On 21 March 2026, Bishop John Adams joined other Māori Apostolate Board members for the first time at Te Rau Aroha. The second meeting of the year is planned for September. The Māori Apostolate Board represents Eucharistic Communities across the Diocese of Palmerston...
Mountain Peak Moments
I’ll never forget the first time I climbed Mt Thomas, the closest mountain to my home in North Canterbury, which stands at just over 3,300 feet. The morning was gloomy and grey, and as my friend John and I jog-walked up the steep track leading to the summit, our...
Updates From Around the Diocese | March 2026
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...
Taking Part in a New Season
Cameron Surrey lives in North Canterbury with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children. Cameron has a PhD in theology and more than a decade of experience in formation and discipleship. This year he is working in the Diocese of Palmerston North, facilitating the...
It’s Personal — and Built for More
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.Reflections from the...
Seventy-Two: A Reflection on Our First Diocesan Hubs
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, He sent them ahead of Him, in pairs, into every town and place He himself intended to visit. They went without purse or bag. They went in trust. And they returned with joy. I keep coming back to that number. On 7 March in...
Pilgrims of Hope: Continuing the Journey
The Palmerston North Cathoic Education Office (PNCEO) Annual Faith Leadership Gathering once again provided a rich and life‑giving opportunity for Catholic principals, Directors of Religious Studies and HOD RE from across the diocese to come together in a spirit of...
Celebrations at Hiruhārama ahead of re-opening in April
The Sisters of Compassion, in partnership with Ngāti Hau, hosted a blessing and service at the historic settlement of Hiruhārama on 19 March, following renovations to the Old Convent and St Joseph’s Church. Over a hundred people with links to Hiruhārama joined the...
Our First Diocesan Hub: Why the Liturgy Matters
Our first Diocesan Hub gathering will take place: Saturday 7 March, 12:30pm–4:30pm – Palmerston North (Diocesan Centre) Sunday 8 March, 12:30pm–4:30pm – Hastings (St Peter Chanel Hall) At this first Hub, we will begin by returning to one of the foundational documents...
Rite of Election Celebrated in the Diocese
On 22 February 2026, RCIA groups from around the Palmerston North Diocese gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North for the Rite of Election and Enrolment of Names. There were 25 Catechumens and Candidates from the parishes of Hastings,...
Fr Marcus Celebrates 25 Years of Priestly Service
On Saturday 28 February, the Catholic Parish of Hastings (CPH) gathered to celebrate Fr Marcus’ 25th Jubilee of Priestly Ordination, marking twenty-five years of dedicated service to God and the Church. Around 250 people attended, including family and friends who...
Holy Days: Mixing the funny and the profound
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...











