Well, it happened! The Jubilee Year celebrated the Jubilee of Youth last weekend, and Palmerston North joined in with the Jubilee Youth Fest at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on 2 August. Our celebration coincided with young Catholics all around the world, and we...
Pastoral Day 2025: Encounter, Discernment, and Mission
In July, parish leaders, clergy, and diocesan staff gathered in Palmerston North for our second Pastoral Day of 2025, a moment set aside not for strategy, but for encounter: with the Holy Spirit, with one another, and with the Church we are being called to become....
Closure of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Pongaroa
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Pongaroa has officially closed its doors after more than 90 years of serving the local community. The final Mass was celebrated on Saturday 28 June by Bishop John Adams, who acknowledged both the history of the settlement and...
A Spirit-Filled Celebration: Confirmation Mass at Hato Pāora College
The chapel at Hato Pāora College was alive with wairua and aroha on Sunday 27 July as students, staff, and whānau gathered for the Confirmation. Presided over by Bishop John Adams, the Mass was a powerful expression of Catholic tradition interwoven with te ao Māori....
Palestine: Grief Building a New Kind of Love
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.On Sunday 13 July, the...
Catholic Parish Demographics: Longstanding Parishioners
Dr Robyn Andrews, a Research Fellow at Massey University and a parishioner at St Mary’s in Palmerston North, brings a unique perspective to her research on contemporary parish life in Aotearoa New Zealand. She will also be publishing a series of more detailed pieces...
A Way Forward
Introduction I had the pleasure of meeting Fr Arthur Toothill SM at our Pastoral Day in March earlier this year and again at the Clergy Day in July. Though he is now “retired” (insofar as a priest ever truly retires!), he continues to serve in supply ministry for the...
Baptism: Paying it Forward
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.Often within the tragedies...
Training Day Promotes Hidden Disabilities Awareness
A powerful step toward building a more inclusive Church community was taken on July 1, as the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North hosted a training day to promote the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme (HDSS). The event, held at the Diocesan Centre, was part of a...
A Journey of Hope and Holiness: Walking with the Saints in Assisi
Emily Sit, the Director of Mission and Evangelisation for the Diocese of Palmerston North, recently went on pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy. Below she shares some reflections of the trip.This past month, I had the profound gift of travelling to Assisi — a place where...
Palmerston North to Host Jubilee Youth Festival in August
The Diocese of Palmerston North is excited to announce the Jubilee Youth Festival 2025, a day-long celebration for young people across the diocese as part of the global Church’s Year of Jubilee. The festival will take place on Saturday, 2 August 2025, at the Cathedral...
Catholic Parish Demographics: Syro-Malabar Catholics from India
Dr Robyn Andrews, a Research Fellow at Massey University and a parishioner at St Mary’s in Palmerston North, brings a unique perspective to her research on contemporary parish life in Aotearoa New Zealand. She will also be publishing a series of more detailed pieces...











