Charles Drennan
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Drennan (born 23 August 1960) is the Catholic Coadjutor Bishop
of Palmerston North
.
mother. He attended St Teresa's School (Riccarton), Kirkwood Intermediate School and Christ's College
. At St Teresa's, the nine-year old Drennan was introduced by a teacher to the book Promises to Keep by Dr Tom Dooley about the Vietnam War
. This book impressed Drennan, who was even then thinking of becoming a priest, with the notion of service.
As a young man, after finishing university, he spent a three-year period travelling overseas and worked for a period in a Ryder-Chesire
home in India
for tuberculosis
patients, special needs adults and children whose parents had leprosy
. There he made the decision to become a Roman Catholic priest. He studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross Seminary, Mosgiel
for two years before being sent by his bishop, Bishop Meeking of Christchurch
, to Rome
to complete his training at Propaganda College. as well as later undertaking postgraduate studies
there.
on 14 June 1996. Drennan also became an Ascribed Rosminian
- he belongs to the Institute of Charity (Rosminians) as a diocesan priest. He returned to New Zealand and served as a priest in the parishes of Hoon Hay
and Timaru
.
After his post-graduate study in Rome, he was on the staffs of Holy Cross Seminary
and Good Shepherd College in Auckland. He was then invited to work in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State where he spent seven years. His main role was writing speeches and talks for the Pope. Drennan's period there covered the final years of Pope John Paul II
and the election and first four years of Pope Benedict XVI
.
Drennan said that working at the Vatican was "intense, finely focused and hugely stimulating. I met some wonderful people there - priests and lay, working in the Vatican". At the request of Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones, Drennan returned to Christchurch in 2010. Just before leaving the Vatican
, he accompanied the Pope on a visit to the Czech Republic (26–28 September 2009), during which they discussed the Church in New Zealand. In Christchurch, Drennan held the title of Monsignor
and the position of Diocesan Chancellor
of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
.
He also held the positions of Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
, Parish Priest of St Anne’s Parish, Woolston
and chair of the Council of Priests.
by Pope Benedict XVI
on 22 February 2011 to assist current Bishop Peter Cullinane
in the governance of the diocese until Bishop Cullinane's retirement after he turns 75 years of age on 29 November 2011. The changeover is expected to happen early in 2012. Charles Drennan was ordained bishop on 11 June 2011 in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North. His principal consecrator was Bishop Peter Cullinane and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Barry Philip Jones of Christchurch and Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn
.
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Palmerston North
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
The Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North is a suffragan Diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. It was formed on 6 March 1980 when the Archdiocese was divided...
.
Early life
Drennan was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand to an Anglican father and a CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
mother. He attended St Teresa's School (Riccarton), Kirkwood Intermediate School and Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
. At St Teresa's, the nine-year old Drennan was introduced by a teacher to the book Promises to Keep by Dr Tom Dooley about the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. This book impressed Drennan, who was even then thinking of becoming a priest, with the notion of service.
As a young man, after finishing university, he spent a three-year period travelling overseas and worked for a period in a Ryder-Chesire
Sue Ryder Care
Sue Ryder is a charity which was founded in 1953 by Sue Ryder, with the creation of a nursing home in Suffolk, UK....
home in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients, special needs adults and children whose parents had leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
. There he made the decision to become a Roman Catholic priest. He studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross Seminary, Mosgiel
Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.-Establishment:...
for two years before being sent by his bishop, Bishop Meeking of Christchurch
John Basil Meeking
John Basil Meeking is the Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand and was the 7th Bishop of that see ....
, to Rome
Diocese of Rome
The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...
to complete his training at Propaganda College. as well as later undertaking postgraduate studies
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
there.
Priesthood
Drennan was ordained a priest in Rome for the Diocese of ChristchurchRoman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
The Latin Rite Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. Its cathedral and see city are located in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand...
on 14 June 1996. Drennan also became an Ascribed Rosminian
Rosminians
The Rosminians, officially the Institute of Charity or Societas a charitate nuncupata, are a Roman Catholic religious congregation founded by Antonio Rosmini and first organised in 1828....
- he belongs to the Institute of Charity (Rosminians) as a diocesan priest. He returned to New Zealand and served as a priest in the parishes of Hoon Hay
Hoon Hay
Hoon Hay is an outer suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It lies to the southwest of the city close to the Port Hills. It is named after a village in Derbyshire....
and Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
.
After his post-graduate study in Rome, he was on the staffs of Holy Cross Seminary
Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.-Establishment:...
and Good Shepherd College in Auckland. He was then invited to work in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State where he spent seven years. His main role was writing speeches and talks for the Pope. Drennan's period there covered the final years of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
and the election and first four years of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
.
Drennan said that working at the Vatican was "intense, finely focused and hugely stimulating. I met some wonderful people there - priests and lay, working in the Vatican". At the request of Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones, Drennan returned to Christchurch in 2010. Just before leaving the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, he accompanied the Pope on a visit to the Czech Republic (26–28 September 2009), during which they discussed the Church in New Zealand. In Christchurch, Drennan held the title of Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
and the position of Diocesan Chancellor
Diocesan chancery
A diocesan chancery is the branch of administration which handles all written documents used in the official government of a Roman Catholic or Anglican diocese....
of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
The Latin Rite Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. Its cathedral and see city are located in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand...
.
He also held the positions of Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located in the city centre of Christchurch, New Zealand, commonly known as the Christchurch Basilica, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and seat of the Bishop of Christchurch...
, Parish Priest of St Anne’s Parish, Woolston
Woolston, New Zealand
Woolston is a light industrial and residential suburb of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated three kilometres southeast of the city centre, close to major arterial routes including State Highways 73 and 74 to Banks Peninsula...
and chair of the Council of Priests.
Episcopacy
Drennan was appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Palmerston NorthRoman Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
The Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North is a suffragan Diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. It was formed on 6 March 1980 when the Archdiocese was divided...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 22 February 2011 to assist current Bishop Peter Cullinane
Peter Cullinane
Peter James Cullinane , CNZM, is the First Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North. He was appointed as Bishop of Palmerston North by Pope John Paul II on 6 March 1980 and was ordained bishop on 30 April 1980.-See also:...
in the governance of the diocese until Bishop Cullinane's retirement after he turns 75 years of age on 29 November 2011. The changeover is expected to happen early in 2012. Charles Drennan was ordained bishop on 11 June 2011 in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North. His principal consecrator was Bishop Peter Cullinane and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Barry Philip Jones of Christchurch and Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn
Mark Benedict Coleridge
Mark Benedict Coleridge DD B.A. DSS is the Catholic Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn, Australia. He was previously Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Australia.-Early life:...
.
External links
- Catholic Hierarchy website profile of Bishop Charles Edward Drennan (retrieved 14 March 2011)