Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6—THE BULLETIN, October 31, 1959
Macon Sisters Enrolled
At Spanish-Speaking School
By GERTRUDE TRAWICK
(The Macon News)
MACON — Two sisters, ten
and twelve, whose mother could
speak five languages by the
time she was the age of the old
er daughter, are going to school
in Mexico this year in order to
learn Spanish.
The girls are Mary Benedetto
and her younger sister, Eliza
beth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Benedetto of 256 Vista
Circle.
They are fifth and seventh
grade students at the Academia
Ville de Matel at Gomez Pala-
cio, Durango, which their moth
er started attending when she
was six. Since she lived in Mexi
co until her marriage to a
Maconite, Spanish was her na
tive language; and she learned
four other languages, Czech,
English, French and German,
from tutors.
“I have been teaching Spanish
at the Macon Youth Museum for
a year and I realize that the
younger a child starts learning
a foreign language, the easier it
is,” said Mrs. Benedetto. “My
two daughters have been in a
class, but they can’t learn much
in one hour a week. And besides,
it is very difficult for a mother
to teach her own children.
“The very best way to learn a
language is to live in that coun
try. Mary and Euzabetn at
tend a school where only Span
ish is spoken, so when they
come home next summer they
should speak quite well.
“I hope that later on they will
be able to go to school a year in
Italy and a year in Germany
too.
When their mother went to
this same school in the northern
part of Mexico, it was a very
small convent with only 15 or
20 students.
“One of the young sisters who
was there when I was a pupil is
now the mother superior,’ said
Mrs. Benedetto.
“One of the things I most re
member about the school was a
parrot which belonged to the
nuns. The parrot could
say The Lord’s Prayer in Latin.
Some of the students, and I
have to admit I was one of them,
taught the parrot an improper
song, for which we were
punished.
“I also remember how pleas
antly creepy the sight of the Hill
of Crosses was form my bed
room window. The near-by hill
was the site of a battlefield, and
phosphorus from the bones of
men and horses would shine in
the dark.”
The Academia Villa de Matel,
started in 1906 by an American
nun, Mary Hord, has grown to
about 700 students, 35 of which
are boarding students from
countries other than Mexico.
The students wear white uni
forms, consisting of blouses and
pinafores, on every day except
Sundays, when maroon uniforms
are regulation.
Mrs. Benedetto hopes the
year in Mexico will develop a
love of languages in her daugh
ters. But right now Elizabeth is
most concerned about the pro
spect of horseback riding at the
school, which is situated in the
ranch country of Mexico, and
her 12-year-oid sister is inter
ested in the homemaking class
es which she will take in addi
tion to the basic subjects.
COLUMBUS -
(.Continued irom Page 1) ■
cally of the establishment of St.
John Vianney Minor Seminary.
He stated that it was one of the
major achievements in the Dio
cese of Savannah, however, he
added, many priests are needed
and he urged that parents en
courage the boys by good exam
ple and by continuing to pray
for vocations in Georgia.
The Vice-President appointed
Mrs. Frances Wyrosdick, Macon,
chairman of the Nominating
Committee and serving with her
will be Mrs. Dennis Thompson,
Columbus, and Mrs. Elmore
Thrash, Valdosta. The spring
meeting of the Columbus Dean
ery Council will be held in Al
bany.
Mrs. Joseph Pefferman was in
charge of arrangements for the
meeting, assisted by members
of the Americus Council.
Meeting
Cathedral
Home & School
SAVANNAH — The October
meeting of the Cathedral Home
and School Association was
held Friday evening, October
2nd, at the school cafetorium
with Superior Court Judge
Dunbar Harrison as the guest
speaker. Mr. Julian Halligan,
program chairman, introduced
Judge Harrison who spoke on
the problem of juvenile delin
quency. Members were told
that the most important natural
resource, the youth of our coun
try, must be preserved. Point
ing out that 47 per cent of all
national crime is committed by
youths under the age of 18,
Judge Harrison said we must
not only find a single cause for
delinquency, we must also find
a single solution.
The seventh grade students,
under the direction of Sister
Stanislaus, presented a play
with patriotism as the keynote
and Kathy Rochefort portraying
the Statue of Liberty. Several
songs were rendered by the
students, assisted by Mrs. Jos
eph Tegerson at the piano.
The Class Mothers for the
coming year were honored. Mrs.
