The peace walk was organised in response to escalating gang tensions in Palmerston North.

Davidson and Ngatai Te Moananui's paths converged at Legacy Church in Palmerston North, a place they credit for their transformation.

"It was the most profound experience I've ever had.

"I felt truly accepted like I was part of a family," said Ngatai Te Moananui.

Davidson, who underwent baptism at the church half a year ago, remarked "the past 18 and a half months have been the most fulfilling and joyous period of my life."

He left the notorious Mongrel Mob gang in the nineties. He is urging gang leaders, law enforcement and the broader community to collaborate on finding solutions.

"People need to be [held] accountable.

"They're walking around with blood on their hands.

"There are families mourning loved ones lost to this reckless behaviour.

"It needs to stop," Jason Hina, said.

Hina spent significant portions of his life incarcerated

He is voicing his concerns over the recent surge in hostilities between rival gangs and is attributing his newfound direction to his faith and church community.

His plea coincides with a peace walk in Palmerston North where hundreds, including former gang members, marched for unity.

Moved by the peace walk, Hina said "Seeing two former gang members walk in unity with their community, promoting love, peace and harmony, is a vision I hope continues."

The city's police force is currently managing three separate homicide cases, all while striving to maintain peace between the feuding factions.

Manawatu area commander Inspector Ross Grantham is hopeful of initiating a de-escalation process.

"I'm confident we're nearing a solution. We just need a suitable venue for discussions." Grantham believes the gangs themselves are keen on a resolution. "No one wants to witness their friends or family suffer. They're as eager for a resolution as we are."

Inspector Grantham is presently overseeing three separate homicide investigations that began in May of this year.

Source

• One News
• CathNews

In a post on the Metropolitan Cathedral's page, Cardinal John Dew says he hopes and prays there will soon be good news for the people of Palmerston North who have managed their diocese so well without a diocesan bishop.

As well as being Archbishop of Wellington, Dew is also the Administrator of the Palmerston North Diocese.

Source

• Metropolitan Cathedral

Under the current law, up to 10 people are permitted to make up the church service.

With such a limitation, it became abundantly clear that the parishes would exclude people.

Eleanor, representing the Foxton and Shannon communities was invited to be one of ten people participating in the Cathedral as the parishes live-streamed Sunday Mass.

On Friday she wrote.

Dear Friends,
I went to Bunnings this afternoon.

There were no queues, people were walking freely in and out of the store, shopping at close proximity to one another and then it dawned on me what Jacinda was doing.

It is not only unpractical but cruel, and now we are presenting this same model to our parishioners.

Imagine a parish of 200 people where only ten can enter the church at a time with restrictions, which means that parishioners must now scramble to get into their own church.

When the Mass was in the presbytery it was beautiful because it looked like a family saying Mass together but if we are going to have a Mass in the Cathedral or church with only a selected few and all the other parishioners excluded, Jacinda would succeed in humiliating us as a worshipping community.

Thank you for asking me to come, but in light of what I experienced today, I have to decline.

God bless us all
Eleanor

Mass from the Cathedral with just ten people was cancelled however continued as it was during lockdown, live-streamed from the confines of the Cathedral Presbytery.

• The Cathedral, Palmerston North, Our Lady of Lourdes and Foxton parishes

They include Burmese Muslim, Rohingya from Myanmar, Palestinians from Syria, Afghan Dari speakers, Karen from Myanmar, South Sudanese and Bhutanese Nepali.

The centre trains over 100 volunteers to work in teams to support the new families for between three and six months.

Many volunteers return for second, third and sometimes more placements.

Others beaver away in the background doing a variety of tasks.

There are:

• The set-up team of five volunteers who sort the household goods
• The St Vincent de Paul Society who have for many years provided food parcels for new families
• The "Flower Lady," an elderly volunteer who provides flowers for adults on their arrival
• The Toy Sorters who co-ordinate toy boxes for the children

There is now a strong and well-supported community of former refugees settled into Palmerston North, making it a good place for family sponsors to welcome their relatives.

The Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust was set up early in 2017 to help former refugee families.

It covers the Central Districts areas of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu.

