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Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia Vol. 40, No. 2 MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1959 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year BISHOP AND BENEFACTORS OF NEW CLAXTQN CHURCH — Pictured above with His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough are Augustine J. Long, Jr., K.S.G. and other mem ber of the family of the late Augustine J. Long Sr. and Elizabeth Long, in whose memory the Church of St. Christopher, in Ciaxton, Ga., was erected. $2,500 Gift For KOIC Burse Fund Pope John XXIII Bulletin Series On Pope John The Bulletin is pleased to pre sent in installment form an au- thorative biography of His Holiness Pope John XXIII. Written by Zsolt Aradi, Mon signor James I. Tucek, and James C. O’Neil, this feature is must reading for all. The first installment will be found on Page 2. 8© Priests Held For Year ROME, (NC) — Eighty priests of the Shanghai diocese were “shut up” for more than a year by the Red regime so they could receive their “political re education,” it was reported here. SAVANNAH — Following the 9:00 o’clock mass on Sunday, June 14th, Bishop McDonough and Monsignor McDonald, Chaplain of Council 631, were breakfast guests of the K. of C. Councils in the Diocese of Sav annah at the DeSoto Hotel. In addition to the local Council, the hosts were the Macon Council, 925, Augusta Council, 67.7, the Columbus Council, 1919, the Brunswick Council 1939, the Al bany Council 3607, and the Warner Robins Council, 4371. During the breakfast, the Councils presented His Excel lency, Bishop McDonough, with a gift of $2,500 to start a K. of C. burse fund for the education of young men for the priesthood of the Diocese of Savannah. This gift represents the first of such annual presentations by the Knights of Columbus. Speaking in behalf of all of the Knights of Columbus of the Diocese of Savannah, local Grand Knight Julian Halligan congratulated Bishop McDon ough upon the inspirational leadership that he has given the Catholics of this area and ex pressed the hope that the Bishop would accept this gift as a token of esteem that the Knights of Columbus have for the priests of the Diocese. In his acceptance, His Excel lency, Bishop McDonough, ex plained briefly the plans for the opening of St. John Vianney Mi nor Seminary in the fall; he spoke of the enthusiastic re sponse he has received both from the laity and clergy to the opening of the seminary; he thanked. the Knights of Colum bus for their inspirational sup port of his program and ex pressed the hope that the lead ership of the Knights ox Col umbus throughout the Diocese in cooperating with the clergy would bring great blessings upon them. DCCW Board Meeting July 8 SAVANNAH—A meeting of the Savannah Diocesan Coun cil of Catholic Women Board of Directors will be held at the Moose Club, 533 Third Street, Macon Ga„ on Wed nesday, July 8th, at 12:30 p. m. All members are urged to make early reservations with Mrs. E. H. Buck, 373 Cotton Ave„ Macon, Ga. The Very Rev. John D. Toomey, M. A., S. T. L„ Spiritual Moderator of the Diocesan Council will attend this meeting, and Mrs. Nor man I. Boatwright, president, will preside. Mrs. Boatwright will present the highlights of the Leadership Institute, and Mrs. A. J. Seyden and Mrs. L. J. Ward will also speak briefly on the topics covered by the various workshops. —(Photo Savannah Morning News) BISHOP PRESENTED SEMINARY GIFT—His Excellency Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, receives a $2,500 check from the K. of C. Councils in the Diocese of Savannah, toward educating young men for the Priesthood in the Diocese. Shown at the presentation are, left to right: Phil Batastini, of the Columbus Council K. of C.; Nicholas Ken ney Jr., District Deputy; Julian Halligan, Grand Knight Savannah Council No. 631; Bishop Mc Donough; Monsignor Andrew J. McDonald, Chancellor; Raymond Ahles, Grand Knight of the Brunswick Council; and Jack Butler, Deputy Grand Knight of the Savannah Council. Ciaxton, St. Mary's Churches Blessed By Bishop McDonough Qlenmary Superior General At Ceremonies CLAXTON — On Sunday, June 14th, the Most Rev. Tho mas J. McDonough, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, officiated at the dedicatory rites at St. Christopher’s Church, Ciaxton, Georgia. The ceremonies took place at 5:00 p. m. After the dedication mass was celebrated by the Rev. William A. Tegler, who'is in charge of the church. The Very Rev. Clement F. Bor- chers, Superior General of the Glenmary Missioners, who staff St. Christopher’s delivered the sermon. His Excellency, Bishop . McDonough, also delivered a short talk