OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13712, 1 April 1905, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MONSIGNOR RAUL. [Pk.u Pnirss Association.] AUCKLAND, March 31. Monsigiior Paul died at Otiohunga, aged eighty-two. Monsignor Paul, who died tins morning, wan oighty-iwo years of age. Ho was horn in County Carlow, Ireland, in 1823. After a Successful course of studies at Sb Patrick’s College, Carlow, he was ordained priest in 1865, and immediately after his ordination cauio to the Auckland diocese, which was then controlled by Bishop Pompallier, Ho took an active interest, in iho education of Catholic youths, and personally superintended the Sunday Schools up to within two or three vears of his death. Tn 1893 ho was appointed Vicar-Gen-eral of the diocese of Auckland, and in 1894 ho was raised to the rank of domestic prelate (Monsignor) by the late Pnpo Leo Xlfl. Ruling the absence of the late Bishop Luck in Europe l , ho administered the diocese, and acted in the same capacity when the present bishop, Dr Lemhaii, went to Rome a. few years ago to present Ids report to the Pope, which .is customary with Catholic bishops in every part of the World about once in every ten years. Li 1807 Monsignor Paul accompanied Dr Lenihan to Melbourne to aUmid the opening of St Patrick’s Cathedral there, and then Wont to-Sydney, where lie was the guest of Cardinal Moran. Monsignor Pan! held the proud distinction of incumbent of one parish for forty-eight years, which is considered a record for Australasia. Ho se.rVed under the five bishops of Auckland, Drs Pompallier, Croke, Staines and Luck (all deceased) a lid Leiiihnn, Slid was Vicar-General for the two last-named. The deceased clergyman Was Ihe last of the old regime of priests who came hero in Bishop Pfimpailier’s time. ISi 1899 ho buried iho last of his colleagues, the late Very Rev Monsignor Walter M’Douald, of Panmure, and the Very Rev Father M. D. O’riarc, of Otahnlin. The- Monsignor spent foftynmo years of Ids life in the service of the. Church in Auckland, mid had he lived till May next he would have, celebrated tho golden jubilee of bin priesthood. Recently the clergy of the diocese assembled iii Auckland and decided to subscribe towards funds to enable their making ;i, suitable presentation to the venerable pastor in recognition of his signal service to Iho Church.