ARRIVAL OF DR. STEINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 6

ARRIVAL OF DR. STEINS.

Tun .Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Dr. Steins, arrived by the s.s. Ringarooma on 3rd December, at ail enrly lxoar. He was teceived by a deputition of the Roman Catholic clergy, Rev. Fathers Fines, V.G., Walter Maudonald, o'llara, Paul, O'Reilly, Adelaar, Chastignon, O'Dwyer, also a committee of laity consisting of the Hon. P. Dignan, Dr. Lee, "Messis. Dignan, Lynch, Connolly, Bropliy, Larkins, Clifton, and Eyre. Upon the landing of the Archbishop (Dr. Steins was formerly Archbishop of Calcutta, aud retains the higher title), ho was conducted to li! 3 residence at Ponsonby.

THE IiECEPTION T . The Right Rev. Dr. Steins, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, was received on Tuesday evening publicly by the clergy and laity in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The hour fixed for the.recepiion was 7 o'clock, and the church was at that time crowded. Most of the clergy of the diocese were in attendance. At 7.10 the Archbishop's caniage drew up to the western entrance, whereupon the Very Rev. Father Fynes, in cope and stole, accompanied by Father O'Uwyer and Father Adelaar, in surplises (preceded by thurifer, acolytes, and boys in surplices) proceeded to tho chureh door, to receive their Bishop. The Bishop, robed in canonical habit, cope, mitre, aud erozier, having entered the church, was received kneeling, an 1 pronounced the Pontifical benediction. The procession then moved slowly towards the altar, in front of which the Bishop pronounced a blessing upou tho clergy aud laity assembled.

The Very Rev. Father Fynes advanced towards tho Archbishop, and lead tho following address from tho cleigy : —

Address to his Grace the Mo.-it lie v. "Walter Steius, S.J., D.D., Archbishop, Bishop - of Auckland, New Zealand.—May it please your Grace, —"We, the clergy of the Dioceso of Auckland, respectfully tender, with heartfelt congratulations upon a s;ife arrival, a sincere welcome to your Grace on your advent amongst us. Report has already impressed us with the belief that, iu the person of your Grace, we shall find tho good pastor and the faithful bishop, rulinc; with wisdom and piety tho Church of Christ iu this diocese. We hope, with God's assistance, to prove ourselves, by our co-operation, diligent labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. We should deem ourselves wanting in duty did we not, upon this auspicious occasion, whilst humbly praying the Almighty God to enlighten, direct, and assist your Graco in the administration of things, spiritual aud temporal, of this diocese, offer, with sincere devotedness, a similar prayer to the Most High, in behaif of the distinguished and deservedly well-beloved Sovereign I'ontiff Leo XIII., who, iu the chair of St. Peter, at present governs tho Church of Christ upon earth, and who, in your Grace's appointment to this See of Auckland, has shewn himself mind ful of us, the most distant portion of the flock confided by Clmst to hi 3 pastoral care. With sentiments of filial love and devotion, asking your Grace's blessing, we have the honour to subscribe ourselves, your faithful and obedient sons in Christ, H. J. Fynes, Deputy Administrator of the Diocese of Auckland. Signed on behalf of tho clergy.

Dr. Lee, as chairman of the committee of laity, read the following address :—

To His Grace the Most Eev. Walter Steins, S.J., D.D., Archbishop, Bishop of Auckland. May it please your Grace, —We, the undersigned, liave been deputed by the Catholic laity of Auckland, at a. public meeting held ou the 24th day of August, 1879, to offer to you our heartfelt congratulations, and to express to you the sincere satisfaction with which we hail your Graco's arrival in Auckland. We desire to approach your Grace with feelings of the most profound respect, and to assure you that our Hoiy. Father the Popa has gladdened the hearts of all Catholics in this diocese by your appointment. We rejoice to assure you th.it your high Christian character, genius, and devotion to the servico of religion, have been I heralded to these shores before your arrival I amongst us. Having been deprived of an ■ episcopal head for some five or six years, we hail your Grace's appointment with i'neti pressible pleasure and delight; and as consonant with such feelings, wo tender your Grace a sincere and hearty welcome. to thrao shores. We are not unmindful that the responsible episcopal charge of this diocese has on one or more occasions been declined. We therefore beg to assure your Grace that we now accept such refusal aa a destined manifestation of an especial over-rifling Providence, aa a means whereby our Holy Father was moved to appoint you tojjrulo this diocese, as .'possessing

