New Zealand Catholic Ecumenism Commission

the National Commission for Ecumenism

The Commission is an agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Commission's task is to assist the Bishops' in their work for the restoration of unity among all Christians, and to foster spiritual ecumenism, dialogue and co-operation amongst other Christian Churches.

Members are appointed to the Commission by the Catholic Bishops' Conference and normally serve a three year term, which is also renewable.

Bishop Barry Jones

Cathedral House
PO Box 4544
Christchurch 8015
Phone: (03) 366 9869
Email: bp_jones@chch.catholic.org.nz

Catherine Jones
Sister Catherine Jones is a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary. Her passion for ecumenical relations was born of various factors: her family background, wide-ranging friendships, study and teaching of church history, and commitment to the mission of the church.

"Missionary experience in the Pacific and West Africa, and Muslim-Christian dialogue, has highlighted the pain and the scandal of a divided Christianity" she has discovered. "Key turning points in my life were attending a seminar, Ecumenism for Mission at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland in the 1980's, and working together with members of the Fiji Council of Churches in a time of social and political upheaval."

The choice is irrevocable.

National Commission for Ecumenism
Catholic Centre
PO Box 1937
Wellington 6140
Phone (04) 496 1337
Email: c.jones@wn.catholic.org.nz

Marguerita Day
Marguerita began her ecumenical involvement during the early 1970's when she was on the committee for Frederick Wallis House, Lower Hutt; a retreat centre used by several denominations. In the mid eighties, she became the Wanganui Regional Coordinator for Inter-Church Trade and Industry Mission, again working across the denominations in the pastoral work of Chaplaincy. Since the mid nineties Marguerita has been on the staff of the Diocese of Palmerston North.

Marguerita's husband is an Anglican priest who has served in a Presbyterian / Anglican parish and is the past Wanganui City Missioner in New Zealand's only Ecumenical City Mission. Together they are members of an ecumenical study group.

Marguerita has a great respect for all traditions and describes her ecumenism is grass roots, practical and enthusiastic.

Peter Richardson
Peter's ecumenical journey started some 20 years ago in his local parish of St. Paul's, Ngaruawahia, where he was involved in a number of ecumenical services and a Christmas musical production.

In the late nineties as Social Justice Officer for the Hamilton Diocese he had the opportunity to become a foundation member of the Hamilton Casino Opposition Committee and a member of the Combined Housing Action Research Group. Both these groups were made up of predominately church based people. About the same time CCANZ transferred their Public Issues Programme to Hamilton and Peter became the inaugural Chair of this group. These associations enabled him to develop a substantial ecumenical network in Hamilton and he has have developed a close friendship with a number of the people involved.

Carl Telford
Carl Telford was born in Christchurch and trained for the religious life and for priesthood at Mt St Mary's Seminary in Hawkes Bay.

Involved in ecumenism from an early age with a Presbyterian grandfather and an Anglican sister in law, since ordination he has been involved in secondary teaching, parish work and seminary teaching.

Carl has had contacts with other theological institutions in New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea and also ministers' associations in Timaru and Wellington. This is his fifth year as editor of the Marist Messenger, a national devotional missionary magazine."

Other members of the Commission: Mrs Maureen Smith (Dunedin), Sr Eleni Tapueluelu (Hamilton).