The move ends efforts by a local charity to revitalise the 150-year-old complex.

The plan, developed by Taste Nature Social Enterprise and chaired by Clinton Chambers, sought to use the site for organic farming, health services and educational programmes.

However, the Dunedin operations manager for the Catholic diocese, Paul Olsen, dismissed the idea.

"Clinton's proposal is Clinton's proposal and won't be happening at Holy Cross. So that's the start and end of it" said Olsen.

Church's decision signals finality

Olsen's remarks indicate that the church has no intention of moving forward with the charity's vision for the complex which has been largely unused since 1997 when the seminary moved to Auckland.

While the church has not elaborated on its reasons, Olsen confirmed that any plans for the future of the property are "commercially sensitive".

The Holy Cross site, which features a chapel, dining hall and accommodation for 100 people, has fallen into disrepair over the years.

Parts of the building, including the lecture theatre, show signs of neglect.

Chambers had hoped his charity's activities, including organic food production, healthy cooking and integrative health practices such as yoga, could breathe new life into the property.

Disappointment for local charity

The church's rejection leaves Taste Nature Social Enterprise seeking a new location for its initiatives.

A disappointed Chambers remains optimistic about continuing the charity's mission elsewhere.

Local MP Ingrid Leary also shared her disappointment, calling the church's decision "a shame" and acknowledging Mr Chambers' dedication.

"He has a successful track record in business and a big vision that aligns his values of a circular, sustainable economy and empowerment of young people" she said.

Uncertain future for former seminary

The church has not disclosed any specific plans for the Holy Cross complex.

Chambers says "When one door closes another opens. We have a good, strong concept that is workable and sometimes challenges are a catalyst for change".

Between them, the churches in the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin face a $240,000 insurance premium bill this year.

It's a lot of money.

During the past 10 years the diocese has had just one significant claim as a result of arson that damaged the Invercargill Central Presbytery.

"Over the last 30 years there have been very few claims" says Dunedin diocesan operations manager Paul Olsen.

Rather than continue to pay hundreds of thousands, the diocese (which encompasses Otago and Southland) has decided to move to self-insurance for its 50 churches.

As is legally required, the diocese's Catholic schools will still be covered with policies from insurance companies.

Consultation and agreement

Olsen says the DIY decision was made after diocesan-wide consultation.

All parishes agreed to the self-insurance plan, he says.

"We have a huge portfolio.

"It is good for people to know how they may handle a disaster because it may be that not all of the portfolio would necessarily need to be rebuilt like for like.

"We anticipate this will be implemented in this next insurance round for 2024."

How the scheme will work

The DIY insurance scheme intends establishing a $1 million fund to cover the diocese's churches in Otago and Southland.

Parishes will contribute to the fund each year instead of paying insurance premiums. For audit purposes, the money will be held in trust under the parish's name.

Essentially they will be building a pool of money to place on stand-by in the event of a disaster damaging parish assets.

This will ensure the diocese can continue its church mission, conduct services and house its clergy in the event of a disaster. But it won't ensure like-for-like building replacement.

Olsen thinks it will take about five years to build the fund to $1 million.

In the meantime, the diocese would support parishes to respond to events falling within those five years, he says.

The Dunedin diocese will be sharing the full plan and details with parishioners in the coming weeks.

Insurance vs Church mission

Dunedin diocese priest Father Gerard Aynsley is clear about the reason the churches are abandoning their insurance premiums.

"We can't actually afford it. When people give money to the church, they're really wanting the church to be doing its work, not to be paying insurance" he says.

Source

• ODT
• Insurance Business

But there's a heavenly hiccup with the angels: their wings are missing.

These angelic figures fell from grace during the sweeping changes ushered in by Vatican II in the 1960s.

Destined for disposal, they were fortuitously saved from a rubbish skip and found refuge in their elevated hideaway.

In a divine turn of events, the parish finance committee initiated a fundraising appeal to cover the estimated cost of $22,298 (excluding GST) for the angels' restoration.

By the end of August, Leslie joyously announced that not only had the financial goal been surpassed, but the surplus would be allocated for additional sacred enhancements.

The extra funds will cover the $1,600 expense for materials to create veils for the tabernacle, altar, and lectern frontals.

The ecclesiastical fabric and church gallon will be imported from Ukraine.

And in a blessed collaboration. Father Leslie, who is a skilled sewer, will take on the textile tasks, while Bishop Dooley, a former metal worker, will craft the metal rods for the tabernacle veil.

Source

• NZ Catholic

The first was Fr Tom Keyes (94 ) on May 10. His death was followed by that of Fr Vincent Smith (91) on June 9. Both priests died in Invercargill where they had mainly served. Then, on July 1, Fr Mervyn Hanifin (76) died in Dunedin, and Fr Michael Hill, IC, (92) died on July 6, also in Dunedin.

The contribution of Fr Keyes to Catholic life in the south was covered in NZ Catholic (June 9). Read more

The controversial design by Central Otago architect Fred Van Brandenburg will be decided by the public in May.

The proposal has split the Central Otago town of Arrowtown, attracting 369 submissions last year. One-hundred-and-fifty opposed the proposed plan.

The developers say their leaf-shaped church building is a "gift" to the Catholic parish and wider community in Arrowtown.

Opponents say the "modern and futuristic design" is inappropriate in proximity to heritage buildings.

According to Queenstown Lakes District Council documents the Olive Leaf Centre Trust last year applied to avoid a council hearing and have the application directly referred to the Environment Court.

After the application was declined, the trust lodged an objection that was heard by a council-appointed commissioner in September.
The objection was withdrawn at the end of the hearing.

The council is now preparing to hear the application in May.

The Olive Leaf centre would be situated beside the heritage-listed St Patrick's Catholic Church.

The design is for the Olive Leaf to be sunk two metres below ground level, so the only part that protrudes is the stone-clad roof.

It is envisaged as both a parish and community centre, with features including a hall, accommodation, and a wall of remembrance.

It has the blessing of the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin, which owns the land.

Source

• Stuff
• Image:Otago Daily Times

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

"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

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

But nor can all Catholics be tarnished by the actions of one man, Monsignor John Harrison, (pictured), of the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin, says.

"It actually reflects on the rest of us and everyone gets tarred, and yet there are so many good people [in the Church]."

Fr Harrison told ODT Insight the complaints against Fr Murray were handled according to the processes and understanding of paedophilia of the day.

He was not aware of the offending before complaints began to emerge, and nor were, to the best of his knowledge, others within the Church - although he still wondered about that.

"I always wondered myself how somebody else didn't stumble across it."

Bishop John Kavanagh had also been "ahead of his time" when he responded to complaints levelled against Fr Murray by sending him to Sydney for counselling, Fr Harrison said.

It was hoped treatment could cure him of his affliction, after which he could be returned to public ministry, he said.

There was no intention to allow him to resume public ministry in Sydney, as he remained the Dunedin diocese's responsibility while there, Fr Harrison said.

The fact that he had resumed his duties as a priest while there was "not knowledge we're aware of".

"If the Archbishop over there allowed that to happen, well, that wasn't Bishop Kavanagh's doing.

"He went there to get treatment."

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has not responded to repeated requests for comment from ODT Insight on Fr Murray's time in Sydney.

Fr Harrison also defended Bishop Kavanagh's decision to excardinate - or transfer - Fr Murray to the Auckland diocese, allowing him to resume public ministry in New Zealand, beginning in 1976.

He denied Bishop Kavanagh had concealed Fr Murray's crimes, saying it had been disclosed to the Sydney Archdiocese and to Bishop Mackay before Fr Murray was transferred to Auckland.

Bishop Kavanagh had also met at least one parent to discuss Fr Murray's offending face-to-face, prior to him being sent to Australia, and that parent "had every right to go to police".

"The Church wouldn't have said 'don't'.

"I think the sad thing is, I'm aware one of the very early victims did actually say something to the parents [and was not listened to].

"When I received that information, I just about wept. If that had been picked up - and I'm not casting any aspersions on the parents at all - that would have perhaps prevented a whole lot more."

