Holy Days is a movie based on a story by much-loved author, Joy Cowley. Joy knows what makes a good story and this movie has these elements in spades – sharply drawn characters, a suspenseful plot, and buckets of humour. The film is set in 1970s New Zealand. Young...
Day of Prayer for Victims of Abuse and Violence | A Call to Prayer, Truth, and Healing
On Friday 20 February 2026, the Diocese joined Catholic communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand in observing the annual Day of Prayer and Penance for the Victims of Abuse and Violence. Held each year on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, the day calls the faithful to...
Hearts Aflame Summer School Draws 150 Young People to Marton
If you drive past the town of Marton around New Year’s, you might be surprised by an unusual sight: 150 young people gathered in a chapel at 7:30am, singing with all their hearts! It is, of course, Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School, which brings together young...
Closing Mass marks the end of the 2025 Year of Jubilee
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North was filled with parishioners and visitors on Sunday, 1 February, as the diocese gathered to celebrate the Closing Mass of the 2025 Year of Jubilee. The sunshine of the morning seemed to echo the joyful mood inside...
Diocesan Hubs: Walking together in response to our call
In the life of the Church, there are moments when we sense a gentle but clear invitation from the Lord. Not an invitation to create something new for the sake of it, but to respond more faithfully to what He has already given us. The Hope and Renewal Summit was one...
Regional Launch of E tū te mana o te ao: Building a Climate of Hope – Faith and Action Guide
E tū te mana o te ao: Building a Climate of Hope — Faith and Action Guide was launched at the Palmerston North City Library on 1 February 2026. This date was chosen because it marks the first day of World Interfaith Harmony Week, initiated by King Abdullah II of...
Grace in the Everyday: Four Months of Marriage
World Marriage Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of February each year. This year, it falls on Sunday 8 February. Initially established by the American organization Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the day was officially blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1993, and...
Hear the Voice, Answer the Call | 2026 Lenten Resources
The theme for Lent this year is Hear the voice, answer the call - whakarongo ki te reo, whakahokia te karanga. “Hear the voice, answer the call” challenges us in many ways. Whose voice are we hearing, and when we hear it, are we really tuning in to what it is saying...
Walking in Faith: A Century of Light — St Joseph’s School CHB Celebrates 100 Years
As St Joseph’s School Central Hawke’s Bay approaches a remarkable milestone, the community is warmly invited to join in celebrating a century of faith, learning, and service. Over the weekend of 27 February – 1 March 2026, past and present students, families, staff,...
A Few Words About Sin
Please note: The reflections and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and are shared in the spirit of personal faith and contemplation. They do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Diocese of Palmerston North. Ash Wednesday, on 18...
A Summer of Leadership and Faith
Over the summer, the young Church came alive with leadership, learning, and joyful encounters with Christ. Young Catholic Leader 2025 Mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētē kura — when the fern frond dies, another grows in its place. Leaders from the Catholic colleges...
Day of Prayer and Penance for Victims of Abuse and Violence
Each year, on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) calls us to commemorate a Day of Prayer & Penance for the Victims of Abuse and Violence. In 2026, this day falls on Friday 20 February. For Christians, prayer,...











