Nga Pāpāho - Media and Communications

Bishop Steve Lowe speaks

Bishop Steve regularly speaks to the Diocese via a video.  To access messages please visit our Diocesan YouTube Channel.

Recent News

Royal Commission

1 February 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Today the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand has published its abuse statistics as part of its participation in the Royal Commission into Abuse in State and Faith-Based organisations. One of the reasons the Church asked to be part of the Royal Commission was our recognition that we have to be transparent about our tragic history and acknowledge that priests and religious and lay people employed by the Church have abused, and their abuse has inflicted immense damage on vulnerable people entrusted to the Church’s care and that this abuse scars many of them with ongoing trauma.

For this the Church is deeply apologetic and deeply ashamed. As the current Bishop of Auckland and Apostolic Administrator of Hamilton, I personally want to apologise for the harm caused by those who have abused in the two Dioceses and to express my commitment to working to create a safe Church and to working with survivors.

The statistics make very sad and distressing reading. As part of our response to the Royal Commission we have provided details of every complaint that we have received. The statistics include all complaints made, even those not necessarily upheld. Complaints are upheld on balance of probability. The statistics include complaints of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The number of complaints are far too many, particularly up to the 1970s. The fact that complaints continue to be received is a reminder that we are dealing with the flawed dimension of human nature. This is not just a Church problem, this is also a problem in our society.

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

Media Release : click here to read

Bishop Robin Leamy RIP

Saturday 1 January.
We learned with sadness this morning of the death of Bishop Robin Leamy SM, aged 87.
Bishop Bob, as he was fondly called, spent much of his priestly life in missionary work in the Pacific, in Samoa and in Fiji, and later in the Cooks as Bishop of Rarotonga from 1984 to 1996. He played a significant role in the growth of the Church in Oceania.
On leaving Rarotonga in 1996, Bishop Bob was Assistant Bishop to me in the Auckland Diocese before his retirement in 2009. I will be forever grateful for his wisdom and friendship and his generous support.
In 2011 he published an account of his life and work in a small book called “Truly Blessed: my Story”. It is an account of his life from his early years as a member of a family of five children in the suburbs of Wellington to a journey has taken him to many places around the world – from Rome to the Pacific. He was a man of many talents, as an educator, a leader and administrator, and was widely recognised as a formidable tennis player and cricketer.
In the last few years of his life he was cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor at Herne Bay.
As a Marist, with a special devotion to Mary, it is perhaps fitting that he was called to God today on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Further information about his Vigil Mass and Requiem will be given shortly.
In the meantime, I thank God for the many blessings we have all received from him and his ministry, here and in the Pacific, and extend our sympathy to his extended family. May he now be at peace in the fullness of God’s love and life.

Pope Francis appoints a new Bishop of Auckland - a message from Bishop Emeritus Patrick Dunn

At midnight on 17 December 2021 New Zealand time, Pope Francis named Bishop Steve Lowe (until now the Bishop of Hamilton) to succeed me as the new Bishop of Auckland.
As many of you will know, I have been facing some complex eyesight challenges for the past three years. With the best efforts of my specialists the situation has not improved, although they are managing to slow the deterioration. I am not driving and am having increasing difficulty in reading. As a result, I had asked the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to accept my early resignation.
He has at last accepted my request, and I will leave knowing that our wonderful diocese will be in capable and dedicated hands. I know you will join me in welcoming Bishop Steve as he comes to serve as our chief shepherd. His appointment is the answer to my prayers!
It is a coincidence that it was just around this time 27 years ago in 1994 (actually on Christmas Eve) that my appointment as Bishop of Auckland was made.
Plans at present are somewhat tentative, but Bishop Steve hopes to move to Auckland some time in mid-February. We shall let you know about plans for his installation and his welcome to the diocese once we have made our way through the Christmas and New Year period.
Let us pray together that God will bless and guide Bishop Steve Lowe, our new Bishop of Auckland.

Media Spokesperson

For media enquiries please email us at [email protected] or phone 04 496 1725.

Directory
Calendar
Bishop Patrick facebook
NOPS

General Manager

Bishop of Auckland

NZ Catholic

CDA Connect

src="//script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0079/5277.js" async="async" >