Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
Encyclopedia
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
. It was formed on 5 May 1887 from a portion of the territory of the Diocese of Wellington
, which was elevated to archdiocese later that same month.
Roman Catholic (term)
The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is a suffragan diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese 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...
. Its cathedral and see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
city are located in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, the largest city in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of 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...
. It was formed on 5 May 1887 from a portion of the territory of the Diocese 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...
, which was elevated to archdiocese later that same month.
Ordinaries of Christchurch
| Tenure | Incumbent | Life |
|---|---|---|
| 1887 to 1915 | John Joseph Grimes John Grimes (New Zealand bishop) John Joseph Grimes was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed on 13 May 1887 and died in office on 15 March 1915.-References:... S.M. |
(1887 to 1915) |
| 1915 to 1943 | Matthew Joseph Brodie Matthew Brodie Matthew Joseph Brodie was the second Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XV on 27 November 1915 and died in office on 11 October 1943. He was the first New Zealander by birth to be made a Catholic bishop... |
(1871 to 1943) |
| 1944 to 1950 | Patrick Francis Lyons | (1903 to 1967) |
| 1950 to 1964 | Edward Michael Joyce Edward 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... |
(1904 to 1964) |
| 1964 to 1985 | Brian Patrick 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... |
(1923 to 1988) |
| 1985 to 1987 | Denis William Hanrahan Denis Hanrahan Denis William Hanrahan 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... |
(1933 to 1987 ) |
| 1987 to 1995 | John Basil Meeking John Basil Meeking John Basil Meeking is the Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand and was the 7th Bishop of that see .... |
(1929 to - ) |
| 1995 to 2007 | John Jerome Cunneen John Jerome Cunneen John Jerome Cunneen was a New Zealand prelate who served as the eighth Bishop of Christchurch from 1995 until 2007. He was succeeded as Bishop by Barry Philip Jones.-Death:Cunneen died on 9 November 2010 at the age of 78... |
(1932 to 2010) |
| 2007 to present | Barry Philip Jones | (1941 to - ) |
Current bishops
- Barry Philip Jones, 9th Bishop of Christchurch (2007- present)
- John Basil MeekingJohn Basil MeekingJohn Basil Meeking is the Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand and was the 7th Bishop of that see ....
, Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch.
Secondary schools
- Catholic Cathedral College, ChristchurchCatholic Cathedral College, ChristchurchCatholic Cathedral College, Christchurch is an integrated Catholic co-educational secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1987 but its origins go back to more than a 100 years earlier...
- John Paul II High School, Greymouth
- Marian College, Shirley, ChristchurchMarian College, ChristchurchMarian College, Christchurch was founded in 1982 with the merging of two Catholic secondary schools for girls, St Mary’s College and McKillop College located in Shirley...
- Roncalli College, TimaruRoncalli CollegeRoncalli College is a Catholic college in Timaru, New Zealand. It is named after Pope John XXIII, whose birth name was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. It is a co-educational college, with approximately 550 students from Year 9 to Year 13, it is situated on Craigie Avenue, next to the Sacred Heart Basilica...
- St Bede's College, Papanui, ChristchurchSt Bede's College, ChristchurchSt. Bede's College is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand for boys aged 13 to 18 . St. Bede's is the oldest Roman Catholic Boys' College in New Zealand's South Island. It is also the only Catholic day and boarding college for boys in New Zealand's South Island....
- St Thomas of Canterbury College, Riccarton, ChristchurchSt Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSt Thomas of Canterbury College is a college for year 7 to 13 boys and offers a Catholic education to its students. It is located in Christchurch, New Zealand...
- Villa Maria College, Riccarton, ChristchurchVilla Maria College, ChristchurchVilla Maria College, Christchurch, New Zealand was opened on 18 February 1918 with 14 pupils. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and served as a parish school when boys were admitted in 1921. From 1941 the school reverted to being a girl's college. Villa Maria College is a day school but it...
See also
- Holy Cross SeminaryHoly 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:...
- Holy Name SeminaryHoly Name SeminaryHoly Name Seminary was a Roman Catholic seminary staffed by the Society of Jesus established in New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1947 in Christchurch and closed at the end of 1978.-Establishment:...
- Father Bernard O'Brien SJBernard O'Brien (Jesuit)Bernard Michael O'Brien is a New Zealand Jesuit priest, philosopher, musician , writer and former seminary professor.-Early life:...
- Roman Catholicism in New Zealand
- List of New Zealand Catholic bishops