Shane coleman – NZ Catholic Newspaper

Social justice commissions give voting advice

Michael Otto — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:00:15 +0000

by SHANE COLEMAN
Chairman, Auckland Justice and Peace Commission
As we approach the upcoming election, Catholics across Aotearoa-New Zealand are faced with
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Budget fails the poorest say Catholic agencies

NZ Catholic Staff — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 21:30:30 +0000

by NZ CATHOLIC Staff
WELLINGTON — Catholic organisations have criticised the government’s
2014 budget as failing to provide for “the poorest in the communities” and recognising economic inequalities in New Zealand.
Although they welcome the budget’s $500 million package of support for families as a first step towards recognising the needs of vulnerable members of the community, they said the government
missed the mark when it comes to issues such as affordability of food, power and accommodation, including the provision of safe, warm and healthy homes.
Wellington Justice, Peace and Development chairperson Shane Olsen said the concern is that the budget focused more strongly on middle income earners, when the children living in poverty are children of low income earners.
Caritas director Julianne Hickey said the Catholic agency was looking for formal recognition by the Government of the need to address inequality and poverty.
“We are disappointed in comments by senior ministers in Parliament’s question time … and the Parliamentary Budget debate that the Government rejects the view that inequality is widening in
New Zealand,” she said.
The Auckland Justice and Peace Commission noted that although some
attempt had been made to help in the care of children, the Budget does not creatively engage the community to raise the standards of the poorest New Zealanders.
Chairperson Shane Coleman said an extra $20 million to combat New
Zealand’s high rate of rheumatic fever, a disease associated with poverty, was welcome. “That sort of measure, and other programmes such as the increased funding for community budgeting services, are to be applauded and are definitely a step in the right direction.”
But, he said, Catholic agencies such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and low decile Catholic schools, see the effects of poverty daily and report unprecedented demand for social services.
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80 young people come for conference

Rowena Orejana — Thu, 22 May 2014 21:18:39 +0000

by ROWENA OREJANA
AUCKLAND — More than 80 youth and young adult ministers are here in
Auckland from May 24-26 for a conference that will nourish their faith and give them new tools for ministry.

From left, Samm-Sara, Christine, ACYM volunteers, and Joey, ACYM team member.

The National Catholic Conference for Youth and Young Adult Ministers
took its theme “You are Sent” from Isaiah 6:8.
Conference organiser Teresa McNamara, from Auckland’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said it is about pushing the boundaries.
“It’s about not just doing what you are doing now but what’s the next step for you, how you can take your ministry further,” she explained.
The conference will start with an “amazing race” from St Columba Centre in Ponsonby to Pompallier Diocesan Centre and back — about 3km.
“We want them to find out about some of the faith history of this area and some of the work of Bishop Pompallier, and also to interact with Catholic groups and religious orders that are in this area,” Ms McNamara said.
Each day will have a different focus. The first day will be all about the founding documents Tu Kahikatea and Hikoi Tahi, which form the framework for youth ministry and its practical application, respectively. The second day focuses on practical ministry with
young people, while the third day will be devoted to how the ministry can be taken to the next level.
Sr Helen Bergin, OP, Dr Chris Duthie- Jung and Roby Curtis will be the keynote speakers.
Sr Helen will be talking about how they can tune in to the Holy Spirit for guidance in their ministry. Dr Duthie-on the Catholic identity of “Gen Y” New Zealanders, while Mr Curtis will share his passion for taking the faith to the streets.
“We are trying to have a mix of people, looking at a range of topics relevant to ministering to young people,” Ms McNamara said.
She added that she thought one of the most popular sessions would be connecting to young people on the fringe of the Church.
Ms McNamara said these young people are those who identify themselves as Catholics, but may not be practising the faith in the traditional sense like going to Sunday Mass.
“They are practising in their own way but not by our definition.
We thought it would be good to have a session where we look and see what they might need from us and how we might connect to those
people,” she said.
Director of the Marist Brothers Alternative Education Programme Shane Coleman, and Delphina Soti, who works for the Society of St Vincent de Paul, will run a workshop at the conference.
Both are working “hands on” with young people who are living out the
faith, said Ms McNamara.
Another highlight of the conference will be the catechesis session of Lasallian Youth Ministry director James Camden called the “Poverty of Hope”.
It will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on May 26 at 6pm. It will be free and open to all.

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