Catholic Masses for national day of mourning

Catholic cathedrals and churches around New Zealand will offer Masses tomorrow for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake and also for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Barry Jones, will attend the official memorial service in Hagley Park. At the service Bishop Jones and Administrator of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Monsignor Charles Drennan, will pronounce a blessing.

Bishop Jones says a national service is important.

“A national service of remembrance is an opportunity to honour all those who lost their life in the Christchurch earthquake, particularly given that they were from so many different countries,” he said. “I know Catholic parishes in Christchurch and around New Zealand are also offering prayers for people in Japan in their time of suffering”.

In Christchurch, a Requiem Mass for earthquake victims will be celebrated at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Sockburn at 9.00am.

At St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland Mass will be celebrated at 12.15pm; at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton at 12.00pm, and at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington at 8am and 12.10pm. There will also be a service organised by Sacred Heart School at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 9.00am.

Christchurch
9.00am
Our Lady of Victories Church, 106 Main South Rd, Sockburn

Auckland
12.15pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Wyndham St, Auckland CBD

Hamilton
12.00pm
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 494 Grey St, Hamilton East

Wellington
8.00am, 9.00am and 12.10pm
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 21 Eccleston Hill, Thorndon