Denis William Hanrahan was the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand.
11 Facts About Denis Hanrahan
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Denis Hanrahan 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.
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Denis Hanrahan trained for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel.
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Denis Hanrahan was ordained a priest by Bishop Joyce on 21 July 1957 in Greymouth.
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Denis Hanrahan was appointed Diocesan Director for Religious Education in 1971.
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Denis Hanrahan remained in this position until becoming Parish Priest at Bishopdale in 1979.
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Denis Hanrahan was chairman of the Christchurch Priests' Senate from 1979 until 1983.
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Denis Hanrahan was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Christchurch 25 March 1984 and was consecrated on 6 June 1984 by Bishop Ashby, Archbishop Magnoni and Cardinal Williams.
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When Bishop Ashby retired on 4 July 1985, Denis Hanrahan succeeded him as Bishop of Christchurch and he was formally enthroned in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on 5 August 1985.
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In 1987 Denis 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.
11.
Denis Hanrahan died completely unexpectedly after a game of tennis at the age of 53 in the evening of Sunday, 1 February 1987.