NZ Catholic: April 5 - 18, 2020 1 The national Catholic newspaper April 5 - 18, 2020 • No. 586 To city and world Special Urbi et Orbi blessing – pg 9 www.nzcatholic.org.nz 2 NZ News NZ Catholic: April 5 - 18, 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Note from the Editor New bishop f you are reading this, you ly as possible. We will also be future, but not return to our p20 heads north are likely doing so using an posting stories to our website office, the present position is Ielectronic device. NZ Catho- and to our Facebook page that subscribers will not be lic was two days away from go- regularly. It is important to billed for these editions. They ing to press with its next print keep communicating as well as will be regarded as bonus is- edition when the Ministry for possible as a Church communi- sues. If this changes, we will let Culture and Heritage decided ty, especially at this time. Good you know. that non-daily newspapers and communication is needed now This is an unprecedented periodicals are not considered more than ever. situation, not only for the staff essential services under the Since we are not produc- of NZ Catholic, but for the news and media designation. ing print editions during the whole Church and the whole NZ Catholic does not come un- lockdown, our normal admin- nation. We hope that we can der the exemptions announced istration function is effectively return to producing a print edi- by the PM on March 31. suspended. We will not be issu- tion as soon as conditions per- p17 Rather than waste the edi- ing subscription renewal letters mit. But some conditions — for tion we had largely prepared, and updating our subscriber instance the future supply of we have made it into a free database until we are able to newsprint during the lockdown electronic edition. This can be print the paper and are able to — may be beyond our control. found on our website return to our office. Likewise, We wish all our readers well. (www.nzcatholic.org.nz) and we are not sending papers to Please keep us in your prayers. on others. We hope to produce parishes while churches are Keep safe and stay home. St more of them during the lock- closed. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us. down. If we can produce a print St Francis de Sales, pray for us. Please share these as wide- edition at some point in the — Michael Otto, Editor. Mission expo in capital Abortion law change disappointing by NZ CATHOLIC staff well the coercive realities that drive many women to have an abortion that they later regret,” said p5 Fundmentalist Bible interpretation The New Zealand Catholic bishops are deeply Ms Piper. disappointed that Parliament passed the Abortion “That is why we have argued consistently p8 Family life at home in lockdown Legislation Bill at its third reading by a margin of that it is in women’s best interests that the legal 68 to 51 on March 18. That was the final vote on pathway to an abortion needs to be robust. This p10 Dedicating nations to Mary the bill in Parliament. With the royal assent given law does nothing to help those women who, for by the Governor-General on March 23, it is now a variety of reasons, choose an abortion because law. they feel they have no other choice, whether that p12 Gospel readings for Sundays “This [piece of legislation] totally ignores the is because of partner pressure or for economic or fact that there are always at least two human lives social reasons. involved in every pregnancy,” said a spokesperson “Neither does this law do anything to reduce for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, the overall number of abortions, something that On the front cover: Pope Francis holds the mon- Ms Cynthia Piper. a majority of New Zealanders have consistently strance as he delivers his extraordinary blessing “urbi “There is no longer any recognition of the said they want. It has been rushed through and is rights of the unborn child in this new law,” said ill-considered in so many ways.” et orbi” (to the city and the world) during a prayer ser- Ms Piper, a lecturer for the Church’s Te Kupenga – Furthermore, the bishops are absolutely dis- vice in the portico of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Catholic Leadership Institute, speaking on behalf mayed that MPs voted down a host of sensible on March 27. (CNS photo). of the bishops. amendments that would have made the new leg- “That is a travesty of human rights. To hold islation much more compassionate, said Ms Piper. that the foetus is not a legal person ignores the “These included amendments that would have reality that a genetically unique human life has required babies born alive to be cared for like any begun which is neither that of the mother or the other child, a ban on sex-selection abortions and a father. That the law fails to recognise this does ban on disability discrimination abortions.” not change what is a biological and human fact.” The bishops’ conference also believes the new Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New Street, Ponsonby, law will fail many women. Auckland. P.O. Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. “Those of us who have experience of support- Sadness at Msgr Phone: (09) 360-3067 or (09) 378-4380. ing women with so-called unwanted pregnancies, Email: [email protected] or women who have had abortions, know only too Website: www.nzcatholic.org.nz Browne’s death Publisher: Bishop Patrick Dunn Editor: Michael Otto Journalist: Rowena Orejana by NZ CATHOLIC staff Marketing and Administration: Claudia Cachay Design & Advertising: Anne Rose Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe expressed sadness over the passing away of Msgr Michael Advertising enquiries contact: Browne, brother of Bishop Emeritus of Hamilton, [email protected] Bishop Denis Browne. Msgr Browne was 85. NZ Catholic is published fortnightly. Subscriptions: One “The Lord has called Michael home at 10.20pm. year, $73; two years, $135. Overseas airmail extra. The May he know the fullness of God’s love,” Bishop contents of NZ Catholic are copyright and permission to Denis said in a text message to Bishop Lowe on reprint must be obtained in advance. ISSN 1174-0086 March 3, 2020. Msgr Browne’s roles in Hamilton diocese Member Australasian Religious Press Association and Australasian Catholic Press Association included being vicar for administration, Clergy Trust Fund secretary, treasurer of the CTF and Medicare Fund, member of the DFC, confessor for the Tyburn community, member of the Priest Council and College of Consultors, member of the St Dominic’s Appointments Committee, Dean of the Hamilton North Deanery, convenor of the Boundaries Com- Catholic College mission — being a sub-committee of the Priest Founded by the Dominican Sisters Council — and chancellor for diocese. Catholic School For Girls Years 7-13 He retired in 2013, residing first in Papamoa and then moving to Auckland. Msgr Browne was ordained as a priest in 1959 • A wonderful cultural night on 13 March. CP1136-V2 by Archbishop James Liston, having been trained • Six of the eight Polyfest groups completed their at Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch and Holy NCEA dance standards on 21 March. Cross College, Mosgiel. He was assistant parish priest in Onehunga • See regular updates on our college website Caring for you with warmth, (1959-1971) and Tauranga (1971-1975). He was under COVID19 latest update. then assigned as parish priest of Tokoroa (1975- • Follow our student leaders on Instagram: honesty and compassion 1981), Gisborne (1981-1987), Matamata (1987- St Doms2020. 1997), Fairfield (1998-2002), Fairfield and Te Rapa Phone 0800 276 420 or 09 527 0266 (2002-2006) and Tauranga (2007-2012). • We pray daily for all our college families. A requiem Mass was celebrated at the Cathe- www.arohafunerals.co.nz dral of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 6, fol- www.stdoms.ac.nz lowed by burial at the Ohaupo Catholic Cemetery. NZ Catholic: April 5 - 18, 2020 Coronavirus 3 Locked down Church community keeps faith by ROWENA OREJANA face these challenges and not let fear rule our heart,” he said. “I feel like we are entering into Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn another type of Lent.” encouraged families to celebrate This was Dunedin Bishop Michael Sunday “as a domestic Church”. Dooley’s reflection in his pastoral “Moving to Alert 4 sees all of letter on March 22 as the New Zea- us self-isolating. Not just to keep land bishops made the painful deci- ourselves safe, but those about us. sion to cancel all Masses - starting This requires our church buildings on March 20 and until further notice. to close. But not the Living Church. The bishops had to make another We, the people of God, are still mis- “heartbreaking decision” to close sionary disciples, praying for and churches after the Government ad- supporting one another,” he said. vised it was putting the country into With available technology, the lockdown from 11.59pm on March different dioceses put links to 25 to prevent the further spread of streamed Masses on their websites. the novel coronavirus/Covid-19. More prayer and reflection resources The lockdown put a halt to had been made available online. planned first confessions and com- Bishops Dunn, Lowe and Martin munions throughout the country as celebrated online Sunday Masses, well as to weddings and funerals. the links to which were posted on their Facebook pages as well as n Spiritual fasting on websites. Different priests also “Reluctantly, we are ‘fasting’ celebrated daily Masses across the from the Eucharist, but this can be country.