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i ■ DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION /■ Serving Georgia's Southern Counties OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n Of Georgia Vol. 39, No. 18 MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1959 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year ■ LEHTEH REGULATIONS My dear People: In accordance with the provisions of Canon Law, as modi fied through the use of special faculties granted by the Holy See, we herewith publish the regulations for the Lenten Season of 1959. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 11th, and ends at midnight on Holy Saturday, March 28th, 1959. I. THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE 1) The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat and of soup or gravy made from meat. A day may be one of complete abstinence, in which case no meat or soup or gravy made from meat may be taken; or a day may be one of partial abstinence, in which case meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be taken once that day at the principal meal. 2) Complete abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednes day and on all Fridays. 3) Partial abstinence is to be observed on the Ember Wednesday and Saturday which occur during the Lenten season on February 18th and February 21st. 4) Everyone over 7 years of age is bound to observe the law of abstinence. II. THE LAW OF FAST 1) The law of fast means that only one full rneal may be taken on that day. 2) Everyone over 21 and under 59 years of age is obliged to observe the law of fast. 3) AH weekdays of the Lenten season, including Holy Saturday, are days of fast. A dispensation is hereby granted from last and abstinence on the Feast of Saint Patrick. 4) Meat may be eaten by all at the full meal on all days during the Lenten season, except on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays. 5; The one full meal permitted on days of fast may be taken either at noon or in the evening, according to one’s choice or convenience. 6) In addition to the one full meal, two other light meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs; but together these two meals should not equal another full meal. No meat, or soup or gravy made from meat may be taken at these two meals by anyone who is bound by the law of fast. 7) Eating between meals is forbidden; but liquids, in cluding' milk and fruit juices, are allowed. 8) When one’s health or ability to work would be serious ly affected, the law of fast does not oblige. In cases of doubc, your parish priest or confessor should be consulted. We earnestly exhort all our people to attend daily Mass during the holy season of Lent; to receive often the Sacra ments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist; to attend the eve ning devotions in their parish churches; to contribute gen erously to works of religion and charity; to perform volun tary mortification especially in regard to alcoholic drinks and worldly amusements; to pray for peace and the intentions of our Holy Father, and to recite the family rosary daily with the members of your household. Imparting to you my blessing, I am, Devotedly yours in Christ, thomas j. McDonough Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah. Dedicate Blessed Sacrament Addition MORE THAN 300 RECEIVE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION SAVANNAH—More than 300 children and adults received the Sacrament of Confirmation dur ing the last week of January. His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, Auxili ary-Bishop Confirmed in t b e cities of Augusta and Macon. In Augusta, His Excellency confirmed at St. Joseph’s on Sunday, January 25th with 60 receiving the sacrament. On Monday evening, January 26th, approximately 20 were confirm ed at St. Patrick’s. In Macon, on January 27th and January 28th, His Excellency confirmed 175 at St. Joseph’s and approximately 60 at St Peter Calver’s. Early Returns Subscription Drive Continues On Parish Level SAVANNAH — Early returns indicate that the SAVANNAH BULLETIN subscription drive is rapidly gaining momentum. First returns were received in all churches of the diocese on Sunday, February 1st, when ser mons were devoted to the Cath olic Press, and subscription en velopes, distributed the proceed ing Sunday, were taken up. The drive to place the SAV ANNAH BULLETIN in every Catholic home in the Diocese of Savannah will continue throughout the month of Febru ary. Anyone who has not as yet returned his subscription is urg ed to send it to his local pastor, so that he will be able to make final returns to the Chancery Office. In pointing out the purposes of the SAVANNAH BULLETIN and the aim of the subscription drive, The Most Prov. Thomas J. McDonough, Auxiliary-Bishop said it is intended to reach every Catholic in the Diocese of Sav annah which comprises 88 counties, and make them aware of the problems which the Church faces here. His Excellency also expressed the conviction that the SAV ANNAH BULLETIN can make a substantial contribution in ac quainting the many Catholics who are moving into the Dio cese with The urgent needs of the institutions of the Diocese, and in familiarizing them with the names of the priests, par ishes and schools of the Dio cese. Bishop McDonough declared that the Diocesan newspaper oc cupies an important part in the parish life and work. “The SAVANNAH BULLETIN visits the homes of the Catholic fam ilies of the parish regularly Which the parish priest is un able to do. His Excellency expressed his confidence “that the SAVAN NAH BULLETIN will continue to improve as a valuable aid in the teaching apostolate of the Church in South Georgia.” Indicate That Drive Is Progressing Well Adds Eight Classrooms; Auditorium BISHOP INVESTS BROTHER AS MONSIGNOR—His Ex cellency Bishop Thomas J. McDonough is pictured as he invested his brother, the Rev. Martin J. McDonough of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as a Monsignor with the rank of domestic pre late. Looking on is the Very Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. McDonald, chancellor of the Diocese of Savannah. Msgr. McDonough is Diocesan Director of the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith in Philadelphia. The investiture took place in the private chapel at the Bishop’s residence.