Pgs 12, 13 NZ Catholic Bishops' Election Statement Pgs 10, 11 Party
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NZ Catholic: October 4 - 17, 2020 1 The national Catholic newspaper October 4 - 17, 2020 • No. 599 Your votes in 2020 NZ Catholic Bishops’ Election Statement Pgs 10, 11 Which party should get your vote? Pgs 12, 13 Party policies Pg 14 www.nzcatholic.org.nz 2 NZ News NZ Catholic: October 4 - 17, 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Bishop highlights election issues p4 p17 Ōtari-Wilton Bishop Michael Gielen (left) with Deacon Isaac Fransen (centre) and Deacon Chani Thomas Park ecumenical walk Two transitional deacons ordained by MICHAEL OTTO ians had once joined him in cycling the length of New Zealand to share the Good News. He saw their p20 Chani Thomas Park of Auckland diocese and determination not to give up, and he said they Isaac Fransen of Hamilton diocese were ordained would need this determination in their ministry, to the transitional diaconate by Auckland Auxilia- alongside patience and love. ry Bishop Michael Gielen at Sacred Heart church Bishop Gielen added: “Thomas and Isaac, you in Ponsonby on September 27. are sons of this age. You know the struggles and Priest housing A limit of 100 people inside the church under difficulties of this generation.” Covid alert level 2 was observed, as was social Referencing the promises the two would make in Mosgiel distancing, with every second pew taped off. in terms of celibacy, obedience to their bishop Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop Denis Browne and and to faithfulness to prayer, to the liturgy of Holy Cross Seminary rector Fr Brendan Ward were the hours, Bishop Gielen said that what “this p4 School reminder on political material the principal concelebrants. generation is searching for is men who choose The ordinations were originally scheduled for to love, to trust and to pray. Your faithfulness to Doing theology in a pandemic the previous weekend. these promises will, in no small way, determine p5 Bishop Gielen remarked that this was the first how you proclaim the Gospel”. #CancelNetflix trending over French film time in Auckland that “we have been able to gath- Exhorting them to be teachers, who are also p8 er on a Sunday for more than a month — what a authentic witnesses, Bishop Gielen said that “your Vatican reaffirms, clarifies wonderful way to do so”. generation, the millennials, the Z-generation, p9 end-of-life care teachings He also commented on the loud gusts of wind more than any, are extremely sensitive to hypoc- that could be heard outside — maybe this was the risy. They are always alert to people who [do not p20 Story of hope Holy Spirit trying to “burst in”? have integrity]. They are always asking — do they During his homily, Bishop Gielen noted that the live what they teach?” two to be ordained did not sit alone. He made ref- “. If people see you laying down your life, erence to Deacon Park having been born in Korea, giving your best, struggling with everything you and also to the Dutch background of Mr Fransen’s have, then they will, cry and laugh with you, and family, as well as to the great faith traditions of they will listen. Thomas and Isaac, we live in a both cultures. world that is crying out more than ever for gen- Bishop Gielen noted how the two then-seminar- uine love and friendship . .” Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. P.O. Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. Seminary building remediation planned Phone: (09) 360-3067 or (09) 378-4380. Email: [email protected] by NZ CATHOLIC staff remediation,” it was stated in the newsletter. Website: www.nzcatholic.org.nz The seminary is made up of two accommo- Publisher: Bishop Patrick Dunn The remediation of three of the buildings of dation blocks and an administration block. The Editor: Michael Otto Journalist: Rowena Orejana Holy Cross Seminary in Ponsonby will begin by accommodation blocks are made up of six small, Marketing and Administration: Claudia Cachay the end of the year. self-contained, three-bedroom apartments. Design & Advertising: Anne Rose The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference The work will take 18 months, and will be done earlier decided to remediate the leaky buildings in three stages. Students and staff will continue Advertising enquiries contact: at the seminary at an estimated cost of $7.6 mil- living there while the work is going on. [email protected] lion. In the seminary’s September, 2020 newslet- “It will be a very disruptive time for the stu- NZ Catholic is published fortnightly. Subscriptions: One ter, it was stated that the buildings, built during dents and staff, with moving between blocks as year, $73; two years, $135. Overseas airmail extra. The the leaky homes period, needed recladding, new required, having