Kevin William Barden Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Most Reverend
Kevin William Barden
Archbishop Emeritus of Ispahan, Iran
Diocese:Ispahan
See:Ispahan
Appointed:30 May 1974
Term End:12 August 1982
Successor:Ignazio Bedini
Ordination:28 February 1931
Consecration:25 October 1974
Consecrated By:Mario Brini
Birth Name:Kevin William Barden
Birth Date:1908 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Death Place:Raheny, Dublin, Ireland
Buried:Tallaght
Nationality:Irish
Religion:Roman Catholic
Honorific Prefix:His Excellency, The Most Reverend
Honorific Suffix:OP

Kevin William Barden, OP (3 June 1908 – 4 December 2004) was an Irish Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Isfahan from 1974 to 1982. He previously served as parish priest of the St. Abraham's Church in Tehran. He was a member of the Dominican Order.

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 Fribourg. He taught theology in the Dominican house of studies St. Mary's Priory 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 that 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 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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Aquinas Study Circle. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. 8 March 1938.
  2. News: The Work of St Thomas Aquinas. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. 4 November 1952.
  3. Web site: St Abraham's, Tehran. Irish Dominicans. 22 February 2018.
  4. Web site: The Story of the Dominican Presence in Iran. St Abraham's Church. 22 February 2018.
  5. News: Distinguished theologian with key role in Christian-Muslim dialogue. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018.
  6. News: No Move Against Archbishop in Iran. . 22 February 2018. 18 August 1980.
  7. News: Positive Side to Iran - Expelled Prelate. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. 25 August 1980.
  8. News: Concern For Church in Iran. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. 20 August 1980.
  9. News: Iranians expel Irish Prelate. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. 19 August 1980.
  10. Web site: Death of Archbishop Kevin Barden O.P.. Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference. Irish Catholic bishops. 22 February 2018.
  11. News: Irish Dominican Appointed Archbishop. The Irish Times. 22 February 2018.