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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia Vol. 39, No. 24 i CATHET>nWL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST — A renovation campaign .will be .under taken beginning May 3rd to redecorate and repair the historical structure. Begun in 1873, it was completed in 1894. Destroyed by fire in 1898, this well known Savannah landmark was rebuilt within the framework of the original structure.—(Andrew Bunn Aerial Photo). Camp Villa Marie Offers Three Recreation Sessions SAVANNAH—With summer around the corner Camp Villa Marie is receiving the finishing touches of its second year of renovation and. redecoration. Again this year the Camp will provide five regular sessions and. facilities for the laymen’s re treat. All of the camp program will be under the supervision of the Reverend William Coleman. Assisting Father Coleman will be members of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of the Balti more Province, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, various seminar- (See Photo Page 8) ians and other specialists in various areas of camp work. A Staff of forty is planned for the summer. This will provide a ratio of one staff member to every three children, a highly desirable situation. Medical care is under the su pervision of the camp physician and the director of nursing edu cation of Saint Joseph’s Hos pital. Two nurses are resident at the camp. The camp kitchen is inspected and approved by the Chatham County Board of Health. Swimming instructions are given with the help and approval of the Savannah Chap ter of the American Red Cross. Registration Blanks may be obtained by writting to The Reverend Director, Camp Villa Marie, P. O. Box 1560, Savan nah, Georgia. This winter has seen the ad dition of two new bath houses in the girl’s area. These build ings are equipped with hot and cold water as well as electrically cooled drinking water. Two of the older buildings on the prop erty have been renovated to provide an additional recreation hall and a new infirmary and nurse’s quarters. New dock facilities and two new ball diamonds have also been added this year. The program of the camp will include, boating, fishing crab bing, air riflery, swimming in the newly filtered pool, Red Cross swimming instructions, arts and crafts, baseball, all sports, dramatics, singing, mov ing pictures and other forms of supervised recreation. Each day children are given the opportun ity to attend Mass which is said on the camp grounds. Registration for the religious education sessions for children not able to attend Catholic MACON—M aeon Catholics have launched a drive to raise a minimum of $150,000 to be used for a new Catholic High School here. The $150,000 will be used to construct an addition to what is now Mt. de Sales Academy. The new facility will be merged with existing ones into what will be known as the new de Sales Pligh School. Any funds raised over the $150,00 minimum will go to ward construction of a gymna- torium, combination gymnasium and auditorium. The seven-week fund cam paign will continue through May 22, with all wage earners in the Macon Catholic Commun ity urged to donate generously. The new building, to be loca ted back of Mt. de Sales Aca demy will consist of three home room classrooms, biology labora tory, study hall and offices for a priest who will direct the new high school and for a coach. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas I. Sheehan, rector, announced plans for the drive at all masses at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, schools has already been com pleted. Dates for the three recreation sessions are as follows: July 19th to July 25th; July 26th to August 1st; August 2nd to August 8th. Any child between the ages of six and seventeen may attend the camp for one or more weeks. Children staying for more than one week may re main in the camp over the week end. recently. Present plans call for fresh men boys to enroll at the new co-ed high school this Septem ber, sophomores next year, juniors in 1961 with the new school in full operation by 1962. Men of the parish have been recruited into teams of twos as campaign workers for the drive. Workers meet each Wednesday night at the church’s social hall. Holst Beall, Sr., is general chairman for the fund-raising campaign, with Val Sheridan serving as associate chairman. Other leaders in the drive in clude Chris Sheridan, chairman of memorial gifts, with William O’Shaughnessey a s associate; Dr. James Cassidy, chairman of friends committee, with Joe Genone as associate; John Sha- heen, business manager, with Clem Dennis as associate; Ro bert McCrary, completion chair man, with Joseph McGoldrick as associate. The fund campaign has been approved and has the blessings j of the Most, Rev. Thomas J. Me- j Donough. auxiliary bishop of i the Savannah Diocese. 