Archbishop Denis Hurley

Archbishop Denis Hurley was the most significant Catholic leader in South Africa in the second half of the twentieth century. During this time he gave himself unstintingly to promoting freedom, justice and peace in this country, as well as Church renewal especially through the implementation of Vatican II.

He wrote numerous articles and gave addresses on a wide range of issues, as well as engaging in countless initiatives to promote these causes. His prophetic witness made him a significant contributor to the downfall of apartheid. It is fitting that his legacy should be made known to as wide an international audience as possible.

This website therefore includes writings which have not previously been accessible (such as several scholarly papers on Teilhard de Chardin, a complete collection of all the hymns Hurley wrote and "The Protest", a play that has not previously been published). We provide information about organisations and initiatives which seek to keep alive his vision (such as the Denis Hurley Peace Institute, in Pretoria, and the Denis Hurley Centre, in Durban). There is also information about the two major archival collections of Hurley papers (the archives of the Archdiocese of Durban and of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Denis Hurley Library at St Joseph's Theological Institute, Cedara).

In the course of research for the recently-published first full-length biography of the Archbishop - Guardian of the Light - Denis Hurley: Renewing the Church, Opposing Apartheid, published by Continuum of New York and London, many people were interviewed in South Africa and overseas. An edited version of some of these interviews are published here, and will be replaced by others as time passes.

This website aims to be as interactive as possible. Please let us have your suggestions on what sort of information you would like this website to provide and how this site could be more accessible and user-friendly. We also welcome your contributions to the Memories and Anecdotes section of the Menu. We look forward to hearing from you.

Conrad Burke, Southern Cross, 16-22 September 2009

Conrad Burke, Southern Cross, 4-10 November 2009

Read messages of support for the website from:

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM, Archbishop of Durban
Fr. Stuart Bate OMI, Oblate Provincial of Natal
Fr. Sylvester David OMI, President of St Joseph's Theological Institute