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DIOCESE SAVANNAH EDITION Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n Of Georgia OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties Vol. 39, No. 2 MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1958 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year 50 Years A Priest ^ TtKjj BLESSES VILLA MARIE—The Most Rev. Thomas J. Me- Donough is- shown blessing the Mess Hail during ceremonies held on Sunday, June 22nd. BISHOP BLESSES CAMP VILLA MARIE SAVANNAH —- Rain damp ened the grounds of Camp Villa Marie last Sunday, but not the spirits of the Sisters, counsel lors and friends of the camp who attended the Blessing of the new buildings. Scattered showers forced a slight change in the planned or der of events. His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough officiated at Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, assist ed by Rev. William V. Coleman, comp director and Rev. John Cuddy, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools. Following Benediction, Bish op McDonough, assisted by Fa thers Coleman and Cuddy and several of the Seminarian coun sellors Blessed the new and modern facilities which have re placed the old white counsellor cottages. The new buildings are modern in design and in stark contrast to the old familiar buildings. Eventually all the old buildings will be replaced. The swimming pool and its new fil tering system were also blessed by Bishop McDonough. The renovations mark the twenty-first anniversary of the Diocesan Camp. When the camp first opened in 1937 only cate chetical . sessions were held — two of them the first year. The camp has grown considerably since then. The summer of 1937 brought two hundred children out to Grimball’s Point, to a spanking new camp built on what had formerly been known as the “Carswell Estate.” The land was secured by His Ex cellency, Archbishop O’Hara who saw so clearly the need of Religious Instruction for those children who -were unable to at tend a Catholic School. And although Camp Villa Marie now holds recreational sessions as well as catechetical -sessions, thousands of Georgia’s Catholic men and women owe their religious training to the sessions at this Diocesan Camp. In its earlier years, Villa Ma rie was directed by Monsignor Joseph Cassidy and Monsignor Edward Dodwell, who are now Priests of the Diocese of Atlan ta. In more recent years, the camp has operated under the di rection of Father Felix Donnel ly, pastor of Nativity Parish, Savannah, and Father Ralph Seikel, Moderator of Aquinas High School, Augusta. In 1957 and again this year Father Wil liam V. Coleman, vice-chancel lor of Savannah was named Camp Director. Campers in augurated the first session of 1958 on Wednesday, June 25th. Sisters on tilt- staff include, Sisters Mary Fidelis, Mary Kier- an, Mary Bridget, Mary Giles, Mary Giovanni, Mary Agnese, Marcia and Mary Margaret. Sis ter Mary Fidelis is superior of the community all of whom are Sisters of Mercy. Seminarians of the Diocese will serve as senior counsellors. They are the Rev. Messers. E. Perrot Fiero and Walter Di- Francesco, both Subdeacons. Mr. Eusebius Beltran, Mr. John Fitz patrick and Mr. Louis Padavan complete the roster of seminari ans at the. camp. Assisting the sisters and sem inarians are the following jun ior counsellors: Misses Shelia O’Connor, Judy Pinnell, Donna Becker, Mary DeStafeno, Joan Matthews and Marge Dolgos. . John and Joseph Hutton, Rich ard Buttimer, John McKenna and Thomas Wilkerson will also serve as junior counsellors. The kitchen staff will be headed by Mrs. Peter Vasta, as sisted by Ellen Jones, Charles Edwards and Lawrence Shu man. Camp maintenance is super vised by Mr. Joseph Puder and Mr. Charles Edwards. Medical attention is supplied by Doctor Joseph Pacifici and- student nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah. The nurses will be in residence at the camp, secur ing experience in camp nursing under the supervision of the Assistant Directress of Nursing Education at St. Joseph’s Hos pital. Patrica Prouty New Girls' State Head SAVANNAH — Patricia Prouty was elected Governor of Girls State at the 13th annual week-long gathering held re cently in Macon. The new president led her party to a sweep of important offices in the annual election. Miss Prouty was sworn into of fice us governor in special cere monies at the capitol in Atlanta by Chief Justice W. H. Duck worth of the Georgia Supreme Court. A senior at St. Vincent’s Academy, Patricia is the daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Prou ty, Rt. 6, Norwood Avenue. The Prouty’s are members of St. James parish. Monsignor Mitchell Celebrates Jubilee SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. —Rt. Rev. Joseph D. Mitchell, a priest of the Diocese of Savan nah, serving as Chaplain of the Alexian Brothers Home, cele brated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination on June 21st. Born December 23, 1880 at Columbus, the son of Francis Hart Mitchell and Katharine Tyler Downing Mitchell, Mon signor is a convert to Catholi cism. Monsignor became a Cath olic in 1900 while in New York City working with the real es tate department of two New York Hearst papers, the AMERI CAN and the JOURNAL. Monsignor found his work with the papers uninspiring and entered St. Joseph’s