WelCom June/July 2023
Cardinal John Dew, the Catholic Archbishop of Wellington since 2005, has retired on reaching his 75th birthday.
Pope Francis accepted Cardinal John’s formal resignation as Archbishop of Wellington and made the announcement at noon in Rome on 5 May – 10pm in New Zealand – coinciding with Cardinal John’s 75th birthday.
Coadjutor Archbishop Paul Martin sm has succeeded Cardinal John as the Archbishop of Wellington.
The Catholic Church’s 1983 Code of Canon Law states that archdiocesan and diocesan bishops, including cardinals, are required to submit their resignation to the pope on reaching the age of 75 years.
Archbishop Paul says Cardinal John has served Wellington and the Church with distinction and he will be missed.
‘We wish Cardinal John well in his retirement,’ Archbishop Paul said. ‘He has guided the Archdiocese of Wellington through many challenges and major changes, always with a very pastoral approach. He has also had many demanding national roles in the Church, and we will miss him.’
Never forget that we are all the chosen and beloved daughters and sons of God. We are privileged to walk together in our Church, our family of faith.
– Cardinal John Dew
Archbishop Paul Martin was the Bishop of Christchurch from December 2017 until 1 January 2021 when he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington, an appointment that meant he would succeed Cardinal John on the Cardinal’s retirement.
Cardinal John was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington in May 1995, then as Coadjutor Archbishop in May 2004. He succeeded Cardinal Thomas Williams as Archbishop of Wellington in March 2005. Pope Francis appointed him as a cardinal in February 2015.
John Atcherley Dew was born in Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay on 5 May 1948. He attended St Joseph’s Primary School in Waipukurau and St Joseph’s College in Masterton [Chanel College]. He prepared for the priesthood at Holy Name Seminary in Christchurch and Holy Cross Seminary, Mosgiel, and was ordained in May 1976. Before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington, he served for five years in youth ministry, for four years as Director of First-Year Formation at Holy Cross Seminary, and ministered in parishes of the Archdiocese of Wellington and in the Cook Islands. Among his national and regional roles, he has been President and Secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and served for four years as President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania. He has also been the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate for New Zealand since he became Archbishop of Wellington.
Cardinal John continues with his Holy See appointments to the Congregation for Evangelisation of Peoples, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and membership of the College of Cardinals.
In his final newsletter as Archbishop of Wellington in May, Cardinal John explained that canon law requires bishops offer their resignation to the Holy Father when they reach the age of 75. He thanked the priests and people of Wellington for their support during his years as Archbishop.
‘I have always enjoyed and felt most at home in the parishes and schools of the Archdiocese, among the many committed people who are part of the Church in the Archdiocese,’ he wrote. ‘I look forward to being able to do this on a more informal basis in the future.
‘It is with sadness I say goodbye, and an enormous THANK YOU to you all. I will still be about and look forward to being involved in the life of the Archdiocese in other ways.
‘Archbishop Paul Martin has now succeeded me as Archbishop of Wellington. I wish Paul every blessing and ask you to support him in the same way as you have supported me. Many years ago, when the New Zealand Bishops met Pope St John Paul II during an ad limina visit to Rome, one of our bishops said to him, “Holy Father, I would not have your job for all the money in the world.” The Pope looked up and said, “It is a privilege”.
‘I can honestly say this has been a privilege for me. There have been many challenges and some difficulties and like Jesus at times I have also had to be resolute about “taking the road to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
‘I have always loved this part of Luke’s Gospel which follows straight after the experience of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. It is a reminder when we have encountered Jesus in prayer we can be resolute in dealing with challenges and difficulties. Never forget we are all the chosen and beloved daughters and sons of God. We are privileged to walk together in our Church, our family of faith.’
I have always enjoyed and felt most at home in the parishes and schools of the Archdiocese, among the many committed people who are part of the Church in the Archdiocese.
– Cardinal John Dew
Cardinal John thanked everyone for their prayers, love and support and said ‘your constant commitment to the Church, willingness to walk the way of Jesus, tell the truth of Jesus and live the life of Jesus have been inspiring.
‘Every time you go to Mass and hear Archbishop Paul’s name in the Eucharistic Prayer, please make that a sincere prayer for him. Paul will be installed as Archbishop of Wellington on 17 June at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral; he will take the Shepherd’s crook and walk with you as you accompany one another in prayer and mutual support.
‘I am sure Archbishop Paul will receive the same support as I have had. As I said when he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop, I am confident he will lead the Archdiocese into the future with energy and vision.
‘Please keep me in prayer and I will you.’
Source: NZCBC
See: Archbishop Paul Martin sm formally installed as Archbishop of Wellington.
Photos: File/WelCom