Third Bishop of Auckland (1879–1881).

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Evening Star, Dunedin, 25 July 1879, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18790725.2.7:

In giving the following from the Bombay 'Catholic Examiner,' we learn that Archbishop Steins, S.J., late Vicar Apostolic of Calcutta, has been nominated to the Episcopal see of Auckland. The 'Tablet' adds that while retaining the rank and title of Archbishop, Dr Steins will be Bishop of Auckland.

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The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 5 August 1879, p 5, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18790805.2.23:

The Bombay Catholic Examiner, referring to this subject, says:—"We learn that Archbishop Steins, S.J., late Vicar Apostolic of Calcutta, has been nominated to the Episcopal See of Auckland, vacant for the last four years, since 1875, when Dr. Croke was translated to the Archbishopric of Cashel." The New Zealand Freeman's Journal says:—"It may be remarked that the title of the new Bishop of Auckland is that of Archbishop, although the See to which he is now appointed still remains episcopal. Cases of that kind occur but occasionally. Leo XIII. is another case of the same kind, for when appointed to the See of Perugia, he had the title of Archbishop, and was known aa Archbishop-Bishop of Perugia."

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Auckland Star, 17 December 1879, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18791217.2.6:

The new Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Archbishop Steins, arrived at the Bluff in the Ringarooma from Melbourne yesterday. He is accompanied by the Rev. Father Downey and Rev. Father Vaggioli.

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Arrival of Archbishop Steins, Auckland Star, 23 December 1879, p 3, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18791223.2.22:

The news that Dr. Steins, recently nominated to the Roman Catholic bishopric of Auckland, had arrived in the South en route for his Episcopal See was received by the members of the communion here with the liveliest tokens of satisfaction, and arrangements were promptly devised for according the long-expected gentleman a respectful and hearty welcome. The belief appeared to be entertained yesterday that the steamer would reach the harbour during the afternoon, and as a consequence numerous visits were made to the wharf by anxious committeemen. Enquiry was made of the agents of the vessel as to the probable time of her arrival, and in accordance with the answer obtained the Reception Committee and the clergy agreed to meet on the wharf at nine o'clock. At that hour the following clergy and members of the Reception Committee assembled at the end of the wharf, viz., Revs. Father W. McDonald, O'Dwyer, Adelaar, O'Hara, Paul, and O'Reilly, and Dr Lee, Messrs P. Darby, W. Eyre, J.T. Boylan, P. Dignan, M.L.C., G. Leahy, W.G. Connolly. W.F. Clifton, D. Lynch, P. Larkins, Brophy, and Leyden (secretary.) The Vicar General, Very Rev. Father Fynes, was detained at home through indisposition. A large concourse of people were present, and a number of conveyances were also in attendance. The steamer arrived at one o'clock, and as soon as she had come alongside the wharf the clergy and representative laymen proceeded on board. Father Walter McDonald interviewed Dr. Steins and then introduced the attendant clergy and laity to him, besides explaining briefly the arrangements that had been made for the reception. His Grace expressed the pleasure he felt at being once more amongst his priests and people, and warmly acknowledged the kindness and consideration of the Roman Catholics of Auckland in so heartily welcoming him to the city. The clergy and laity then entered the carriages that were in waiting for them and drove off to the episcopal palace. The horses which drew his Grace's carriage carried outriders on their backs, and the whole procession presented a pleasing sight. As the Convent grounds were approached the sound of distant music fell upon the ear, and a few minutes later the carriages drove into the grounds amidst a perfect blaze of light and to the familiar strains of "Home, Sweet Home," sweetly discoursed by the Hobson Band. The bishop's residence was beautifully illuminated from every point of vantage by prettily coloured Chinese lanterns, while from the boughs of conspicuous trees lamps also depended in the most romantic profusion. Lights gleamed and corruscated in all directions, and the effect under the clear and starlit sky was fantastic and pretty in the extreme. The clergy were astonished to a degree and his Grace was delighted. It seems that the Reception Committee assisted by a few other gentlemen, had arranged this part of the ceremonial themselves, and it was kept strictly secret. The Bishop, on alighting from his carriage, said that the cordial welcome extended towards him by the Roman Catholic clergy and laity of the city afforded him the keenest pleasure. It also conveyed to him an assurance of the earnest co-operation which he would receive from the people in the discharge of his ecclesiastical duties. The good wishes expressed towards him and the enthusiasm manifested were most sensibly felt and appreciated, and he tendered them, therefore, his very warm thanks. The assemblage then dispersed. The formal reception of his Grace, who is accompanied by Fathers Downey and Vaggioli and three lay brethren, takes place this evening in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

