To begin to find an answer to that question, please join me at a recent gathering of parish delegates from the two adjacent Welsh dioceses of Cardiff and Menevia.

It was in a parish hall in Miskin, outside the Welsh capital, at the urging of Archbishop Mark O'Toole (named in April 2022 as both Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia) who wanted us to consider the prospect of formally merging the two dioceses into one.

No surprises there.

Faced with nosediving numbers, such mergers are being considered across England and Wales, with Rome's blessing.

The point of this shake-up is not just to rationalise and cut costs.

No one quite articulates this, but something bigger is afoot: a reset, a shake-up.

For a long time we've been in "emergency mode", is how the archbishop explains it, and we can't go on like this.

We have to consolidate and cooperate for the sake of mission, in a Church where parishes are both spread out over a large and diverse territory (Menevia includes Welsh-speaking Catholics, Cardiff the English periphery of Herefordshire) and shrinking and ageing.

The crisis is not a shortage of priests, but a shortage of people.

England and Wales have one of the highest ratios of priests to lay people in the world.

The archdiocese of Cardiff, spread over 1,180 square miles, has 131,280 Catholics (8.4 per cent of the population) but just 8,276 at Mass, down from roughly 20,000 in 1990 and 14,000 in 2019, just before Covid snatched more than a third of them, never to return.

The ancestral rural diocese of Menevia, spread over 3,590 square miles, has just over 26,000 Catholics (three per cent of the population) and 4,650 at Mass, compared with roughly 12,000 in 1990 and 6,000 in 2019.

The trend will continue to slump.

So you'd imagine that this meeting on 10 February would be sombre, even grumpy: competing narratives to explain the decline and to vindicate agendas; sadness about the future; a painful sense of loss, especially of the young; a sense, perhaps, of failure.

I've often found such desolation in our parishes these days, speaking around the country about the Synod.

Yet the Miskin meeting had none of those craters: it was upbeat, and creative.

No magic wands were waved, but we saw change coming, and the grace in welcoming it.

Horrified at the prospect of ageing, beleagured enclaves, we sat round tables imagining a future of mucking in together for mission.

People said this would need a culture change: you can't go on in the same way, can you?

You have to go out, learn to listen, hear from the young who don't want to come in, and the elderly who since Covid stay away.

We have to learn to share ministries and resources for mission, go beyond boundaries, build bridges and synergies.

We need to create means of decision-making in common, through strong local deaneries and a diocesan pastoral council.

One person at my table said synodality had re-energised her parish, and she now realised how key it was to the future.

I doubt anyone in Miskin that day had read Tomáš Halík's Afternoon of Christianity: The Courage to Change, published in English this week.

It's been swirling around inside my head for many months: the Czech priest-prophet has penned the most compelling, thorough account of what Pope Francis means by this being a "change of era" in the Church.

The shift is much bigger than most realise, one that requires re-imagining much of what we take for granted.

But before letting Halík himself explain that change, let's name the key spiritual move being made here. Continue reading

• Austen Ivereigh is a UK-based Catholic journalist, author, commentator and biographer of Pope Francis. His latest book is "First Belong to God: On retreat with Pope Francis."

Construction of the new church complex began January 2019, and Cardinal John Dew blessed the church and parish centre on Saturday, May 30.

Organist Dr Kemp English and his partner, renowned violinist Yuka Eguchi​, celebrated the opening with a concert in the church last Sunday.

It was also an opportunity to raise some money from ticket sales.

The couple relocated to the Kapiti coast earlier this year, moving into their rental the day before Level 4 lockdown.

During their walks around the neighbourhood during the lockdown, they would wander from Raumati Beach to Milne Dr, past the new church, by then in its final stages of the build.

English was taken with the place, walking around the exterior and gazing through the windows.

"I said to Yuka every day, 'This is a fantastic place for a concert.' I think she got sick of me saying that."

When lockdown lifted, they volunteered their services, and the church was pleased to sign them on for an opening concert.

English has performed around the world, from Hong Kong to Glasgow, and given masterclasses in the UK, China, and Australia.

He brought his own organ on its bespoke trailer, which he uses to play concerts all over the country.

Eguchi has been concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tokyo Mozart Players.

