Catholic Matchmaker has just celebrated its first Anniversary since the launch, a number of changes have been put in place.

The old website at www.CatholicMatchmaker.co.nz has been removed and a whole new look website has just been opened. The new site can be found at www.MeetaCatholic.com and offers more reliable and up to date services which also suit the Social Networking aim of the site – to offer a place to express personality (with personal blogs), discussions of issues (with our Forum), to engage in chat, and private messaging, all on an ‘easy to follow’ new format. The downtime that was experienced on the old site has been totally eliminated with the new site too. The old url still redirects to the new site as well.

“We feel that the Site we now have is really living up to the expectation of a Social Networking site, where people can access a range of services, blogs, forums, groups, chat, private messaging etc, etc, all for the one low cost” says Glen Omvig, Administrator.

Catholic Matchmaker has also welcomed Australia. Roman Catholic Dioceses of Geraldton, in Western Australia, Townsville and Ballarat Australia have now endorsed Catholic Matchmaker, and intend to promote it within their Dioceses! So as well as all of New Zealand, Catholic Matchmaker is branching out wherever Bishops give permission for us to promote increasing the value of the membership and offering the privacy that Catholics want when searching for their marriage partner.

Of course Catholic Matchmaker has been available online to anyone for the whole year, but when it comes to actual promotion and endorsement within parishes, permission must be sought from the Dioceses involved.

“All the dioceses have received a letter from Catholic Matchmaker now, and the ones who have responded are featured on the website with specific permission for promotion within their dioceses. The Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference will discuss it at their next meeting in November 2008 as well” says Clare Omvig, Administrator of Catholic Matchmaker.

“We sought permission from the Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, New Zealand, before we began this venture, and we will continue to endeavour to be under the correct authority within every diocese,” she adds. “Our pastor Fr Ron Bennett, assigned by Archbishop John Dew, also continues to have a presence on the site and among the membership.”

Catholic Matchmaker celebrated their first Wedding in 17 May 2007, in Christchurch which also helped to put them on the map. Their presence online has been steadily increasing.

All in all, Catholic Matchmaker is now offering a comparable and competitive service for those seeking privacy and security while searching for their soul mate.