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New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 2 May 1881, p 4, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18810502.2.17:

Last evening, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, his Grace Archbishop Steins bid an affectionate farewell to the large congregation present, and stated that his weak and failing health compelled him to relinquish a position, the duties connected with which he found too onerous for him. It was only after consulting the Holy See that he decided on taking the present course, to leave for some time to recruit his health, if it was possible. Medical advice and his own judgment directed the same course, and he would then take his departure by the first outgoing mail steamer for Sydney; and should his health improve, which he considered very improbable, he would return to Auckland, until which, or until a new bishop was appointed, the affairs of the diocese would be under the jurisdiction of the Very Rev. H.J. Fynes as Vicar-General. He warmly exhorted his hearers to be practical Christians, to follow as closely as possible the life of Christ, and bestowed the Apostolic benediction.

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Archbishop Steins, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 14 May 1881, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115457661:

His Grace Archbishop Steins, S.J., arrived in Sydney from New Zealand on Monday morning, after suffering a most severe attack of illness on the passage, and proceeded to St. Kilda House, Woolloomooloo, the College of the Fathers of the Order of Jesus. His Grace's critical condition occasioned much alarm, and the Fathers of the college being of the opinion that the illness of their distinguished guest was of a nature that demanded the immediate attention of a physician, Dr. McDonagh was communicated with, and that gentleman has been in constant attendance during the week. The Archbishop has been pronounced out of danger, but his Grace's advanced age, together with the privations and hardships endured by him while working as a missionary priest, and afterwards as a bishop in Calcutta, Bombay, and other parts of India, and which have enfeebled his constitution greatly, render the progress of recovery somewhat slow. His Grace, after labouring with great zeal in India for a period extending over twenty-five years, found himself completely broken down in health, and leaving Calcutta, he proceeded to England with the intention of retiring from active work. The change proved a beneficial one, for he regained his former health and strength. Dr. Steins paid a visit to the Holy See, and at the request of his Holiness accepted the vacant diocese of Auckland. While performing the duties of his high office in the diocese of Auckland for the first twelve months, the Archbiohop appears to have enjoyed excellent health, but since June last he has been subject to numerous severe attacks of illness, and the effects of his long and laborious life in India were beginning to make themselves painfully evident. Finding that he did not improve, but if anything grew gradually worse, his Grace decided to pay a visit to Europe, in the hope that the trip and change of climate would have the effect of restoring him to health once more. He announced his intention to his flock, and after confirming the appointment of the Very Rev. H. J. Fynes, a highly esteemed priest, as Vicar-General, with power to govern during his absence, Dr. Steins preached his farewell sermon on Sunday, 1st May, and left by the s.s. Rotorua, on Wednesday, May 4th, for Sydney. By special power received from the Cardinal of the Propaganda, his Grace has conferred on his worthy Vicar-General, in the case of accident to himself, the full power and faculties of Vicar Capitular. Dr. Steins is a native of Holland, being now in his seventy-second year, and he entered the Dutch Province of the Society of Jesus in December 1832. He has a commanding appearance, and one would scarcely imagine him to be so far advanced in years as he is. His general bearing, whether in public or in private, is remarkably dignified, yet a more unassuming or gentler man it would be hard to find. Shortly after his Grace's arrival at St. Kilda on Monday, he was visited by the Archbishop of Sydney.

