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New Zealand Tablet, 4 March 1920, Page 9

Another who knelt at the feet of the Sovereign Pontiff this week (says the Rome correspondent of an exchange under date December 1) is of interest to men of Celtic blood—i.e., the Right Rev. Edward O’Rourke, Bishop of Riga, son of Count O’Rourke and grandson of the famous General O’Rourke, of the Russian Army. The O’Rourkes are one of the old Irish families that stood by King James 11., and on the fall of this monarch left home and country, eventually settling in Russia and becoming one of the leading powers there. Bishop O’Rourke preserves a profound love for the land from which his fathers had to fly, a love as deep and as strong as I remember having heard The O’Neil and The O’Donel, the lineal descendants of c the Prince of Tyrone and the Prince of Tyrconnel, declare in Madrid some years ago. Dr. O’Rourke was elevated to the Episcopacy last year, and he is only 40. Accompanying him is Canon Stantzin, who under the regime of the Czar fought the good, fight for the Faith. The Bishop has been visited by the heads of the Celtic houses in the Eternal City. He leaves for his residence on the Baltic Sea this week. . ■ :? £•