The Hope and Renewal Summit held in Palmerston North on October 3–4 brought together over 500 Catholics from across Aotearoa and beyond. While the event focused on equipping parishes for renewal, it also left a lasting impression on those who attended. From clergy to lay leaders, educators to newcomers, participants shared a sense of hope, purpose, and connection.
Before the Summit: Anticipation and Openness
Bishop John Adams, host of the Summit, expressed his excitement ahead of the gathering:
“It’s a wonderful privilege to be the bishop of the Diocese of Palmerston North at this moment. People are coming here looking for something – looking to renew the Church in this country – and I’m thrilled to be part of it. In fact, the Summit began weeks ago, when people heard a mysterious call to come to this place. I wish all participants a very holy two days.”
Jess from Holy Family Parish in Christchurch shared her hopes:
“I’m excited to learn what it means to be a visionary in my own parish.”
Fr Frank Bird SM looked forward to practical insights:
“I’m keen to meet people from parishes across New Zealand and see what’s really working to bring young people and families back into the community.”
After the Summit: A Sense of Belonging and Mission
Ken Thomas from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit found his expectations exceeded:
“I came open to whatever might happen, and it’s gone beyond what I imagined. Talking to people made me realise the Church isn’t dying – there are sparks of life everywhere. The Holy Spirit is moving in different ways. The Church is alive.”
Donna Brown, Cathedral pastoral coordinator, was struck by the shared commitment:
“It’s wonderful to be gathered with so many people who are here for the same purpose and have it in their hearts to ‘roll up their sleeves,’ as Matt Regitz said, and make change happen.”
Jelvine Cortez, Marketing and Communications Manager at Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College, described the experience as:
“Enlightening, empowering, and exciting. Kevin Bailey’s testimony (Executive Director of Divine Renovation Australasia) was especially powerful – very personal, relatable, and deeply moving.”
Emily Sit, Director of Mission and Evangelisation for the Diocese of Palmerston North, reflected on the next steps:
“Being in the room with so many clergy and lay leaders from across Aotearoa and beyond was incredible. Our prayer is that the seeds of hope and renewal planted at this Summit will continue to stir the Spirit across our land. I look forward to walking alongside our priests, leaders, and parish communities as we take the next steps in mission.”
Voices from Schools and Parishes
Educators also reflected on the Summit’s relevance to their vocation. Helena Pedley from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Palmerston North said:
“It’s been very enlightening. Listening to Fr Simon’s testimony reminded me that teaching is a vocation.”
Andrea Cawood from St James Catholic School, Palmerston North, saw new possibilities:
“It’s been great to find connections we can apply to our Catholic schools. I’d love for our schools to play a larger role in parish life. The breakout on belonging (Belong, Believe, Behave: Building Community and Hospitality) affirmed that our school is already doing this. I want the kids I teach to feel about Church the way I did as a child – that sense of being part of something and feeling needed.”
Alan Gibbins from Inglewood appreciated the leadership insights:
“I’m hopeful for the future. One clear message was to choose leaders based on talent, not just availability. These events give a great sense of belonging and a chance to share ideas.”
A Broader Impact
Cindy Nguyen from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit noted the strong turnout from her parish:
“This Summit brought back a lot of emotions from attending the Catholic Parish Summit in Harrogate, UK last year, especially the worship music and Fr James Mallon as keynote speaker. It’s been great to see so many Cathedral people here. Hopefully more will get on board with parish renewal now.”
Fr Chris Martin from Napier was clear:
“This is the way forward for the Church. There’s no life in the status quo – we need clarity about our mission and vision.”
Bishop Adams echoed this in his closing reflections:
“There’s been a real sensus fidelium – a sense of the people – that’s come through. There’s a clear appetite among New Zealanders for parish renewal, and that desire needs to be nurtured. I’m proud of the Palmerston North team for bringing this all together.”
Maureen and Robin Gunston from Kapiti shared how Divine Renovation inspired their journey:
“God spoke to us through Fr Mallon’s talks online two years ago. We watched the Brisbane conference, bought the Divine Renovation book, and even though we’re not Catholic, we felt led to go to Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish in Paraparaumu. We connected with Anne and Andy Lovell, who inspired us to get involved. We signed up to be welcomers and started a prayer group focused on renewal. There’s nothing like Divine Renovation in other Protestant churches – these ideas are transferable and could benefit the whole Church.”