February

Welcome to our new Editor

Fr Kevin Head sm

Fr Kevin Head was born in Hokitika and grew up in Ross. He was educated at St Patrick’s Ross and at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School in Christchurch, at St Bede’s College and at Mount St Mary’s Greenmeadows, after which he was ordained in 1973.

He completed a degree at the University of Canterbury and until the end of 1991 Kevin was a teacher at St Pat’s Wellington, Pompallier College, St Augustine’s and Chanel College Samoa.

His ministry then took him to Maori pastoral care and parishes in Flaxmere, Rawene, Te Puna and Otaki. Once again overseas called and this time it was to the Cook Islands. He returned to New Zealand in 2004 where he assisted in Manurewa parish. Then he worked for five years for Challenge 2000, a youth and family services agency in Wellington. In recent years he has moved into the Spirituality ministry and he is currently resident at Pa Maria, Wellington. He is chaplain to the Wellington Apostleship of the Sea and is part of the team that produces CathNews NZ Pacific. Kevin has been a temporary editor before to the Marist Messenger and he is now most welcome in a permanent capacity.

Catholic Bishops disappointed workers’ family time under threat in the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill

“We are disappointed that the vote in favour of sending the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill to Select Committee means the rights of vulnerable workers and their families to time off at Easter is under threat,” said Cardinal John Dew on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand.

“This is about ensuring that vulnerable workers can count on having time off for things that strengthen community and family life,” Cardinal Dew said.

“We are also deeply concerned that a dangerous precedent could be set in turning an issue that has always been a conscience vote, into a government Bill in which MP’s are not free to vote according to their conscience. Conscience votes are an important protection for MPs and for society as a whole,” said Cardinal John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference.   

Source: Simone Olsen NZCBC