Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Christchurch / Christopolitan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Wellington

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint John the Baptist

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: February 12

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1887.05.10: Established as Diocese of Christchurch / Christopolitan(us) (Latin) (from Diocese of Wellington and became suffragan of Wellington)

Contact Info

Address: Cathedral House, 122 Barbadoes Street, PO Box 4544, Christchurch 8001, New Zealand

Phone: +64 3 366-9869

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1986.11)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.05.21 – ...):

Bishop Michael Andrew Gielen (53)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Christchurch (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michael Andrew Gielen (53)
(2022.05.21 – ...)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand)

Totus tuus

Born:	1971.06.02 (Cambridge, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1997.11.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.03.07

Priest of Hamilton (New Zealand) (1997.11.29 – 2020.01.06)

Titular Bishop of Abbir Maius (2020.01.06 – 2022.05.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (2020.01.06 – 2022.05.21)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2022.05.21 – ...)

Archbishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (57)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.01.01 – 2022.05.21)

Bishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (57) (later Archbishop)
(2017.12.05 – 2021.01.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand)
Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand)
General Secretary of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Rejoice in the Lord always

Born:	1967.05.05 (Hastings, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1993.09.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.03.03

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2017.12.05 – 2021.01.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2021.01.01 – 2022.05.21)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2021.01.01 – 2023.05.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2023.05.05 – ...)

General Secretary of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2023.05.10 – ...)

Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand) (2023.05.27 – ...)

Bishop Barry Philip Jones
(2007.05.04 – 2016.02.13)

The Lord delights in his people

Born:	1941.09.29 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1966.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.10.04
Died:	2016.02.13 († 74)

Priest of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1966.07.04 – 2006.06.28)

Coadjutor Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2006.06.28 – 2007.05.04)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2007.05.04 – 2016.02.13)

Bishop John Jerome Cunneen
(1995.12.15 – 2007.05.04)

Faithful in service

Born:	1932.05.05 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1956.07.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.11.30
Died:	2010.11.09 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Eanach Dúin (1992.10.06 – 1995.12.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1992.10.06 – 1995.12.15)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1995.12.15 – 2007.05.04)

Bishop John Basil Meeking
(1987.03.30 – 1995.12.15)

Speaking the truth in love

Born:	1929.11.19 (Ashburton, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1953.07.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.06.03
Died:	2020.06.11 (Christchurch, New Zealand † 90)

Priest of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1953.07.19 – 1987.03.30)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1976.04.09 – 1985.04.17)

Undersecretary of Secretariat for Christian Unity (1985 – 1987.03.30)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1985.04.17 – 1987.03.30)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1987.03.30 – 1995.12.15)

Bishop Denis William Hanrahan
(1985.07.04 – 1987.02.01)

To live by faith

Born:	1933.11.01 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1957.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.06.06
Died:	1987.02.01 († 53)

Coadjutor Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1984.03.25 – 1985.07.04)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1985.07.04 – 1987.02.01)

Bishop Brian Patrick Ashby
(1964.07.11 – 1985.07.04)

His light our way

Born:	1923.11.10 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1950.01.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.08.05
Died:	1988.06.05 († 64)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1964.07.11 – 1985.07.04)

Bishop Edward Michael Joyce
(1950.04.18 – 1964.01.28)

Born:	1904.06.26 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1930.10.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.07.16
Died:	1964.01.28 († 59)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1950.04.18 – 1964.01.28)

Bishop Patrick Francis Lyons
(1944.03.16 – 1950.04.05)

Christus vincit

Born:	1903.01.06 (Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1927.01.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1944.07.02
Died:	1967.08.13 († 64)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1944.03.16 – 1950.04.05)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (Australia) (1950.04.05 – 1956.10.11)

Titular Bishop of Cabasa (1950.04.05 – 1957.06.16)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sale (Australia) (1956.10.11 – 1957.06.16)

Bishop of Sale (Australia) (1957.06.16 – 1967.08.13)

Bishop Matthew Joseph Brodie
(1915.11.27 – 1943.10.11)

Born:	1864.03.01
Ordained Priest:	1896.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1916.02.27
Died:	1943.10.11 († 79)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1915.11.27 – 1943.10.11)

Bishop John Joseph Grimes, S.M.
(1887.05.13 – 1915.03.11)

Born:	1842.02.11
Ordained Priest:	1869.08.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1887.07.26
Died:	1915.03.11 († 73)

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (1887.05.13 – 1915.03.11)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Barry Philip Jones (2006.06.28 – 2007.05.04)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Denis William Hanrahan (1984.03.25 – 1985.07.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop John Jerome Cunneen (1992.10.06 – 1995.12.15)

Special Churches

Former Cathedral: Former Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island
Pro-Cathedral: Pro-Cathedral of St Mary, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (84)

Dunedin (↙), Wellington (↗)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 32,000 km²

Population: 68,750 Catholics (10.2% of 673,790 total)

Pastoral Centres: 18 parishes, 16 missions

Personnel: 61 priests (42 diocesan, 19 religious), 138 religious (39 brothers, 99 sisters), 3 seminarians