Owen Porter, president, intro
duced these ladies and each was
presented a planter. The Ath
letic Association will meet on
Tuesday evening at the Rectory
Meeting Room and the fathers
were urged to attend.
The seventh grade won the
attendance prize with almost
100% of the parents present.
Msgr. T. James McNamara
expressed his appreciation to
Judge Harrison for his enlight
ening address. Msgr. McNamara
reported that Dr. Ellison Cook
was in the process forming a
committee of 12 men with the
purpose of sponsoring a Boy
Scout movement within the
school.
Catholic Womens
Club Appoints
Committees
SAVANNAH — The October
Meeting of the Catholic Wom
en’s Club was held Tuesday
night, October 13th, in the Club
Rooms.
Mrs. Kathryn Huggins, Pro
gram Chairman, introduced Col.
Wm. H. Kelly, the guest speak
er, who gave a very interesting
talk on the new Convalescent
Home for the Aged, which will
be located on LaRoche Avenue,
with facilities for 120 patients.
He gave the members an idea
of the plans and construction of
the work that has gone into the
preparation for the Chatham
County Convalescent Home.
Mrs. A. J. Schano, the Presi
dent, introduced Father Andrew
Doris, O. S. B., the Club’s new
Chaplain, who gave a very in
spiring talk in which he sug
gested that we take Christ with
us to the market place. Mrs. E.
L. Dean won the Membership
prize.
T h e following Committees
were appointed; Membership,
Mrs. George Ebberwin; Audit
ing', Mrs. Vincent Sharp, Mrs.
Joseph E. Kelly, Jr.; Program,
Mrs. Kathdyn Huggins; Public
Relations, Miss Margaret Mur-
den; Social Committee; Mrs.
Dorothy Asendorf, Chairman,
Mrs. Joseph E. Kelly, Jr. and
Mrs. Edna Dillon. Mrs. Schano
went over the Committee work
of the National Council of Ca
tholic Women and reminded the
ladies of the St. Mary’s Guild
Meeting to be held on Novem
ber 8th.
St teresA'S
ALTAR SOCIETY
ALBANY—St. Teresa’s Altar
Society met on Monday
night, October 5th in the
school auditorium with the
president, Mrs. Ken Lewis, pre
siding. Father Marvin LeFrois
opened the meeting with pray
er. Father LeFrois expressed
his sincere appreciation to the
members for their aid in mak
ing the recent barbecue a suc
cessful one.
The program for the evening
consisted of very interesting
discussions of Catholicism in
Spain and Portugal. Mrs. Ken
Lewis talked on St. Teresa of
Avila and Mrs. Ralph Kahler
discussed Fatima. Miss Bee Mc
Cormack presented additional
information on these subjects
and showed pictures obtained
during a visit there. She gave
many interesting historical facts
about Spain as well as her per
sonal impressions of the coun
try and the many varied reli
gious and social customs of its
peoples.
Following the program, re
freshments were served.
STUDY IN MEXICO — Twelve-year-old Mary Benedetto,
left and her sister, Elizabeth, 10, look over annuals of Academia
Villa de Matel at Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, where they
are now students, following in the footsteps of their mother, Mrs.
Joseph Benedetto, who studied at the convent when she was
growing up. (Drinnon Photo by Hank Griffin)
WARNER ROBINS
HOME & SCHOOL
MEETING
WARNER ROBINS — “A
Round Trip,” an educational
film concerning rheumatic
fever, was the program high
light of the Sarced Heart Home
and School Association meeting
October 13th. Mr. Ken Lehman,
Chairman of the Houston Coun
ty Heart Association, showed
the film and was, followed by
Dr. Dan Callahan who conduct
ed a question and answer pe-
roid about the film.
Sacred Heart will participate
again this year in the city
wide basketball program ac
cording to Peter O’Malley,
chairman of the Athletic Pro
gram, and uniforms for this pur
pose have been ordered. A girls’
team will also be sponsored.
Joan Dembrowski presented a
radio to the Home and School
Association on behalf of Scout
Troup 83 to be used as a prize
for the October 31st Halloween
Festival. The radio was a prize
won by these Scouts for the •
saving of Blue Horse Stationery
coupons.
Savannah Services
Charles E. Mell Sr.
SAVANNAH — Funeral serv
ices for Charles E. Mell Sr. were
held October 12th at the Ca
thedral of St. John the Baptist.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs.