that special ecclesiastical zeal so essential to the maintenance of the orthodoxy of the rlcly Roman Catholic faith. Hoping your Grace will live amongst us, in the full enjoyment of health and mental vigour, and draw around you the warm hearts of your Catholic fold and the loving hearts of the young rising generaJion. whose affections and devotedness will prove to you a solace .-i your declining years, we ask your Grace's benediction for ourselves and all others of the Catholic laity of the diocese of Auckland, and beg to subscribe ourselves on their and our behalf, your Grace a mos, devoted children in Christ.

The following are the names of the mem bers of the committee: —P. Bropliv, G. L<ahy, W. Eyre, P. D.rbv, W. F. Clifton, D. Lynch, P. Dignan (M L.C.), J. La r kins, W, G. Connolly, J. F. Boylan, E Mahony, J. Cosgrave, C. Uanninß, E. Leydon (secretary), 3'. Flynu.

Mr. W. F. Cliftox next advanced, and read the address of the Christian Doctrine Society. The following are the names of the committee: —Petsr Dignan, J. Carrigan, W. F. Clifton,[J. O'Brien, W. G. Connolly.

Mr. Michael Connolly next advanced, and read on behalf of the committee an address from ET.A.C.S. Society. The members oE this committee are —M. Connelly (President), W. G. Connolly, F. H. White, J. Patterson, P. Kearney, B. Crouin (Secretary).

Tho Archbishop ascended the nigh altar, and addressed the olergy and laity assembled, a3 follows : — Reverend Fathers of the Church, and dearly beloved Sons in Christ: To give you thanks now would be out of place. We could not presume to attempt the expression of them. We understand perfectly that your attentions are not for the individual, but what you have done was for mo as a minister of the Church, most un-

worthy, but by God's grace, and the authority of the Holy See, entrusted with the charge of the dock here present. I can only express my satisfaction, my joy, and my happineS3 in coming amongst you. Everyone fee's a happiness when he knows he is placed by God's providence in a pisit : on of being able to do good. I hope this is my T am now here before my llock in Christ, which has been committed to my charge. 1 now, together with you my brethren of the clergy, and with you ny dearest 'aity, feel that I am in the right way, or the right path that shall leai to gouil work and our mutual reward in eternity. It was on Saturday, t'ro 25th of October, that I had a last interviev: T with His Holiness Leo XIII., upon which occasion he commended this diocese to my care. He did it so paternally, so urgently, so forcibly, so religiously. There were one or two there who heard his words,

