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The Matariki Weekend working bees at Kopua-riki brought together a generous community of volunteers for two days of planting, maintenance and care for the habitat restoration project. Volunteers contributed 213 hours and helped plant 1,700 trees.Kopua-riki sits beside...
On Saturday 1 August, over 150 young people from across the Diocese of Palmerston North gathered at St Peter’s College for the Fully Alive Youth Festival, a day of faith, friendship, worship, and encounter with Christ. The festival brought together participants aged...
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.I recently travelled to...
In June, a relic of St Carlo Acutis visited the Diocese of Palmerston North, offering students, staff and school communities a unique opportunity for prayer, reflection and encounter. The relic travelled to several schools, including Hato Pāora College, St Peter’s...
The St Carlo Acutis Mission was far more than the visit of a relic or an opportunity to learn about the Church's newest saint. It became a moment of grace for our Diocese, inviting thousands of students, teachers, families and parishioners into a renewed encounter...
Lynette Roberts-King has been appointed as the new Catholic Chaplain at Palmerston North Hospital. She was commissioned on behalf of Bishop John by Monsignor Brian Walsh at the Cathedral on 7 June 2026. Previously, this role was held by Kathleen Field, who faithfully...
Over these past weeks, the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition has been quietly making its way through our Diocese, inviting schools, parishes, families and communities to pause before one of the deepest mysteries of our faith: Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist....
On Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May, parishioners gathered for the second round of Diocesan Hubs, held in Whanganui and Stratford. These gatherings continued our diocesan journey through the documents of Vatican II, this time focusing on Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic...
The O’Shea Shield is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Catholic secondary school calendar, bringing together students from the 17 Catholic colleges of the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses for a weekend of faith-filled competition, public speaking and...
Sixteen parishioners from St Mary’s Whanganui gathered at 5 a.m. on Sunday 31 May 2026 to pray the rosary for peace in their parish church, joining Pope Leo who was praying at the same time (7 p.m., Saturday 30 May in Vatican time) at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican...
Nestled beside the Manawatū River, near Our Lady of the Southern Star Abbey at Kopua, lies a small but significant remnant of New Zealand’s once vast 70 Mile Bush (Te Tapere Nui o Whatonga). Today this place – known as Kopua-riki – is becoming a powerful sign of hope:...
Held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 4 – 5 May 2026, the Alpha Leadership Conference brought together thousands of Christian leaders from many traditions and countries for two days of worship, teaching, prayer and conversation. The gathering focused on the call to...