'U At Mac on $150,000 Annex For de Sales High MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1959 OPENS SUNDAY Fund Drive For Restoration Of Cathedral Sets $225,000 Goal PROJECT CALLS FOR MANY IMPROVEMENTS SAVANNAH — A fund drive for tile Cathedral of St. John the Baptist has been announced by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara, rector of the Ca thedral. The purpose of the campaign is to renovate and redecorate the 86-year-old edifice, the mo ther church of the Catholic Dio cese of Savannah. The total es timated cost of the project has been set at $225,000. It is hoped that this amount can be raised through the efforts of a concen trated drive within the Cathed ral Palish and from the many friends of the Cathedral within the city and county. “The Cathedral is a Savannah landmark and a symbol of the charm and distinctive character that is Old Savannah, and the aim of our renovation program is to preserve and enhance this beauty,’’ Msgr. McNamara ex plained. “The ravages of time and weather have effected much of the original perfection of both the exterior and in terior of the Cathedral, making our restoration project an im mediate and vital need.” The Rector revealed that Mr. William Murphy has accepted the position of Honorary Lay Chairman. Mr. Daniel J. Shee han will be General Chairman. Under the direction of Mr. Sheehan a committee of 200 men of the community will be organized to carry the appeal to the parish. The drive will open officially on Sunday, May 3, with a meet ing of the committee members to be held at the Cathedral. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough, D.D., J.C.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Sav annah, will be guest speaker. Every member of the Cathe dral parish, as well as interest ed friends will be solicited for their pledges to this cause. Msgr. McNamara observed that this was to be no casual appeal for funds. “This is by far the most am bitious project we have planned since the Cathedral was built more than three quarters of a century ago. However it is a job which must be done, and it is our responsibility, without ex ception, to do. It will mean sacrifice above and beyond what we have ever been asked to do before, but I know that our people and our friends will respond generously and enthus- iatically.” Contributions and pledges to the campaign can be paid over a 20-month period, enabling all to make a gift a part of their family budget. Among the major improve ments which are planned is the complete repair of all exterior walls. Also, the foundations un der the steeples must be sta bilized and the roof will be re newed. The interior walls will be cleaned and painted and the murals and stained glass win dows restored. A new heating radiation and lighting system will be installed. Msgr. McNamara emphasized that the original architecture and decorative theme of the Ca thedral will be maintained throughout the entire renova tion process. INVESTITURE CEREMONIES MAY 12th SAVANNAH — Investiture ceremonies for five Diocesan Monsignors will be held in the Cathedral of St. John the Bap tist at 8:00 p. m. May 12th. Be fore the investiture ceremon ies the Prelates, recently honor ed by Pope John XXIII will be feted at a clergy dinner ten dered by Bishop Thomas J. Mc Donough. The ceremonies investing the Rt. Rev. T. James McNamara as Protonotary Apostolic, and the Rt. Revs. Andrew J. McDonald, Thomas A. Brennan, Herman J. Deimel and Daniel J. Bourke as Domestic Prelates will be conducted by Bishop McDon ough assisted by Very Rev. John Toomey and Rev. Barthol omew Kedhane, S.M.A., as Chaplains. The Rev. Felix Don nelly, Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Church will be the speak er. Rev. John Cuddy, Rev. Her bert Wellmeier and Rev. Robert Teoli will be in charge of cere- PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS O God, hear our prayer and let our cry come unto Thee. Bless our Diocese of Sav annah with many priestly vocations. Give the young men You call, the light to understand Your gift and the love to follow always in the foot steps of Your Priestly Son. —-Indulgence of seven years Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us. St. John Vianney, pray for us. Imprimatur: -(-Thomas J. McDonough MISSION AT STATESBORO STATESBORO — Father Frank Chapman, a Redemptor- ist Missionary, will preach an eight day mission at St. Mat thew’s Church in Statesboro. The dates for this mission are from Sunday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 