The Trust has been fundraising and making themselves known to the community of former refugees and their supporters.

It has provided financial assistance to bring one family to New Zealand and has accepted applications from three more families.

But the Trust needs more money before it can accept any further applications.

The costs of sponsoring family members vary - for example, a family of four with airfares from Afghanistan plus medical fees can be as much as $12,000.

To donate to the Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust, go online to: givealittle.co.nz/org/manawaturrft

Source

• wn.catholic.org.nz/Mary Nash, Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust.
• Image: givealittle.co.nz/org/manawaturrft

Brian Walsh, of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Palmerston North's Broadway Ave and chaplain to the local Marist Sports Club, has recently been named a Monsignor by Pope Francis.

When a Bishop believes one of the priests in his area should be honoured for his exceptional service to the church, he can nominate that priest for the title of Monsignor.

The Pope reviews the nomination and makes the final decision. If the title is granted, the nominee receives a formal parchment from the Vatican.

"I decided to nominate Monsignor Brian because of his mana within both the Church and civic community, his great generosity of spirit and his wise down-to-earth counsel to so many including myself," said Charles Drennan, the Bishop of Palmerston North.

He added that Walsh also has a great sense of humour and is a tough competitor on the golf course.

Monsignor Brian said, "If I was asked about this before the application was put in, I would have said no; but it's an honour for the Catholic community I serve as much as it is for me".

Others have been direct in their praise of Monsignor Brian. Tony Murphy, Manager of the Diocese of Palmerston North, said, "This is a truly deserved recognition for a good Kiwi bloke, whose outstanding commitment and leadership shows in his care of those within the Church and the wider community."

Steph Grantham, who works with Monsignor Brian at the Cathedral, said many people have contacted the Parish Team offering congratulations and messages of support.

"Everyone is just so pleased and excited that he and his work have been acknowledged in this way," she said.

The Marist Sports Club is delighted to find they share a chaplain with the Pope.

Paul O'Brien, well-known local businessman and Marist Sports executive director, said "I and all of us at Marist are delighted to hear that Brian has been recognised in this way for his extraordinary good work.

With his new title, Monsignor Brian is officially part of the Papal Household or whanau.

Bishop Charles said that while this has little impact when living so far away from Rome, it does mean that if Monsignor Brian is ever in Rome he would be expected to support or tautoko the Pope through his participation in Papal ceremonies at St Peter's.

In 2014, Pope Francis made it harder for priests to be granted the title, due to concerns that it might lead to careerism within the Catholic Church.

This makes his appointment of Monsignor Brian all the more noteworthy.

Source

Supplied

Drennan said there was growing social tension experienced throughout the world, including in New Zealand, regarding the TPPA.

"Often we think of protests as a series of 'nos', but we can also make it a series of 'yeses'," he said.

"Yes to fairness and justice and yes to a vision of our world that upholds a united global family that also respects rather than squashes regional goals and aspirations."

Read Bishop Drennan's Blog - Its's time for me to protest again.

Protests against the Trans-Pacific Partnership took place in 22 towns and cities thought the country on the weekend.

More than 3000 people marched in Auckland with a symbolic "Trojan horse" representing the TPPA being pulled along by corporate groups and an "Uncle Sam" character representing United States interests.

Radio New Zealand reported that in Wellington hundreds of people marched from Midland Park to Parliament.

In Christchurch, almost 3000 people were reported to have gathered in Shand's Crescent in Addington before a march to Hagley Park.

In Dunedin, about 1500 people took part in the rally in the Octagon.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Scoop
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Karatea-Goddard is the Bishop of Palmerston North's Assistant for Maori Apostolate.

The ordination took place on 7 June and was attended by people from Wairoa, Ohakune, Te Awa o Whanganui, all the marae of the Rangitikei, Manawatu and Tararua, and from the local and Maori boarding colleges.

In his homily, the Bishop of Palmerston North Charles Drennan, assured Maru, Danny's wife, and their tamariki and mokopuna, that 'in God's vision for humanity there is no such thing as competing vocations; love is not apportioned. Danny's primary vocation,' he explained, 'remains the vocation of marriage.