after the Mass. Father Tegeler announced that the week of June 15th to June 20th would be “Open-House Week” at St. Christopher’s and extend ed an invitation to the peoples of Ciaxton. A program of spe cial interest to the community was presented each night from June 15th to 20th from 7 to 8 p. m. . *4 Dedication of the new St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Ciaxton, presents the occas ion for reviewing briefly, the history of the Catholic Church in this community in years gone by. St. Christopher’s is not the first Catholic Church to be built in Ciaxton, About fifty years ago, (according to. the most reli able date we can find), Clax- ton’s first Catholic Church was built. That was about 1909 or 1910. Claxton’s first Catholic Church was a brick structure. It was built on land that was do nated by a lady who lived in Glennville, Georgia. It was ded icated to Saints Peter and Paul. Even before plans were laid for building Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church Rev. Joseph D. Mitchell had been coming out from Savannah by train each week to offer Mass for the Catholics of the area. For sev eral years Sunday Mass was of fered in private homes. Later a chapel was set up in a business building, but that building burned down, so private homes were again used until the new church was built. Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church was used for only about 12 to 15 years. During that time several of the Catholic families moved away from Ciaxton, so that, sometime around 1924 the Ciaxton parish was abandoned. For eleven years the building stood vacant. It was finally sold in 1935 and was converted into a home. Today the building still stands as a monument-reminder that there were not enough priests in Georgia to keep the church alive once it was start ed in this area. In the meantime, in the year 1939, the late Father Wm. Howard Bishop founded the Society of Priests and Bro thers whose special purpose is to put priests in the priestless counties of the United States. He called his society the Home Missionei’s of America, popu larly known as the Glenmary Missioners. In the autum of 1944 the Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta in vited the Glenmary Missioners to take over a mission area of seven counties of no-priest land in Georgia. With Statesboro as its mission center. The only Catholic Church in the whole area was a frame chapel at Bay Branch. A small chapel in a six room bungalow was the place of worship in Statesboro. Five years later through the joint efforts of the Diocese of (Continued on Page 8) ST. MARY’S DEDICATION Bishop Thomas J. McDonough addresses congregation of Our Lady, Star of the Sea at ded ication rites, Sunday, June 21st. BISHOP THOMAS J. McDONOUGH is shown greeting a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church at St. Mary’s, Georgia, following dedication rites last Sunday. Fxpsssion At Brunswick BRUNSWICK—St. Francis Xavier school has announced plans for expansion for next term. The Rev. James M. Cum mings, S. M., announced re cently that additional property has been purchased for the school yard and that an addi tional teacher and class room will be added to the school. Sister Celeste Marie, C. S. J., principal said that next year the school will have a staff of nine teaehei's, six sisters and three lay teachers. She expects enroll ment to rise to about 400 up from this year’s peak of 370. Father Cummings also an nounced plans for the pui-chase of a third school bus at a cost of $6,000. The church has launched a June campaign to raise $13,121.- 60 to pay for the bus, equipping the new classroom at a cost of $1,500, and paying for Howe Street property purchased from Sam Gordon at a cost of $5,621.- 50. New Church For ‘Second Oldest City’ ST. MARY’S — At the small but rapidly growing historical town of St. Mary’s, the new Church of Our Lady Star of the sea was formally dedicated by His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, Auxiliary Bish op of Savannah, on Sunday, June 21st. The ceremonies be gan with the dedication by the Bishop and concluded with a Mass celebrated by the Rev. George Meiiuta, S.M.. pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Way cross, who serves Llie small congrega tion at St. Mary’s. The Rev. James M. Cummings, S.M., pas tor of St. Francis Xavier, Brunswick, spoke at the Mass. After the Mass Bishop McDon ough addressed the congregation and told them of his “intense desire to see a resident priest at St, Mary's.” He asked the peo ple to "pray fervently and con fidently for more priests and for 1 lit: success of the new pro arafory seminary of St. Joh » Vianney a. Savannah. “Alter the