If you have any items to be included in the Diocesan Bulletin, please email them to newsletter@cdh.org.nz
Our Jubilee 2025 page is live - click through!
Updated June 2025
CATHOLIC KIWI PODCAST: The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has launched a new podcast series, sharing stories of faith, ministry and mission of Kiwis and visitors to our shores. The first episodes have been released, with new episodes scheduled as part of ‘Season 1’ leading up to Christmas. Search “Catholic Kiwi Podcast” on YouTube or Spotify now.
NOSTRA AETATE WEBINAR: Celebrating 60 years of the Church’s call to dialogue with people of all faiths. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations will commemorate Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document promulgated on 28 October 1965, and outline contemporary approaches to religious dialogue in Aotearoa New Zealand today. Tuesday, 28 October 2025, 7-8pm. Zoom Link:
https://tinyurl.com/NA-NZ-2025
See below for our local celebrations
Support Life Sunday 2025: Pilgrims for Hope – Building a Culture of Love and Life
Each year, on the second Sunday of October, the Church in Aotearoa celebrates
Support Life Sunday. As the New Zealand bishops reminded us in the 2023
document, Te Kahu o te Ora: “We do not need to look far to recognise that our world
requires a lot of healing. All around us, we experience divisions that are the result of
human behaviours and institutions.”
Support Life Sunday 2025 provides an opportunity, within this year of Jubilee, to
focus on how we can better support a culture of love and life through prayer and
action. Find out more at catholic.org.nz/resources
Parish Secretary Position Available
All Saints by the Sea, Mount Maunganui, is seeking a welcoming and well-organised Parish Secretary to support the Parish Priests and assist with the smooth running of the parish office. This part-time role (20 hours per week, Tuesday to Friday) involves responsibilities in administration, finance, communications, and serving as a key point of contact for parishioners.
For further details and a full job description, please contact: Fr Eamon Kennedy – freamonkennedy@gmail.com
Holy Family Parish (Christchurch West) is hiring a Director of Parish Life & Operations
We are seeking a passionate full-time leader to help us lead, equip, and build a joyful, Christ-centred parish.
Do you have:
• Strong leadership & operational skills
• A collaborative, coaching style
• Experience in multicultural or faith-based settings
• Deep alignment with Catholic mission & parish life
Enquire or apply with CV + cover letter: apply@holyfamily.nz
Applications close: 24 Oct 2025
Stay Informed on National Safeguarding efforts
The National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS) is now publishing a quarterly newsletter with updates, resources, and information about the Church’s safeguarding efforts.
Read the latest issue here: Newsletter web version
Hold that space: November 9th for "Catholics and Interfaith Relations: 60th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate". Celebrations will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary after the 10.30 am Sunday Mass.
Red November - During the month of November, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) invites everyone around Australia and New Zealand to remember and pray in a particular way for Christians who suffer persecution for their faith.
This invitation is founded upon Red Wednesday, an international ACN initiative to draw attention around the world to pray for persecuted Christians, this year it will be held on Wednesday 19 November 2025.
Your parish might like to arrange a special Mass or offer your Mass of the day, pray a red rosary and/or hold a prayer vigil. Resources are available here.
Please email kirstym@cdh.org.nz if you decide to partake, we would like to report back to ACN with any initiatives taken up.
Bishop’s Appeal 2025 - Sunday 21 September
Thank you all for the trust and generosity you showed in last year’s appeal. Together, we supported people and places where the love of Christ is needed most — from chaplaincy and Catholic education, to family outreach and faith formation.
This year, our campaign is titled ‘Planted in Christ, Reaching in Love.’ It is a call to remain firmly grounded in our relationship with Jesus and, from that place of strength, extend ourselves to others with care, mercy, and hope.