10th. A mission is an important time for a spe cial spiritual renewal for the souls of those present. During the eight days of the mission, Father Chapman will preach at all the scheduled Masses, both Sundays and week days. Then each night at 8 p.m. Father Chapman will conduct the special program of prayer and preaching which will serve to revive and strengthen the faith of the congregation. Father Chapman was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. and ordained as a Redemptorist Missionary in 1930. He served as a parish priest in Annapolis, Md. and then in the West Indies. He then took post-graduate studies at the Catholic University of America. From 1935 to 1948 he was a missionary priest in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Since 1948 he has been assigned to a mis sion house in Charlotte, N. C. monies. Following the investiture there will be a brief informal reception for the five Prelates in the auditorium of the Ca thedral Day School. The public is invited to attend. Rev. Mr. W. L. To Re Ordained SAVANNAH—The Rev. Wal ter Louis DiFrancesco will be ordained to the Priesthood on Rev. Mr. Waller L. Di Francesco May 16th. A native of Philadel phia, Rev. Mr. DiFrancesco will be ordained for the Diocese of Savannah. He is the son of Emma V. and the late Fiorindo DiFrancesco of 1608 S. Fraizier Street, Phila delphia. After graduating from Philadelphia Catholic schools, Rev. Mr. DiFrancesco attended St. Thomas Minor Seminary at Bloomfield Connecticut and St. Mary’s Seminary, Paca Street, Baltimore, where he studied Philosophy. He pursued his Theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary, Roland Park, Md. The Ordination will take place on May 16th at St. Col- man’s Church, Ardmore, Penna, with the Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah as Ordaining Pre late. The new Priest will offer his first Solemn Mass the following day at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Philadel phia. Assisting him will be Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. Daly, Pastor of Blessed Sacrament as Assis tant Priest; Rev. James J. Kin ney, professor at St. Thomas More High School as Deacon; and Rev. Joseph A. Law S. S., Professor at St. Mary’s Paca Di Francesco For Diocese Street, Sub-deacon. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Martin J. McDonough, Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be the Preacher for the first Solemn Mass. Rev. Mr. E. Perot Fiero To Be Ordained SAVANNAH—The Rev. Mr. E. Perot Fiero, son of Erwin Agnew and Margaret Morris Rev. Mr. E. Perot Fiero Fiero of Ardmore, Penna., will be ordained to the Sacred Priest hood by the Rev. Thomas J. Mc Donough, D. D., J. C. D., Auxili ary Bishop of Savannah on Sat urday, May 16th, at 9:30 A. M„ in St. Colman’s Church, Ard more. Sponsor for the newly or dained will be Rt. Rev. Msgr. Eugene A. Kelly, Pastor of St. Colman’s. The Rev. William F. McDonough, Assistant Pastor will be Master of Ceremonies and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. McDonald, Chancellor of the Savannah Diocese will be Chap lain to the Bishop. Rev. Mr. Fiero will celebrate his First Solemn Mass in St. Colman’s Church at 11 o’clock the next day, Pentecost Sunday. The officers of the Mass include; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Eugene A. Kelly as Assistant Priest; Rev. Wil liam F. McDonough, Assistant Pastor as Deacon; Rev. William B. Friend of the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, Sub-deacon, and Rev. Francis X. Monville, Assistant Pastor of St. Colman’s, Master of Ceremonies. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. O'Donnell, Pas tor of St. Peter’s Church, Read ing, Penna., will preach the sermon. Rev. Mr. Fiero attended Phil adelphia area schools for his primary and secondary educa tion. In 1942 he entered the Naval R. O. T. C. Program at the University of North Caro lina. After service in African and European waters he was dis charged in 1945, resuming stud ies at North Carolina from which he received his A. B.. in History in 1949. He pursued his Philosophical and Theological studies at Mt. St. Mary's Semi nary, Emmitsburg, Md. Speed was blamed for more than 40 per cent of the traffic deaths and injuries in the U. S. during 1958. PROPOSED MT. DE SALES ADDITIONS — Building in r ight foreground is three-classroom building for which the $150,000 will be raised; building, left foreground, is the gymnatorium, which will be built if more than the minimum is raised. Building in center is Mercy Hall, where Catholic girls now attend high school and building in right background is Mt. de Sales Academy. New high school will oe de Sales High School, dropping the Mount . . .