Denis Hanrahan
Encyclopedia
Denis William Hanrahan (1933–1 February 1987) was the 6th Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch
, New Zealand
. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
of Christchurch on 25 March 1984 by Pope John Paul II
, succeeded to the see of Christchurch on 4 July 1985 on the retirement of his predecessor Bishop Ashby
and died in office on 1 February 1987.
, New Zealand
and was educated there by the Sisters of Mercy
and the Marist Brothers
. He trained for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
.
on 21 July 1957 in Greymouth. In 1970 he went to Manila
to study for a year at the East Asian Pastoral Institute. On returning to Christchurch in 1971, he lived with the Brothers of St John of God
, at what was then Marylands, at Halswell
. Hanrahan was appointed Diocesan Director for Religious Education in 1971. He remained in this position until becoming Parish Priest at Bishopdale
in 1979. He was also chairman of the Christchurch Priests' Senate from 1979 until 1983.
of Christchurch 25 March 1984 and was ordained a bishop on 6 June 1984 by Bishop Ashby
, Archbishop Magnoni (the Pro-Nuncio) and Cardinal Williams. When Bishop Ashby retired on 4 July 1985, Hanrahan succeeded him as Bishop of Christchurch and he was formally enthroned in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
on 5 August 1985. On 24 November 1986, he hosted Pope John Paul II at his Cathedral during the Papal visit to New Zealand at an ecumenical
service during which the Pope dedicated a chapel for Christian Unity. In 1987 Hanrahan took over the role of Episcopal Vicar for New Zealand Catholic Education, a role previously held by Bishop Kavanagh
who had died in 1985.
, was also one of the celebrants. Bishop Hanrahan is buried at Bromley Cemetery
.
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...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
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 Christchurch on 25 March 1984 by 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 ...
, succeeded to the see of Christchurch on 4 July 1985 on the retirement of his predecessor Bishop Ashby
Brian Ashby
Brian Patrick Ashby, CBE was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 11 July 1964, resigned the see on 4 July 1985, and died on 5 June 1988...
and died in office on 1 February 1987.
Early life
Hanrahan was born in GreymouthGreymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and was educated there by the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
and the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
. He trained for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, 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:...
.
Priesthood
Hanrahan was ordained a priest by Bishop JoyceEdward Joyce
Edward Michael Joyce was the fourth Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Pius XII on 18 April 1950 and died in office on 28 January 1964. He was the first priest of the Christchurch diocese to be made a bishop.-Early life:Joyce was born in Lyttelton, New...
on 21 July 1957 in Greymouth. In 1970 he went to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to study for a year at the East Asian Pastoral Institute. On returning to Christchurch in 1971, he lived with the Brothers of St John of God
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
, at what was then Marylands, at Halswell
Halswell
Halswell is a satellite town of Christchurch, New Zealand, located in open country nine kilometres southwest of the city centre on State Highway 75...
. Hanrahan was appointed Diocesan Director for Religious Education in 1971. He remained in this position until becoming Parish Priest at Bishopdale
Bishopdale, New Zealand
-History:The suburb is named after the three Bishop brothers, James , Robert and William , who bought land in the area in 1858 or 1859 and established pipfruit orchards. Initially, the area was called Bishopsdale, but the second 's' was dropped from the name...
in 1979. He was also chairman of the Christchurch Priests' Senate from 1979 until 1983.
Episcopacy
Hanrahan was appointed Coadjutor BishopCoadjutor 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 Christchurch 25 March 1984 and was ordained a bishop on 6 June 1984 by Bishop Ashby
Brian Ashby
Brian Patrick Ashby, CBE was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 11 July 1964, resigned the see on 4 July 1985, and died on 5 June 1988...
, Archbishop Magnoni (the Pro-Nuncio) and Cardinal Williams. When Bishop Ashby retired on 4 July 1985, Hanrahan succeeded him as Bishop of Christchurch and he was formally enthroned in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
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...
on 5 August 1985. On 24 November 1986, he hosted Pope John Paul II at his Cathedral during the Papal visit to New Zealand at an ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
service during which the Pope dedicated a chapel for Christian Unity. In 1987 Hanrahan took over the role of Episcopal Vicar for New Zealand Catholic Education, a role previously held by Bishop Kavanagh
John Patrick Kavanagh
John Patrick Kavanagh was the Fourth Catholic Bishop of Dunedin .-References:* , from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10...
who had died in 1985.
Death
Hanrahan died completely unexpectedly after a game of tennis at the age of 53 in the evening of Sunday, 1 February 1987. The chief celebrant of his concelebrated Requiem Mass was Cardinal Williams. Hanrahans predecessor as Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop AshbyBrian Ashby
Brian Patrick Ashby, CBE was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 11 July 1964, resigned the see on 4 July 1985, and died on 5 June 1988...
, was also one of the celebrants. Bishop Hanrahan is buried at Bromley Cemetery
Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch
Bromley Cemetery is a cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand. It occupies approximately 10 hectares to the east of the city centre, on the corner of Keighleys Road and Linwood Avenue...
.
See also
- Catholic Hierarchy website, Bishop Denis William Hanrahan (retrieved 27 January 2011).