Lillian Mell; five sons, Charles
E. Mell Jr., Malcolm Mell, Jos
eph Mell, Gerald Edward Mell,
Joseph Harold Mell and John
Elmo Mell; three sisters, Mrs.
Kate Frain, Mrs. Emmie Pos-
sehl, Mrs. Edna Creech, all of
Savannah; 13 grandchildren,
two great grandchildren and a
number of nieces and nephews.
Albany
PTA Meets
ALBANY — The r e g u.l a r
meeting of St. Teresa’s PTA
was held on Tuesday October
13th in the school auditorium.
The President, Mr. Ray Dwer-
nik, opened the meeting. Father
LeFrois began the meeting with
a prayer. The minutes of the
previous meeting were read and
approved. A financial report
was given by the treasurer. The
room count was taken and won
by the 6th grade.
Father LeFrois called atten
tion to the fine school lunch
program available for the chil
dren and encouraged more par
ticipation. Father thanked all
members for their fine coopera
tion and attendance at the
monthly PTA meeting.
The parents adjourned to the
various rooms with the teach
ers. There were group discus
sions and the teachers outlined
the work expected for each
grade and explained general
school and class policies. This
program was enjoyed by all the
parents and encourages closer
parent teacher relationship.
The November meeting of the
PTA will be held on Thursday,
November 12th. Refreshments
were served to all by the 1st
grade Room Mothers.
Our Lady's
Sodality fleets
At Aquinas
AUGUSTA — The Sodality of
Our Lady of Aquinas High
School held the first meeting
of the school year on October
4th. Rev. Ralph Seikel, Modera
tor, said the opening Mass at
which the Sodalists participated
by means of the Missa Recitata.
After Mass at a very impres
sive ceremony the following
officers were installed; Mary
Anderson, Prefect; Anne Smith,
Vice-prefect; Paige Mannelly,
Secretary.
Breakfast was served to the
Sodalists by Mrs. Walter Smith.
Reports from the summer school
of Catholic Action were made
by Mary Anderson, Anne Smith
and Paige Mannelly. These girls
attended the Camp held at Hen
dersonville, N. C. on part-
tuition scholarship provided by
the Sodality.
Attendance at the Summer
School of 1960 was chosen as
the main project of the school
year. Father Seikel gave a
stimulating talk on what is ex
pected of an Aquinas Sodalists.
He then closed the meeting
with prayer.
Meeting Of
St. Mary's Ladles
Auxiliary
AUGUSTA — The October
meeting of the St. Mary’s
Ladies Auxiliary was held on
Wednesday, October 14th in the
Parish Hall. Msgr. Daniel
Bourke opened with a prayer,
after which Mrs. Louis Battey,
President, welcomed the mem
bers.
Mrs. Stephen Mulherin, Ways
and Means Chairman, reminded
the ladies of the barbecue, spon
sored by the Auxiliary, and
held on Tuesday, October 24th,
and urged that returns be made
as soon as possible to Mrs. Al
bert Rice.
Mrs. E. V. Hastings, Chair
man of the “Parents for Decent
Literature” Committee, gave an
excellent report of the work be
ing done to remove from the
newsstands some of the most
objectionable publications that
fall into the hands of teenagers.
She reported that members of
the committee were cordially
received by one of the local
distributors, who promised to
be most cooperative. Under the
leadership of Mrs. Hastings and
her committee many P. T. A.’s
and other church groups have
joined the crusade. This com
mittee is also acting as a clear
ing home for the Loretta Young
film on this subject, making it
available to any interested
groups in this area.
Msgr. Bourke emphasized that
this fight for decent literature
is a never-ending battle, which
needs cooperation from all the
membership, and that the com
mittee, under its usually cheer
ful chairman, should not be dis
couraged.
Mrs. William Bush introduced
the Rev. Gerald Armstrong,
S.J., who spoke on “Vocations
to the Priesthood.”
AUGUSTA K. C. ACTIVITIES
FIRST FALL
MEETING AT
THOMASVILLE
THOMASVILLE — The first
fall meeting of the Altar So
ciety of St. Augustine Catholic
Church in Thomasville was held
recently at the Friary with Mrs.
Alvin Bacon presiding and an
opening prayer by the Rev. Fa
ther Gerard R. McDonald.
