Catholic Churches around New Zealand are dedicating their daily Masses to the miners who lost their lives at the Pike River coal mine and to the miners’ families, friends and loved ones.
St Patrick’s Church in Greymouth held a Mass for the miners on Friday (November 26). People visited the Church throughout the day to light candles in memory of the miners. At Thursday morning’s Mass Parish Priest, Fr John Morrison, read out a message from Pope Benedict XVI who expressed his condolences to the familes and friends of the miners.
Church bells were rung at midday in some dioceses, and the names of the miners were read out at a Mass in Wellington’s Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland has a memorial set up with candles and also dedicated its daily Mass to the miners.
There will be a message read out at all weekend Masses in the Christchurch diocese. Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones has also written prayers which will be sent to all Catholic parishes in New Zealand for use at weekend Masses.
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops have written a message conveying their sympathies and support for those affected by the tragedy.
For more about Masses to be held around the country in honour of the miners, go to
http://www.catholic.org.nz/news/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=50&id=177
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