rehearsal room, library storage and kitchen facilities. With new landscaping and improved off-street car parking, the facility will be available for hire to other choirs and music groups for rehearsals or as a music events centre," he said.

Don Whelan, Musical Director for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, said that the new facilities will demonstrate that Christchurch can be a welcoming home for creative artists, and that the Catholic Church music treasury is a heritage to be shared with others.

Source

• voxy.co.nz
• chch.catholic.org.nz
• Image: chch.catholic.org.nz