construction going on around contents of NZ Catholic are copyright and permission to roofing and windows reinstalled, all rotten timber us as we live, study and work, but we understand reprint must be obtained in advance. ISSN 1174-0086 replaced, as well as to be brought up to code. the need and are all looking forward to having a Member Australasian Religious Press Association and “It is disappointing that we have to do this and safe, dry and clean environment,” the newsletter Australasian Catholic Press Association spend the money required to complete the work, stated. but it is required and necessary. During the work, “We are grateful to the project group who a small amount of refurbishment will happen to have worked on this, and for the expertise of its fix some design issues, but most of the work is members in getting us to this point.” St Dominic’s Catholic College Founded by the Dominican Sisters New Holy Cross pastoral director Catholic School For Girls Years 7-13 by NZ CATHOLIC staff As pastoral director, Mrs Rani will oversee the im- The new pastoral direc- plementation, monitoring • Extensive support for the college from tor at Holy Cross Seminary and evaluation of practical the wider community. is Louisa Rani of Auckland. pastoral experience while Mrs Rani is currently students are in the semi- • Large group of students preparing for mission support coordina- nary, and when they are on tor in the pastoral services pastoral placement. their sacraments. group of Auckland diocese. The role was previously She is to continue this role held by Br Mark McKeon, • Open morning 9am: Friday 16 October on a part-time basis, while FSC, who was appointed as she works two days a week director of human forma- on secondment at the sem- tion at the seminary earlier www.stdoms.ac.nz inary. this year. Louisa Rani NZ Catholic: October 4 - 17, 2020 NZ News 3 Bishops speak before election, referendums by NZ CATHOLIC staff bishops stated that the demand for “We think people do need to give to the cries of the Earth and the cries euthanasia is driven not by pain, but serious thoughts to the issue, and of the poor, studying carefully the New Zealand’s Catholic bishops by personal and emotional factors, we hope you will use your vote in proposals of political parties, pray- are urging voters to say “no” to the such as fear of being a burden or a way that considers the impact of ing about them, and voting with our euthanasia referendum, and ask that being disabled, fears that reflect legalised recreational cannabis on conscience. voters give “serious thoughts” to negative attitudes towards the el- the young and vulnerable in our “Rather than thinking about the effect of cannabis on vulnerable derly and disabled that run deep in communities.” what will benefit each of us per- young people when considering the society. In the main section of their state- sonally regarding the election and cannabis referendum. They note that key medical ment, the bishops asked “what kind referendum choices we face, we ask The six bishops made those groups, including the New Zealand of nation do we want?” after the you to pray and discern what will calls in their 2020 Election State- Medical Association, have opposed challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic protect the poor and vulnerable, and ment-Whakapuaki Pōti 2020, which the End of Life Choice Act and have and its ongoing consequences. what will uphold the dignity of cre- also urges people to consider the criticised the act for not requiring “We hope and work for a nation ation so that we create a connected poor and vulnerable when voting, that people first access palliative that looks to ensure the sanctity and future for all, without discarding but expressly says it is not the care, when that is available. wellbeing of whānau; that ensures any of us.” bishops’ role to tell people who to On the recreational cannabis ref- families have time to spend with n The bishops’ election statement vote for. erendum, the bishops stated that, as each other; that supports all families is reproduced on pages 10-11 in this Released during Māori Language proprietors of many of the country’s to access the basic human needs of issue, in English (because of limited Week-Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, the 237 Catholic schools, with 66,000 food, clothing, housing, education space). election statement was published in students, they are keenly aware and healthcare.” The statement in English and in Māori and English throughout. that rangatahi (young people) are Voting does not start with enter- Te Reo Māori is at www.catholic.org. Urging a “no” vote in the End the group most vulnerable to the ing the polling booth: “Our partici- nz/assets/Uploads/Catholic-Bish- of Life Choice Act referendum, the negative effects of cannabis.