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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION
Serving
Georgia's 88
Southern Counties
Published By The
Catholic Laymen's
Ass'n Of Georgia
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
Vol. 39, No. 14
MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1958
10c Per Copy —$3 a Year
Says Free Nations Of Far
East Would Be In Danger
If U. S. Recognized China
Communists
Force Priests
into Fields
ROME, (NC) — Reports of
forced labor imposed on priests
and Sisters in Red China have
been confirmed here.
Fides, mission news agency of
the Sacred Congregation for the
Propagation of the Faith, pub
lished accounts of instances
where native priests and nuns
have been compelled to work in
factories or in the fields in the
Chinese mainland.
It quoted one religious supe
rior identified as Sister Suen
Tsong-yi of Sienhsien, in north
ern China, as saying:
“All the Sisters as well as the
bishop and priests are taking
part in work in the. fields. This
lasts from six in the morning
until nine at night. At midday
we take our meals in turns so
that work is not interrupted.
“Those who dig the ground
change teams every 20 minutes
and those who are breaking
stones every 10 minutes. When
wells are being dug, supper is
passed over and work continues
on an empty stomach until 9:30
in the evening.”
REQUIEM
MASS FOR
MRS. SEMMES
SAVANNAH — Requiem
mass was offered November
24th at the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist for Mrs. Kate
Flannery Semmes.
In attendance at the Funeral
Mass were the Most Rev. Gerald
P. O’Hara, Archbishop-Bishop of
Savannah and the Most Rev.
Thomas J. McDonough, Aux
iliary-Bishop of Savannah.
Mrs. Semmes was the posses
sor of the Pro Ecclesia et Pon-
tifici which was conferred upon
her by Pope Pius XI in 1936 for
her many kind deeds to those in
need.
Mrs. Semmes was born in Sa
vannah July 10, 1868, the daugh
ter of the late Capt. John Flan
nery and Mary Ellen Norton
Flannery.
On April 30, 1891, she was
married to Raphael T. Semmes
of Canton, Miss., who was a cou
sin and namesake of Admiral
Raphael Thomas Seemes of
War Between the States fame.
They lived in Atlanta for sev
eral years after their marriage,
returning to Savannah in 1894
when her husband founded the
wholesale hardware firm,
Semme Hardware Co., which is
still in operation although Mr.
Semmes died September 4, 1916.
Mrs. Semmes was a devout
member of the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist and was very
active in church and charitable
work, doing much good of which
no one knew but she and the re
cipient.
Mrs. Semmes was a member
of the Missionary Society, the
Catholic Lyamen’s Assn, of
Georgia, Daughters of the Con
federacy, the Georgia Historical
Society, Telfair Art Academy
and many other organizations.
(N.C.W.C. News Service)
WASHINGTON — An Italian-
born Archbishop who is a vet
eran of the Chinese missions
said here that U. S. recognition
of Red China might endanger
Formosa, South Korea, southern
Indochina and the Philippines.
Archbishop Petronius Lac
chio, O.F.M., of Changsha, in
the east-central Chinese pro
vince of Hunan, who was ex
pelled in 1952 after being im
prisoned by the Chinese com
munists, said recognition would
be a “disheartening blow” to the
large Chinese colonies in all
those countries. The people of
Formosa especially would be “in
very great danger, in danger for
their lives,” the Archbishop said
at a news conference here.
Archbishop Lacchio, who has
been working in the missions of
the Taipei archdiocese in For
mosa since his expulsion from
the mainland, visited here be
fore leaving for Rome.
Archbishop Lacchio had been
asked to comment on the re
cent meeting sponsored by the
National Council of Churches in
Cleveland at which Protestant
leaders went on record as favor
ing U. S. recognition of com
munist China. Stating that rec
ognition should be withheld
from governments which do not
really represent “the will of the
people,” he added:
“Almost nobody in China is
free to say what he thinks.
There is absolutely no freedom.”
Recognition, according to the
bearded Franciscan prelate,
would so weaken the morale of
the anticommunist forces in the
Far East that many countries
would then become easy prey to
Red infiltration and eventual
control. He mentioned in par
ticular the large Chinese colo
nies in Hong Kong, Singapore
and Malaya.
Archbishop Lacchio also said
there would be “great disap
pointment” among the free Chi
nese if the Nationalists with
drew from Quemoy and the oth
er offshore islands.
On the subject of the Peking
regime’s efforts to establish a
schismatic “Catholic” church,
the 57-year-old missioner said
that a total of 15 Chinese priests
have now been illegally “elect
ed” and probably eight have
been illegally, but validly, con
secrated. Fie recalled that both
the priests so consecrated and
the bishops consecrating them
a r e automatically excommuni
cated. But he said that because
of Red brainwashing techniques,
it is impossible at this time to
judge the “moral responsibility”
of those who have taken part in
the consecrations.
