James Michael Liston

James Michael Liston (9 June 1881 – 8 July 1976) was the 7th Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand.

Early life

James Michael Liston (registered at birth as Michael James Liston) was born in Dunedin on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary (née Sullivan), both emigrants from County Clare, Ireland. He was educated at Christian Brothers' School, Dunedin. At the age of 12 in 1893 he began his training for the priesthood at St Patrick's Seminary, Manly, Sydney. He later attended Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, Dublin (1897–1900), and then went on to the Irish College in Rome from which he graduated in 1903 with a doctorate of divinity.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Verdon in St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin on 31 January 1904. Bishop Verdon placed a strong emphasis on Roman models and on devotion to the Holy See. Liston was deeply influenced by Verdon, who encouraged his vocation, sponsored his studies and was Liston's bishop for the first 14 years of his priesthood. He regarded Verdon as his ultimate role model and throughout his career kept a photograph of Verdon on his desk "for guidance through reflection on his way, and for seeking his heavenly intercession".

He was Rector of the college from 1910. On 12 December 1920, Liston was consecrated as coadjutor Bishop of Auckland under Bishop Cleary, the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in St Joseph's Cathedral.

Sedition trial In 1922, during a St Patrick's Day address at Auckland Town Hall he questioned the Anglo-Irish Treaty and described the Irish rebels of 1916 as having been "murdered" by "foreign" (meaning British) troops. He was acquitted at trial in May 1922 of sedition.

Bishop of Auckland In December 1929, Liston became Auckland's seventh Roman Catholic bishop and remained so for the next 41 years. Liston's decisive support of Bishop Lyons of Christchurch enabled the establishment of Holy Name Seminary as a minor seminary in that city in 1947.

Honours and awards In 1935, Liston was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

Liston was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur as a foreigner, by a French decree of 15 September 1938, in recognition of his service as Bishop of Auckland. Two years later, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Auckland.

Liston College in Henderson is named in his honour.

Last years and death In 1970, aged 88, he retired. He died, aged 95, at the Mater Hospital on 8 July 1976.