- Denis Hanrahan
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Denis Hanrahan
6th Bishop of Christchurch
1985–1987Personal details Born 1 November 1933
Greymouth
New Zealand
Died 1 February 1987
Christchurch
New Zealand
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.
Contents
Early life
Hanrahan was born in Greymouth, 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.[1]
Priesthood
Hanrahan was ordained a priest by Bishop Joyce 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.[1]
Episcopacy
Hanrahan was appointed Coadjutor Bishop 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.[2] On 24 November 1986, he hosted Pope John Paul II at his Cathedral during the Papal visit to New Zealand at an ecumenical service[3] during which the Pope dedicated a chapel for Christian Unity.[4] 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.[5]
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 Ashby, was also one of the celebrants. Bishop Hanrahan is buried at Bromley Cemetery.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b Deborah McPherson, "Catholic Bishop of Christchurch dies suddenly", The Press, 2 February 1987, p. 1.
- ^ "Docese mourns popular bishop", Zealandia, 15 February 1987, p. 1.
- ^ "Complete unity ecumenism's goal says Pope John Paul", Zealandia, December 7, 1986, p. 1.
- ^ "Pope Calls for Unity", The Press, November 25, 1986, p. 3.
- ^ a b "Mourners pack Cathedral", Zealandia, February 15, 1987, p. 20
See also
- Catholic Hierarchy website, Bishop Denis William Hanrahan (retrieved 27 January 2011).
Catholic Church titles Preceded by
-Coadjutor Bishop of Christchurch
1984-1985Succeeded by
-Preceded by
Brian Ashby6th Bishop of Christchurch
1985–1987Succeeded by
John Basil MeekingBrian Patrick Ashby • Leonard Anthony Boyle • Matthew Joseph Brodie • Denis George Browne • Colin David Campbell • Henry William Cleary • Thomas William Croke • Peter Cullinane • John Jerome Cunneen • Reginald John Delargey • John Atcherley Dew • Owen John Dolan • Paul Donoghue SM • Charles Edward Drennan • Patrick James Dunn • Edward Russell Gaines • John Joseph Grimes SM • Denis William Hanrahan • Barry Philip Jones • Edward Michael Joyce • John Patrick Kavanagh • Robin Walsh Leamy SM • George Michael Lenihan OSB • James Michael Liston • John Edmund Luck OSB • Patrick James Lyons • John Mackey • Max Takuira Matthew Mariu SM • Peter Thomas Bertram McKeefry • John Basil Meeking • Patrick Moran • Stuart France O'Connell SM • Hugh John O'Neill • Thomas O'Shea SM • Jean Baptiste Pompallier • Francis William Mary Redwood SM • John Hubert Macey Rodgers SM • Owen Noel Snedden • Walter Steins SJ • Michael Verdon • Philippe-Joseph Viard SM • Thomas Stafford Williams • James WhyteCategories:- Former students of Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops
- New Zealand religious leaders
- New Zealand Roman Catholic bishops
- People from the West Coast Region
- Roman Catholic bishops of Christchurch
- Cardiovascular disease deaths in New Zealand
- 1933 births
- 1987 deaths
- Burials at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch
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