'His service as a deacon will come through his vocation as a husband and father. The strength of his ministry as a deacon will be a reflection of your aroha as a married couple and family.'

Bishop Charles went on to say: 'I was delighted yet not surprised to learn that as a Maori couple, part of your preparation for this day was a pilgrimage in which family and faith were again woven together, as you visited relatives and the sacred ground of your tupuna o te whakapono.'

Source

• Wel-Com
• Image: FaceBook

Bishop Peter was born in Dannevirke, 29 November 1936, was ordained a priest at Brignole Sale College, Genoa, on 23 December 1961, and ordained as the first Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Palmerston North at St. Patrick's Palmerston North, 23 April 1980. Last year, he completed fifty years of priesthood.

He has a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum, Rome, and has a Master of Theology from Otago University, New Zealand. During his time as Bishop he found time to write a number of books and numerous papers on contemporary issues.

Bishop Peter was a member of the Episcopal Board of ICEL between 1983 and 2003, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference between 1997 and 2003, and was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.

In his homily at a Mass to mark Bishop Peter's fiftieth anniversary of priesthood, Cardinal Thomas Williams said, ‘Bishop Peter ... You have witnessed over those years to the truth that the vocation to priesthood, serving as Christ served, although it involves sacrifice and commitment, is not only possible but becomes a rich source of fulfilment and deep happiness because it is rooted in love - Christ's love.'

Sources

• Welcom
• NZCBC
• Image: Manawatu Evening Standard

After the Mass there was a luncheon at which Bishop Peter Cullinane's many years of leadership in the Diocese were acknowledged and celebrated.

Bishop Drennan said his priority in the diocese was to encourage more young people to find faith.

"I've found young people are very responsive in coming to understand faith," he said.

"I've been given the name Pihopa O Nga Rangatahi which means the Bishop for young people in Maori, and I am embracing that vision."

Bishop Charles had never been to Palmerston North before being appointed to the position last year.

Source

• Fairfax Media
• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• Image: Diocese of Palmerston North

Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Broadway Avenue, on 17 March 2012 at 10.30 to mark the liturgical installation of Bishop Charles. Gathering with the people of the Diocese will be their clergy, the Bishops of New Zealand and the Apostolic Nuncio. After Mass there will be a luncheon at which Bishop Peter's many years of leadership in the Diocese will be acknowledged and celebrated.

At later dates, soon to be fixed, there will be the opportunity to farewell Bishop Peter by joining him in the celebration of Mass in the pastoral areas of the Diocese.

Source

Angela Pyke
Communications Adviser
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Read about them in the Manawatu Standard
Image: Walk Through India

A spokesperson for the Diocese, Lynette Roberts-King, said that Symposium was a great success and that many of those attending had expressed satisfaction with the experience.

The keynote speakers were Dr Donna Orsuto (Professor at the Gregorian University in Rome), Stephen Kirk (Catholic composer, musician and worship leader), Joy Cowley (a writer for whom writing is a form of prayer) and Abbot Brian Keogh (Leader of Southern Star Abbey).

On Friday Dr Orsuto spoke on "Treasures Old and New: Finding New Ways to Pray in the Old Traditions'.

Brian Keogh's presented ‘To Work and to Pray - the rhythm of Daily Life' and Joy Cowley "Prayer for All Seasons" on Saturday.

Sunday saw Dr Donna Orsuto speaking on ‘Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary' and Stephen Kirk on ‘A Primer on Prayer; A Transforming Relationship of Truth, Love and Mutual Self-giving'.

There were four workshop sessions which included a variety of topics such as Contemplative prayer; Prayer in marriage and family life; "Your will be done" - praying in difficult times and Prayer through journaling

Source

• Diocese of Palmerston North
• Image: Diocese of Palmerston North

All the Catholic bishops of New Zealand, the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, two visiting bishops from Australia, priests and parishioners from across the diocese, Christchurch visitors, members of Catholic Maori communities and representatives from colleges and schools attended the ordination ceremony in the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

Bishop Drennan will assist Bishop Peter Cullinane in the governance and pastoral care of the diocese. After Bishop Cullinane retires at the end of the year Bishop Drennan will succeed him as Bishop of the diocese.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: NZCBC