News & Views
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Iconography in Auckland
Chris Verryt is an iconographer from and in Auckland. Iconography is the art of ‘writing’ icons, pictures who are much more than paintings. Similar to icons on our computers, they point towards something bigger… The most recent icon written by Chris Verryt depicts the Wedding of Cana. It was here that Jesus started his ministry…
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Majestic Kauri Trees
Kauri trees of different sizes, tūī birds, kererū (NZ woodpigeons), – and the feeling of nature in the middle of New Zealand’s biggest city. It is amazing what the reserves in Auckland offer. The new Kauri Glen Reserve in Birkenhead is a fine example of these kinds of oasis.The pathways and bridges are wide enough…
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60 Years of Nostra Aetate – Why Interreligious Dialogue Matters
“In our times”… (Nostra Aetate) – a title that doesn’t really tell us anything about the content of this encyclical. However, it also makes the document timeless. The content was relevant in the times of Vatican II (1962-1965) as much as it has been relevant ever since.Interreligious dialogue is nothing new. There have always been…
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The Holy Spirit at Work…
I was at a Christmas party where I saw a little girl dropping a beautifully wrapped lolly. I tried to tell her, but she didn’t hear me. A little boy just happened to be around, so I asked the boy to pick up the lolly and take it to the girl. He did so without…
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Roses
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”Antoine de Saint-Exupéry November is the month of roses in the Southern Hemisphere – the Hamilton Gardens offer a beautiful variety of these beautiful flowers…
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Martin of Tours
There are two Saints with the name of Martin who are famous among Catholics: Martin of Tours (316-397) and Martin of Torres (1579-1639). Both died in November, but their lives were very different.Martin of Tours is known for sharing his cloak with a beggar. He shared what he had, what kept him warm with a…
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Trustworthy News
“Big Brother is watching you”. This is certainly the most famous quote from George Orwell’s book ‘1984’. While we might not be sure who this Big Brother is, we all know that we are watched and traced through our electronic devices today.Depending on the country we live in, we might feel more or less comfortable…
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Rawene – Discovery in a historic town
I recently co-organised a pilgrimage to Hokianga. I love the area of Hokianga, which is about 5 hours north of Auckland, New Zealand.I have done the trip many times, but this time, I went with a small group and was more flexible than on my previous trips.When we arrived in Rawene to cross the Hokianga…
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Persecutions – Wounds & Hope
“Compassion is contagious. When you receive it, you want to share it.” These words spoken by Dr Khurram Malik, CEO of Hope Worldwide Pakistan, summarise beautifully the hope that was expressed at the Ahmadiyya Peace Symposium 2025 in Auckland. The theme of this symposium was Persecution and the Moral Responsibilities of the Global Community. Malik…
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Relationships in a Multi-Faith World
Are we moving towards religious hybridity?Hybridity, a term that derives from biology and from mixing two species of plants, is a term that has been used for centuries. The discussions of mixing between peoples, cultures and societies have been going on for even longer. In most parts of the world, there have been influences from…