Bishop Michael’s Latin motto is Totus Tuus “All for Jesus through Mary”

On 9 July at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Bishop Michael Gielen was installed as Bishop of Christchurch.

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Michael Gielen as our new Bishop. He now succeeds Archbishop Paul who has been our Apostolic Administrator since January 2021 and the appointment of Bishop Michael will allow Archbishop Paul to take up his role as Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington in the coming weeks.

Bishop Michael hails from Tokoroa and was a priest of the Diocese of Hamilton, before being appointed to Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland in March 2020.

Did you know?

Bishop Michael Gielen was born in 1971 in Cambridge, Waikato and was raised in Tokoroa and is the eldest of six children. He is looking forward to enjoying the sporting fabric of Christchurch and becoming a Canterbury fan over the next few years.

We welcome Bishop Michael to Timaru this weekend to visit our parish and schools. We warmly welcome Bishop Michael to our Diocese and we look forward to many celebrations.

For much more information about what is happening in our Diocese follow their facebook page for news, prayers and messages from our Diocese https://www.facebook.com/ChchCatholic/