September

The Chief of the New Zealand Army, Major General Dave Gawn MBE and Roman Catholic Bishop to the Military, Archbishop John Dew, along with the Catholic community gathered for the blessing and unveiling of a bronze Risen Christ.

The bronze of the figure of the Risen Christ is a tribute to the Catholic military chaplains who served during World War I and in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

It will hang on the wall of the Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wellington.

The Unveiling took place at the Cathedral on Monday 14 July. Archbishop John Dew led the service.  

Archbishop Dew at the unveiling

Extraordinary Synod 

The upcoming extraordinary synod of bishops on the family will feature streamlined operations and new rules to help bishops grapple with the issues.

That’s what the synod’s general secretary, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, told the Catholic News Service.

The extraordinary synod from October 5-19 will be attended by presidents of bishops’ conferences, heads of eastern Catholic churches and Vatican officials.

There will also be a dozen or more voting members named by the Pope, three priests chosen by the Union of Superiors General, a dozen or more expert advisers, and about a dozen representatives of other Christian churches.

Also present will be up to 30 observers, more than half of whom will be married couples – who will be encouraged to address the assembly, Cardinal Baldisseri said.   

Source: www.cathnews.co.nz