Kevin William Barden

Kevin William Barden (3 June 1908 - 4 December 2004) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ispahan from 1974 to 1982. He had previously served as parish priest of the Dominican church in Tehran.

The Most Reverend

Kevin William Barden
Archbishop Emeritus of Ispahan, Iran
DioceseIspahan
SeeIspahan
Appointed30 May 1974
Term ended12 August 1982
SuccessorIgnazio Bedini
Orders
Ordination28 February 1931
Consecration25 October 1974
by Mario Brini
Personal details
Birth nameKevin William Barden
Born(1908-06-03)3 June 1908
Dublin, Ireland
Died4 December 2004(2004-12-04) (aged 96)
Raheny, Dublin, Ireland
BuriedTallaght
NationalityIrish
DenominationRoman Catholic

Early life and ordination

He was born in Dublin in 1908 and was one of five children. His father, Thomas Garret Barden, worked for the Irish Independent. He was educated at Synge Street CBS. He entered the Dominican Order in Tallaght in 1924 and took the religious name William. He studied philosophy in Tallaght and theology in Rome. He was ordained on 28 February 1931.

Priest and bishop

After ordination he earned a doctorate at the University of Firbourg. He taught theology in the Dominican house of studies in Tallaght and gave public lectures for thirty years until he went to establish a Dominican presence in Tehran in 1961.[1][2][3] A church and parish were established in Iran at the request of the Vatican. Barden was joined by Father Hugh Brennan and they rented a house near Tehran University which they named Rosary House. The numbers of people attending Mass increased to the extent that Barden organized the construction of a purpose-built parish church which became known as St Abraham's.[4][5]

In 1970 he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Isfahan. He was consecrated as Archbishop of Isfahan of the Latins on 25 October 1974. He remained in Iran until the Islamic Revolution; he was expelled in 1980.[6][7][8][9] He returned to Ireland and with no prospect of returning to Iran he submitted his resignation to Pope John Paul II in 1982. In 1991 he moved to the Sacred Heart nursing home in Raheny, where he died in 2004.[10][11]

References
  1. "Aquinas Study Circle". The Irish Times. 8 March 1938. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  2. "The Work of St Thomas Aquinas". The Irish Times. 4 November 1952. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. "St Abraham's, Tehran". Irish Dominicans. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  4. "The Story of the Dominican Presence in Iran". St Abraham's Church. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. "Distinguished theologian with key role in Christian-Muslim dialogue". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  6. "No Move Against Archbishop in Iran". 18 August 1980. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  7. "Positive Side to Iran - Expelled Prelate". The Irish Times. 25 August 1980. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  8. "Concern For Church in Iran". The Irish Times. 20 August 1980. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  9. "Iranians expel Irish Prelate". The Irish Times. 19 August 1980. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  10. "Death of Archbishop Kevin Barden O.P." Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference. Irish Catholic bishops. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  11. "Irish Dominican Appointed Archbishop". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Jacques-Emile Sontag		 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ispahan
25 October 1974 – 12 August 1982		 Succeeded by
Ignazio Bedini
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