She is now assistant concertmaster and first violin of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Both are fresh off the back of a travelling organ tour of rest homes around the country, in conjunction with charity From Us With Aroha.

The current parish was formed by the combining of Our Lady of Fatima in Waikanae with St Patrick's parish Paraparaumu

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• nzcatholic.org.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Before the concrete is poured, a collection of personal religious items, contributed by members of the Catholic community of St Luke's in Flat Bush, will be buried in the foundations.

The items are treasures that have sentimental value and are expressions of faith to the parishioners.

They include holy cards and rosaries brought back to Flat Bush from Rome.

The treasures will be placed during a small celebration on June 13 at the Chapel Road site, just across the road from Barry Curtis Park.

The church can already be seen to be taking shape, and the progress of the development is being recorded on the parish website.

The parish is continuing to fund-raise for the $10.8 million building project, which includes a community lounge, kitchen, large public courtyard, memorial garden and 125-space car park.

St Luke's will also be the spiritual home for nearby Sancta Maria College and Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School.

Currently, the parish rents the Sancta Maria College auditorium for Sunday Masses.

The parish worship has been based at the college since Sunday 5th February 2006, when 220 people from Flat Bush gathered to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist.

Despite lacking a permanent home, the parish has grown to more than 1,400, and is now a thriving multi-cultural family congregation.

Source

• times.co.nz
• Image: flatbushcatholic.org.nz

With gatherings restricted in size or prohibited altogether, many houses of worship are fighting to stay connected, rapidly weighing technological options to keep as many people as possible engaged.

This involves a good deal of trial and error. Congregational leaders find themselves relying on multiple digital tools — some of which they have never used before — to connect themselves to their members and to keep their members caring for each other.

As stressful as these times are, they have provided an extraordinary opportunity in my Christian community to reflect on our identity and mission as the church, and to imagine ways of being more connected than ever with our fellow church members.

In normal times, most churches plow forward without much reflection on identity and mission.

Now they have the chance to do something new, and I challenge churches to take a wee bit of time to reflect together on questions like these:

What is the church? A building? A particular gathering? A community?

What is worship? What really matters in a worship service? And given the limits forced on us by the pandemic, which technological tools can best help us embody our identity and mission?

With more than a decade of experience in the IT industry, I am keenly aware that our technological decisions shape who we become. Our decisions now will shape us not just over the span of this pandemic, but beyond it as well.

The nature of Christianity will shape those decisions.

Following its Jewish roots, Christianity is primarily a social faith, embodied in communities that express this faith in their everyday lives. Christianity is also incarnational, highly valuing bodily presence — both the presence of God-with-us and our presence with one another.

We have no greater gift to give one another than our full, undivided presence and attention.

The Apostle Paul imagines churches as the body of Christ, a powerful metaphor of interactive community in which there are no extraneous members and in which everyone has a role to play.

We are called to be active participants in our faith, not just passive consumers of religion.

What do these essential convictions mean for our choices about technology and connection?

Not all technological platforms are created equal

Some technologies allow us to be more present than others.

Videoconferencing platforms (Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.) that allow all participants to be seen and heard are much better than webcasting platforms (Facebook Live, etc.), designed for passive consumption.

Audio-only tools (phone conference calls) are not as fully participatory as video conferencing but are better than passive media.

And even Facebook Live, with its capacity for real-time commenting, is a little more participatory than solely passive broadcasting platforms — but it is much closer to the passive end of the spectrum than to videoconferencing.

Medium-to-large churches may want to foster smaller groups

While a larger Sunday service is probably best as a webcast, small groups should be encouraged to meet using videoconferencing platforms such as those named above to foster presence with one another in that setting.

These groups might have a suggested order of worship that outlines the prayers, songs and Scripture passages to be read and discussed. Allow a short time of sharing what's going on in our lives — much needed in this rapidly spinning chaos!

My own church has implemented a daily 8 p.m. Zoom call that is open to all members for praying and sharing together.

Don't rule out the possibility of legal, healthy physical presence

Especially in climates warm enough for people to be outdoors, churches are finding creative ways for smaller groups of people to come together outdoors with the necessary health precautions.

As long as it is not legally restricted, church members can interact with social distancing on porches, in backyards and in a walking, running or other exercise group that doesn't require close proximity.