Asked if less people might have been placed in harm's way if Bishop Kavanagh had gone to police, or defrocked Fr Murray immediately, Fr Harrison said there would have been "perhaps a lesser likelihood" of harm.

"But I don't think you could say that you would have prevented it." Continue reading

• Image: ODT

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

Bishop-elect Michael will be Ordained on Thursday, 26 April 2018 at 6pm in the Dunedin Town Hall.

The Installation Mass will be at 9:30am in St Joseph's Cathedral on Friday, 27

Supplied

Boyle, who was the fifth bishop of the diocese of Dunedin, died on June 1.

A requiem mass - held at St Joseph Cathedral - featured Catholic bishops from around New Zealand.

The Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, the former Clutha-Southland MP, was also in attendance.

At his Requiem Mass, Bishop Colin Campbell, the present Bishop of Dunedin, told the parable of the prodigal son, one he said Bishop Boyle had chosen for the event.

The parable was a key to his life, and its teaching of repentance and the love of God was something he not only preached, but humbly lived by.

Another requiem took place in the Basilica in Invercargill on Thursday.

Bishop Boyle was buried at the Wreys Bush cemetery, just south of Nightcaps on Thursday afternoon.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• odt.co.nz
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

According to The Tablet, 2015 attendance dues for primary students (year 1 to 8) will be $420 per annum, while for secondary students (years 9 to 13) it is $830 per annum.

Dunedin diocese needs just over $2 million in attendance dues income each year to meet mortgage payments on its 28 schools, insurance costs, administration and urgent minor capital works costs.

The insurance costs for the diocese's school buildings shot up last year from $135,000 to $400,000.

Bishop Colin Campbell expressed his gratefulness for the support and sacrifice shown by parents.

To avoid increasing costs, and subsequent increases in dues, capital works programmes at Dunedin diocese schools have been kept to a bare minimum, despite work that needs to be done to keep schools up to date.

It is Dunedin diocese policy that no child from a Catholic family is to be denied access to Catholic education because of the inability of parents to pay attendance dues.

Source

The Tablet

Bishop Boyle says that it is too flattering and it included all the good but not the bad.

The bishop was interviewed in Invercargill where he was attending a family reunion to mark the 150th anniversary of his Irish ancestor John Boyle. He said he knows Invercargill well. "There is a real community spirit in this city, it's a nice size that encourages involvement," he said.

Bishop Boyle was born at Nightcaps, a coal-mining town in Southland on November 16, 1930. His parents owned hotels in Nightcaps and Winton. He was the sixth child to be born among seven boys and two girls.

Bishop Boyle decided to become a priest at the age of about 22 or 23. Up until then he was farming and shearing sheep in the Winton area. From the age of about six or seven he wanted to be a farmer. As an adult he actually owned a farm because he thought it was to be his life.

From 1961 until 1983 Father Len Boyle worked in various parishes in Otago and Southland including Georgetown, South Dunedin and Invercargill. He was ordained bishop on May 3, 1983. Two years later, on August 19 1985, following the death of Bishop John Kavanagh, Bishop Boyle was installed as Bishop of Dunedin. On May 24, 2004 Bishop Boyle resigned after Father Campbell was appointed Bishop of Dunedin by the Holy See.

Source

• The Southland Times
• oocities.org

"The idea of creating a space for our parishioners and the community is very appealing ... We envisage it would be somewhere for our congregation to gather, and also a place where a worker from [nearby businesses] could eat their lunch under a tree on a nice day," said parish priest of St Patrick's in South Dunedin, Father Gerard Aynsley.

Source

• Otago Daily Times
• Image: Wikimedia Commons

• What they liked about the changes,
• What reservations they had about them
• What their thoughts were on the musical offerings

Of all the comments, 17 per cent were positive and 83 per cent were negative. While the minority gave reasons such as "it deepens the meaning of the Mass" and that it "is a more reverent translation", opponents declared that it was "unnecessary", "confusing and meaningless", that the "rationale was unclear" and that it was a "backward step and pre-Vatican II in language style".

Source

• The London Tablet (not available online)
• Image: Salt and Light Blog