Edward Joyce

Edward Michael Joyce (26 June 1904 – 28 January 1964) was the fourth Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand.

[1] Joyce was born in Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1904 and spent part of his childhood in Loburn, where he attended Rangiora High School.

[1] Joyce was ordained priest on 31 October 1930 in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch[1] by his uncle James Byrne, the 1st Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba.

After his demobilisation in 1945, Joyce was posted to the reserve of officers with the rank of Major[1] He was stationed at the Cathedral in Christchurch and engaged in rehabilitation work for returned soldiers.

Joyce was very involved during the Ballantyne's fire tragedy of 1947 and represented Bishop Lyons at the mass funeral for the victims.

Among the other religious orders introduced by Joyce were the Brothers of St John of God and the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion.