James Michael Liston
Encyclopedia
James Michael Liston, CMG
(9 June 1881 – 8 July 1976) was the Seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland
.
on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary (nèe Sullivan). His parents were both born in Ireland
. He was educated at Kavanagh College Christian Brothers' School
in Dunedin. At the age of 12 in 1893 he began his training for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Manly, Sydney
. He later attended Holy Cross College, Dublin (1897–1900) and then went on to the Irish College in Rome
from which he graduated in 1903 with a doctorate of divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Verdon
in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin On 31 January 1904. Bishop Verdon was a very important figure in Liston's life. Verdon was a very "Roman" bishop. He always placed a strong emphasis on Roman models and on devotion to the Holy See
. Liston was deeply influenced by Verdon, who encouraged his vocation, sponsored his studies and was Liston's bishop for the first 14 years of his priesthood. He regarded Verdon as his ultimate role model and throughout his career kept a photograph of Verdon on his desk "for guidance through reflection on his way, and for seeking his heavenly intercession". The next 16 years after ordination Liston spent teaching scripture and dogmatic theology at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
, the national seminary established by Verdon in 1900. He was Rector of the college from 1910. On 12 December 1920, Liston was consecrated as coadjutor Bishop of Auckland under Bishop Cleary, the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in St Joseph's Cathedral.
, praised the dead rebels of 1916 (apparently saying they had been "murdered by foreign troops"), and reportedly predicted a successful fight for the complete freedom of Ireland. The subsequent furore ended only when Prime Minister William Massey
's government announced that Liston was to be prosecuted for making seditious utterances. After a two-day trial in Auckland’s Supreme Court in mid-May 1922, Liston was acquitted by an all-Protestant jury.
enabled the establishment of Holy Name Seminary
as a minor seminary
in that city in 1947., By 1970 there were 118 schools, with 23,000 pupils, in his diocese. Twenty-three religious orders came from overseas, largely to staff the schools, while 80 new parishes came into being. He took a deep personal interest in planning and financing convents, churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, orphanages, homes for the aged, retreat and rest houses. He helped to found Newman Hall, the centre and hostel for Catholic university students, and to set up the Auckland Diocesan Federation of Catholic Parent Teacher Associations, Catholic Social Services, the Catholic Youth Movement, and the Christian Family Movement. In 1944 he ordained the first Maori priest, Wiremu Te Awhitu
. With the post-war drift to the city by Maori, he encouraged the Mill Hill fathers to establish two centres for their care, as well as fostering work of all kinds among the Maori people.
. Two years later he received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Auckland
.
. But even his critics on these issues acknowledged his devotion to his church and his city, a respect that transcended denominational boundaries. In 1970, aged 88, he retired and died, aged 95, at the Mater Hospital on 8 July 1976.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(9 June 1881 – 8 July 1976) was the Seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland
The Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Auckland is one of the two original dioceses in New Zealand. Although formally a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Wellington, both were erected on 20 June 1848...
.
Early life
James Michael Liston was born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary (nèe Sullivan). His parents were both born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was educated at Kavanagh College Christian Brothers' School
Christian Brothers
Christian Brothers may refer to:* Congregation of Christian Brothers, a Catholic lay order founded at Waterford, Ireland in 1802 by the Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice...
in Dunedin. At the age of 12 in 1893 he began his training for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Manly, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He later attended Holy Cross College, Dublin (1897–1900) and then went on to the Irish College in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from which he graduated in 1903 with a doctorate of divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Verdon
Michael Verdon
Michael Verdon was the 2nd Catholic Bishop of Dunedin .-Early life:Verdon was born in Liverpool, England on 19 December 1838 His father came from County Louth, Ireland and his mother came from County Kildare. He was a nephew of Cardinal Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin, and a first cousin of Cardinal...
in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin On 31 January 1904. Bishop Verdon was a very important figure in Liston's life. Verdon was a very "Roman" bishop. He always placed a strong emphasis on Roman models and on devotion to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Liston was deeply influenced by Verdon, who encouraged his vocation, sponsored his studies and was Liston's bishop for the first 14 years of his priesthood. He regarded Verdon as his ultimate role model and throughout his career kept a photograph of Verdon on his desk "for guidance through reflection on his way, and for seeking his heavenly intercession". The next 16 years after ordination Liston spent teaching scripture and dogmatic theology at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.-Establishment:...
