THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND INTERVIEWED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 6, 30 May 1884, Page 23

THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND INTERVIEWED.

%•' (Sydney Express, May 17.) fafii Bight Rev. Pr. Luck, who is eifroute to Rome, arrived in Sydney oil Sunday night last, by the s.s. Botomahana. On his arrival here his Lordship at once proceeded to St. Mary's Presbytery, where he will remain the guest of the Very Rev. Dean Mabony until the 20th inst., when he will continue his journey in one of the Messageries Maritimes steamers. Dr. Luck informs us that his principal object in visiting Europe is to procure additional priests and religious teaching bodies to meet the growing wants of the rapidly increasing population in his Diocese. " The Catholic population of Auckland," his Lordship said in reply to enquiring regarding the ecclesiastical affairs of his Diocese, " is 17,000, exclusive of the Maori body, which at present has only one priest to look after their interests and minister to their spiritual welfare. The Maori portion of my flock is scattered all over the North Island, and it is only through the indefatigable exertions of Dr. James M'Uonald that they get any of the consolations of religion at all. I hope," continued Dr. Luck," to be able to make ai rangements in Rome for the re establishment of the Maori mission, which has never been in a flourishing condition since the war broke out, but even now the vestiges still remain in many a Maori pah. You will therefore observe that the Catholic population of Auckland consists of two distinct divisions — the Maori body and the European body. At present J have only seventeen priests in my Diocese and as this is an insufficient number to serve the spiritual interests of my flock, I purpose, when in Europe, to visit Ireland in order to recruit. Furthermore, there are in Auckland only eighteen Catholic schools, of which number three are used for the boys, while the rest belong to the girls, and are for the most part piesided over by tbe Sisters of Mercy. A short time ago I introduced into my Diocese the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions, and these have, I am hnppy to state, considerably relieved the heavy responsibilities of the Sisters of Mercy, who have done a great deal in the cause of religion aud education. The boys have for some time past been neglected in con=e .uenco of my being unable to procure teaohera for them ; but I hope t> bj able to bring back with mj a body of religious teachers who will meet the educational requirements of my Diocese. Should.my visit be successful I hope to be able to return to Auckland by December. The Catholic population is on the increase, indetd so much so that the large church of St. Benedict, which was opened in Auckland two years ago, is found to be too small, and extra accommodation is now imperitively demanded. St. Patrick's Cathedral, too, of which I laid the foundation stone o£ the nave on Sunday week, is also too small'for the large congregation." In conclusion Dr. Luck said that he felt very much encouraged by the general cooperation and assistance he met with since he took charge of the Diocese, and he felt sure that if such unity continued to exist religion and education would rapidly progress, and before long Auckland would be in a more flourishing condition than it had ever been before.