Knights of the Southern Cross - New Zealand

The Knights of the Southern Cross - New Zealand (abbreviation: KSCNZ, German: Knights of the Southern Cross in New Zealand) is a male lay order in the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand. The Brotherhood was founded in 1922 and is represented by 18 Ortverbänden in all dioceses of New Zealand, the members are in favor of a Christian life.

History

In 1919, the lay organization Knights of the Southern Cross had in Australia - Australia Founded and developed greatly. Archbishop Francis Mary Redwood SM of Wellington in New Zealand invited in 1922 the Australian brothers one at a foundation meeting in Wellington. Simultaneously, the Coadjutor Bishop of Auckland James Michael Liston was interested in a foundation and made the same suggestion. In the years 1922 to 1924, the first local Brotherhood group founded in Auckland, from this arose another group in Wellington. Until 1931 the Australian Brotherhood took over the patronage. The first annual conference of the " Supreme Council " of KSCNZ was held in Wellington on 22 November 1931.

Tasks and objectives

The task and as its aim the KSCNZ elected the following criteria: You want to foster progress, maintain the Christian life, support the Order members and their families, encourage common to spiritual and social activities and eventually contribute to the support of education, charity, religion and social welfare to be paid.

Organization

Members can men over the age of 18 years. The organization is divided into local groups (eg parishes ), in the provinces (eg diocese ) are summarized. The supreme body is the " National Secretariat " ( National Secretariat ). It is headed by the " Supreme Knight" ( Supreme Knight), who runs the organization with board members. The main office of the KSCNZ is based in Wellington.

Cooperation

The KSCNZ is the International Alliance of Catholic Knights, which was recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as the union of believers joined. To tick the international cooperation it maintains connections with the Knights of the Southern Cross - Australia, the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Saint Columbanus, the Knights of Da Gama and the Knights of Saint Columba.

Emblem and naming

The badge of the KSCNZ is a combination of a Latin cross, superimposed is a green map of New Zealand. Above the left cross-arm of the Southern Cross, is received ( Four Stars of the South ) as a symbol of the southern hemisphere. The Southern Cross is also seen in the flag of New Zealand. Under the right cross bar, the letters stand KSC (short for Knights of the Southern Cross ).