New Catholic Bishop of Chch named

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 1

New Catholic Bishop of Chch named

By

MARGARET BAKER

The Right Rev. Basil Meeking has been appointed the seventh Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Pope John Paul II announced in Rome last evening.

Monsignor Meeking, who has worked at the Vatican in Rome for the last 18 years, was born in Ashburton in 1929 and educated at Catholic schools in Ashburton, Kaikoura and at St Bede’s College in Christchurch. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Christchurch in St Paul’s church, Dallington, in 1953. From 1953 to 1963 he worked as assistant priest in the parishes of Beckenham and Cathedral, and then began three years of study at St Peter’s College in Rome. Returning to New Zealand in 1966, he became administrator of the Kaiapoi parish, and held similar . positions in .Methven and Bryridwr, before beginning his appointment in 1969 with the Vatican Secretariat for Christian Unity in Rome.

Two years ago he was appointed to the third most senior position in the Secretariat. Both the Bishop-elect’s parents have died, and his brother, Mr lan Meeking, lives in Christchurch. He succeeds the Most Rev. Denis Hanrahan who died suddenly on February 1. The director of Catholic Communications, the Rev. Ray Schmack, said Monsignor Meeking would probably be consecrated in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch, in the middle of the year. The diocesan administrator, the Right Rev. Matthew Duggan, said he was very pleased with the “exceptionally fast” appointment. "The choice is a happy one and a good one,” said Monsignor Duggan. “We hoped it would come quickly but didn’t think it

would be this quick. It usually takes about six months.” He said he spoke to Monsignor Meeking in Rome on Thursday evening, and he himself was surprised at the appointment. Father Schmack said: “After 18 years at the Vatican he knows that the change back to pastoral life will take a bit of adjusting but he is happy to return and hopes to be consecrated at the Cathedral in June.” Monsignor Duggan said some people would be disappointed that the new bishop was not a local priest. “The response I have had from a lot of priests has been surprise, the appointment will not satisfy everybody,” he said. “There is not a great deal of evidence there was wide consultation over the

choice, and we feel that a number of people should have been heard who do not appear to have been heard.” He said that while Monsignor Meeking was a part of the Christchurch diocese, he would not know the local diocese situation and this would make his work difficult for a while. “Everybody up to the age of 30 will, scarcely know him and he will be a stranger to most people in the diocese, but he is a very intelligent man and a very good pastor.” The selection process for a bishop includes consultation with New Zealand bishops who send a list of nominations to the Pro-Nuncio. These are then sent to the Holy See (diocese of Rome), where a final decision is made by the Pope. Further report, page 9