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6 < t DIOCESE OF Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties SAVANNAH EDITION ♦ OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia Vol 40, No. 9 MONROE. GEORGIA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1959 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year DEVELOPMENT AND NEEDS OF CHURCH IN DIOCESE TOPIC Parish Clergy of Diocese Convene in Savannah 3 Deaneries Pledge Full Cooperation The Right Reverend Monsig nor T. James McNamara, P.A., V.F., Pastor of St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Dean of the Savannah Deanery: We, the priests and the de voted laity of the Savannah Deanery pledge to our Most Reverend Bishop our faithful support and unstinting eoopera-. tion in the Confraternity of the Laity drive. The spiritual and temporal progress of the Dio cese bear eloquent testimony of the willingness of our people to paritcipate in this highly im portant program calculated to bring our faith into every area of South Georgia. We ask God’s blessings upon this program and beg Mary, His Immaculate Mother, to intercede in our be half. With the help of all we are highly optimistic that the Sav annah Deanery will oversub scribe its goal. The Right Reverend Monsig nor Daniel J. Bourke, V.F., Pas tor of Saini Mary's Church and Dean of the Augusta Deanery: The spread of the holy faith in the Diocese of Savannah has assumed tremendous propor tions which in turn will require many sacrifices from all of us. These sacrifices must be made generously. We in the Augusta Deanery pledge our Bishop our full support in the Confra ternity of the Laity Drive. Through the Confraternity of the Laity campaign we will, please God, be able to meet new horizons in our Diocese. All of us pray most fervently for its success. The Right Reverend Monsig nor Herman J. Deimel, V.F., Pastor of Holy Family Church and Dean of the Columbus Deanery: Our Catholic growth in the Columbus Deanery is continu ing rapidly. With this growth we have been expanding our church and school facilities. All of this expansion program is adequate proof of the great need for the organization of the Confraternity of the Laity drive BISHOP CALLS FOR ACTIVE CONFRATERNITY OF LAITY SAVANNAH — A clergy Conference convoked by His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, brought scores of Secular and Religious clergy from every parish and mis sion in the Diocese to the See city of Savannah on Tuesday, September 22. The Conference was called to discuss the present and future needs of the Diocese and to consider future Diocesan De velopment. Bishop McDonough called upon all the pastors to rejuve nate the Confraternity of the Laity in every Parish and Mis sion of the Diocese, pointing out that “Unless we make use of the willingness and Apostolic Zeal of our good lay people we cannot hope to strengthen our Holy Faith where it is already established and to implant it in other fertile fields of South Georgia, so ready to receive it.” He pointed out that in the past few years, many new Churches and Schools have been erected throughout the Diocese, some in places where there are few Catholics and which rely on the Diocese for at least partial support. Speak ing of the new Seminary of St. John Vianney, Bishop Mc Donough said, “Undoubtedly it will contribute, far more than any other single factor, to a more rapid growth of native clergy. Studies made in other parts of the country show that in Dioceses which have their own Minor Seminaries, native vocations are three times more numerous than in Dioceses which do not have such Semi naries.” “It is my ardent and prayer ful hope that within a very few years we will be able to build a Seminary worthy of this great Diocese, which will educate our Seminarians from the first year of high school through the sec ond year of their Philosophical studies.” Other pressing needs of the Diocese were outlined, such as adequate care of orphans and dependent children of the Dio cese, more mission churches and financing of the Savannah Bulletin. "FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED-FREELY GIVE." Funds for the present needs of the Diocese and its future development will be raised by an annual drive for cash dona tions. “Our people are contin ually being asked to contribute to many and varied worthy causes and I am deeply aware of this. But I know, too, that our people are deeply aware of the many benefits which they have received through the gen erosity of their fellow Catholics from many, many Dioceses throughout the country. And I am confident that they need ★ ★ only be reminded of the Di vinely inspired words of Sacred Scripture, “Freely you have re ceived, freely give” and they will respond in the spirit of true, Christ-like sacrifice, which we ask of them.” In the course of the drive which will take place on Sun day, October i 8th, every wage earner in the Diocese will be asked to contribute at least twenty dollars, it was an nounced. “Those who have been bless ed with more of this world’s goods than the average wage- earner should be asked to give more,” said Bishop McDonough, “and I know that their gener osity will not be overshadowed by the sacrifice of those with less.” Commenting on the closing of Mission Churches in Georgia in past years, the Very Rev. John