—(Savannah Morning News Photo by McDonald). SOLEMN BENEDICTION—This picture shows part of the cr owd estimated at more than 600 which attended the dedication ceremonies of the new addition to Most Blessed Sacrament Scho ol, Savannah. This photo was taken during Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, at which The Very Rev. Thomas A. Brennan, pastor, was celebrant.—(Photo by Andrew Bunn). Improvements For Villa Marie SAVANNAH — A series of renovations and improvements have been started at Camp Villa Marie, here. These changes will complete the renovation program begun last winter. They will make available ex panded facilities for athletics and infirmary care as well as more adequate bath house fa cilities in the girls’ area. A contract for the construc tion of two new bath houses in the girls’ area of the camp was awarded to Stelts’ Construction Company of Savannah. These two buildings will be construct ed of concrete block with an overhanging roof to blend with the existing cabins. Each will provide bath facilities for thirty girls. Completely lighted and equipped with hot water they will make camping a more pleasant experience for the chil dren. Each contains the most up- to-date shower and toilet facil ities. The buildings are com pletely screened to provide the maximum comfort in summer weather. New and expanded dock fa cilities are also being built. These will provide a greater area for fishing and crabbing as well as a more convenient access to the boating area. Renovation of an existing "Catholic Reading Is Obligation" WASHINGTON — “It is no longer a matter of choice for Catholics to read Catholic news papers, periodicals and maga zines: it is a matter of obliga tion.” Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste of Belleville, Illinois, episcopal chairman of the N.C.W.C. Press Department, stressed this obli gation in a statement saluting the annual observance of Cath- olic Press Month. Bishop Zuroweste continued: “Participation of the informed layman and woman in the work of the Catholic press is part of the very life and functioning of the Church. The changes con stantly taking place in this atomic age demand that the Catholic has knowledge of the Church’s teaching, awareness of it as the divine deposit of faith and understands the proper in terpretation of scientific dis coveries in the light of Catholic faith and morals. “The hours allowed for Mass on Sundays do not permit suf ficient time for the clergy to cover these subjects with ade quate arguments and explana tions. It is only by reading Catholic “papers and publica tions that one can hope to know the mind of the Church and be sufficiently instructed to follow with a safe conscience the law of God. The impact of the Church’s sacramental life will be lost unless one understands that the sacramental life pro vides for every condition of all its members in every age and crisis.” building into an infirmary and nurses’ home will provide the camp with badly needed infirm ary space. This building is more conveniently located than the old one and provides more pri vacy. Two new softball diamonds have been added. This will trip- pie the present athletic facilities of the camp. It is expected that all of these changes will be completed by the first week in, June so that the children attending Villa Ma rie this summer will be able to take advantage of an expanded and improved recreation pro gram. AT DEDICATION—The Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, auxiliary-bishop, is shown ad dressing those gathered for the dedication of the addition to the Most Blessed Sacrament School, Savannah. Shown left to right: The Very Rev. Thomas A. Brennan, pastor of The Most Blessed Sacrament parish; the Very Rev. Daniel J. Bourke, pastor of St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill, Augusta, Bishop McDonough, and the Very Rev. Bede Lightner, O.S.B., principal of Benedictine High School.