and witnessed what took pU° e ; theui were

oae or two present, also, wlio wer.i about t» depart forotlier missions ; but. an aflfc. were the words which His Holiness addressed to mo, that I can assure you all were movel aud felt the deepest interest in my coming to N-w Ze Jand. The Holy Father has given tn you (the members of my t!o.:k) his spiritual benediction, and has expressed his wishes that our '".oly religion may flourish in tlrs distant land. In reply to the address of the clergy —Reverend fathers and Brethren : i trust you will all bo faithful and zealous, that you will help your Bishop. You know that it i 3 a spirit of union to have in view the good of all the souls committed to our charge, the glory of God and the causa of our holy religion—it is union and kindly co-operation that will enable ua to go forward, that will earn for you a rich reward—you, my dear elergy, who have borne the heat of the day —reward for all that has been commenced by you, for all that yon have successfully continued, for all that lias entered into your thoughts to do for the future. Let us all bear in mind, however, that whatever may be our good intentions anil goodwill, or even our zeal, we can do nothing except in Him, by Him, and through Him our Lord Jesus Christ, who resides here in this tabernacle. Thus only by being closeiy unitid can wc hope for success in our labours. I hope that our good Lord himself may look down with satisfaction upon our efforts. I next como to the words received from our d.iar laity. Von remember our biased L r<l pi omised to give life abundantly to tlios 1 who liv'.d for Him, but to have that abundance you must look to the work you have to do. In a few hours the anniversary of that day shall hive arrived, when our Redeemer came to his people, and his people knew him not. What a thought for me, to whom you li ive nude your kindues3 so manifest. Let us hope j that we may be all sons of God ; that I, a poor and miserable representative of the Church, may have the power to accomplish the work of my mission through you, my dear children, in C'hri-1 our Lord. Think first what you have to do. First, we must all obedient, for obedience is the duty of children to parents, of a son to his father, of a Christian to his Father in Heaven. Obedience is a sign of the truest affection between father and child. Next let us have love for our family, for our house—that is to say, our Holy Church. Tako care of this injunction, this great commandment. You remember when the question was pat to our Lord, He said : This is the lirst and greatest commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with all thy eoul." Religion in our time has come to bj regarded by many as something like a trade, is often cultivated because it is deemed to be useful. But the Bense of true religion is far remote from this. Remember the words o£ the Apostle Paul, " If you have all the goods of this world, if you give up all to the poor, and have not faith, it profiteth nothing." Faith then is the essential point of a truly religious life. It is not a matter of mental or intellectual attitude. The principal thing is to have love for the Lord Jesus Christ—love for Him as our God, for without Him we are nothing. Bear in mind also that this young country is yet in its infancy. A great deal of its future depends upon you. Those who come after you will be under the influence of the good or bad example which you set them. If you are Catliolia and would have your children Catholic you must impress our holy faith deeply on their hearts. You have received your religion from your parents aud the generations of your ancestors gone before; your children, if you possess and keep it, will receive it from you. The subject of education is a difficult one to speak of in a merely cursory manner. There is one thing you should remember, you owe the faith you received from your parents to your children. Bear in mind that your children will ba with you before the same judgment seat. Try by love and faithfulness—for the love of God is the greatest treasure—to guide your own conduct and to bring up your children. Then as to the words we have received from the associations. They shall be in the heart of their Bishop and he feels assured lie will have their help in all things necessary, for every association can assist in the work to be done. Your Bishop counts upon your kindness, your encouragement, your prudence, and on all that may be conducive to success. I thank God for all that has been done in this place. But let us not forget there is a long way before us. We have perhaps to do a great deal before we make much progress in doing that which the Church requires. Then let U3 commence the work with courage, with uuion, and love between clergy and laity. Much can be done by a general and generous co-operation. In the country that I coma from the Catholics are not of the highest type, but rather the reverse. It is astonishing what they have been able to do thero by co-operation between clergy and'aity. Therefor.-, be'oved sons, as you are sincere Catholics, L count on ymir assistance when there is need of it, and depend iip->ii it that for what you do to foi ward the wurk of our L:n-d Jesus Chris; you will have an abundant reward. We nm.-.t go to our Gracious Lord for everything. He is always with us. We can therefore with confidence proceed in our work for the good of souls and for the glory of God. It appears to have been a special providence which brought the faith to this distant country. Some of those who came here first, as well as those who were born here, were hostile to religion. But God blessed those who brought the truths of our Christian religion here. God bless us; let vis ask that blessing with tamest heart. Home reference has been made to the onus to the labour, but you, my dear brethren of the clergy, I call you not servants, but companions and comrades in the work upon which we have entered. Our blessings be also, dearly beloved eons, on your families, and on your children, and all who are dear to you. In all our words, in all we do, let us be mindful that we labour for the glory of God ; and in all we undertake let us aßk. the assistance of the blessed Mother of Christ and the communion of saints.

The address o£ tlio Archbishop was followed by Pontilicial Vespers and Benediction, Dr. Steins being tUo celebrant, aBVptnp y er Walfcer Macdonald. After A« h£! P r °ccsaiou moved to the sacristy, wav t\ wf °° - I : a3Sed thG convent, on his