New Zealand To Re-Dedicate Country To Our Lady and Announce New National Shrine

New Zealand Bishops' Have Decided to Rededicate Their Nation to Mary and Have Selected a New National Shrine in Her Name.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference has decided to renew its dedication to Our Lady, following requests from the lay during the nationwide lockdown last year.

The country's bishops have chosen the title 'Mary's Way', which was approved last Friday by the Bishops at a special session held to discuss the matter.

The Assumption by Francesco Botticini

Speaking about the new name, Bishop of Hamilton, The Most Reverend Stephen Lowe, said, “We needed a name for the renewal, and [this] beautifully captures the role of Mary who leads us in the way of missionary discipleship.”

The Conference also confirmed that the historic Saint Mary of the Angels church in Wellington would become a national shrine to Mary.

The first Bishop of Auckland, The Most Reverend Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, dedicated New Zealand to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven when he celebrated his first Mass there on the 13th of January 1838.

NZCBC President John Cardinal Dew (Photo: CNS)

The Bishops Conference has invited Parishes across New Zealand to join in prayer for the renewal of the dedication, especially on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

They have also Commissioned artist Damien Walker to paint an image of Mary and Jesus that will be unveiled at St Mary of the Angels on 15 August, before being taken on exhibition around each of New Zealand's six Dioceses.