DEPARTURE OF BISHOP LUCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8501, 27 February 1891, Page 6

DEPARTURE OF BISHOP LUCK.

PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL. Yesterday evening His Lordship Dr. Luck, Gatholic Bishop of Auckland, lefb by the Tarawera for Sydney, on his way to visit Rome. Every Bishop of the Catholic Church innst, at stated times, proceed to Rome to report to His Holiness the Pope the state of affairs in his diocese. It is upon such a visit as this that Bishop Luck has pone. He originally intended to leave on Tuesday next, but as Archbishop Carr and Bishops Higgins and Moore were returning to Australia by the Tarawera, he decided to accompany them to Sydney, and therefore left last nighb. A testimonial from the clergy and laity of his diocese, in the form of a purse of sovereigns, was presented to Bishop Luck yesterday as a token of esteem. The ceremony took place in the large dininghall of the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, Ponsonby, where the Bishop entertained many of the priests of the diocese at dinner. With the Bishop there were present:— Archbishop Carr, Melbourne; Bishop Higgins, Sydney ; Bishop Moore, Ballarat; and the following priosts:—Very Rev. Father Paul (V.G.), Very Rev. Father Hackett (Administrator of St. Patrick's), Rev. Fathers D. Osmund Egan, Lenihan, Weisselt, Downey, J. Kehoe, O'Hara, the Rev. the Hon. Father Plunketb (C.S.S.R.), Very Rev. Monsignor McDonald, Rev. Fathers O'Reilly, Golden, \V. Mahoney, Gillan, Luck, McMillan, Morrisey, and the Rev. Father Mangan (C.S.S.R). Mr. M. J. Sheahan, St. Patrick's, represented the laity. The Very Rev. Father Paul made the presentation, and said that the purse of sovereigns was a slight token of the love and veneration in which His Lordship was held by the clergy and people throughout his diocese. Bishop Luck briefly replied, thanking the clergy and laity for their esteem and good wishes. Ho had no other return bo make than that of wishing one aud all every blessing from Heaven. He asked the clergy and people to remember him in their prayers during his absence. Several of the priests and the laity were present on the wharf when the Tarawera left, to wisli the Bishop God-speed. He is to leave Sydney for Europe by the Messageriess Maritime Co.'s steamer Yarra. The Rev. Father W. Mahoney is to accompany the Bishop to Europe, and will leave for Sydney next week. Father Mahoney will go as far as Suez with the Bishop; he will then visit Egypt and the Holy Land. The Bishop took with him a large and valuable collection of Now Zealand curios, for presentation to the famous Vatican Museum. During tho absonce of Bishop Luck, the diocese will be under the charge of Father Paul, Vicar-Goneral.