, the national seminary established by Verdon in 1900. He was Rector of the college from 1910. On 12 December 1920, Liston was consecrated as coadjutor Bishop of Auckland under Bishop Cleary, the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in St Joseph's Cathedral.
Sedition trial
In 1922 during a St Patrick's night address in the Auckland Town Hall, speaking on the Irish question, Liston queried the worth of the Anglo-Irish TreatyAnglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
, praised the dead rebels of 1916 (apparently saying they had been "murdered by foreign troops"), and reportedly predicted a successful fight for the complete freedom of Ireland. The subsequent furore ended only when Prime Minister William Massey
William Massey
William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...
's government announced that Liston was to be prosecuted for making seditious utterances. After a two-day trial in Auckland’s Supreme Court in mid-May 1922, Liston was acquitted by an all-Protestant jury.
Bishop of Auckland
In December 1929 Liston became Auckland's seventh Roman Catholic bishop and remained so for the next 41 years. Loreto Hall was established in 1950 for the training of lay and religious teachers. Liston's decisive support of Bishop Lyon of ChristchurchRoman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
The Latin Rite Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. Its cathedral and see city are located in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand...
enabled the establishment of Holy Name Seminary
Holy Name Seminary
Holy Name Seminary was a Roman Catholic seminary staffed by the Society of Jesus established in New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1947 in Christchurch and closed at the end of 1978.-Establishment:...
as a minor seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
in that city in 1947., By 1970 there were 118 schools, with 23,000 pupils, in his diocese. Twenty-three religious orders came from overseas, largely to staff the schools, while 80 new parishes came into being. He took a deep personal interest in planning and financing convents, churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, orphanages, homes for the aged, retreat and rest houses. He helped to found Newman Hall, the centre and hostel for Catholic university students, and to set up the Auckland Diocesan Federation of Catholic Parent Teacher Associations, Catholic Social Services, the Catholic Youth Movement, and the Christian Family Movement. In 1944 he ordained the first Maori priest, Wiremu Te Awhitu
Wiremu Te Awhitu
Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu was the first Māori to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest.Born at Okahukura near Taumarunui, he was the third of 10 children of Tamakaitoa Te Awhitu and his wife Katarina Toia Bell. His family belonged to the Ngāti Hauaroa and Ngāti Maniapoto iwi. His early education...
. With the post-war drift to the city by Maori, he encouraged the Mill Hill fathers to establish two centres for their care, as well as fostering work of all kinds among the Maori people.
Honours
In 1954 Liston was given the honorary title archbishop, for his services to the church. He was also alive to the needs of the wider community and assisted many worthy causes. In later life, as his quiet contributions to community life became more widely appreciated, he was the recipient of several honours, including, on 1 January 1968, the CMGOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
. Two years later he received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
.
Last years
His last years of office were marked by controversy over such issues as the suspension of two anti-war priests and the removal of two editors of the diocesan weekly newspaper, The Zealandia, (Fathers Ernest Simmons and Patrick Murray) and their replacement by the conservative Father Denzil MeuliDenzil Meuli
Denzil Meuli is a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland and a leading traditionalist Catholic in New Zealand.-Biography:...
. But even his critics on these issues acknowledged his devotion to his church and his city, a respect that transcended denominational boundaries. In 1970, aged 88, he retired and died, aged 95, at the Mater Hospital on 8 July 1976.
Legacy
The Society of James Liston was founded in honour of Bishop Liston. This Society continues to be active in the Roman Catholic Church of New Zealand. Liston College in Henderson, Auckland is also named after Bishop Liston who was present at its opening in 1975.Sources
- E.R. Simmons, In Cruce Salus, A History of the Diocese of Auckland 1848 – 1980, Catholic Publication Centre, Auckland 1982.
- Rory Sweetman, Bishop in the Dock: the sedition trial of James Liston, Auckland University Press, Auckland, 1997,
- Nicholas Evan Reid, The bishop's paper: a history of the Catholic press of the Diocese of Auckland, Catholic Publications Centre, Orewa, 2000.
- Nicholas Evan Reid, James Michael Liston: A Life, Victoria University Press, Wellington 2006.
- Rick Maxwell, St Peter's College, Auckland, Simerlocy Press, Auckland, 2008.
- Nicholas Reid, The Life and Work of Reginald John Delargey Cardinal, Catholic Diocese of Auckland/Pindar, Auckland, 2008.
- Archbishop James Michael Liston Catholic Hierarchy website (retrieved 12 February 2011)