Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

04/09/2026

31/08/2026

Our hearts are heavy as we remember Sister Pauline Leonard CNZM, who passed away in Wellington over the weekend.

Sister Pauline led our school as principal for 14 years, guiding its growth and leaving a legacy we still see today in our Creative Arts Centre. In 2003, she was made a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for her decades of service to education.

Our thoughts are with her RNDM sisters, family and all who knew her. E te whaea, moe mai rā. ❤

28/08/2026

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Matthews

21/08/2026

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Matthews

21/08/2026

17/08/2026

Robert Falzon is a husband, father, businessman, co-founder of menALIVE and published author. He is married to Alicia and has 4 grown children;. He has a degree from the University of Newcastle, NSW and is a successful business owner.

In 2023 Robert was a keynote speaker at the first CHARIS New Zealand Conference “Receive Holy Spirit Power”. He spoke on Why the church needs an Out pouring of the Holy Spirit and he led an enlightening workshop on the significance of the relationship of a father to both his daughters and his sons. On the Sunday he sent all present to “Go out using your gifts to renew the Church”.

Robert had built up a successful business but reach a point where he thought, ’No, this isn’t enough; this isn’t all that I was called for’….“So I went on a retreat, spent some time thinking about it, praying about it, then one day sitting in church started looking around …“Then I heard the question that I would devote the next phase of my life to responding to, and that was: ‘Where are all the men?’

When discussing this question with his archbishop he was asked: ‘Robert, what are you going to do about it?’ Fired up by his vision for men “fully alive like fire”, In 2007 Robert sold his primary manufacturing business to focus in a full-time volunteer capacity on ministry to men through menALIVE - a National Catholic Ministry to Men

“I went from being a person who was out there selling and marketing, being commercial, to someone who was going to go and influence men’s destinies in their marriages, raising their children, in their workplaces, in their Church ….“I started by letting my heavenly Father father me and for me then to try to be a better father to my sons and daughter and better husband to my wife.”

“In the process of evangelising, the evangeliser has become evangelised,” Robert said. “That’s why Pope Francis wants each and every one of us to get involved in mission. “He knows not only will we save others, but we ourselves will be saved.”

It is such a privilege to have Robert share with us here in Hamilton over 2 evenings this week.

14/08/2026

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Matthews

12/08/2026

Growing up as one of 10 children in Nelson, Rachel Wilson admits there was a bit of a Von Trapp family situation, with singing and musical instruments part of everyday life. It might not be a surprise, then, that Rachel would go on to use her musical talents as a tool for evangelisation.

Now as a mother of four, Rachel has grappled with dating (and marrying) a well-known Kiwi, with struggles around fertility and insomnia, and is intrigued by topics like feminism, Marxism and motherhood. Rachel joins Joanna Kearney to navigate those areas, and more, in the latest episode of the Catholic Kiwi Podcast.

Watch the episode by clicking the link in the comments

12/08/2026

Yesterday at midday Mass ...

There was something of a 'John' theme at midday Mass at the Cathedral today. Bishop Richard, a St John’s College old boy, noted with a smile that he was flanked by two Johns — Cardinal John Dew and Fr John O’Connor.

Today also marks 31 years since Bishop Richard’s ordination to the priesthood. We give thanks for his priestly ministry and continued service to our Diocese.

Today was also the first day of our Catholic Schools Conference, with principals and DRS's from across the Diocese joining the Cathedral community for Mass. More to come from the conference!

In his homily, Bishop Richard reflected on the sign of the Cross we receive at Baptism, a mark of our identity in Christ and our call to live as members of his Body.

We also drew on Jesus’ words, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them,” reminding us that our life as Church is lived in communion with Christ and with one another.

Ad multos annos, Bishop Richard! 🙏

07/08/2026

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Matthews