WelCom March 2022
Bishop Steve Lowe, formerly Bishop of Hamilton, was installed as the 12th Catholic Bishop of Auckland, on Saturday, 19 February 2022.
This follows the retirement of Bishop Pat Dunn who has been Auckland’s Catholic Bishop for 27 years.
The installation of Bishop Lowe was at Auckland’s St Patrick’s Cathedral under the protocols of the red Covid-19 protection framework. While Catholic tradition invites the church to be open to all, the current limitations of 100 people with vaccination passports meant only invited guests and representatives of the diocese were able to attend. The ceremony was livestreamed to enable others across the dioceses to be part the special occasion.
On 18 December last year, Pope Francis announced he had appointed Bishop Steve Lowe to be Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest diocese with over 180,000 Catholics. This followed the retirement of Bishop Pat Dunn due to complex eyesight difficulties.
During the ceremony Bishop Dunn led Bishop Lowe to the Cathedra (the bishop’s chair). Bishop Pat was wearing the pectoral cross that had belonged to Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, the first Catholic Bishop of Auckland. He removed this cross and placed it around the neck of Bishop Steve.
Bishop Pat Dunn was given a standing ovation by the congregation in thanks and affirmation for his long years of dedicated service to the people of the Auckland Diocese.
The ceremony was attended by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Ross Bay, along with Catholic bishops from around New Zealand including Cardinal John Dew and Archbishop Paul Martin sm as well as the Papal Nuncio (Ambassador) Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, who read aloud the notice of appointment from Pope Francis.
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.