—(Photo by Andrew Bunn). Saint Mary’s Purchases Land For Parochial Grade School AUGUSTA — Saint Mary’s on-the-Hill Parish has purchas ed a parcel of land for the loca tion of a parochial grade school and cafetorium according to an announcement by the Very Rev erend Daniel J. Bourke, V.F. The property involved is in the 1200 Block of Monte Sano Avenue and is now the site of Mount St. Joseph Academy. The Academy is conducted by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, with whom negotiations for the pur chase of the tract were conduct ed. The purchase price, including five buildings now occupying the site, was $41,450.00. Definite plans for the con struction of a new school have not as yet been formulated but Father Bourke said that the present need of the parish is a twelve classroom school. The architectural firm of Woodhurst and O’Brien has been appointed to submit plans for such a school. The Sisters of St. Joseph will build a new Provincial Convent adjacent to the future school and they will staff the new parish school. The need for a parish grade school to replace the existing buildings of the Academy has become a pressing necessity in Father the past few years, Bourke explained. “T h e facilities afforded by Mount St. Joseph Academy are entirely inadequate to the needs of the large number of children in our parish,” Father Bourke continued. “The physical con dition of the buildings make them totally undesirable for use as classrooms. The only practi cal solution was to purchase the land and replace the Academy with a complete and modern parish school. We have bought the land. The construction of the school is now our goal.” The property involved was known as the Bellevue Planta tion during Revolutionary Days. What is now the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was once owned by a niece of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of In dependence. For many years the Plantation was the center of so cial life in Augusta and tradi tion holds that both George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette visited the mansion on the Hill. The Congregation purchased the Plantation, then called the Chateau Le Vert, in 1916 and established Mount St. Joseph Academy. The first classes were opened that year with an initial enroll ment of seventy students. The Academy expanded rapidly and Club Seeks Increase In Members SAVANNAH — On Sunday, February 1st, at 4:00 p. m., Bish op Thomas J. McDonough, D.D., J.C.D., dedicated the additition to the Most Blessed Sacrament School at 44th Street and Chat ham Crescent. The new addition lies in back of the present church and school. The music was rendered by the childrens’ choir under the direction of Sis ter M. Agnese, R.S.M., with Mrs. S. E. Belliveau at the organ. The Very Reverend Thomas A. Brennan, Pastor, assisted in the dedication and presented Bishop McDonough, who ad dressed the parishioners and guests in the auditorium-gym. Solemn Benediction followed in the auditorium-gym with the Very Rev. Thomas A. Brennan, Pastor, the celebrant. The Mas ter of Ceremonies was the Very Reverend Monsignor Andrew J. McDonald, Chancellor. Deacon was Monsignor Thomas I. Shee han of Macon; Sub-deacon, Rev. W. V. Coleman of Blessed Sac rament. Tiie Rev. Edward R. Frank had charge of the altar boys. The Fourth Degree As sembly Knights of Columbus as sisted in the program. Increased enrollment at the parochial school made the eight- classroom and auditorium ad dition necessary, Father Thomas A. Brennan, pastor, said. The school now has 15 grades and next year a 16th would be add ed. The pastor lauded the archi tects and contractors for the excellence of their work and thanked Bishop McDonough whose approval gave the green light to the building project. The Bishop said the pastor was the “whole mind and inspi ration” behind the school build ing project. Bishop McDonough described the new building as “a dream come true” and said it marked the fulfilment of a hope that had existed in the minds of the pastor and people of the parish for many years. immediately afterwards a so cial was enjoyed by all, fur nished by The Home and School Association. The Clergy had supper at 6:00 p. m. in the Sis ters’ Lounge. One is impressed by the eight classrooms, the auditorium- gymnasium, the stage, stainless SAVANNAPI —■ The Catholic Adult Club of Savannah is seek ing to increase its membership. It is an organization to enable steel, the kitchen, the Sisters’ any unmarried high school grad- and Lay Teachers’ lounge, the uate to fo?rn Catholic friend- Principal’s office, the Library ships and to lead a well-balane- and the Priest’s study, ed life under Catholic auspices. The edifice is heated by natu- Therefore, it is an aid to per- ral gas and is entirely air-con- sonal satisfaction. ditioned. The floors are all ter- The club has its business razzo. meetings the 1st and 3rd Thurs- The architects are Messrs, days of each month at 8 o’clock Cletus W. and William Bergen, at the CYPA Building, Charlton assisted by Mr. Vernon H. Now- at Abercorn. Each Friday at 7 ell; the contractor, Rives E. the club has rosary and Sacred Worrell Company, Incorporated, Heart devotions at the Cathe- was assisted by many subcon- dral Chapel. A corporate Com- tractors. It took nearly a year to munion is held monthly. Other erect the building at a cost of activities include weekly danc- one-half million dollars. The es and occasional charitable pro jects. All young Catholic adults are cordially invited to join this ex cellent organization. children have occupied the building since October 13th. The two First, two Second, two Seventh and one Eighth grades are housed in the new addition. The new gymnasium is one of the finest and up to date additional buildings were added in ^ city The ediflce is a periodically. Until the erection credit to the C]ty of Savannah.. of Aquinas High School m 1957, The Most Blessed Sacrament the Academy served as the only Parish and the Diocese of Sav _ Catholic educational institution annah . There ^ nine sisters in St. Mar> s Farish. and s ^ x j ay teachers at Most At present Mount St. Joseph Blessed Sacrament School. The Academy comprises a total of entire building is landscaped six buildings and has an enroll- and presents a beautiful addi- ment of 380 students in its tion to south Savannah, and grade school. Blessed Sacrament Parish.