Special services to remember Bishop Basil Meeking have been announced.

Bishop Meeking aged 90 passed away on Thursday at Christchurch Hospital after a short period of ill-health.

Bishop Meeking was the seventh bishop of Christchurch.

He was firstly ordained as a priest in 1953 and then as a bishop in 1987. He served as bishop from 1987 until 1996.

Bishop Meeking served in a number of parishes in the diocese and held other pastoral appointments such as chaplain to Christchurch Hospital and representing the Catholic Church to the National Council of Churches.

He undertook doctoral studies from 1963-1966 in Rome at the University of St Thomas Angelicum and in 1969 was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome where he worked for the next 18 years.

Bishop Paul Martin says “Bishop Basil had a great love of priesthood and has left us a legacy of priests who have a strong identity in their priesthood.”

Since his retirement as the Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Basil worked from 1997 to 2006 with the late Cardinal Francis George of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He then resided in Christchurch and continued giving retreats and talks in New Zealand and overseas.

Regarded by many as an engaging and witty conversationalist, Bishop John Cunneen said Bishop Basil had a “profound theological understanding, deeply pastoral heart and unflagging dedication to the service of the Church in the diocese”.

A Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday 17th June, 11.00am at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.Bishop Emeritus Most Reverend Basil Meeking DD.

Monday 15th June

From 10.00am, Bishop Basil will be at the Carmelite Monastery Chapel (52 Halswell Road).  People are welcome to come and pray during this time.

Rosary will be recited at the Carmelite Chapel at 7.00pm

Tuesday 16th June

At 2.00pm a Vigil Mass will be celebrated at the Nazareth House Chapel (220 Brougham Street)

At 7.00pm a Vigil Requiem Mass in Extraordinary Form (Latin Mass) will be celebrated at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 373 Manchester Street.

Wednesday 17th June

The Requiem Mass for Bishop Basil will be celebrated at 11am at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, followed by burial at Bromley Cemetery, corner of Linwood Avenue and Keighleys Road.