What we do

The Catholic Business Network (CBN) was established with the mission to bring together Catholic business owners, professionals and executives for the advancement of Catholic values and ethics in their work and to serve the broader community.

Since it's establishment in 2017, the CBN programme has fast become one of the city's top networking events, drawings in thousands of business professionals from a wide range of sectors across Canterbury. It is the first Catholic professional network of its kind in New Zealand.

The programme is successfully realising the hope that the network brings together business and community leaders to discuss matters of mutual concern and share ideas focused on contemporary issues.

Visit the CBN website 

The CDF exists to help the Church achieve its mission by providing for activities to strengthen the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. CDF members choose from a range of investment and savings products to suit their saving and lifestyle needs. All accounts provide an interest return.

With no shareholders to satisfy, the surplus generated by the CDF is available for the Bishop to help those in education and need of care and support. Upon request, Catholic schools, parishes, and organisations can borrow from the CDF to help carry out their own projects.

The CDF offers a socially responsible investment option with an investment policy aligned with Catholic values. It remains a practical way to save while investing in the good of the Christchurch Diocese.

Visit the CDF website

Golden Catholics is a group within the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, for senior or retired members of our community. They come together several times a year in Christchurch and Ashburton to share fellowship and food, whilst hearing from a range of speakers whose insight is of value to those in their golden years. Golden Catholic events are promoted through the Diocesan office.  

Register Your Interest

Named after St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) the John Paul II Centre for Life began in 2006. Since then it has been striving to build up a culture of life, marriage and family. The John Paul II Centre runs programs such as Theology of the Body courses and Marriage prep courses. It also offers support for those who are suffering from post-abortion trauma, miscarriage and pre-natal adverse diagnosis. The John Paul II Centre also runs events such as prayer vigils, Race Night and marriage retreats. 

Visit the JPII Centre website

The Catholic Shop is Located next to St Mary's Pro Cathedral at 373 Manchester Street Christchurch and offers a great selection of rosaries, crucifixes, candles, missals, bibles, cards, sacramental gifts, books and more! 

You can also shop online 24/7 at the The Catholic Shop Visit The Catholic Shop website

Visit The Catholic Shop website

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration began in the Diocese of Christchurch on Sunday June 30th, 2013 and is now held at the St Gregory’s Chapel in Bishopdale in the Catholic Parish of Papanui. 

Visit the Perpetual Adoration website

The Marriage Educators Committee (MEC) is established by the Bishop for the purpose of supporting Marriage Educators (those who prepare couples for Christian Marriage) in the Diocese.

The Committee keeps a database of names of those involved in this ministry in our various parishes and chaplaincies. While each parish can have its own style of marriage preparation, it is the belief of the MEC that a standardised programme of marriage preparation would be beneficial. A member of the MEC is also on the national body called Catholic Network of Marriage Educators (CNME).

The Marriage Educators Committee provides assistance to those involved in marriage preparation through:

Support
Each year there is a gathering in Christchurch for those involved in this ministry. This is an opportunity to share resources, to reflect together on our experience of this ministry and to celebrate and salute what they have achieved across the diocese. This networking builds the relationship Marriage Educators enjoy together, and strengthens the quality of the work they do. They also publish an annual Marriage Educators newsletter which goes out to all who are on the database, and to all parish priests.

Training
Every two years a National Training Weekend is held for current and prospective Marriage Educators. This is a rich and rewarding opportunity to hear excellent speakers and to attend interactive workshops on the topics that are presented to engaged couples. This is perhaps the most effective way to establish or rejuvenate a Marriage Team in a Parish or Pastoral Area.

Every other year, the Marriage Educators Committee coordinates a Workshop Training Day . It is held in Christchurch and again offers input and practical assistance to those who prepare our engaged couples for Christian marriage.

The Marriage Educators Committee oversees the training of COMMIT facilitators. Details of Marriage Preparation programmes and the COMMIT inventory are available through your parish priest or here.

For enquiries about COMMIT and COMMIT bookings, contact Mike Stopforth

For general enquiries, contact the Vicar for Marriages, Fr Simon Eccleton