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The Most Reverend

Michael Gielen
The Most Reverend; Michael Gielen
11th Bishop of Christchurch
	Gielen in 2024
Archdiocese	Archdiocese of Wellington
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
Installed	21 May 2022
Predecessor	Paul Martin SM
Orders
Ordination	1997 (as priest); by Max Mariu
Consecration	2020 (as bishop); by Patrick Dunn; Stephen Lowe; Peter Cullinane
Personal details
Born	Michael Andrew Gielen; 2 June 1971 (age 53); Cambridge, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealander
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Occupation	Roman Catholic bishop
Profession	Cleric
Alma mater	Holy Cross Seminary, New Zealand; Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.; Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy

Michael Andrew Gielen (born 2 June 1971) is a New Zealand prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the 11th Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand since May 2022. Gielen was previously auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Auckland.

Early life and education

Gielen was born in Cambridge and raised in Tokoroa, the son of Henk and Maureen Gielen and the oldest of six siblings. He received his secondary education at Forest View High School, Tokoroa. After studying at Holy Cross Seminary (then located in Mosgiel), he was ordained as a priest in 1997 in Tokoroa by Bishop Max Mariu, SM, Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, New Zealand, the first Māori Catholic bishop. Gielen was the only priest ever ordained by Bishop Mariu. He worked in parish ministry in the Hamilton diocese serving in parishes in the East Coast, Waikato, North Waikato and Raglan.^[1] He studied at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and at the Gregorian University in Rome. From 2014 until 2019, he served as director of formation at Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland.^[2]^[3]

Episcopacy

Auxiliary bishop of Auckland

On 6 January 2020, Gielen was appointed auxiliary bishop of Auckland by Pope Francis as the titular bishop of Abbir Maius.^[3] He was ordained bishop at the Vodafone Event Centre, Manukau, Auckland^[4] on Saturday 7 March 2020^[5] in the presence of 3,000 people.^[1] The principal consecrator was Bishop Patrick James Dunn and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop Stephen Lowe and Bishop Peter Cullinane^[6] The deacon at the ordination Mass was Deacon Henk Gielen of Papamoa, Michael Gielen's father.^[2] Other bishops participating included Cardinal John Dew, Bishop Michael Dooley, Bishop Colin Campbell, Bishop Basil Meeking, Bishop Owen Dolan, Bishop Denis Browne and Bishop Richard Umbers. The papal bull of appointment was read, on behalf of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, by Monsignor Edward Karaan, Deputy Head of Mission and First Secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wellington.^[1]

Bishop of Christchurch

On 21 May 2022, Pope Francis appointed Gielen as the 11th Bishop of Christchurch.^[7] He was installed as bishop in July 2022.^[8]

Personal life

Gielen is a keen cyclist. In 2015, he and seven seminarians of Holy Cross Seminary cycled for 33 days from Cape Reinga at the northern end of the North Island to Bluff on the southern coast of the South Island to promote vocations for the priesthood. He also enjoys participating in rugby union, cricket and golf.^[2]^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Rowena Orejana, "Jesus does great things when you say 'yes'", NZ Catholic, 22 March-4 April 2020, p. 9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Michael Otto, "Deacon Dad proud of his bishop son: Deacon Henk Gielen was the deacon at the episcopal ordination of his son, Bishop Michael Gielen, as auxiliary bishop of Auckland", NZ Catholic, 12 March 2020. (Retrieved 13 March 2020)
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hamilton priest Father Michael Gielen appointed new Auckland Auxiliary Bishop", New Zealand Catholic Bishops Website (Retrieved 14 January 2020)
^ Vodafone Events Centre, Auckland (Retrieved 13 March 2020]
^ "Pope Names New Auxiliary Bishop for Auckland", Zenit, 6 January 2020 (Retrieved 14 January 2020)
^ Catholic Hierarchy - Bishop Michael Andrew Gielen.
^ /Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Michael Gielen As Bishop Of Christchurch, Scoop. (Retrieved 22 May 2022)
^ McCallum, Hanna (22 May 2022). "Michael Gielen 'humbled and honoured' to be appointed new bishop of Christchurch". Stuff. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

External links

OCEANIA/NEW ZEALAND – "Appointment of the auxiliary Bishop of Auckland", Agenzia Fides, 7 January 2020 (Retrieved 14 January 2020).

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Paul Martin	11th Bishop of Christchurch 2022–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by	Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland 2020–2022	Succeeded by