Plans were made for a Bake
Sale on November 7 and a Rum
mage Sale to be held Dec. 19.
Mrs. George Herring thanked
the members for their sewing
at the V. A. Domiciliary Center
and announced that the service
will be offered every other
week.
Mrs. Tommy Nimmer and
Mrs. Joseph Peeler served
light refreshments at the con
clusion of the meeting.
Meeting
Of Tifton
Altar Society
TIFTON — Plans for a parish
covered dish supper were made
at the meeting of the Altar So
ciety of Our Divine Savior Ca
tholic Church which was held
in the home of Mrs. M. H. Whit-
ham on Davis Avenue Monday
evening.
Officers for this year are Mrs.
Whitham, preside nt; Mrs.
George Bowen, treasurer and
Mrs. J. Armand Lloyd, secre
tary. Father Frederick opened
the meeting with a prayer.
Mrs. Whitham announced that
the sale of Christmas cards was
now in progress and urged the
members to promote the sale of
the cards in an effort to make
this project a success.
Mrs. J. W. Johnson, formerly
of Valdosta, was introduced as a
new member.
Father Frederick gave a most
interesting talk in regard to the
high esteem in which woman
hood is held today.
Mrs. George Drexler was ap
pointed scrap book chairman for
the year.
After the business meeting
Mrs. Whitham served delicious
refreshments.
FOR CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER—Grand Knight Bernard Dunstan of Augusta
K. C. Council No. 677 is pictured as he presented the Rev. John O’Donohue, S.J., a check for the
information center at Sacred Heart Church. Father O’Donohue, Chaplain of the Council, has re
cently been transferred to New Orleans. Shown in the foreground is Mr. W. J. Heffernan,
who was honored at this meeting of the Knights.—(Photo George Dawson).
K. Of €. Honors
W. J. Heffernan
AUGUSTA — William J. Hef
fernan, Augusta restauranteur
and Catholic • Layman, was
honored by Patrick Walsh
Council, 677, Knights of Colum
bus with the exemplification of
the first three degrees of the
order on a class named for him.
Heffernan was the associate
of the late Capt. P. H. Rice in
organizing the Fourth Degree
Assembly in Augusta in 1904,
and thus is one of its charter
members.
He was born in Augusta in
1878 of a pioneer Georgia fami
ly. In 1904 Heffernan married
Mary Margaret Henry of an
American family of direct Irish
ancestry. They had eight chil
dren, seven of whom are living.
All reside in Augusta and are
active in Catholic affairs.
Heffernan has been connected
with the restaurant business
since the beginning of the cen
tury. In 1937 he established the
Town Tavern restaurant, and is
currently active in its operation
as senior partner.
Mr. and Mrs. Heffernan reside
at 1051 Katherine St., and are
members of St. Mary’s-on-the-
Hill Church.
AUGUSTA COACHES BANQUET — Pictured at the annual
Coaches Banquet sponsored by Patrick Walsh Council No. 677,
Augusta, are Coach Hank Caver of Langley Bath-Clearwater
High School (speaking), Coach Denny Leonard of Aquinas High,
Augusta, and Grand Knight Barney Dunstan of the Augusta
Council. (Photo George Dawson)
MISS LENA BAUR
SERVICES HELD
SAVANNAH — Funeral serv
ices for Miss Lena Baur were
held October 12th, at St. James
Church, Very Rev. John D.
Toomey officiating.
Savannah Services
Mrs. Mary Andrews
SAVANNAH — Funeral serv
ices for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth
Andrews were held October
10 th at the Sacred Heart
Church.
CRS-NGWC Director Counts
On Generous Support By U. S.
Catholics For Clothing Drive
(N. C. W. C. News Service)
NEW YORK, — A generous
outpouring of traditional Ameri
can Catholic Charity is antici
pated during the coming 11th
annual Thanksgiving Clothing
Campaign by the director of
the worldwide relief and re
habilitation agency maintained
by the U. S. Bishops.
Msgr. Edward E. Swanstrom,
executive director of Catholic
Relief Services — National Ca
tholic Welfare Conference,
stressed that the need now is
SODALITY MASS — Members of the Sodality of Our Lady
of Aquinas High, Augusta, are pictured at the recent Sodality
Mass.
greater than ever since the re
lief campaign has been extend
ed to Africa and South Ameri
ca. But, he added, he felt cer
tain generous American Catho
lics would not let down the
world’s destitute.
