Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.