Archbishop Lacchio estimated
that there has been little change
in the Chinese Catholic popu
lation of some 3,500,000 of eight
years ago. He estimated that
perhaps five per cent of the
baptized Catholics are now par
ticipating in the services of the
schismatic body, and said that
all who do so are excommuni
cated.
Although the foreign mission-
' ers have been expelled — and
about 180 missionary priests and
over 300 Chinese priests have
been killed by the Reds or have
died in their jails — there are
still between 2,500 and 3,000
priests in China, the Archbishop
said. Most, he said, have no pub
lic contact with the faithful, and
many can offer Mass and ad
minister the sacraments only in
secret in the homes of individu
als.
Archbishop Lacchio said
American and other foreign
newsmen should be allowed to
go to Red China if they could
learn the facts. But he said that
under present conditions, there
is no access to the truth, and
thus it “would be very useful”
for foreign correspondents to go
to China.
Preservation Of Memory Of War
Dead Serves Interest Of Just
Peace, Pope John XXIII Says
People who have more money
than they know what to do with
are mighty short in some other
department.
VATICAN CITY, (Radio, NC)
— Preservation of the memory
of the war dead contributes to
a fraternal society among men
and serves the interests of a
just peace, His Holiness Pope
John XXIII said here.
The Pontiff addressed mem
bers of the British Common
wealth War Graves Commission
in a special audience. He told
them that, by their care of the
graves of the 45,000 British sol
diers fallen in Italy, they were
doing more than merely dis
charging a duty to the dead. He
said they were also preserving
the example and sacrifice of the
fallen in the minds of the living.
“Those who have faith want
to live in the company and in
timacy of their departed ones,”
the Pope declared. “This is not
out of futile nostalgia for the
past, or out of incapability of
facing up to the duties of the
future.
“On the contrary it is in this
that we enrich our thoughts and
actions with the spiritual and
human patrimony passed on to
us by previous generations, with
all the zeal inspired by the con
viction that we are continuing
their work, and above all in
spired by the Christian hope
that we will one day again see
the father or that husband who
DEC. 17TH
DEADLINE
Copy deadline for Ihe nexi
edition will be Wednesday
morning, December 17th.
This early deadline is nec
essary so that our Christmas
Edition will be delivered to
our subscribers' homes before
the Holiday.
J
Dedication Ceremonies
For Bainbridge Church
BAINBRIDGE DEDICATION
died at war . . .
“May your action develop
such spiritual values for which
religion revealed by God is the
supreme guarantee,” the Pope
added. “By so doing your work
will not be limited only to the
care of graves: you will contrib
ute effectively toward building
a more fraternal society among
men and you will serve the
cause, so dear to Us, of a just
peace.”
St. Joseph's Blessed
By Bishop McDonough
BAINBRIDGE — Approximately 350 persons witnessed the
Dedication of St. Joseph’s Church, Sunday afternoon, November
30th, at four o’clock in the afternoon. St. Joseph’s is a mission of
the parish' of St. Augustine’s, Thomasville.
Officiating at the Dedication Ceremonies and Celebrant of a
Low Pontifical Mass was the Most Reverend Thomas J. Mc
Donough, Auxiliary Bishop of southwest Georgia town have
Savannah. Assistants to the worshipped in what was once a
His Excellency The Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, D D., J.C.D., Auxiliary-Bishop of Sav
annah, is pictured as he blessed the exterior of St. Joseph’s Church, Bainbridge. Chaplains to
His Excellency are the Rev. Gerard McDonald, O.F.M., and the Rev. Hilary Deck, O.F.M.
This picture was taken prior to the Dedication Mass which was offered by His Excellency
Bishop McDonough.
Most Blessed
Sacrament CYC
Hears Talks
SAVANNAH — In conjunc
tion with National Education
Week talks were given to the
Blessed Sacrament C. Y. C. by
Mrs. William C. Broderick,
Adult advisor, Mary Harper
and Bill Lynch, Cultural co-
chairmen.
Youth appreciation was the
subject of Mrs. Broderick’s talk.
She told the group that too of
ten “people fail to realize that
fine teen-agers are just as ac
tive as delinquent ones, but
their good deeds seldom make
headlines.” Mary Harper, their
new Cultural co-chairman,
(Continued on Page 8)
Little Singers
Present Concert
VALDOSTA — The Little
Singers of Paris, directed by
Monsignor Maillet rendered an
unforgettable concert of sacred
music at St. John the Evangelist
Church in Valdosta.
The group concluded their
performance fittingly singing
the hymns for the Benediction
of the Blessed Sacrament. Their
great versatility was demon
strated in the ease with which
they handled both Gregorian
chant and work of popular Eu
ropean composers including ca
rols and motets in five lang
uages.
The group comprises boys be
tween twelve and fifteen years
of age and is now on a world
tour. They have sung on five
occasions for Pope Pius XII, as
well as for President Eisenhow
er. Recently they rendered the
music at the wedding of General
DeGualle’s daughter. While in
Valdosta they were the house
guests of St. John’s parishoners
who took them to their hearts
immediately.
Bishop were Rev. Gerard R. Mc
Donald, O. F. M., Pastor of St.