“Operation Clothescloset” will
be staged during the week of
November 22 to 29 under the
direction of the nation’s arch
bishops and bishops. The faith
ful are called upon to rummage
through clothesclosets, attics
and other storage rooms and
donate all used but useful cloth
ing, bedding, blankets, shoes
and similar articles which can
be spared.
Msgr. Swanstrom said that in
last year’s Thanksgiving cam
paign a total of 13,100,000
pounds of relief materials, esti
mated to be worth 18 millon
dollars, was donated by the
American Catholics. The bulk
of the collection, 12,100,000
pounds, was processed and
shipped from the agency’s New
York warehouse, while the oth
er million pounds went through
salvage bureaus operated by
the St. Vincent de Paul Society
in Seattle, San Francisco and
Los Angeles.
* * *
He’s really a true friend if he
never bores nor borrows.
Blessed
Sacrament
Meeting
SAVANNAH — Mrs. Barbara
Prow, Chatham County Nutri
tionist, addressed the monthly
meeting of the Blessed Sacra
ment Home and Schohl Associ
ation. She gave a very informa
tive discussion of the eating
habits of our children from a
psychological standpoint.
A rummage sale will be held
on Saturday, November 7.
The Association sponsors Cub
Scout activities and has se
cured Mr. Wm. O. Cliett as pack
master.
Monsignor Brennan urged the
mothers to realize the great re
sponsibility that is theirs in
maintaining high moral stand
ards among our youth.
Sister Mary Jude, RSM, prin
cipal, announced that report
cards will be distributed next
week and that the new school
library will begin operation
within a few days.
Sister Mary Agnese’s seventh
grade won the attendance prize.
irisli Prelate —
(Continued from Page 1)
gious freedom enjoyed by all in
Ireland should be a sufficient
refutation of the fears engen
dered by professional “Catho-
lics-are-totalitarians” organi-.
zations? “To sincere people it
is,” he says. Asked what
impressed him most about
America and the Church here,
Bishop Lucey answered, “That
would be very difficult to say.
I have certainly been impressed
by the kindness and hospitality
of the people, by the size of the
country, and by the pride which
Americans of Irish extraction
have in their ancestry. And, of
course, having met Archbishop
O’Hara when he was papal
Nuncio to Ireland, the vitality
of the Church in America is no
surprise to me.”
. His Excellency was an hon
ored guest at a dinner which
followed special devotions hon
oring Christ the King on Sun
day and extended his thanks to
Bishop Thomas J. McDonough
Aquinas
PT0 Meets
AUGUSTA — The October
meeting of Aquinas High P.T.O.
was held Tuesday evening the
sixth with Mrs. B. A. Calla
han, vice-president, presiding in
the absence of the president,
Mrs. Joseph J. O’Connell. Rev.
Ralph E. Seikel, school mod
erator, opened the meeting with
a prayer.
Mrs. Dennis Kearns and Mrs.
Henry Rinker, co-chairmen of
the finance and budget com
mittee, reported that $600 had
been netted on the barbecue.
They were congratulated on its
tremendous success.
Brother Claude, principal,
gave a most informative talk
on scholarships, mentioning pri
marily, the national merit scho
larship. He pointed out, too, the
value of 3rd year students tak
ing the college entrance exam
inations.
Mrs. Kearns and Mrs. Rinker
announced plans for the annual
Christmas Bazaar to be held on
Friday, December 4th in St.
Mary’s Flail on Monte Sano
Avenue.
Upon adjournment, delicious
refreshments were served by
Mis. Worth Andrews and Mrs.
Henry Holmes.
Services For
James Hopkins
THOMASVILLE — Funeral
services for Mrs. James Gignil-
liat Hopkins were held October
10th at St. Augustine’s Church
with a requiem mass, Rev. Ger
ald McDonald officiating.
Survivors are three children,
James C. Flopkins of Decatur,
Mrs. John Hashagen of Thomas
ville and Mrs. J. R. Christian of
Charlotte, N. C.; a niece, two
grandchildren, six great-grand-
and the priests of Savannah for
their kindness “which made me
feel very much at home here.”
Bishop Lucey. left Savannah
on Monday to visit the Presen
tation Convent at Delray Beach,
Florida, after which he will re
turn to this Diocese to call on
the Sisters at Warner Robins.