Edward Joyce

Edward Michael Joyce (26 June 1904 – 28 January 1964) was the fourth Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Pius XII on 18 April 1950 and died in office on 28 January 1964. He was the first priest of the Christchurch diocese to be made a bishop.

Early life Joyce was born in Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1904 and spent part of his childhood in Loburn, where he attended Rangiora High School. He trained for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel. He then spent three years in Auckland. He was the chaplain at Sacred Heart College, then located in Ponsonby. During the 14 years of Joyce's episcopate the Christchurch diocese experienced considerable growth. The Catholic population increased from 31,769 to 48,500, the number of parishes increased from 32 to 47, the number of secular priests rose from 47 to 80, primary schools went from 35 to 53 and the number of pupils attending Catholic schools rose from 6524 to 11,038.

Death Joyce's final years were blighted by illness. which greatly reduced his effectiveness. Bishops Thomas William Muldoon, (Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney), Kavanagh of Dunedin, Reginald Delargey (Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland), and Owen Snedden (Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington) were also present.

He was interred in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch at the foot of the altar of Saint Joseph.