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Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties Vol. 40, No. 21 DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1960 Published By The Cathoiic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year Bishop McDonough Named To Savannah Diocese THE CHANCERY 225 Abercorn Street Savannah, Georgia Dearly beloved in Christ: The news of my appointment as Bishop of Savannah has been a source of great joy and genuine happiness to me. For over three years I have been privileged to serve the Catholics of this Diocese of Savannah as Auxiliary Bishop with all the rights and duties of a residential Bishop. And always I have found the priests, the religious and the laity most docile and articulate in everything pertaining to our Holy Faith. Consequently, when His Excellency, Archbishop Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate in Washington, advised me that His Holiness, Pope John XXIII, has graciously designed to name me the tenth Bishop of this venerable See of Savannah my immediate reaction was one of prayerful thanksgiving to Almighty God and filial gratitude to the Vicar of Christ on earth. When Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara resigned the Dio cese of-Savannah, on November 11, 1959, because of the de manding pressure of his manifold duties in London, I was elected Administrator of the D iocese until a new Bishop- Ordinary was appointed by the Supreme Pontiff. Arch bishop O’Hara, for almost twenty-five years, ruled the Dio cese of. Savannah with outstanding and unprecedented suc cess. He brought to the Episcopacy of Georgia great scholar ly talents, astute administratorship and the innate ability of giving himself unstintingly to the priests and people con fided to his care. In the divine economy of events I fervently pray that I shall, in some small measure, be capable of con tinuing and expanding the wonderful sacrificial work which he so inspiringly accomplished in this great State of Georgia. Tire Diocese of Savannah is uniquely missionary in cha racter. It embraces' 37,000 square miles and contains 88 counties. The Catholic census numbers less than 30,000, or approximately D/2% of the entire population. With complete confidence in God and an abiding faith in the spiritual com petence of my people I am optimistic about the future. Through God and the intercession of Mary, His Immaculate Mother, all things can be accomplished. With a conscious recognition of my inabilities, I accede to the Bishopric of Savannah in response to the wishes of His Holiness, Pope John XXIII, filled with an awesome depend ence upon my people for prayer in my new responsibility. My only announced program is the same v/hich I voiced three years ago when I came among you. This program is to preach the love of God which must be manifest among all people if we are to attain peace of heart and unity among nations. My joy in accepting the Church of St. John the Baptist as my Cathedral fills my heart with indescribable happiness. This beautiful edifice which is synonymous with the Catho lic Faithu.in the Diocese of Savannah would quicken any Bishop’s heart with new life. Naturally, my interest in the renovation and redecoration program will continue with re newed devotion. Finally, I voice an appreciative act of gratitude for the many and wonderful expressions of congratulations which I have received from every parish in the Diocese. The prayers promised me by the priests, religious and laity of the Diocese have given me much hope in the new duties imposed upon me. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings: May the Lord bless thee and keep thee; May He show His face to thee and have mercy upon thee; May He turn His countenance to thee and give thee peace, May the Lord bless + thee: Amen Devotedly yours in Christ, Bishop of Savannah HISTORY OF DIOCESE The new Bishop of Savannah, is the 10th to guide the 109,- year-old Diocese, whose 25,700 Catholics constitute about one per cent of the population in 88 southern Georgia counties. Up until 1956, the venerable Savannah See embraced all of Georgia, but four years ago Pope Pius XII took some 22,- 000 miles from it and created the Diocese of Atlanta, which today has about 27,000 Catho lics. Some 70 priests are active in the Savannah diocese, serving in 30 parishes scattered across the diocese’s 36,346 square miles. Previous spiritual leaders have included a prelate who became a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, and one -— the immediate past Bishop— who has spent more than a de cade in the service of the Holy See’s diplomatic corps. The diplomat is Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara, presently Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, whose career also in cludes posts in Rumania, from which he was expelled by the Reds, and Ireland. Archbishop O’Hara, who be gan his diplomatic service in 1947, was Bishop of Savannah for 24 years. He resigned his Georgia post on November 11, 1959, but retained his position in England. The Bishop who became a cardinal was Ignatius Persico, O.F.M. Cap., an Italian who was the fourth spiritual leader of Georgia’s Catholics. He served from 1870 to 1872 when he re