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Death of Archbishop Steins, S.J., Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 10 September 1881, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115457360:

In a recent issue we made the sorrowful announcement of the death of the Right Rev Dr. O'Quinn, Bishop of Brisbane, and it now becomes our painful duty to chronicle the decease of another venerable prelate, zealous missionary, and valiant soldier of Christ—one who has worked heart and soul in the service of his Master—a scholar, and a cultured gentleman, who during his long apostolic life courted extreme privations in his loyal devotion to duty, braved courageously many dangers, and endured most intense physical suffering with saintly heroism. On Wednesday morning his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Walter Steins, S.J., of Auckland, New Zealand, breathed his last in St. Kilda House, Woolloomooloo, the College of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, and when his gentle spirit passed peacefully away he was surrounded by the good Fathers who had nursed him in his last illness, and the members of the order, who had assembled at his death bed to receive his blessing. The Very Rev. J. Dalton, Rector of the Jesuit College at Riverview, Parramatta River, and Superior of the order in Australia, Fathers Clancy, M. Kelly, O. Daly, W. Kelly, and Rev. Mr. Power were present. His Grace's death was not unexpected, for he had been ailing a number of years, and during the whole time he was at St. Kilda House he was in a most critical condition of health. Walterus Steins-Bisschop was born in Amsterdam on July 1, 1810, and was highly connected, his father being a wealthy merchant in that city. He received his early educational training from a Franciscan friar, and after having acquired a fair amount of elementary knowledge he was sent to the well-known Jesuit College, St. Acheul, Amiens, France. There he studied for some considerable time, and subsequently at Fribourg, Switzerland; and after making a tour through Italy he entered the Dutch province of the Society of Jesus on December 10, 1832. This event created a sensation in Protestant Holland, on account of the social position of Dr. Steins' family; and this is not to be wondered at, for it must be remembered that it was not until 1853 that the hierarchy was restored in that country by Pope Pius IX. Dr. Steins was professed on 28th August, 1849, and desiring to go at once into active service, he asked the Very Rev. General Roothan for the Borneo Mission, and having obtained permission to labour there, he proceeded to Rome previous to commencing his missionary work. While in the Eternal City, a priest from Bombay hearing that Dr. Steins was about proceeding to Borneo, asked his superiors to allow him to go with another priest to Bombay. The permission was granted, and Dr. Steins went to Bombay intending to stay there only a short time, as he had communicated with Borneo to ascertain whether a mission was open to him. A favourable reply was received from Borneo, and Dr. Steins was about to start for that place when the Bishop of Bombay succeeded in getting the consent of the very rev. general to his permanent appointment in his diocese, so highly did he appreciate the zeal and piety of the young missioner. Afterwards Dr. Steins became Bishop of Bombay, and built a magnificent college there, at a cost of several thousand pounds, people of all classes responding generously to the appeal of the good and deservedly popular Bishop. He was afterwards transferred to Calcutta, where he established another college, which he carried on with great success. This college was thought so much of, that the Governor of the presidency always attended on "speech day," and delivered an address. Archbishop Steins founded a large number of schools and orphanages, and it was he who brought to India the devoted Sisters, "Daughters of the Cross, and established the refuge called "St. Vincent's Home." It was due to the strong impulse of his Grace that the native missions prospered. He commenced the Bengali mission, south of Calcutta, which now numbers 2500 souls, and has twenty-ono chapels, served by three priests. He used to say that he would sing his Nunc Dimittis with joy when a beginning of conversions was made among the Bengali portion of his flock, and it was with delight that the good prelate went from village to village across rice fields to give those poor neophytes the sacrament of Confirmation. He also started the mission to the Sonthals and Koles, mountain tribes in the eastern part of the diocese; and, although he did not witness great results before