Saminary at Dunwoodie, Yonkers, N. Y. in 1904. After four years there he was ordained a priest on June 21, 1908. He was assigned to St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Savan nah where he rose rapidly to the post of rector of the Cathed ral. In 1923, he was named rector of St. Patrick’s Church in Sav annah. During his 30 years in Savannah he served three dif ferent times as Vicar-General of the Savannah Diocese—a post in which the appointee of the bish op serves as the latter’s admin istrative assistant. In 1933 he was named a Do mestic Prelate of the house hold of Pius XI, with the title of Monsignor. In 1940 Monsignor Mitchell, after 32 years of priestly labor in the Diocese of Savannah re tired to the Alexian Brothers Home. His retirement was short lived. Due to the shortage of priests Monsignor soon found himself as Chaplain at the Home and serving as pastor of the Parish of St. Augus tine’s, Signal Mountain. Mon signor retained the post of pas tor until August of last year when he decided that it was once again time to retire. Monsignor celebrated his Ju bilee Mass at St. Augustine’s on Saturday, June 21st. On Sunday, June 22, at 11 a. m. a Solemn Mass was offered with Monsignor Mitchell as cel ebrant. Officers for the Mass were: Assistant priest, the Rev. John Leal; deacon, the Rev. James J. Driscoll; and sub-dea con, the Rev. William B. Gran- nis. Acolytes were Tom and Ken Tytula; and master of ceremon- , ies, Martin Gensheimer. The sermon was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Monsignor George J. Flan- igen, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church, Chattanooga. The parish honored Monsig nor Mitchell with a reception on Sunday afternoon from 3 until 5 p. m. in the Forest Room of the Alexian Brothers’ Home. . On behalf of the priests, relig ious and laity of the Diocese of Savannah, The Bulletin wishes to extend sincere good wishes to Monsignor on the flippy occas ion of his Golden Jubilee. DISPENSATION FOR JULY 4TH SAVANNAH — The Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, D.D., J.C.D., auxiliary-bish op has granted a dispensa tion from the law of absti nence on Friday, July 4fh. Lay Cornerstone For New Blessed Sacrament Annex Bishop McDonough Presides LAY CORNERSTONE—Plis Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas J McDonough is pictured as he laid the cornerstone for the new addition to Blessed Sacrament School. Shown with His Excellency are (1. to r.) Cletus W. Bergen, architect; Reverend Thomas A. Brennan, pastor of Blessed Sacrament; Rev. Edward A. Frank, assistant pastor at Blessed Sacrament; Rev. Robert J. Teoli, assistant pastor of the Cathedral.—(Savannah Morning News Photo). Vatican Official Declares Catholic Weekly Served Must Educate Public Opinion During Years Of 1864 Ana 1865 To Promote Wholesome Movies Win Scholarships ALBANY — Two students of the 1958 graduating class of St. Teresa’s School, Albany, scored among the three highest in the S.R.A. High School Placement Test given by the Mount De Chantal Visitation Academy of Wheeling, West Virginia. The two girls, Maria Cosgrove and Michelle King have been awarded scholarships as a re sult, and will be attending the Mount in the fall. By Edward A. Egan (N.C.W.C. News Service) DURHAM, N. C.—Within a few weeks after the fall of the Confederacy in 1865, the Dio ceses of Savannah, Mobile, and Richmond had a commoh Catho dic weekly newspaper. A rare copy of the publica tion, the Pacificator, discovered in the library of Duke Universi ty here, reveals much of the history of the newspaper during the days immediately after the end of the War Between the States. Dated June 24, 1865, the week ly, published in Augusta, Ga., proclaimed in its sub-title, as it had since early May of that year, that the Pacificator was a “Journal Devoted to the Inter ests of the Catholic. Church, with the Approbation of the Right Rev. Bishops of Savannah, Richmond and Mobile.” Bishops John McGill of Rich mond, John J. Quinlan of Mo bile, and Augustine Verot of Savannah were the three ordi naries with whose approbation the Pacificator was published. Suspended Until shortly after the sur render of Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox court house, the Pa cificator was published weekly as a “Journal Devoted to the Catholic Church in the Confed erate States.” It had been in cir culation as such since October 8, 1864, “with the approbation of the Bishop of Savannah.” As the seceded states passed into the post-war transition per iod, the Catholic weekly was temporarily suspended. Upon its resumption of publication in early May, 1865, Patrick Walsh and L. T. Blome were again at its helm as editors and publish ers. No longer, however, was the Pacificator printed by the earli er J. T. Paterson & Co., of Au gusta. Dr. Paterson and his as sociates sold their interest in the printing establishment to M. M. Hill, who continued to ope rate the business. While the prospect for the Pa cificator before the fall of the Confederacy “seemed bright and encouraging,” and the only Catholic newspaper in the South “sped onward with prospering breezes,” Catholic zeal did not rally, to the disappointment of the editors and publishers, to restore the journal to. its once sure and safe foundation. “For six weeks we have pub lished the Pacificator with little or no encouragement,” com