The church was packed to overflowing with many dozens more outside and across the road outside the mosque.

The mosque and the church face each other across Vermont St in the inner city suburb of Ponsonby.

For many years the two worshipping communities have enjoyed a warm and friendly relationship.

On certain significant Muslim holy days, the mosque community uses the parish's parking facilities.

College students in uniform from St Mary's and St Paul's Colleges were present and helped lead the liturgy, as did seminarians from Holy Cross College.

In his welcome, Bishop Pat read the letter from Pope Francis who expressed his sadness, solidarity and prayer.

Psalms showing many commonalities between the Muslim and Christian faiths were prayed, and the prayer of St Francis, ‘Make me a channel of your peace' was sung.

The two Muslim speakers gave moving addresses.

The family of one of them immigrated to Auckland in 1907 and he regards himself as a true Kiwi.

Sadness was mixed with humour in his speech. Referring to the two fully armed policemen who were on duty outside the church, he expressed gratitude to the Catholics for allowing them to park in church grounds and, turning to Bishop Pat, said "You don't need to show mercy when my Muslim brothers block your parking - you can call the police and have them towed".

He said that Muslims considered Mary the most important of all women, and her son, Jesus, a great prophet. Any Muslim who denies Jesus, he said, is not a true Muslim.

The second Muslim speaker, who had lost dear friends in the massacre, spoke of violence and hatred. He mentioned a case where an imam was giving hate speeches in Auckland - the mosque was closed and the imam removed.

He reiterated that the violent act should be answered with love and support.

A collection was taken to be presented to the Muslim community for the support of the Christchurch Muslim families.

After the service, to the singing of Mo Maria, Bishop Pat, the Muslim community and the whole congregation of many denominations and faiths processed with flowers across the road to the mosque and were warmly welcomed inside, where there were speeches of welcome, gratitude and solidarity in faith.

Source

Supplied: Lyndsay Freer. Spokesperson for the Catholic diocese of Auckland

"We are unable to express the confusion and pain we feel.

"Our grief threatens to overwhelm our community at the tragic loss of our sisters and brothers and the act of hate that has been inflicted," Martin said at a memorial Mass on Saturday.

"We know that our loving God has not caused this pain, but the freedom God gives us as a mark of his great love has been tragically misused and abused," the bishop said.

"We gather here this morning because we are at a loss about what to do or what to say. I know that many of you have already reached out to members of the Muslim community in your neighbourhoods and workplaces. Your acts of love are already overpowering the hate," he said.

Three and a half hours after the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch last Friday, New Zealand's six Catholic bishops had issued a statement expressing their solidarity with New Zealand's Muslim community.

Their message reads:

"Dear Members of the Muslim community in Aotearoa New Zealand,

"We hold you in prayer as we hear the terrible news of violence against Muslims at mosques in Christchurch.

"We are profoundly aware of the positive relationships we have with Islamic people in this land, and we are particularly horrified that this has happened at a place and time of prayer.

"We are deeply saddened that people have been killed and injured, and our hearts go out to them, their families and wider community.

"We wish you to be aware of our solidarity with you in the face of such violence."

The bishops signed their letter "Peace, Salaam,"

An ecumenical grouping of churches comprising Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Salvation Army, Catholic and independent churches, the Christchurch Inner-City Christian Ministers' Association, wrote to the city's Muslim community saying:

"In the face of today's horrific shooting, the combined inner-city Christian ministers and their congregations wish to extend our love to the wider Muslim Community of Christchurch and assure them of our friendship and support at this time of great loss.

"Be assured of our continuing prayers as our joint city community and people struggle to understand what has happened in the wake of this unconscionable act.

"As members of two faith traditions, born out of a shared Abrahamic inheritance, we stand in solidarity with you, looking and crying to God, the source of all."

A message sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, on behalf of Pope Francis, said the pope was "deeply saddened to learn of the injury and loss of life caused by the senseless acts of violence" at the mosques.

"He assures all New Zealanders, and in particular the Muslim community, of his heartfelt solidarity in the wake of these attacks." He also offered prayers and blessings to those injured, those grieving, those who died and emergency personnel involved.

Source

• cruxnow.com
• stuff.co.nz
• Supplied: Amanda Gregan. Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
• facebook.com
• twitter.com
• cruxnow.com
• catholic.org.nz
• cny.org
• christiantoday.com
• Image: stuff.co.nz

She said IWCNZ has been engaging with both the previous and current government for several years, asking for support.

Rahman said she did not think the council's concerns had been taken seriously.

"We hear so much about immigration policy and who's coming into this country and so much of that is targeted against our community and we know that our community is discriminated against because of fears of terrorism.

"Why was this person not monitored? I think the government needs to come back and engage with us, and let us know what they're going to do, when and how, and it needs to be community-based and community-led.

"About five years ago, the IWCNZ wrote a comprehensive report on the problems we were facing and sent it to the Ministry of Social Development.

"We pushed, but as far as we know, nothing concrete was done with that report," said Rahman.

She said they had received no significant funding.

"At least five years of solid government engagement took place across a National-led and then a Labour-led government.

"We begged and pleaded, we demanded.

"We knocked on every door we could, we spoke at every forum we were invited to."

The IWCNZ and other Mulsim organisations have repeatedly expressed their concerns:

• In October 2016 with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS)
• In December 2016 when the then race relations commissioner Dame Susan Devoy convened a meeting with Muslim women
• In January 2017 with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
• In March 2017 the Human Rights Commission and the State Services Commission organised a full-day meeting with heads of government
• In August 2017 with the Department of Internal Affairs in Hamilton
• With the Department of Internal Affairs and Office of Ethnic Communities over the next few months
• In January 2018 with DIA, OEC and two government ministers from the new government
• In February 2018 at a major security conference

Listen to Catherine Ryan interview

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• thespinoff.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz