There have been lots of exciting things happening around our Diocese over the past month – have a read of some of them below!
NZCBC National Council for Young People
On 10–11 March, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference National Council for Young People met in Dunedin.
The Council, which includes representatives from each diocese, meets regularly with the bishops. Its role is to advise and advocate on behalf of young Catholics in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The representative from the Palmerston North Diocese is Susilo Kentjana, with Nick Wilson as Chair.
Among the many topics discussed at this meeting were the final draft of Hīkoi Tahi, the Church’s document outlining standards for ministry to young people, and preparations for the upcoming World Youth Day in South Korea in 2027.
“It is important to the bishops and to us that we work together as much as possible in providing encounter experiences for young people with the living God,” Nick noted during the conference. “There is much to distract young people from a life of discipleship. To counter this, we take great hope and encouragement from Pope Francis’ document Christus Vivit, which emphasises the importance of accompanying young people in their hīkoi whakapono — their faith journeys.”
Nick said that people often assume it is solely the youth minister who is responsible for accompanying young people in faith. “This is erroneous, because by virtue of our baptism, our Vatican II ecclesiology points to our calling to journey together as a community of disciples.”
He offered a reflection for those with longer experience of discipleship: “How can I assist the faith journey of young people in my local faith community? After all, each of us was once accompanied by someone — a teacher, a priest, a youth worker, a whānau member, or another significant person along the way.”
Written by Nick Wilson
David and Bronny Lea Meet Pope Leo
David and Bronny Lea from St Brigid’s Parish in Pahiatua travelled to Rome in March for a meeting at the Vatican Dicastery and to have an audience with Pope Leo XI.
In 2008, as World Leaders of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, David and Bronny attended a meeting in Rome to seek official recognition as a formal movement of the Church. The finalisation of this request was formally confirmed at the Vatican on 11 March, in the presence of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
On 12 March, they participated in an audience with the Holy Father. Meeting the Leader of our Catholic Church face to face and speaking with him was a moment of deep privilege and humility. He was sincere, warm, and friendly, and this experience will remain with them always.
Written by Bronny Lea
Photo: supplied
A Celebration at Saint Joseph’s School Dannevirke
On Friday 13 March, the whole community of Saint Joseph’s School, Dannevirke, came together to celebrate Sheryl Berry’s 40 years of service as school secretary. Principal Megan Setter, along with other speakers, congratulated and thanked Sheryl for her loyal and dedicated service to the school, which is possibly the longest tenure of any Catholic school secretary in New Zealand. Sheryl is continuing in the role.
In the parish hall, pupils and staff entertained guests with lively singing and actions, including a specially composed song acknowledging Sheryl’s many years of service.
Sheryl was presented with a Palmerston North Diocese Certificate of Recognition, awarded by Monsignor Brian Walsh on behalf of Bishop John Adams. The celebration concluded with a prayer and blessing.
Written by Mons. Brian Walsh
Photos: supplied
Whaowhia te kete mātauranga – Fill the basket of knowledge
Over the weekend of 28–29 March, Catholic chaplains from prisons and hospitals across the country gathered for their biennial conference at the Franciscan Friary in Auckland. The programme was prepared by Tony Lenton, NZCBC Senior Hospital and Prison Chaplain, and featured speakers from a range of disciplines who contributed to the kete (basket of knowledge) of those present.
Among the speakers were Dr John Kleinsman, Dr Nicki Weld, Dr Rocio Figueroa, Bishop Steve Lowe, and Fr Mark Chamberlain. They addressed the issues and challenges facing chaplaincy today, explored how to meet these challenges while practising safely, and reflected on what is needed to remain well in ministry.
Chaplaincy has been a significant focus of the recent Jubilee Year. There are opportunities for people to become VCAs (Volunteer Chaplain Assistants), contributing to the corporal works of mercy that are central to the sacred work of chaplaincy. Our chaplains work in partnership within ecumenical teams in hospitals and prisons. While this is naturally a ministry of the whole Church, it is valuable to gather specifically as Catholic chaplains to fellowship, pray, and be nourished.
Please continue to pray for our chaplains, who do magnificent work in their respective spaces.
Please see this link for prison chaplains and hospital chaplains.
Written by Nick Wilson, Pastoral Services Director
Chrism Mass Celebrated at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
The Diocese gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday 31 March 2026 for the annual Chrism Mass, one of the most solemn and significant liturgies in the diocesan calendar. Clergy and faithful from across the diocese assembled with Bishop John to celebrate the unity of the local Church and to undertake key sacramental rites that will sustain parish life in the year ahead.
Addressing the assembly at the beginning of the Mass, Bishop John described the Chrism Mass as a powerful expression of diocesan unity, bringing together “our priests, our deacons, with our lay faithful, with our religious, and with our bishop.” During the liturgy, the sacred oils used throughout the diocese over the next 12 months were blessed and distributed, and priests renewed the promises they made at their ordination.
In his homily, Bishop John reflected on the central symbol of oil, connecting everyday realities with the Church’s sacramental life. “There is plenty of talk about oil at the moment,” he said, noting its political and practical significance, before reassuring the congregation, “there is no shortage of oil here today. We have plenty of it, and we rejoice in it”.
He explained that the use of oil in the Church flows from a deeply Christian instinct to anoint, reminding the assembly that the word Christ comes from the Greek Christos, meaning “to be anointed”. Through baptism, Bishop John said, all Christians share in this anointing. “All of us here… have been anointed. We have all been set apart. All of us are chosen”.
Reflecting on the Gospel proclamation, Bishop John emphasised its personal meaning for the faithful. Quoting the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me,” he told the congregation, “That me… is you. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you”. He described the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, with Christ as its head, sustained through the Eucharist celebrated at the altar.
Bishop John also drew attention to the consecration of the Chrism oil, explaining that it is not merely blessed but consecrated. As part of this rite, the bishop breathes over the oil and perfume is added so that those anointed with it may be “filled with the aroma of Christ”.
In his final words, Bishop John addressed his brother priests directly, thanking them for their service and encouraging them amid the challenges of ministry. “The Church needs you. The body needs you,” he said, acknowledging both the joys and struggles of priestly life. The Mass concluded with the renewal of priestly promises, reaffirming the shared mission of the diocesan Church united in Christ.