his departure, he sowed the seed of a harvest which now promises to be plentiful. It was during the last of these pastoral visits that, on entering a boat on his return to Calcutta he fell heavily, and hurt himself so severely that the doctors recommended his leaving India. His Grace, after labouring with great zeal in India for a period extending over twenty-five years, found himself completely broken down in health, and leaving Calcutta, he proceeded to England with the intention of retiring from active work. The change proved a beneficial one, for he regained his former health and strength. He paid a visit to the Holy See, and at the request of his Holiness accepted the vacant diocese of Auckland. Dr. Steins was consecrated Bishop of Nilopolis on June 29th, 1861, promoted Archbishop of Bostra, January 11th, 1867, and translated to Auckland, N.Z., April 25th, 1879. While in India Dr. Steins was loved and esteemed by Catholics and Protestants alike, and he took his departure amidst universal regret. While performing the duties of his high office in the diocese of Auckland for the first twelve months, the Archbishop appears to have enjoyed excellent health, but since June 1880 he is said to have been subject to numerous severe attacks of illness, and the effects of his long and laborious life in India were beginning to make themselves painfully evident. Finding that he did not improve, but if anything grew gradually worse, his Grace decided to pay a visit to Europe in the hope that the trip and change of climate would have the effect of restoring him to health once more. He announced his intention to his flock, and after confirming the appointment of the Very Rev. H.J. Fynes, a highly esteemed priest, as Vicar-General, with power to govern during his absence, Dr. Steins preached his farewell sermon on Sunday, 1st May, and left by the s.s. Rotorua, on Wednesday, May 4th, for Sydney. By special power received from the Cardinal of the Propaganda, his Grace conferred on his worthy Vicar-General, in the case of accident to himself, the full power and faculties of Vicar-Capitular. As our readers are aware, Dr. Steins arrived in Sydney on May 9th, after suffering a most severe attack of illness on the passage from New Zealand, and proceeded to St. Kilda House, where he remained till he was called to his reward. Dr. McDonagh, attended the distinguished prelate during his long and painful illness, and although the kind and skilful treatment the Archbishop received at his physician's hands tended to alleviate his sufferings, it could not arrest the hand of death. In appearance the deceased Archbishop was tall and erect, and although his beard was "a sable silvered," one would scarcely imagine he had attained the age of seventy-one. His general bearing, whether in public or private life, was remarkably dignified, and his warm, generous nature and gentle manner won him friends everywhere. Two nephews of the deceased Bishop are members of the Society of Jesus, Eugene and Peter Steins. The former is in the third year of his training in Germany, and the latter is a professor of theology at the Jesuit College, Utrecht, Holland. The Archbishop celebrated Mass in his apartments at St. Kilda House from the time of his arrival till the 30th June, and only ceased to perform that sacred function when no longer able to rise from his bed. He receivied Holy Communion every morning, and the last sacraments were administered to him some days before death. On Thursday the remains of the deceased prelate were laid in state at St. Kilda House, and on Friday morning were removed to St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral. A solemn dirge was sung, and a Requiem High Mass celebrated for the repose of his soul. His Grace the Archbishop presided, and the following clergymen were present:—Right Rev. Monsignor Lynch, Venerable Archdeacon Rigney, Very Rev. Dean Sheridan, V.G., Very Rev. Dean O'Brien, Venerable Archpriest Sheehy, Very Rev. J. Dalton, S.J., Very Rev. Dean Dwyer, Rev. Fathers Holohan, and L. Dunne, O.S.F., Fathers Heuze, Coué, Le Rennetel, Ginisty, and Ecuyer, S.M.; L'Abbe Lannuzel, Port Breton, New Ireland; Fathers Clancy, J. Ryan, W. Kelly, Clery, Kennedy, O. Daly, M. Kelly, Gartlan, and Power, of the Society of Jesus. Fathers Fitzpatrick, O'Reilly, O'Connor (Armidale); Collins, Fleming, P. Carroll, J.J. Carroll, Garavel, Fitzpatrick, J. Dunne, Collingridge, Garvey, Ambrosoli, M.H. Ryan, McGuinn, and Rev. E. Butler, M.A. The Rev. W. Kelly pronounced the panegyric, and the funeral took place immediately after the requiem. The remains of the deceased prelate were interred in the Catholic cemetery at St. Leonards, North Shore.