Description

A church in change: New Zealand Catholics take their bearings. This publication represents an attempt to explore theologically some of the realities that the contemporary Catholic church in Aotearoa New Zealand is facing today. It does so, not in the sense of providing answers, but rather as offering theological interpretations of our past and present realities.

Hopefully, it will offer future possibilities so that the church can embrace with renewed vigour its call to be a pilgrim people moving into the future with hope and confidence in the power and presence of God’s Spirit among them.

Chapters

Introduction: Susan Smith

Part One: The Changing Face of the Church

1. Recent Catholic Demographic trends – Peter Lineham
2. Meeting them on their way – Samuel Brebner
3. Oh God, You’re my Deliverer – the One, the One who carries us – Therese Kiely
4. Grafted to a “Kiwi” vine: A South Asian people’s experience – Raphael Lobo
5. Christmas and poverty: A Tongan reflection – Sateki Raass
6. Religious life in Aotearoa New Zealand – Susan Smith
7. The changing role of women in the Catholic church in Aotearoa New Zealand – Mary Thorne
8. The changing face of priestly ministry: One priest’s reflection – John Dunn

 Part Two: The Church and Mission

9. “Have not our hearts been burning within us?” Christian Marriage – Maria and Mike Noonan
10. Becoming church in the Archdiocese of Wellington: Sing a new church into being – John Dew
11. Finding its way: The church and social justice – Mary Betz
12. Embracing a church-based ecological consciousness – Robin Kearns
13. Ad intra or ad extra – ministry or mission? Catholic Lay people in Aotearoa New Zealand – Pat Lythe
14. Catholic schools in Aotearoa New Zealand – Kevin Wanden
15. Catholic media in the New Zealand church: Comforting the disturbed . . disturbing the comfortable – Cecily McNeil
16. “The kind fire …” A personal reflection on Catholic spirituality in Aotearoa New Zealand – Michael Fitzsimons

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Part Three: The Church – Unity and Diversity

17. The Eucharist as source and summit of the church’s life – Neil Darragh
18. Language is the key to understanding – Chris Duthie-Jung
19. St Joseph’s Church, Hāto Hōhepa, Ōkakewai, Hokianga – Veronica Bouchier and Susan Smith
20. Enduring influence or ancient artefact: Catholics and the Bible – Alice Sinnott
21. Not what we build, but how we build: Catholic church architecture in Aotearoa – Tony Watkins
22. Catholic women and the pontificate of Francis: Signs of hope? – Elizabeth Julian
23. The Holy Spirit and the church – Helen Bergin