Holy Father, can you pass the salt, please?
For most of the 220,000 expected pilgrims at World Youth Day, lunches will probably be eaten with fellow pilgrims, on roadsides, park benches or in noisy cafeterias. For one lucky New Zealand pilgrim, however, one lunch at World Youth Day will involve hanging out with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as part of a special contingent of handpicked youth from around the world.

Statement from Provincial of the St John of God Brothers
Following the verdict in the Christchurch High Court last week, concerning a member of the St John of God Brother, Rodger Moloney, the head of the St John of God Brothers in the Australia-Pacific region, Br Timothy Graham, said that justice in this matter had been done.

Pope to launch 24-7 Bible reading relay on Italian TV
Pope Benedict XVI will launch a week-long, round-the-clock live televised Bible-reading relay in October, state broadcaster RAI said Thursday.

McCain woos Catholic, Latino voters
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has visited the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico's most revered icon, in a stop likely aimed at Roman Catholic and Mexican-American voters in the US.

Fr. Damien, parents of St. Therese advance toward sainthood, Vatican announces
The head of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, met with Pope Benedict today to present him with 14 causes for canonization in their various stages. Among those approved for advancement towards sainthood are Fr. Damien De Veuster, a Belgian missionary to Hawaii, and the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Nepalese Community Forestry Project Benefits from World Youth Day Carbon Offsets
A community development project in southwestern Nepal is set to benefit from the World Youth Day (WYD) carbon footprint programme.

Traditionalists say they've met Vatican's deadline for reconciliation
The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said it met the Vatican's deadline to respond to a memo outlining preliminary conditions for full reconciliation with the rest of the Catholic Church.

Pope and Patriarch Reflect on Icons
Benedict XVI and Bartholomew I both drew upon the shared tradition of images in the two Churches during the Mass. Could it be that we will see the Churches of the East and West united in our lifetimes?

South African churches denounce Zimbabwe poll farce
While some African national leaders continued to court Robert Mugabe at an African Union meeting in Egypt, despite their own observers saying that the presidential election was unacceptable, South African churches have spooken out candidly.

Vatican, SSPX still talking, sources say
Dialogue toward reconciliation will continue between the Society of St. Pius X, which operates St. Mary?s Academy and College in St. Marys, and the Vatican, Catholic bloggers report.

An end of an era in Stratford
This past weekend, the Catholic Parish community said farewell to the Sisters of the Mission ending 111 years of service in the Stratford community.

John Carde lets go "pack of resentment"
Monsignor John Carde MBE, formerly New Zealand Armed Forces padre in Vietnam, planned to be present in Parliament last night to hear the official government apology to the returned servicemen of the Vietnam War.

Art auction helps pilgrims on their journey
Artwork will be auctioned to help fund the pilgrimage to World Youth Day by members of St Joseph's parish, Upper Hutt.

Kids help out quake victims
Pupils of St Peter's Catholic School, Cambridge raised $475 for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

Catholic priest criticises WYD laws
Catholic priest and lawyer Frank Brennan says he stands by his comments that laws introduced for World Youth Day are unworkable and unjust.

Protesters set to challenge 'thou shalt not offend' laws
Protesters say they are willing to break the law and hand out condoms to Catholic pilgrims during this month's World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney.

Police investigate WYD queer kiss-in
Gay groups say police are unnecessarily scrutinising them over activities planned for Sydney's World Youth Day, as civil libertarians rile at new police powers for this month's week-long event.

Qantas engineers to suspend strikes for WYD
Qantas engineers will suspend their industrial campaign to prevent disruption over the school holidays and World Youth Day.

US struggles to meet the mark for pilgrims
The United States says it will be sending 15,000 pilgrims to World Youth Day, the smallest contingent sent by the American church to a World Youth Day celebration in a decade. Exorbitant travel costs, an economic downturn, a buoyant Australian dollar and the recent visit by the Pope to the US are all believed to have played a part in the lower than expected numbers.

NZ abortions rise to second-highest total
AUCKLAND - There were 18,380 abortions in New Zealand in 2007, the second-highest total ever.

Original NZ dioceses celebrate birthdays
AUCKLAND - New Zealand's two original dioceses celebrated their 160th birthdays on June 20.

Church leaders' statement: Towards a more just and compassionate society
The Church leaders' statement made in support of the call for more action issued by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, "Aroha tatahi ki tatahi - Let us look after each other", is: