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...
Brothers (and Sisters) in the Church
Kevin Dobbyn FMS, a Marist Brother, reflects on the unique vocation of Religious Brothers and Sisters in the Church. Drawing on personal experience and the story of St Marcellin Champagnat, he invites us to consider the role of brothers and sisters in religious life...
Confessions of a Former Protestant | Jesus on the Cross
Deborah Thompson Jones is a Cathedral of the Holy Spirit parishioner, wife, mum, birth doula, and newly baptised Catholic. The daughter of church leaders, she grew up in a nondenominational charismatic background and has been deeply involved in Christian ministry,...
Raising the Dough
Sue Jones is a lifelong Catholic from Napier who has been writing for Catholic publications like the Marist Messenger and NZ Catholic since the late 1980s. Using the simple, homely image of breadmaking, Sue invites us to pause and reflect on the quiet, faithful work...
Source of Hope, Spring of Renewal | World Marriage Day 2025
World Marriage Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of February each year. In 2025, it falls on Sunday 9 February. Initially established by the American organization Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the day was officially blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1993, and...
Advent Waiting | A Time to Prepare
Sue Seconi, parishioner of the Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika Ki Whanganui, reflects on the significance of Advent as a time of waiting, hope, and spiritual preparation.On 1st December 2024, the Catholic Church celebrated the first Sunday of Advent....
The Now of the Church | Encouraging Our Rangatahi
In anticipation of World Youth Day 2024 and the feast of Christ the King, Nick Wilson, Diocesan Young Catholics Team Leader, reflects on Pope Francis' message of renewal, highlighting the important role young people play in shaping a hopeful and transformative...
A Journey of Faith, Service, and Transformation
Rita Owens is a Massy University Social Work student who spent 3 months on placement at the Diocesan Centre, working with Deaf chaplain David Loving-Molloy.I’m not someone who speaks just for the sake of it, and I believe it’s equally important to share information...
What Judging Another Really Says About Oneself
Sue Seconi is a parishioner of the Catholic Parish of Whanganui.The next liturgical season is Advent. It’s been sometime since we celebrated the run of feasts of Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and Body & Blood of Christ bringing us into what is...
Finding God in the Margins | A Reflection on Prison Chaplaincy
Sean Ryan is the Prison Chaplain at Whanganui Prison. In this reflection, he explores his journey into prison chaplaincy, the challenges and rewards of the role, and the profound impact of simply being present with those in prison.There were several times over the...
A Path to Redemption | Understanding and Supporting Those on Sentence
The following reflection was written by a former probation officer who wishes to remain anonymous. With Social Justice Week approaching, it serves as a timely reminder to raise awareness of those in prison and to reflect on the call to support and uplift them. As...
Something great is about to happen | Advent 2023
The Church welcomes her children to prepare for Christmas each year with a four-week season called Advent. The word 'Advent' comes from the Latin word 'adventus,' which means 'coming.' Perhaps, then, we might ask ourselves who or what is coming in four weeks' time. My...











