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Dear readers:
This is a short summer News & Notes.
The full newsletter will start again in the second week of January 2021.
Mike Leon
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
Christmas hope for Aotearoa: Message from NZ church leaders
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christmas-hope-for-aotearoa-message-from-nz-church-leaders/EY6PAPDLEKARFVJUVYMEFTHWRU/
The Great Conjunction, and why we celebrate Christmas on December 25
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/300189535/the-great-conjunction-and-why-we-celebrate-christmas-on-december-25
[The article dicsusses the date of Jesus' birth, the fixing of
December 25 as Christmas Day and theories about the star of Bethlehem
from an astronomical point of view.]
National Portrait: Hirini Kaa, a Maori historian on life, death and religion
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/123347885/national-portrait-hirini-kaa-a-mori-historian-on-life-death-and-religion
Religion is often sidelined in the New Zealand story, which ironically
paints Godzone as a largely secular land of enlightened progress, or a
social laboratory free of superstition. That's generally a Pakeha
story too. Hirini Kaa comes at the story from a different direction.
Long-serving priest, 93, in final throes of health decline becomes
published author
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/300191284/longserving-priest-93-in-final-throes-of-health-decline-becomes-published-author
It was touch-and-go whether Father Martin Bugler would survive to see
his memoir published. But at 93, the long-serving priest has become a
published author during the final throes of his life.
Views sought on restoring church
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/views-sought-restoring-church
St Patrick's Catholic Parish Lawrence chairman Geoff Blackmore wants
the wider community to have its say on the 128-year-old church's
future.
Migrant Cindy Nguyen overcomes challenges to work in Palmerston North
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/manawatu-guardian/news/migrant-cindy-nguyen-overcomes-challenges-to-work-in-palmerston-north/ACJJZJQHYGL55ZU7BZIG2NWR5Q/
Cindy Nguyen is a dreamer. But she's not dreaming of owning a luxury
yacht, meeting a Hollywood superstar or winning Lotto. Her dreams are
what many New Zealanders take for granted - citizenship.
Survivors of abuse in care of the Catholic Church say their voices matter
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/433489/survivors-of-abuse-in-care-of-the-catholic-church-say-their-voices-matter
Dr Christopher Longhurst, said it was of paramount importance that the
Catholic Church use the extent of its powers to look further and
deeper to discover where the abuse was still happening today, and make
the necessary recommendations to stop it.
'We are on borrowed time': Father-of-two Tom McLean has stopped his
cancer treatment
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/123723643/we-are-on-borrowed-time-fatheroftwo-tom-mclean-has-stopped-his-cancer-treatment
The McLean family of Hawkes Bay had their final holiday together and
now they face their final Christmas as dad Tom, 31, has elected to
stop treatment for his aggressive form of cancer.
Hallelujah - Lord saves cathedral organ in delicate operation
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123773656/hallelujah--lord-saves-cathedral-organ-in-delicate-operation
The Christchurch Catholic cathedral's 1878 organ was in danger of
ending up on the scrap heap but a salvage operation to save it is well
under way.
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NEWS OF THE SCHOOLS
Young CEO's culture forefront of mind
http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/5/379526
With a background built on his Samoan and Tokelauan values and morals,
and faith encouraged by the Catholic church and his parents,
17-year-old Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malaga Aukusotino mixes
service with leadership and entrepreneurship. The Year 12 student and
his Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) team, The Hustle, from Bishop Viard
College in Porirua, claimed the National Excellence Business Award for
Pasifika Business at the recent Lion Foundation YES National Awards
2020, staged at Te Papa Tongarewa.
Wall of Fame runs out of room
https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/wall-fame-runs-out-room
In a world which has been disrupted by a global pandemic, Kavanagh
College pupils are still achieving at a national level. Each year
since about 1993 pupils who have achieved national honours have their
photographs put on the school's Wall of Fame. This year space is
running out, and the school has had to make some room.
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