Bishop reflects on his second anniversary during retreat

By CathNews New Zealand

October 14th, 2025

Bishop John Adams with Bishop Michael Gielen and Cheryl Surrey from Divine Renovation Ministry in the cathedral in Aberdeen, Scotland (Central Catholic/Facebook)

Palmerston North Bishop John Adams has reflected on his ministry – including an episcopal anniversary – during a recent retreat for bishops held in Scotland.

The week of prayer in Inverness saw the retreat leaders issue both spiritual challenges and consolations pertinent to the life of a bishop. Bishop Adams shared his insights on the retreat in a column for the Palmerston North Diocese.

Among the questions posed were: How might a diocese, in this age of the Church, perform? How might a bishop foster ongoing conversion in a time of great spiritual confusion? Yes, the truths of Jesus Christ are unchangeable, but their transmission must cut through the commotion of these days – how are we to respond to this?

Bishop Adams said he found the retreat “a wonderful chance to contemplate and to hear other voices from around the globe”.

Reflecting on his own ministry, Bishop Adams said that faith, at its best, is an adventure, “with the Lord asking the best of us”.

“It is deep within the Catholic DNA to give life a good shake, to trust the Lord in all things, to venture out on to seas yet uncharted,” he wrote.

“I have loved my time here in Palmerston North, and my episcopal motto of ‘Show us your light and your truth’ has led me to meet many outstanding people in this diocese.”

FULL STORY

Reflections From Two Years On (Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North)