The remains of three deceased Bishops of Christchurch have been disinterred from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament site, and have been placed at a purpose-built, temporary mausoleum at the Carmelite monastery on Halswell Road.
The removal of the remains of Bishop John Grimes, SM, Bishop Edward Joyce and Bishop John Cunneen took place over three days from May 12-14.
Christchurch diocese general manager Andy Doherty said that John Rhind Funeral Directors “managed the removal, carefully and respectfully, by hand”.
“The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament site was an active demolition site at the time, with limited access and space, open excavations, unstable partial constructions were still in place, with trip hazards, and also with the added risk of variable weather,” he added.
The intention is to have the bishops’ remains reinterred in the new cathedral planned for Christchurch, Mr Doherty said.
Cathedral administrator Fr Simon Eccleton led the ceremony at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament site in May.
Fr Eccleton told NZ Catholic that the disinterment of the bishops was a “rare event”.
He said the rite that was used was formed from the Prayer of the Church, using psalms and readings from sacred Scripture. Testimonies to the life and work of the bishops was shared during the ceremony, he added.
“Due to the location being an active work site, only a small number of people were able to be there. This included some family members of the deceased bishops, and the workers who were to undertake the task of removal of the remains.”
Fr Eccleton said that family members of the deceased bishops told him how touched they were to take part in “this special liturgy”. The workers who undertook the disinterment received a blessing for the work they were undertaking, Fr Eccleton added. “There’s no doubt that the Holy Spirit drew us into a deep unity in that moment,” he said.
Fr Eccleton said that he felt within himself a “deep sense of gratitude for the service of these bishops over the history of the diocese”.
“It seemed so fitting that we should bring our past shepherds with us as we begin the next phase of our life in Christchurch diocese. They guided us to this point, and we bring them with us as we look to the future.”
Bishop Grimes was Bishop of Christchurch from 1887 to 1915 (the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was opened in 1905), Bishop Joyce from 1950 to 1964, and Bishop Cunneen from 1995 to 2007.
Sister Mariana de Jesus Torres of
Quito was disinterred in 1906 and
her body was found to be incorrupt after
several centuries, and those close by
could see the freshness of her tongue.
Many incorrupt bodies have been discovered.
“The incorruptibles” by Joan C Cruz.
These include Saint Catherine Labouree,
whose name is associated with the
miraculous medal.