LENIHAN, GEORGE MICHAEL (1858-1910) was born in London of Irish parents, who died while he was a child. At 14 he entered the Benedictine College at Ramsgate, which was then under the Lord Abbot Alcock (who had associated with him Father Edmund Luck, q.v.). After four years there, he went to St Edmund's College, Oldham Green, to study for the Westminster diocese priesthood, and then for philosophy and theology to the English College at Valladolid, Spain. In 1882, when he was a subdeacon, he was invited to accompany Bishop Luck to New Zealand, and he was the first student of Ramsgate College to be ordained to the secular priesthood (on 27 Aug 1882). Arriving in Auckland late in the year, Lenihan was appointed curate to Monsignor Walter Macdonald at St Patrick's Cathedral, where he worked for more than three years. In 1886 he was appointed pastor of Ponsonby, which he found without either church or presbytery. The church was blessed six months later, and opened within the year. Lenihan had also entrusted to him the charge of the Star of the Sea orphanage at St Mary's. In 1891 he was appointed irremovable rector of Parnell, and four years later coadjutor to Bishop Luck, on whose death (early in 1896) he was selected as bishop. He was consecrated on 15 Nov 1896.

In 1899 Lenihan visited Rome and Ireland and secured more priests for his diocese. He opened the Sacred Heart College in 1900, and in 1905 undertook the completion of St Patrick's Cathedral. This was accomplished in 1907, the complete building being dedicated in 1908. Lenihan again visited Europe and North America in 1908, when he attended the celebration of the golden jubilee of Pope Pius X and the Eucharistic congress in London. He died on 23 Feb 1910.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; N.Z. Herald, 23 Feb 1910 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 264

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