Your gift will help carry out this mission through:
▪ Supporting clergy and lay formation
▪ Enriching Catholic identity in our schools and parishes
▪ Providing chaplaincy and outreach to the sick, the struggling, and the seeking
In every parish, in every home, in every heart, we’re called to grow deeper and reach further. Please prayerfully consider a donation to this year’s Appeal.
Every gift — no matter the size — helps build a Church that is alive in Christ and present in love.
Envelopes with further information including details on how to donate are available in the Church foyer. (insert what description works best for you)
Or please head online to bishopappeal.cdh.nz
“Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College enrolment for Bachelor Degree and Graduate Diploma in Theology for Semester One 2026 will run from September 22 – November 21, 2025. Go to www.tekupenga.ac.nz/apply to enrol.”
Please find attached the final version of the National Calendar for the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand for 2026.
The calendar has also been posted to the NZCBC website, which includes a link to the PDF: https://catholic.org.nz/resources/national-calendar-2026/
Calling past students of St Joseph’s, Paeroa.
At the moment we are gathering information - pictures, stories, memories - of St Joseph's over the years. We are hoping to share some of these later on this year at a celebration event for the school's 125th birthday. If you have anything to share, please email Emalene principal@stjpaeroa.school.nz, or simply drop by and visit our office.
The Vocations Team for the Hamilton Diocese have asked for this new poster to be displayed in parish foyers. This is to replace and previous posters you may have up already.
Full size version downloadable here
We pray for the young men in our own families. May they respond to your call to follow you more nearly as a Priest of Hamilton Diocese. Lord Hear Us.
"Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College is offering online webinars in 2025. This series features our current and past students who will inspire us as they talk about growing in faith, leadership in ministry, and their role in ministry.
Please share the attached flyer
UP NEXT:
Reflections on Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Speaker: Fadi Yalda (CTC Biblical Studies Lecturer)
Music
We have renewed our annual subscription for sacredmusic.online
If your parish/community-group/school is interested please contact kirstym@cdh.org.nz we have set up a diocesan subscription and can add you as a user.
CathNews
CATHOLIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: What's happening in the Catholic Church in New Zealand? What is Pope Leo doing and saying? What are the big stories affecting people of faith in our country? Get Catholic headlines delivered to your inbox each Tuesday and Friday. Sign up today at: https://cathnewsnz.com/
Mihi Māori
The date for Miha Māori are as follows:
St Matthew's Catholic Church, 59 Silverdale Rd, Silverdale , 11am
Sun -26 Oct
Mens Rosary Group
Calling all men to gather and pray for the conversion of New Zealand.
Meet: Steps of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
When: Saturday November 1st, 12pm
Contact: Bruce 021 556 227
(These will continue to run every 1st Saturday of the Month)
Pro-Life Vigil Outside Waikato Hospital
Is anyone interested in attending a fruitful, legal and regular pro-life vigil outside Waikato Hospital?
Times and days that we meet: Wednesday’s and Alternate Friday’s
If you are interested in coming along please contact Ria Rose via email: sixroses@xtra.co.nz
SAINT TERESA’S SCHOOL BLUFF is to celebrate 125 years Jubilee.
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025.
We would love to see you and do let your friends / relations know.
Enquiries to Sonz125@hotmail.com
St Joseph’s Hāwera | 150 Years
St Joseph’s Parish & School, Hāwera, will be celebrating 150 years over Labour Weekend, 24–26 October 2025. All past and present members of the parish and school community are invited to participate in the Jubilee celebrations. Registration Forms & Event Calendar are available at www.stjoeshawera150celebration.co.nz. For further details email: stjosephshawerajubilee@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE
PHOTOS REQUIRED
St. Patrick's Parish Putaruru is celebrating its 100 year centenary this year on 30th November 2025.
As part of the celebrations, we will be having a photographic exhibition and would kindly ask if anyone has any photos of St. Patrick's Church, in particular the construction or opening of the church if they could scan and email to the parish office: stpatricksputaruru@gmail.com along with any stories or names that may be in relation with the photos.
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