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Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Archives

Unit 2/9 Washington Way

P O BOX 4544

CHRISTCHURCH

Phone: 03 353 0752

Email: archives@chch.catholic.org.nz

Website: https://archives.chchcatholic.nz/

Social Media: @christchurchdiocesanarchives

A diocese is a “portion of the people of God” which is entrusted to the

pastoral care of a bishop. Bishops are appointed by the Holy Father, the Pope.

The Bishop carries out this pastoral care with the cooperation of the priests of

the diocese.

The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch was established by papal brief in 1887.

Formerly part of Wellington Archdiocese, the Diocese of Christchurch is

currently comprised of 27 parishes covering parts of the West Coast and

Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand as well as the Chatham Islands.

This pack provides some information on the Bishops of the Christchurch

Diocese.

Further information on other dioceses can be found on the website of the

Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand https://www.catholic.org.nz/

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Bishop John Joseph Grimes SM First Bishop of Christchurch May 1887 – March 1915

John Grimes was born on 11 February 1842 at Bromley by Bow in London’s East End, the second son of Elizabeth and Richard Grimes. He was educated by the Marist Brothers at Spitalfields and at a Marist school at Bar-le-Duc, in France. He trained for the priesthood at St Mary’s College, Dundalk, Ireland and was professed as a member of the Society of Mary in 1867 and ordained a priest by Archbishop Whelan of Bombau in the church of the Catholic University of Ireland on August 22, 1869. He taught at St Mary’s, Dundalk before being appointed to St Mary’s Jefferson College, Louisiana, USA in 1874. He became college president in 1879 but while caring for the sick during a yellow fever epidemic he contracted the disease and returned to Ireland. In 1881 he was appointed to the staff of the Marist scholisticate and novitiate at Paignton, Devon, England, and also became the first parish priest of Paignton, baptising the first Catholic child in that area since the reformation. He was appointed to the new see of Christchurch on 13 May 1887 and was ordained bishop at St Anne’s Church, Spitalfields on July 26, 1887 by Cardinal Vaughan. He arrived in New Zealand in January 1888. +Grimes’ crest

He died in Sydney where he had gone for medical treatment on March 11, 1915 and was buried 10 days later in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch.

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Bishop Matthew Brodie Second Bishop of Christchurch November 1915 – October 1943

Matthew Brodie was born in Coromandel on 1 March 1864 and ordained a priest December 20, 1896 by Bishop Lenihan OSB. He was appointed to Christchurch in November 27, 1915 and ordained bishop in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament February 27, 1916 by Cardinal Ceretti, Archbishop Redwood and Bishop Verdon.

+Brodie’s crest

Invitation to Bishop Brodie’s Ordination on 27 February 1916

He died on 11 October 1943 and was buried in the chapel of Mt Magdalea, now St John of God. In January 1944 Pope Pius XII appointed Rt Rev Monsignor William J Ormond, Parish Priest of St Benedict’s parish, Newton in the diocese of Auckland, as Bishop Brodie’s successor. Within a week of his appointment, it was reported that Monsignor Ormond was indisposed and acting on medical advice was taking complete rest. In fact, the responsibilities in becoming bishop had overwhelmed him. Doctors advised Bishop Liston that Monsignor Ormond would not cope if forced to take over the duties in Christchurch and in March Apostolic Delegate Panico released him from the episcopal appointment and appointed Rt Rev Monsignor Patrick Lyons, Vicar General to the Archdiocese of Melbourne, in his place.

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Bishop Patrick Frances Lyons Third Bishop of Christchurch March 1944 – April 1950

Patrick Lyons was born in Melbourne on 6 January 1903, and ordained a priest on 6 January 1927. He was appointed to Christchurch on 16 March 1944 and was ordained a bishop in Melbourne Cathedral on July 2, 1944 by Cardinal Van Rossum CSSR, being formally installed as bishop of Christchurch on 6 August 1944.

+Lyons crest

Booklet from +Lyons’ enthronement 6 August 1944

On 5 April 1950 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney and departed New Zealand for his new post. On 11 October 1956 he became co-adjutor bishop of Sale, becoming bishop of that diocese on June 16, 1957. He died on August 13, 1967.

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Bishop Edward Michael Joyce Fourth Bishop of Christchurch April 1950 – January 1964

Edward Joyce was born in Lyttelton on 26 June 1904, and later lived at Loburn. He was ordained a priest on 31 October 1930, working in a number of parishes throughout the Diocese. He was appointed to the Christchurch episcopy on 18 April 1950, the first appointment to come from within the Diocese. He was ordained bishop in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on 16 July 1950 by Archbishops McKeefry and Liston and Bishop Kavanagh. Bishop Joyce’s ordination [Archives Reference #145] +Joyce’s crest

Bishop Joyce died on 28 January 1964 and is buried in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

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Bishop Brian Patrick Ashby Fifth Bishop of Christchurch July 1964 – July 1985

Brian Ashby was born in Belfast, Christchurch on 10 November 1923, and was ordained a priest on 1 January 1954. He was appointed Bishop of Christchurch on 11 July 1964 and ordained as bishop on 5 August 1964 by Archbishop McKeefry.