plained Walsh and Blome edi torially. Under the circumstanc es, they determined to make one more effort to sustain the enter prise. In their minds already was the decision that, if they found that friends of the Pacificator showed no interest in it, and made no efforts in its behalf, they would be compelled to cease publication, “satisfied that (Continued on Page 6) To Install ftlsgr, Sheehan On June 29th MACON — The formal in stallation ceremonies of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Shee han will be held Sunday, June 29th at SI. Joseph's Church. Monsignor Sheehan will be installed by the Most Rev erend Thomas J. McDonough, auxiliary bishop of Savan nah. Many priests from the Diocese of Savannah and At lanta are expected to attend. PARIS (Radio, NC) — The ed ucation of public opinion is a necessary part of promoting wholesome and artistic motion pictures, Msgr. Angelo Dell’- Acqua, Substitute Vatican Sec retary of State, said in a letter to members of the International Catholic Film Office meeting here. Noting that the problem of public opinion was on the meet ing’s agenda, Msgr. Deil’Acqua wrote: “It is a question of importance because in order to assure the success of a morrally sound film, and hence to encourage pro ducers to persevere in the path, it does not suffice that the film be appreciated by a select group. It is necessary that pub lic opinion come out in its favor and that it be pleasing to the crowds who daily fill the mov ing picture theatres.” The Vatican official said that this is a question which should interest producers themselves since they have found the cine ma industry threatened by the development of television. He added that there has been a vi cious circle between producers and public opinion. To break the circle and bring about good films the spectator should be educated by being taught to savor true values ex- (Continued on Page 6) PONTIFF RECEIVES PILGRIMS—His Excellency Archbishop O’Hara and Savannah Diocesan pilgrims are pictured during a General Audience granted by the Holy Father. Standing next to the Ai'chbishop is the Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara, V.F.. Rector of the Cathedral of St- John The Baptist. The Very Rev. Daniel J. Bourke, V.F., pastor of St. Mary’s. Augusta, is pictured behind Monsignor. The two members of the Hierarchy shown on the right of the Holy Father are not identified. SAVANNAH — “This may be the proudest moment of my life —of my stay among you — the laying of the cornerstone for our desperately needed addition to Blessed Sacrament School.” These were the words of the Reverend Thomas A. Bren nan, pastor of Blessed Sacra ment Church at the laying of the cornerstone of t h e new School addition on Sunday af ternoon. June 21st. Presiding at the exercises was the Most Rev. Thomas J. Mc Donough, auxiliary-bishop of the Diocese. Among dignitaries present was Mayor W. Lee Mingledroff, Jr., Mayor of the city of Savannah. Bishop McDonough praised the work of Father Brennan saying, “He (Fr. Brennan) is go ing to see that this building is built and thereby make it a landmark of this beautiful city.” The Bishop continued, “We take pride this afternoon in blessing and laying the corner stone which actually culminates the hard work of so many peo ple over twelve years. It is a tribute to Father Brennan and tb his people, no one else.” Bishop McDonough conclud ed, “I want to thank Father Brennan and the architects for the wonderful design. This may be called the “dream school.” I want to thank the contractors. God bless all of you.” The following cablegram was received from Archbishop Ger ald P. O’Hara and read at the ceremonies: “Please accept my heartfelt congratulations and all good wishes to you and your parish- oners on this happy occasion of the cornerstone laying of the new addition to Blessed Sacra ment School.” Addressing the gathering Fa- the Brennan said every parish- oner of Blessed Sacrament par ish should justly take pride in our new addition to our school building. “What we see rising here today was not done over night, It required planning and the conducting of a fund raising campaign; hard work, sacrifice and prayers.” Mayor Mingledorff stated that he marveled at the growth that the Catholic people of the com munity had made in their edu cational system. The cornerstone laying is realiy symbolic of many other things than the building of a building. We are building for the future and this cornerstone is certainly a truly great example of that, the Mayor said. Also in attendance and taking part in the ceremonies were the Honorable H. Lee Fulton. Chair man, Chatham County Commis sioners; Architect, Cletus W. Bergen; William J. Lynch, of Rives E. Worrell Co., Inc., Con tractor and Dr. Peter L. Scar- dino, Chairman of the School Fund Drive. At the conclusion of the ex ercises Solemn Pontifical Ben ediction was offered by Bishop McDonough in the Church. Serving as Master of Ceremon ies at Benediction was Rev. John D. Cuddy, Superintendent, Savannah Diocesan Schools; Deacon: Rev. Edward R. Fiank, Assistant Pastor, Blessed Sacra ment Church; Sub-Deacon: Rev. Robert J. Teoli. Assistant Pas tor, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The Choir, composed of the senior members and young la dies of the High School Sodality, was under the direction of the Reverend George C. James.