Brian Ashby: Difference between revisions
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==Retirement and death== |
==Retirement and death== |
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Ashby resigned the see on 4 July, 1985 because of a stroke after serving 21 years as Bishop of Christchurch. During his retirement he was president of the New Zealand Counter-Stroke Support Group. In April 1988, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on 5 June 1988 in the Mary Potter Hospitice, Christchurch.<ref name="Press"/> Ashby is buried in Christchurch at Bromley Cemetery. |
Ashby resigned the see on 4 July, 1985 because of a stroke after serving 21 years as Bishop of Christchurch. During his retirement he was president of the New Zealand Counter-Stroke Support Group. In April 1988, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on 5 June 1988 in the Mary Potter Hospitice, Christchurch.<ref name="Press"/> His requiem Mass was concelebrated before a congregation of 2,000 by bishops from all the New Zealand dioceses and Bishop [[John Gerry]] from Australia.<ref>"Thousands pay respects", ''Zealandia'', June 19, 1988, p. 1.</ref> Ashby is buried in Christchurch at Bromley Cemetery. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 21:16, 26 January 2011
| Personal details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 November 1923 Belfast  New Zealand |
| Died | 5 June 1988 Christchurch New Zealand |
Brian Patrick Ashby (1923-1988) 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.
Early life
Ashby was born in Belfast, a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand in 1923. He received his primary education at St Joseph's Convent, Papanui and his secondary education at St Bede's College (to which he won a scholarship). In 1941 Ashby studied law at the University of Canterbury while working in a law office. Over the next two years, he served with the Fifth Canterbury Regiment. When the under-20s were released for further study 1943, he began his study for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel. In 1946 he was selected by Bishop Lyons for Theology studes in Rome where he was ordained on 1 January 1950. In 1951, he completed his doctorate in Theology.[1]
Priesthood
Ashby returned to Christchurch and was appointed as assistant priest in the new parish of North Timaru. In 1957 he became secretary to Bishop Joyce the 4th Bishop of Christchurch. In 1960 Ashby was sent to London to study the techniques of the Catholic Enquiry Centre there. Ashby became the co-director the New Zealand Catholic Enquiry Centre when it opened in Wellington in 1961. On July 11 1964, Ashby was appointed as the Fifth Bishop of Christchurch, succeeding Bishop Joyce.[1]
Episcopacy
Ashby was consecrated Bishop at the age of 41 (one of the youngest bishops to take office) on 5 August 1964 in Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch by Archbishop McKeefry of Wellington and the co-consecrators Archbishop Liston of Auckland and Bishop Sneddon (Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington). Ashby attended the last sessions of the Second Vatican Council an experience which placed him in an optimum position to help steer the New Zealand curch through the difficult transition times following the Council. He tried to renew diocesan structures and he placed great emphasis on making himself accessible to his people.[1] Ashby became the leading Catholic figure in the area of ecumenism. His work in this area was recognised in 1983 when Pope John Paul II appointed him to the Vatican Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity. In 1983, Ashby was also the first New Zealand bishop too be appointed a member of the second Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. He was chairman of the New Zealand Catholic Ecumenical Commission.[2] He was the first Catholic bishop to preach in an Anglican cathedral in New Zealand. He maintained an enduring personal friendship with the Anglican Bishop of Chrisitchurch Bishop Pyatt.[1] Ashby was the first New Zealand bishop to implement church sanctuary alterations in the wake of the second Vatican Council. The alterations introduced into the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacramant were controversial but Ashby insisted that they followed the council decrees.[3]
Wider interests
Ashby became a significant leader in Church and community affairs. One of the hallmarks of his work in the diocese was the stand he often took on a number of sensitive social issues. Both he and his friend, Bishop Pyatt were outspoken critics of the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour.[2] Ashby was also head of the New Zealand Catholic Commission for Evangelisation, Justice and Development which gave money to HART (Halt All Racist Tours) in 1981 and later to the Waitangi Action Committee. Both donations brought criticism and debate within the Church.[2] Ashby's services to the community were recognised when he was awarded the CBE in 1985.[2] Ashby said that he was a peaceful man but that he "owed it to my integrity to take the stands that I have taken".[3]
Retirement and death
Ashby resigned the see on 4 July, 1985 because of a stroke after serving 21 years as Bishop of Christchurch. During his retirement he was president of the New Zealand Counter-Stroke Support Group. In April 1988, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on 5 June 1988 in the Mary Potter Hospitice, Christchurch.[2] His requiem Mass was concelebrated before a congregation of 2,000 by bishops from all the New Zealand dioceses and Bishop John Gerry from Australia.[4] Ashby is buried in Christchurch at Bromley Cemetery.
Notes
- ^ a b c d "The Church loses a gifted leader", Zealandia, July 19, 1988, pp. 1 and 3.
- ^ a b c d e "Catholic Bishop had strong social conscience", The Press, Monday June 6, 1988, p. 3.
- ^ a b Terry Olsen, "May fresh air blow on - Bishop Ashby",Zealandia, July 14, 1985, p. 3.
- ^ "Thousands pay respects", Zealandia, June 19, 1988, p. 1.
See also
- Catholic Hierarchy website, Bishop Brian Patrick Ashby" (retrieved 25 January 2011).
/Category:Former students of St Bede's College, Christchurch /Category:Former students of Holy Cross College (New Zealand) /Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops /Category:New Zealand religious leaders /Category:New Zealand Roman Catholics /Category:New Zealand Roman Catholic bishops /Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council /Category:People from Christchurch /Category:Bishops of Christchurch /Category:1923 births /Category:1988 deaths