Toomey, pastor of St. James Church, Savannah said, “In returning to Savannah from the priest’s retreat at Gonyers, I drove 254 miles without once passing through a town with a resident priest. “But I passed through Green ville (now in the Diocese of Atlanta) where there used to be a Church. It was sold years ago. Then I passed through the little town of Sardis. This, too, is a town where once there was a Catholic Church. It is a town which produced two vocations to the Priesthood in the Society of Jesus. Today there is no Church, only a plot of land and a cemetery.” The three Deans of the Dio cese, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara, P. A., of the Savannah Deanery; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Herman Deimel of the Columbus Deanery; and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel Bourke of the Augusta Deanery pledged to the Bishop the wholehearted support of the priests and peo ple of their deaneries. Said Monsignor Andrew J. McDonald, Chancellor, in an interview after the conference, “We know that this drive will certainly be a success. We know, and our people know, that the precious gift of Faith was not given us to keep but to spread. Our people also know that if the Faith is to spread in South Georgia, then the goals of the 1959 Confraternity of the Laity Drive must be achieved. And I am sure every Catholic in our Diocese will have just one motto during this Drive, “I must, I can and I will.” AT SAVANNAH MEETING — His Excellency, Bishop McDonough, addresses Priests and Seminarians after Clergy Conference held in Savannah. 222 East Harris Street Savannah, Georgia Dearly beloved, in Christ: Please permit me to speak intimately with you about the Diocese of Savannah — the present growth and the anticipated growth. Although we represent one of the smallest Dioceses in the United States, we are nevertheless blessed with Catholics who are militant in the practice of their faith and most responsive in their obligations to Holy Mother Church. Because of such spiritual dedication we are fortunate in having an inspiring sense of solidarity which exists not only in every parish and mission but throughout our total area of 37,000 square miles. Since we are so small in numbers and so scattered in area, we are obliged to make many sacrifices for the expansion of our faith in this portion of God’s vineyard. Such charity for the love of our faith and the building up of God’s House will not go unrewarded but will be blessed a thousandfold. In order to meet the financial obligations of our Diocese and to carry forward the various programs, it has become imperative to reinaugurate the Bishop’s Confraternity of the Laity. This Confraternity is composed of every Catholic in the Diocese of Savannah who will be requested annually, during the month of October, to make a financial contribution to support the many worthy projects in South Georgia. Many of you may feel that your financial contributions should be limited to your own parish. But you and I know that charity is the very lifeblood of our faith and extends to all who need God’s help. The attached brochure will point out to you the purpose of this year’s collection. All of these causes are most deserving — all of them worthy of every sacrifice conceivable. Your good pastor, who is my personal representative, will convey to you more fully the workings of the Confraternity of the Laity. We anticipate that your parish will respond to this apepal one hundred per cent. Our Divine Savior has. blessed our Diocese with new parishes; new churches and new schools. Perhaps the crowning achievement has been the opening of St. John Vianney Minor Seminary which was received with much enthusiasm by our faithful priests and devoted laity. This work represents the Confraternity of the Laity in action. With ail of our priests and all of our good people working together, I am confident that the Confraternity of the Laity drive will be an overwhelming success. Asking your prayers during the campaign and assuring you of a continued remembrance in my Masses and prayers, I am, Devotedly yours in Christ, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah in the Diocese of Savannah. We assure our Bishop that the Col umbus Deanery will respond in great measure. All of the needs mentioned are most worthy and we pray that God will shower His choicest blessings upon our endeavors. J '£ v~AVit>»*«.■ ‘p *, ■ 4 . . ^ > ’ < s - « v‘ /•>/<' Y «•”’ f ..<■*< i,'v ' ■- . - IPIgi ,;V * ^ & ** iS£ESisilThi AS CLERGY GATHERED AT SAVANNAH GOAL OF THE CONFRATERNITY DRIVE As outlined in Drive Brochure by His Excellency the Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, D. D. J. C. D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese. 1. Si. John Vianney Minor Seminary and the education of young men for the Sacred Priesthood. With the opening of St. John Vianney Seminary it has become quite obvious that there is a concerted effort in our Diocese to obtain native vocations to the Sacred Priesthood. In great measure we count heavily upon the prayers of our people begging God to send many more laborers into the harvest of this Diocese. The new seminary and the education of young men to the Priesthood re quire a large outlay of money. It is conservatively estimated that, in addition to the annual collection