Richard Charles Patrick Hanifen

Hanifen was born in Denver, Colorado, the third of four children of Edward Anselm and Dorothy Elizabeth (née Ranous) Hanifen.[1] His grandfather immigrated from Canada to Leadville during the 1880s silver boom, and eventually became a successful mine owner; Hanifen's father co-founded a prominent Colorado investment firm.[1] As a child, Hanifen suffered from chronic asthma.[2] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Philomena Church, where he occasionally served as an altar boy.[2] He attended Regis High School while working as a delivery boy for a grocery store.[2]

After graduating from high school in 1949, Hanifen enrolled at Regis College in Denver.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Regis in 1953.[2] He then began his studies for the priesthood at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Denver.[1] During his studies, he and fellow seminarian Eugene John Gerber were selected to participate in an experimental pairing between St. Thomas and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2] He later earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Catholic University in 1959.[2]

On June 6, 1959, Hanifen was ordained a priest by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.[3] His first assignment was as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Estes Park.[1] He then served at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception until 1966, when he was sent to further his studies at Catholic University.[1] He there earned a Master of Arts degree in guidance and counseling in 1966.[1]

In 1968, Hanifen earned a Licentiate of Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.[1] During his time in Rome, he and some of his fellow students took a trip to Florence, during which they experienced the devastating flood of the River Arno.[2] Following his return to Denver, he served as vice-chancellor of the archdiocese and secretary to Archbishop James V. Casey from 1968 to 1969.[2] From 1969 to 1976, he served as chancellor of the archdiocese.[2]

After 19 years as Bishop of Colorado Springs, Hanifen resigned on January 30, 2003.[3] He was succeeded by Bishop Michael John Sheridan, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri.[4]

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs Official Site