Thursday, November 11, 2010

Church mourns 'amiable soul'

Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, John Cunneen, has died.

Bishop Cunneen died peacefully last night at Nazareth House, aged 78, after a long period of illness.

Christchurch Bishop, Barry Jones, said ill health never altered Bishop Cunneen's enthusiasm or faith. 

"I remember his cheerfulness, patience and good humour when he was struck down suddenly by a stroke in 2003," said Bishop Jones. 

"His faith and trust in God never wavered and he recovered well for a time until his health declined in recent years". 

New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, spoke today of Bishop Cunneen's long involvement in ecumenism. 

"He was Conference Deputy for ecumenism for more than a decade, and led the New Zealand Catholic Church's involvement in the Anglican-Catholic Bilateral Dialogue," he said. 

"Bishop Cunneen was a very pastoral man and brought that into his work in ecumenism at the national level". 

Bishop Jones remembers Bishop Cunneen as a "courteous and amiable soul, who always found good in persons," and who was "most compassionate and gentle and had a great way of reaching out to persons for whom life had become difficult or who had made bad decisions".

"I remember well travelling with him to the West Coast once, and we stopped for refreshments at Arthurs Pass. While he was sitting at his table drinking coffee a long queue formed of persons wanting to talk to him. Wherever he went, people would call out to him". 

In 2006 Bishop Cunneen celebrated his Golden Jubilee of priesthood, and in 2007 a Thanksgiving Mass was held for him. 

SIC: ST/NZ