taken up for seminaries, we will need an additional $25,000. What greater cause could be placed before you than the education of young men for the Sacred Priest hood? 2. The orphans and dependeni children of the Diocese of Savannah. During the past five years we have been faced with a deficit in providing facilities for the orphans and dependent children of this Diocese. These are Christ’s own children. We need at least $15,000 additional each year over and above the usual Easter and Christmas collections to take care of these children. Remember what our Divine Master said: “Suffer the little ones to come unto Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” These children look to you and to me for help. 3. The Bulletin: Our Diocese is most fortunate in being able to publish a Cath olic newspaper, which is sent into every Catholic home. Through the medium of this Catholic newspaper we are able to keep our people up to date on matters pertaining to our holy faith and the progress of the Church throughout the world. A Catholic news paper is a source of great strength in every Diocese. Unfortunately, however, we lace a deficit each year in the amount of $10,000. Be cause of our small numbers we are unable to gather enough funds from our subscriptions and advertisements. The Catholic press is the voice of the Bishop and the priests in our Diocese. We do not want to silence our paper. In fact, we would like to present new features and make it even more attractive and more interesting. 4. The Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist—the Mother Church in the Diocese of Savannah: Our Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most imposing church structures south of Baltimore. The charity of our people in the past is reflected in this monument which they raised to God in honor of His Holy Name. Recently we have discovered that much deterioration has taken place in the Cathedral structure. The peo ple of the Cathedral Parish have already contributed generously to a successful campaign to help with the restoration and renovation of the Cathedral. Alone, however, the people of the Cathedral Parish cannot assume the whole responsibility. The Cathedral Church belongs to every parish in the Diocese. It was originally our plan to conduct a large financial campaign throughout South Geor gia. However, I would prefer now that your contributions to the restoration and renovation of the Cathedral be made through the annual Confraternity of the Laity campaign. To help our Ca thedral we would like to designate $30,000 a year for the next five years. This is only a small amount to protect the large spiritual and material investment of the Cathedral Church, a landmark of our Catholic faith and Catholic heritage in the Southland. 5. Mission Churches: Every year we are called upon to secure funds for the con struction of mission churches in certain areas ot this Diocese. Our people again have been most generous but, to assure some sort of continuity in this matter, it is suggested that we set aside out of the Confraternity $10,000 per annum towards construction of mission chapels. Wherever a mission chapel is established we know that the. Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered and God will come to the people in all His sacraments. 6. Contingency Fund: From time to time it becomes necessary for the Diocese to help many of our mission parishes with minor repairs, the purchase of automobiles, payment of insurance and many other things involv ed in the administration of parishes. Likewise in the setting up of new missions we must buy property. These missions look to the Diocese and the Bishop for financial help. We in turn beg your charity. It is estimated that this Contingency Fund should be $25,000 per year. ☆ ☆ ☆ Mechanical Operation of the Confraternity of the Laity Drive: The Confraternity of the Laity Drive will be announced in all the churches of the Diocese on Sundays, October 4th and 11th. These announcements will consist of acquainting our people more intimately with the needs contained in this brochure. At the same time the parish priests will organize teams of workers and instruct them in the method of making door to door solicitations of our Catholics. The actual campaign for funds will be held October 18th. Every Catholic parishioner in every parish of the Diocese is re quested to remain at home on Sunday, October 18th, during the hours of 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. On Sunday, October 25th, the follow-up will be made in an endeavor to secure the contributions of those Catholics who could not be contacted on Sunday, October 18th. This campaign can be carried on effectively if everyone works in cooperation with the pastor. Donations made to the Confraternity of the Laity are to he on a cash basis. This will eliminate constant and repetitious an nouncements from the pulpit. In other words, this appeal will be made annually during the month of October. Usually people ask what they are expected to contribute. Again, we refer to the word “sacrifice.” We are requesting a minimum cash contribution of $20.00 per wage earner. Of course, we expect that many of our Catholics will give much larger contributions because God has given so much to them. ememoer that d^acrij^ice id the oCi^eLlood oi the Cdhurch ★ ★ ★