Military Ordinariate of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Military Ordinariate of New Zealand is a military ordinariate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
, it provides pastoral care
to Roman Catholics serving in the New Zealand Defence Force
and their families.
of Wellington
. His successor, Edward Russell Gaines, was also the Bishop of Hamilton
. Since 1995, the post of Military Ordinary
has been held by the Archbishops of Wellington
.
Military ordinariate
A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces of a nation....
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
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...
, it provides pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
to Roman Catholics serving in the New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
and their families.
History
It was created as a military vicariate on 28 October 1976, and elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986. The first military vicar, Owen Noel Snedden, was also an Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Wellington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington
The Latin Rite Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington is the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Zealand. Catholics number about 83,214 . Parishes number 47 parishes and the archdiocese extends over central New Zealand between Levin and Masterton in the north to Kaikoura to Westport in the...
. His successor, Edward Russell Gaines, was also the Bishop of Hamilton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand
The Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. It was formed on 6 March 1980 from a portion of the territory in the Diocese of Auckland.-Ordinaries of Hamilton, New Zealand:...
. Since 1995, the post of Military Ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
has been held by the Archbishops of Wellington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington
The Latin Rite Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington is the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Zealand. Catholics number about 83,214 . Parishes number 47 parishes and the archdiocese extends over central New Zealand between Levin and Masterton in the north to Kaikoura to Westport in the...
.
Military vicars
- Owen Noel SneddenOwen SneddenOwen Noel Snedden was the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington, New Zealand . He was the first Auckland-born priest to be ordained a bishop.-Early life:...
(appointed 28 October 1976 – died 17 April 1981) - Edward Russell GainesEdward Russell GainesMost Reverend Edward Russell Gaines, DD was the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland and was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand ....
(appointed 19 June 1981 – became Military Ordinary 21 July 1986)
Military ordinaries
- Edward Russell GainesEdward Russell GainesMost Reverend Edward Russell Gaines, DD was the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland and was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand ....
(appointed 21 July 1986 – died 6 September 1994) - Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams (appointed 1 June 1995 – retired 1 April 2005)
- John Atcherley DewJohn Atcherley DewJohn Atcherley Dew is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, and the metropolitan of New Zealand.Born in Waipawa, he attended St. Joseph's Primary School, Waipukurau and St Joseph's College, Masterton. His tertiary education was at Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch and at Holy Cross College,...
(current incumbent, appointed 1 April 2005)