WelCom September 2020
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has launched eight new investigations, including one about Marylands, the Christchurch school run by the Catholic religious congregation, the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God, from the 1950s to 1984.
The Royal Commission has published the details of its Marylands case study – one of a number of individual inquiries it will hold into state and faith-based institutions – as part of its overall investigation into historical child abuse in care institutions. It has yet to name a date for the Marylands hearing.
The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand has welcomed publication of details of the inquiry into the former Marylands School.
The Royal Commission will investigate ‘the nature and extent of abuse that occurred at Marylands, why it happened, and the impacts of abuse that may have occurred at the hands of priests, religious or lay employees of the Church. It will investigate whether there are any systemic, structural or other factors which contributed to the abuse occurring and the adequacy of the response by the Catholic Church to allegations of abuse.’
Te Ropu Rautoko, the group coordinating Catholic engagement with the Royal Commission, has welcomed the investigation into Marylands. Group chair Catherine Fyfe said the Church would ‘work with the Royal Commission and the leadership of the brothers of St John of God to ensure our response is as timely and comprehensive as possible, to honour those harmed at Marylands’.
Br Timothy Graham OH, the Sydney-based Provincial of the St John of God order, said the Marylands inquiry is an acknowledgement of those who were harmed in the care of the brothers.
See: www.abuseincare.org.nz/public-hearings/abuse-in-the-care-of-the-catholic-church/marylands-school/
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December
‘As has been the custom for many years an archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on our diocesan feast day, 7pm, Thursday 8 December, at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori. The archdiocese will again be entrusted to the care of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception at this Mass. Parishes are asked to renew that Consecration on the following Sunday, 11 December, at All parish Masses.’ – Cardinal John Dew
Dates and events – what’s on
December 2022
If you would like your event listed on this page, please send an outline to welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz including name of event, date, time, location and contact.
Pope Francis registers for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon
At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis registered for the next World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. Assisted and accompanied by Portuguese university students studying in Rome, the Pope tapped his way to becoming the first officially registered pilgrim for World Youth Day.