Bishop Ashby’s Ordination [Archives Reference #1734] +Ashby’s crest

Bishop Ashby’s motto, visible on his crest, was “His Light Our Way” Bishop Ashby resigned due to ill health on 4 July 1985, and died on 5 June 1988. He is buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch.

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Bishop Denis William Hanrahan Sixth Bishop of Christchurch July 1985 – February 1987

Denis Hanrahan was born in Greymouth on 1 November 1933 and was ordained a priest on 21 July 1957 by Bishop Joyce. He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Christchurch on 25 March 1984 and ordained bishop on 6 June 1984 by Bishop Ashby, Archbishop Magnoni and Cardinal Williams.

+Hanrahan Crest

He succeeded to the see of Christchurch July 4, 1985 and died 1 February 1987. He is buried at Bromley Cemetery. Memoriam Card [Archives Reference #D613A]

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Bishop John Basil Meeking Seventh Bishop of Christchurch June 1987 – February 1996 Basil Meeking was born on 19th November 1929 in Ashburton. He was ordained a priest on 19th July,1953 On 3rd June 1987 he was ordained Bishop of Christchurch and retired in February, 1996. He adopted as his motto “Speaking the truth in love”

+Meekinig’s Crest Bishop Meeking’s ordination [Archives

Reference uncatalogued ]

Bishop Basil held a number of roles in Parishes, Ministries and Assignments including Beckenham/St Martins; Chaplain – Christchurch Hospital; Studies at the University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome (Doctor of Sacred Theology); Kaiapoi: Methven; Bryndwr; Official and later Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, Rome; Bishop of Christchurch; latterly, work with Cardinal Francis George in Portland Oregon and in Chicago, his liaison with the Lumen Christi Institute in the University of Chicago and with the Community of St John Cantius, Chicago.

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Bishop John Jerome Cunneen Eighth Bishop of Christchurch December 1995 – May 2007

John Cunneen was born on 5th May 1932 in Christchurch. He was ordained as a priest on 8th July 1956

He served in the parishes of Dallington, Cathedral, Rangiora/Oxford, Addington, Timaru North, Bishopdale, and Christ the King.

Fr Cunneen was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Christchurch on 30 November 1992 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. An Auxiliary Bishop is one assigned to assist the Diocesan Bishop in meeting the needs of the diocese, similar to a coadjutor bishop. Auxiliary bishops are titular bishops of sees that no longer exist, but do not hold the right of succession of a Coadjutor Bishop.

Bishop John’s motto was “Faithful in Service”

Bishop Cunneen’s crest +Cunneen’s ordination [Archives Reference #3270]

On the retirement of Bishop Basil, Bishop Cunneen was installed as the eighth bishop of Christchurch on 15 December 1995.

He retired as Bishop of Christchurch on 4th May 2007 and died 9th November 2010. He is buried in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

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Bishop Barry Philip Jones Ninth Bishop of Christchurch 4 May 2007 – 2016

Barry Jones was born on 29th August 1941 in Rangiora, and ordained a priest on 4th July 1966 at Sts Mary and Francis de Sales Church, Rangiora.

He was educated at St Joseph’s Convent Primary School in Rangiora and later at St Bede’s College, Christchurch. He studied for priesthood at Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch (Philosophy); and Holy Cross College, Mosgiel (Theology)

He served in Timaru North, Cathedral, Christchurch Hospital, Kumara, Akaroa, Sockburn, Te Rangimarie, Burnham, Vice Rector Good Shepherd House, Riccarton, and Greymouth

On 4th October 2006, he was ordained Coadjutor Bishop and then appointed Bishop of Christchurch on 4th May 2007, following Bishop Cunneen’s retirement.

His motto was “The Lord delights in His people” (Psalm 149:4)

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+Jones’ consecration as Bishop [Archives Reference #3559]

Bishop Barry died on 13 February 2016 following illness.

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Bishop Paul Martin SM Tenth Bishop of Christchurch 3 March 2018 - current

Bishop Paul was born in Hastings, and was educated at St Joseph’s Primary School. He undertook his second-ary studies at St John’s College and entered formation for the Society of Mary in 1985.

+ Paul studied in theology and arts at Victoria University in Wellington. He has taught English and Religious Education in New Zealand and has held the roles of Rector at St Patrick’s College in Wellington and Deputy Director (Pastoral Care) at St Bede’s College, Christchurch. At the time of his appointment Bishop Paul was General Bur-sar for the Society of Mary in Rome.

On 5 December 2017, he was appointed, by Pope Francis, Bishop of the Christchurch Diocese and was ordained on Saturday 3 March 2018 by Cardinal John Dew, Arch-bishop of Wellington, Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch Basil Meeking and Bishop Charles Drennan of Palmerston North.

Bishop Paul’s crest Bishop Paul’s ordination Installation Mass