dedication refreshments were served at the St. Mary’s Women’s Club. The new church, designed by Thomas and Hutton, architects and engineers of Savannah, was built by the Thompson Con struction Company of Charles ton, S. C. The new church, erected in a beautiful natural setting of live oak trees cov ered with Spanish moss, is of cmderblock construction with an exterior finish of light tan brick. St. Mary’s new church seats 120 persons in specially designed open back pews. A large, attractive carved wood altar dominates the sanc tuary which is separated from the body of the church by a simple but artistically executed communion rail. Said Father Meiiuta. “The beautiful new ed ifice now stands as the long- deserved and much needed suit able and comfortable House of God and House of Prayer. No doubt this beautiful church will continue to edify and benefit not only the Catholics, but all the God-loving residents of St. Mary’s.” (Continued on Page 8) THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD Text of sermon delivered by the Very Rev, John D. Toomey at the silver Jubilee Mass of Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke, St. Mary's on the Hill, Augusta, May 19, 1959. "Let. cl man sn account us as the servants of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of Cod." 1 Cor. 4, 1. Mankind has always felt the need of a priesthood—of men, that is, who have the official charge to be mediators between God and humanity. These men were expected to consecrate themselves entirely to this task of mediation since this would be the very purpose of their lives. And they would offer to God public prayers and sacrifice on behalf of the people, for wise and pious men have always recognized the obligation of hu man society to offer to God pub lic and social worship. This fact of a priesthood is found in pagan religions with their strange chants and ritual. But especially was it true in the Jewish religion of the Old Testa ment which prefigured in defi nite terms the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Much could be said of the sac rifices of the Old Law and the ordinances which God gave to Moses concerning the worship of the Israelites. Aaron the high priest is note-worthy for in him the priesthood is recognized as a definite state of life separate from that of the layman. “Let them therefore be holy because I also am holy: The Lord who sanctifies them.” Lev. 21. But it is the mysteries and venerable priest and King. Melchisedech, who attracts our attention with his offerings of bread and wine. And thus St. Paul tells us that Jesus became a “high priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech.” Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came into the world to offer sacrifice. The sacrifice was His own Body for the sins of man kind. He is thus the eternal High Priest who offered Himself for our sins. But he did more than this in the three short years of His public life. Jesus said: "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Luke 7, 22. Christ with His divine vision foresaw the death lie would undergo—and his subsequent resurrection and ascension. He gathered 12 men around him— and gradually he trained them in the first seminary of the Christian era. He taught them first the law of charity—and then of poverty: “Love one another as I have loved you. Take with you neither scrip nor purse." And he prayed for them that they would have strength. “Behold I am sending you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Do not be afraid of them. For what you are to speak will be given you in that, hour.” Matt. 10, 16 ff. “He who receives you. re ceives me.” And, finally on the night be fore he died, Jesus offered the first Mass and performed the first part of his ordination cere mony, when he said “This is my body, this is my blood— DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." Luke 22, 19. And so the Catholic priest hood came into being, as Christ later completed the ordination of the apostles when he told them to forgive sins and to preach the gospel to every crea ture and baptize. NOW WHAT IS THE ES- SENCE OF THIS PRIEST HOOD—what are its qualities? What is the true meaning of vocation? To answer these ques tions, let us look further into the Epistle to the Hebrews: The priest, according to the magnificent definition given by St. Paul, is indeed a man “taken from among men. and ordained for men in the things that ap- partain to God.” Heb. 5. 1. And he goes on to say that “he is able to have compassion on the igno rant and erring, because he him self also is beset with weakness, and by reason thereof is obliged to offer for sins, as on behalf of (Continued on Page 8)