One local pastor I know visits church members on his daily run, stopping by their houses and talking with them outside.

Our means of connecting and being the church in this tightly restrictive season will undoubtedly shape the future of our faith.

I pray that we will be contemplative and creative in the discernments that we make along the way and that this pandemic will be looked back on as a season of energy and growth for generations to come.

• C. Christopher Smith is founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books and author of "How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church." The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. Reproduced with permission.

The dedication ceremony started with various church district presenting gifts in a traditional Ta'alolo and the Mafutaga Aoao a Tina - the Church Women's Council presented fine mats, siapo and a monetary gift of $2 million tala. (NZ$1.1 million)

After the Taalolo, the christening ceremony followed, with Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese cutting the ribbon to open building while the Chairman of the Church, Reverend Elder Tautiaga Senara conducted the service.

The ceremony was attended by the head of state, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, members of the council of deputies, cabinet ministers, leaders of other denominations, parliamentarians, members of the business community and hundreds of guests.

After the guests were seated, The Church General Secretary, Reverend Vavatau Taufao announced the only media to be allowed inside was the EFKS TV which is owned by the church.

The Samoa Observer reported that Vavatau has refused to speak to their reporter.

He insisted that he wanted to talk only to a reporter from Radio New Zealand International.

Difficulties have been encountered in completing the project including delays, questions surrounding loans raised, the cost of contruction matertials and difficulties with contactors.

The exact cost of the project and the extent of the remaining debt remains unclear.

News organisations have suggested different amounts. The confusion is increased by the fact that the amounts quoted are in Samoan tala, US dollars and in some cases the currency is not specified.

It appears however that the total cost is in the region of 17 million tala (NZ$9.6 million).

Vavatau said criticism of the church spending too much on constructing church buildings rather than the welfare of the people was an important matter to be considered.

"It is the people that agreed to build this, even though it is expensive it is their choice. But as General Secretary I believe that this is a living testimony of church prayer,"

Source

• talamua.com
• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• sobserver.ws

He said that they are asking these religious groups to follow the proper channel and liaise with the village headmen.

"New religious and church groups are being set up in villages and they come in with principles and beliefs that have contradicted traditional protocol."

"We have received submissions in which villagers are concerned that more people turn up to do religious works and not so many when the village headman calls for duties to be done," he said.

"In villages today, when the village headmen calls for a meeting, hardly anyone turns up, but when there is a church job to carry out all church members attend."

"But these church members live in the villages and there are more financial levy collected for the churches rather than the vanua."

The issue has emerged in the course of a series of consultation meetings with district representatives.

Source

• fijitimes.com
• Image: i.ytimg.com

Chapuru is a village on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

According to John Toki, Solomon Star's Guadalcanal correspondent, close to a thousand people braved the heavy downpour on Saturday to witness the blessing of the new church.

"These people came from communities in Guadalcanal, the nearby Savo, Russell, and Ngella Islands, Honiara, and also Malaita province.

"Members of other denominations were also part of the event."

Mr Toki said Archbishop Adrian Smith carried out the dedication of the new Church.

"That was a historic event for the community and one that they have been looking forward to because they started building the permanent church building some 20 years back."

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Chapuru community Joseph Rios thanked those that contributed towards the completion of the building.

"Some of those who initiated the plan have passed on, but many were happy to finally witness the consecration of the building."

According to John Toki, Solomon Star's Guadalcanal correspondent, close to a thousand people braved the heavy downpour on Saturday to witness the blessing of the new church.

"These people came from communities in Guadalcanal, the nearby Savo, Russell, and Ngella Islands, Honiara, and also Malaita province.

"Members of other denominations were also part of the event."

Mr Toki said Archbishop Adrian Smith carried out the dedication of the new Church.

"That was a historic event for the community and one that they have been looking forward to because they started building the permanent church building some 20 years back."

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Chapuru community Joseph Rios thanked those that contributed towards the completion of the building.

"Some of those who initiated the plan have passed on, but many were happy to finally witness the consecration of the building."

Source

• solomonstarnews.com
• Image: solomonstarnews.com

"It cannot rely on parishioners ... times are difficult. The church has to look at other ways to ensure its financial viability - do not underestimate the Christian dollar," says Kerupi Tavita.

