Paul Martin (archbishop)

Paul Gerard Martin S.M. (born 5 May 1967) is a New Zealand prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the seventh Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington and eighth ordinary of the see of Wellington, since 4 May 2023 (having served as coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington from January 2021 until he succeeded to the see). From March 2018 until January 2021, he was the 10th Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand and its Apostolic Administrator from January 2021 until May 2022.[1]

The Most Reverend

Paul Martin

S.M.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington
Martin in 2019
ArchdioceseWellington
Appointed1 January 2021 (coadjutor)
Installed5 May 2023
PredecessorJohn Dew
Orders
Ordination4 September 1993
Consecration3 March 2018
by John Dew
Personal details
Born
Paul Gerard Martin

(1967-05-05) 5 May 1967
Hastings, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
OccupationRoman Catholic bishop
Previous post(s)
Alma materMarist Seminary, New Zealand
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome
Coat of armsPaul Martin's coat of arms
Ordination history of
Paul Martin
History
Priestly ordination
Date4 September 1993
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byJohn Dew
Date3 March 2018
Styles of
Paul Gerard Martin
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleArchbishop

Early life and education

Martin was born in Hastings, New Zealand. He is the son of Ronald and Carmel Martin, one of five children. He was educated at St Joseph's Primary School, Hastings, and undertook his secondary studies at St John's College.[2]

Priesthood

In 1985, Martin commenced priestly formation for the Society of Mary which included time working in an Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory, Australia in 1991. He was ordained deacon on 15 November 1992 and priest on 4 September 1993. He graduated Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum University), Rome, in 1993. He then studied to become a teacher. He filled teaching roles including at St Bede's College, Christchurch and as Rector of St Patrick's College, Kilbirnie, Wellington. He was Assistant Provincial and Provincial Bursar for the Society of Mary in New Zealand in 2014, before taking up the position of Bursar General of the order in Rome.[3]

Episcopacy

Bishop of Christchurch

On 5 December 2017, Martin was appointed by Pope Francis to replace Barry Jones, the 9th bishop of Christchurch, who died on 13 February 2016. On 3 March 2018 he was consecrated as the 10th bishop of Christchurch, in a large gathering at Boy's High School Auditorium, Christchurch, by Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, bishop emeritus of Christchurch Basil Meeking and Charles Drennan of Palmerston North.[4][5]

During his tenure as Bishop of Christchurch, the diocese saw restructuring of parishes. Many parishes were combined to create five 'super' parishes in Christchurch, as well as combining all churches in the Selwyn and Waimakariri Districts in their own parish.[6]

One of the decisions he faced as Bishop of Christchurch was the future of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, after it was severely damaged in the 2010, February 2011 and June 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. His predecessor, Barry Jones had suggested that the nave of the cathedral could be saved.[7] In August 2019, Martin made the decision to demolish the cathedral.[8] By September 2020, the demolition work began.[9]

In December 2019, Martin made public plans for a new cathedral site, Catholic primary school, hotels, offices and a carpark, all in community and commercial collaboration with Ōtākaro Limited, and city developers, Carter Group.[10]

Archbishop of Wellington

On 1 January 2021, he was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Archdiocese of Wellington by Pope Francis.[11] He succeeded to the see on 4 May 2023 on his predecessor, Archbishop Dew attaining the age of 75 and his resignation being accepted by Pope Francis. He was installed as archbishop at St Theresa's Pro-Cathedral, Karori on 17 June 2023.

Approach

The church

Martin has expressed his firm belief in the Catholic church as the depository of the truth.[12]

Local responsibility

“If the Church is going to do anything, it has to be us who do it,” Martin said at his installation mass, emphasising the importance of individual and collective responsibility in the Church’s mission. “The church doesn’t exist in some ethereal domain without bodies and people who have lives and with all the joys and sorrows that make it up.”[13]

References
  1. "Archbishop Paul Martin S.M." Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  2. "We have a new bishop!". Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  3. Archbishop paul Martin SM, Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington (Retrieved 12 July July)
  4. Kate Broughton, "New Bishop gets full Catholic pomp with sprinkling of Kiwi flavour", The Press, 4 March 2018 (Retrieved 8 March 2018)
  5. "Bishop Paul Martin SM", Catholic Hierarchy (Retrieved 4 March 2018)
  6. "Five 'super parishes' for Christchurch Catholics". Stuff. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. "Call on Catholic cathedral nave salvation soon". RNZ. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. "Bishop chooses demolition for Christchurch's historic Catholic cathedral". Stuff. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. "Demolition work starts on quake-damaged Christchurch Catholic cathedral". Stuff. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. "New $85m Catholic cathedral planned for centre of post-quake Christchurch". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. "Rinunce e nomine, 01.01.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  12. Archbishop Paul’s Newsletter 2 June 2023, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington (Retrieved 18 June 2023)
  13. "If the Church is going to do anything it has to be us who do it" CathNews, 20 June 2023 (Retrieved 20 June 2023)
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