The Auckland City Mission began its annual distribution of food parcels and presents last week. City Missioner Diane Robertson said the lines for Christmas parcels first started forming at 4.30am. On Friday, the line stretched from the mission on Hobson Street to St Matthew’s Church. Ms Robertson said many people rely on the parcels. Auckland Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Poverty’
Kevin Barr praises Fiji’s 2014 Budget
Friday, December 13th, 2013
Father Kevin Barr says Fiji’s 2014 budget is the first “people-centred” and “pro-poor” budget for many years. Speaking as a panellist on the topic “Implementation of Socio-Economic Rights’” at the Attorney-General’s 15th annual conference, he congratulated government on its initiatives and said the generous allocations for education would bring a radical change in parents’ ability Read more
NZers among the first to catch the wave
Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
On Dec. 10th, 2013, Pope Francis is inviting the world to join him in a global wave of prayer to end world hunger. New Zealanders will be among the first to have the chance to catch the wave. The Pope’s message will be available from 9am New Zealand time. In the video Pope Francis invites all people – organisations and Read more
Church beyond walls, ministering in the park
Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
The unholy noises of the city surround Burnside Park where the Rev. Edmund Harris delivers his Saturday afternoon service. He plants himself behind a makeshift altar, light-blue stole draped over his peacoat, and asks the people milling about to “gather ’round.” Some settle into folding chairs; others stand. A regular known as “Mama Kelley” passes Read more
Advent: Good news for the poor?
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013
As Christians we are often heard complaining about the ‘commercialisation’ of Christmas. And yet most of us would admit that, despite the frenetic pull towards consumerism, there is also an underlying ‘good will’ effect at this time of year which is mindful of those less well-off and puts a human face on poverty. There will Read more
The New Evangelisation in the light of the poor
Friday, November 29th, 2013
“every person is immensely holy and deserves our love. Consequently, if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life. It is a wonderful thing to be God’s faithful people. We achieve fulfilment when we break down walls and our heart is filled with faces Read more
Tamaki’s kin get $10k to feed poor
Tuesday, November 26th, 2013The son-in-law of Destiny Church leader Bishop Brian Tamaki has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship to help feed the needy. Vance McPhee and wife Jasmine will use the AMP scholarship to kick-start their business providing low-cost grocery boxes to low-income families. The couple have started building relationships with wholesalers and growers and have a ready-made Read more
Fears of a tight Christmas
Friday, November 8th, 2013Charities are bracing themselves for an influx of more than 40,000 struggling Kiwi families who can’t afford to serve Christmas dinner or put presents under the tree this year. The Salvation Army expects a third more New Zealand families will need their help this year compared to last, as lower-income households grapple to recover from Read more
I am guilty of not caring
Tuesday, October 29th, 2013
I’m ashamed to say that I almost never interact with poor people. I like to think that I care, that I humanise the issue in my mind, that I don’t ignore it like so many do. But the truth is I am guilty of not caring — of failing to be touched by the humanity Read more
Pope: Imitate St Francis by stripping away worldliness
Tuesday, October 8th, 2013
On a pilgrimage to Assisi, Pope Francis has called on all Christians and the whole Church to imitate St Francis by embracing poverty and stripping away worldly attitudes. “A Christian cannot coexist with the spirit of the world,” he said, speaking in a room of the Assisi archbishop’s residence where St Francis shed himself of Read more