Augustine’s, and Fr. Hilary
Deck, O. F. M., formerly in
charge of the mission.
A few words of welcome were
delivered by Fr. Finian F. Ker-
win, O. F. M., presently in
charge of St. Joseph’s. The ser
mon was delivered by the Very
Reverend Celsus R. Wheeler,
O. F. M., Minister Provincial
of the Province of the Most Holy
Name of Jesus, Order of Friars
Minor. The Father Provincial
urged the people to be most
grateful to Almighty God for the
blessing of a new church.
Concluding remarks were de
livered by His Excellency Bishop
McDonough who praised the in
dividual faith of the parishoners
in spite of the inadequate church
facilities which had been theirs
up until this time.
The new church which has a
seating capacity of 170, is con
structed of a Norwegian wea
thered brick inside and out—and
the interior trim is chiefly that
of California redwood. The
statues were handcarved in
Italy; as well as the Corpus
over the altar. The new church
boasts sixteen beautiful stained-
lass windows. In addition to the
church there are sleeping quar
ters for the missionary Priest, a
kitchen, and a parish hall.
The architect’s were J. E.
Greiner and Associates of Al
bany, Georgia, and the general
contractors were the B. F. M.
Corporation of Bainbridge.
During the Mass a choir com
posed of Catholic men from the
nearby Bainbridge Air Base
sang; and following the Mass
a Bishop’s Reception was held
under the auspices of the Ladies
Altar Society in the new hall.
The entire Dedication Ceremony
was carried over radio station
WMGR with Father Garvins
narrating the Mass.
The new church fills a long
standing need. For almost fifty
years, the Catholics of this little
one-room school. The altar rail
accomodated only four individ
uals at a time and the little
church had a seating capacity of
only forty-five.
Clergy present included:
Monsignor Andrew McDonald
Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev.
Henry Madden, O. F. M., Pastor
of St. Mary’s, Americus, Rev.
Marvin LeFrois, Pastor of St.
Theresa’s, Albany, Rev. Thomas
Payne, Pastor of St. John’s Val
dosta, Rev. Gerard Morgan,
O. M. 1., Pastor of St. Paul’s,
Douglas, Rev. Sebastian Egan,
O. F. M. Rev. Linus Tigue,
O. F. M. Rev. Frederick Kireh-
ner, O. F. M.
Rev. Eugene Card, O. M. I.
Rev. Paul McCartm, O. M. I.
Rev. Wilbur Krieger, Chaplain
at Moody Field, Valdosta. Rev.
Gene Garvins, Chaplain at the
Naval Depot, Albany, Rev.
Roger McQuarie, Chaplain at
the Jacksonville Naval Base,
Rev. Finian Riley, O. F. M. Rev.
John O’Shea, tormeriy Pastor
of St. Augustine’s, Thomasville,
Rev. Aiien Foran, O. F. M.
Rev. Kevin Farrell, O. F. M.
Rjev. Norbert Sheron, M. Ss. T.
Rev. Joseph Kane, S. M. Brother
Antonine Masson. O. F. M. and
Brother Henry, M. Ss. T.
Oldest Cardinal
Dead At Age 92
SANTIAGO, Chile, (NC) —
The world’s oldest prince of the
Church died here (Dec 4) at the
age of 92.
His Eminence Jose Maria
Cardinal Caro Rodriguez, Arch
bishop of Santiago and Primate
of Chile, passed away barely a
month after attending the con
clave called to elect the succes
sor to Pope Pius XII, and the
coronation of His Holiness Pope
John XXIII.
People who have but little
knowledge are always willing to
spread it mighty thin.
BROADCAST DEDICATION—The dedication ceremonies of
St. Joseph’s Church, Bainbridge, were carried over Radio Sta
tion WMGR. Pictured here is the Rev. Finian F. Kerwin, O.F.M.,
who is in charge of St. Joseph’s.
Ember Days
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, Dec. 17, 19, and 20, are
Ember Days.
Making use of the indults for these days, the following
rules are in force:
All over 7 years of age must observe complete abstinence
from flesh meat on Ember Friday. Moreover, soup or gravy
made from meat may not be used.
Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember Day
Wednesday and Saturday. On those days meat and soup or
gravy made from meat may be taken only once a day as the
principal meal.
Everyone over 21 and under 59 years of age is also bound
to keep the law of fasting on the Ember Days. For then only
one full meal is allowed on these days. Two other meals, meat
less however but sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken
according to one’s need; but together they must not equal
another full meal.
Eating between meals is not permitted but liquids, in
cluding milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
When health or ability to work would be seriously affect
ed, the law does not oblige. In doubt about the obligation of
fast or abstinence, one’s parish priest or confessor should be
consulted.
Special acts of worship and of charity towards one’s
neighbor should be performed on these days, especially by
those who do not find it possible to live up to the strict law
of fast and abstinence.
From the Chancery in Savannah, the eighth day of De
cember in the year of Our Lord 1958.