signed to return to Rome after about five years of mission work in this country. In Italy he spent several years carrying out missions for the Vatican, primarily as its representative to special events overseas. He was created a car dinal on January 16, 1893, and died in Rome on December 7, 1895. Savannah grew. out of the Diocese of Charleston, S. C., of which it was a part for 30 years. When Charleston was establish ed in 1820, Georgia had three (Continued on Page 6) Dispensation From Law Of Fast A dispensation from the Lenten law of fast on March I7th, Si. Patrick's Day, and March 19th, St. Joseph's Day, has been granted by His Ex cellency, Bishop McDonough. TENTH BISHOP OF SAVANNAH Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, D.D., J.C.D, - Priests, Religious and Laity alike rejocied at the announcement, two weeks ago, that His Holiness, Pope John XXIII had appointed The Most Reverend Thomas J. Mc Donough Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, succeeding Archbishop Gerald P. O’ Hara who resigned last. November. Thus, Bishop McDonough, who has been with us for the past three years as Aux iliary Bishop, became the tenth Ordinary of this Diocese which this year celebrates its one hundred and tenth anniversary. In a statement issued shortly after the Apostolic Delegate to the United States had announced the news of his appointment, Bishop McDononugh said, “My only an nounced program is the same which I voiced three years ago when I came among you. This program is to preach the love of God which must be .manifest among all people if we are to attain peace of heart an d unity among nations.” We know we speak for everyone in the Diocese when we pledge continuous prayers that God will grant to our new Bishop the grace, the strength and the years to see the realization of that program. We are certain, too, that priests, religious and laity join us in pledging our loy alty, devotion and untiring efforts as co-workers in Christ with Bishop McDonough, “Priest and Bishop and worker of good things—A Good Shepherd among the peo ple.” POPE APPOINTS FORMER AfiXHiflllY AS ORDINARY SAVANNAH — Two weeks ago, the day after THE BULLETIN went to press, word was received at the Chan cery that the Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough, Ad ministrator ‘sede vacante’ of the Diocese of Savannah had been appointed by His Holiness, Pope John XXIII, the tenth Bishop of Savannah. The announcement came from the Most Reverend Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Del egate to the United States. Bishop McDonough, prior to his election on November 11, 1959 as Administrator of the Diocese, upon the resignation of Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara, had held the post of Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, to which he was appointed in January of 1957. The new Ordinary was born in Philadelphia, Penna., Decem ber 5, 1911, the son of Michael and the late Margaret Mary McDonough. Two of the Bish op’s brothers are priests, name ly, Monsignor Martin J. Mc Donough, Archdiocesan Director of the Propagation of the Faith in Philadelphia, and Father William F. McDonough, Assist ant Pastor of St. Colman’s Par ish, Ardmore, Pennsylvania. His other two brothers, James J. and M. Francis, reside respec tively in Los Angeles and Springfield, Pennsylvania. Bishop McDonough received his early education in St. Aga tha’s Parochial School and West Catholic High School, both in Philadelphia. He continued his studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, .Overbrook, Pennsyl vania, where he was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, on May 26, 1938, by His Eminence, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, the late Archbishop of Philadelphia. Following ordination Bishop McDonough was selected to pursue Post graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, where he was award ed the degree of Doctor of Ca non Law, in June, 1941. Bishop McDonough was then loaned to the Diocese of St. Augustine, in Florida, for the purpose of setting up the Matri monial Tribunal and the estab lishment of the Diocesan Chan cery. Orginally Bishop Mc Donough was to remain in Florida for two years. In reality he served in Florida from June, 1941 until September 20, 1957, at which time he came to Sa vannah as Auxiliary Bishop. Bishop McDonough filled many important Diocesan offices in St. Augustine. In addition to being pastor in four parishes, he also served as Chancellor and Officialis of the Diocese, to gether with many other assign ments. In December, 1945 he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of St. Augustine and placed in charge of that Dio cese when Bishop Hurley was appointed Regent to the Apos tolic Nunciatupe in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Bishop McDonough served as Administrator of the Diocese of St. Augustine from December, 1945 until June of 1951, at which time Archbishop Hurley returned to St. Augus tine. On January 16, 1946, the new Bishop of Savannah was ap pointed a Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, by His Holiness, — INSTALLATION APRIL 27TH Installation ceremonios for { Birhop McDonough will take j place on Wednesday, April 1 27th, at the Cathedral of St ! John the Baptist, Savannah, j Installing prelate will be ] The Most Reverend Egidio! Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate j to the United States. the late Pope Pius XII. Then in March of 1947 he was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The consecra tion of the new Bishop took place in America’s oldest Par ish, the Cathedral in St. Augus tine. The consecrator was His Eminence, the late Dennis Car dinal Dougherty, the co-conse- crat.ors were Bishop Emmet Walsh, Bishop of Youngstown, and Auxiliary Bishop J. Car- roll McCormick of Philadelphia. Bishop Ready, then Bishop of Columbus, Ohio, preached the sermon. In early January, 1957, word was received in Savannah that Bishop McDonough had been ap pointed the new Auxiliary Bish op of this Diocese. Bishop Mc Donough came to Savannah on February 19, 1957, when he ar rived at the Union Station he was greeted by a large turnout of priests and laity of this Dio cese. The next day the Solemn Installation as Auxiliary Bishop took place in the venerable Ca thedral of St. John the Baptist. Bishop McDonoygh was sent to Savannah to carry on the spiritual and temporal needs of the Diocese in the absence of Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara, Apostolic Delegate in Great Britain. BUILDING PROGRAM CONDUCTED DURING PAST A considerable expansion program has l/een carried on in the Diocese of Savannah since the arrival of Bishop McDonough. Pres ently every parish under his jurisdiction has either erected new build ings or carried our needed expansion to existing facilities. The City of Savannah itself has been foremost in this construction work. The (See Photos on Page 6) Bishop has dedicated himself not only to the building up of churches but also of aiding the much needed school expansion program in South Georgia. Attached hereto is a list of the accomplishments since February, 1957 to the present time. SAVANNAH DEANERY City of Savannah CATHEDRAL: Renovation and restoration program inaugurated. BLESSED SACRAMENT: Combination school-auditorium- gymnasium constructed. NATIVITY: New Elementary School constructed and opened in September, 1959. Acquisition Bishop’s House, 1 Edgewood Road. Construction of New Chan cery Building, 225 Abercorn Street. Foundation of Carmelite Mon astery, Our Lady of Confidence. Opening of St, John Vianney Minor S e m i n a r y-Grimball’s Point. Reopening after extensive re pairs, alterations and additions to Camp Villa Marie. Extensive repairs to St. Mary’s Home. Dedication St. A n t h o n y’s Church. Large addition to St. Vin cent’s Academy now under construction. Additions to St. James School now being built and construc tion of Chapel-Auditorium. Purchase of large tract of land for eventual relocation of Benedictine High School. City of Brunswick ST. FRANCIS XAVIER: New Elementary School constructed. St. Mary's, Ga. OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA: New church constructed. AUGUSTA DEANERY City of Augusta Opening of Aquinas Catholic High School. Construction of residence for Brothers at Aquinas High School. ST. JOSEPH: Construction of Madona Parish Hall. New Rec tory now under construction. IMMACULATE CONCEP TION: Construction of Cafe- torium and additions. ST. MARY: Construction un derway for building of new St. Mary’s Elementary School. City of Dublin IMMACULATE CONCEP TION: Acquisition of three im proved pieces of land. Swainsboro Acquisition of church site. Melter Acquisition of church site. Waynesboro Acquisition of church site. Millen Acquisition of church site. Glennville Acquisition of church site. Vidalia-Lyons Acquisition of church site. Statesboro ST. MATTHEW: Convent purchased. Sylvania OUR LADY OF ASSUMP TION: New church, rectory and parish hall constructed. Claxton ST. CHRISTOPHER: New church, rectory and parish hall constructed. COLUMBUS DEANERY City of Columbus OUR LADY OF LOURDES: South Columbu s-provisional church and rectory. Construc tion and progress of school and convent. HOLY FAMILY: Purchase of more property for expansion at school site. Construction and dedication of new Pacelii High School. Construction and dedi cation School of Nursing, St. Francis Hospital. ST. BENEDICT: Construction and dedication combination church and hall. Cily of Macon High School opened for boys in conjunction with Mount de Sales Academy. Construction underway for expansion of Mt. de Sales High School. Warner Robins SACRED HEART: New school and convent constructed. Addi tion now being added. Perry Purchase of property for mis sion church. City of Albany ST. TERESA: Construction of new church and rectory. Addi tion to school. City of Valdosta ST. JOHN: Construction of new school. Plans underway for building of new convent. Bainbridge ST. JOSEPH: Construction of church and parish Hall. Douglas ST. PAUL: Purchase of im proved piece of property for future use at Cathechetical Cen ter, to be opened September, 1960. Americus ST. MARY: New friary con structed and dedicated. Moniezuma ST. MICHAEL: New church dedicated. NEW PARISHES CANONI CALLY ESTABLISHED Our Lady of Assumption- Sylvania. St. Benedict’s-Columbus. St. Joseph’s-Augusta. Our Lady of Lourdes- Colum bus. program is the new Chancery Building dedicated in 1959.