He has become the pastor of the Ekklesia Church, and plans to open what he says will be New Zealand's first branch of it at Lindale, Paraparaumu.

On behalf of the church, he has also become the part-owner of Lindale Farm and Lindale Cafe.

Kerupi says Ekklesia Church is independent and non-denominational.

It will be launched at Lindale auditorium on March 1 and he is expecting Government ministers and pastors from Australia and Malaysia to be among 400 people attending.

Kerupi was formerly an immigration manager who resigned after an expenses scandal.

In 2008 he was accused of giving himself a $400 gift while a senior Immigration NZ manager, and approving expenses to an employee who was not entitled to them.

He resigned and, six years later, says audits have cleared him of any wrong-doing. "There is still a bit of smell there but they found nothing untoward," says Kerupi.

He said he had battled through that time with kidney failure and depression, but now had a "greater sense of faith".

Source

Stuff.co.nz

Image: Vimeo.com

The apostolic vicar, Bishop Camillo Ballin, said the move is being made because Bahrain is more central and "easily accessible for meetings and conferences of Church officials".

Bahrain's easier visa regime has been suggested as a factor in the vicariate's decision, which has come after several threats to the religious freedom of Christians in the region.

A Kuwaiti member of Parliament, Osama Al-Munawer, said he would submit a bill calling for the removal of all churches in Kuwait. After facing criticism, he later said that existing churches should remain, but he advocated a ban on the construction of any new non-Islamic places of worship.

In March, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah, reportedly said it is "necessary to destroy all the churches of the region" in accord with an ancient rule that only Islam may be practised there.

Shi'ite clerics in Iran are criticising Bahrain's Sunni monarch, King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, for granting the Catholic Church 9000 square metres to build a new church, complaining that he destroyed dozens of Shi'ite mosques during the unrest that erupted there early last year.

In Bahrain the head of the Salafist Asalah party, Abdel Halim Murad, said the building of churches in Islamic lands was "haram" (forbidden) and that the sound of church bells could not be allowed to drown out the call to prayer in the Arabian peninsula, the cradle of Islam.

The vicariate tends to the spiritual needs of around two million Catholics in the Arab Gulf states, the vast majority of them expatriates from the Philippines, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Bahrain already has one Catholic church, built in 1939 and serving about 80,000 Catholics, and shares another place of worship with the Anglican community.

The apostolic nunciature in Kuwait will remain.

Source:

Catholic News Agency

CNSNews.com

Image: Arabian Gazette

Organising committee chairman Iosefo Jone said the church had been working closely with the vanua of Saivou to build the first-ever high school in a district where more than 1000 resided.

He said the money would allow for the purchase of building materials for the first phase of development. The school will be built near the primary school at Navunibitu and will cater for the seven primary schools in the district.

"Parents have spent huge amounts of money sending their children to high school in other parts of the country," Mr Jone said.

The province of Ra it has four zones - Nalawa, Rakiraki, Saivou and Nakorotubu.

Each zone has their own primary schools. Rakiraki Zone, with the advantage of its three secondary schools, handles all primary school feeders and also accommodates the rural to urban drift in searching for a place in one of these secondary schools.

At present the Saivou Zone, which consists of nine primary schools, has no secondary school to accommodate the flow of Class Eight into Form Three.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Fiji sun
• Image: Fiji Times

Dulles developed five models, drawing on a range of theological schools and traditions, both Protestant and Catholic, to illuminate different aspects of the church. His models included church as institution, mystical communion, sacrament, herald, and servant. Dulles was careful to point out that no single model, by itself, adequately paints a complete picture of the church; each contains important insights about the nature of the church.

But he also stressed that the particular models he articulated, although comprising relatively timeless truths that have stood up for millennia, are not immutable. "To immure oneself behind a fixed theological position is humanly and spiritually disastrous," Dulles wrote. "The images and forms of Christian life will continue to change, as they have in previous centuries. In a healthy community of faith, the production of new myths and symbols goes on apace."

In our time, the explosion of new media — and in particular the ability of digital media to collapse time and space and to create real-time global connections — offers a 21st century model that may helpfully supplement older paradigms for understanding the church.

Continue reading New Models of the Church in a New Media World

Sources

• Image: la vu du toit