Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
About Bulletin (Monroe, Ga.) 1958-1962 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1961)
PAGE 8—THE BULLETIN, May 13, 1961 DISPLAYING SAFETY POSTERS for Mr. Tom Pendleton, manager of the Savannah Motor Club, are Miss Marsha Flisnick of the Cathedral Day School, on the left, and Miss Carol A. Perrett, St. Vincent’s Academy. Both girls received Merit Citations for posters submitted in the National AAA Safety Poster Contest. Also cited by AAA were Sr. M. Fie- delis, R.S.M., St. Vincent’s principal, and Sr. Martina Joseph, R.S.M., principal of Cathe dral Day School. FAMILY LIFE AND VOCATIONS RT. REV. DANIEL J. BOURKE, V.F. “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy House, O Lord, they shall praise Thee for ever and ever.” (Psalm 33) “Good Master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?” This was the ea ger question of one who was blessed with the wealth of the world but who knew that life eternal was a treasure greater TEXT OF ADDRESS GIVEN AT LUNCHEON OF D.C.C.W. CONVENTION by far. And so he has come to Our Blessed Lord asking what he had to do to gain the great prize he so desired. He was a young man, a wealthy man and a man whose life was without stain or blemish. The commandments he had kept from his youth. What else, he wondered and asked, was wanting. Jesus looked on that young man with love and said: “If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, give to the poor and come, follow me.” There was a painful silence. The invitation had been given and the road to perfection pointed out. Nature and grace struggled for the mystery. There was only one sacrifice needed to make that young man a true disciple. But it was a big one, too great for him who had just appeared so gen erous. He hesitates, wavers and then turns sadly away with the words “Come, follow Me” ringing in his ears, for his love of ‘great possessions had wrapped itself round his heart’ — a vocation had been offered and refused. “What a cloud of misgivings,” says Fa ther Faber, “must hang over the memory of him whom Jesus invited to follow Him. Is he looking now in heaven upon that Face from whose mild beauty he so sadly turn ed away on earth?” Nearly two thousand years have passed away since then, but unceasingly that same voice has been whispering in the ears of many a lad and maiden. “One thing is yet wanting to you. Come, follow Me.” Some have heard that voice with gladness of heart and have risen up at the Mas ter’s call; others have stopped their ears or turned away in fear from the side of Him v/ho beckoned to them, while not a few have stood and listened, wondering what it meant, asking themselves could such an invitation be really for them, till Jesus of Nazareth passed by and they were left behind forever. I speak to you, women of the Diocese of Savannah, on voca tions because the vast majority of you are married or will some day be married, and have now or will have children who, as they grow to maturity, may wonder if God has given to them the call that He gave to the young man in the Gospel story. They may look to you for advice and guidance. God grant that you will have the knowledge and the generosity to guide them aright and not brush aside the question that may arise to the lips of your son or daughter with the un easy: “I am sure you have not,” or the secret prayer that your child and you may be spared from such a fate. You must have knowledge concerning the call to the priesthood or the religious state. You must have some idea what such a vocation is. A call to the priesthood or the religious life, in contradistinc tion to the general invitation, held out to all men even in the world, to a life of perfec tion, is a free gift of God be stowed on those whom He se lects. “You have not chosen Me,” He said to His .disciples, ' “but I have chosen you.” The Evangelist says that Christ called unto Him whom He willed. That call comes some times to those whose lives have been without blemish as in the case of the Beloved Apostle. Often the invitation is extended to those whom we would least expect: Magdalen, steeped in iniquity; Matthew, surrounded by his ill-gotten gains; Saul, breathing out threathings and slaughter against the Christians. But though this gift is of surpass ing value, God will not force its acceptance on the soul. If the soul turns away the Master withdraws, often forever for He desires in His service only willing volunteers. A vocation is not the mys terious thing some people think it to be but simply the choice God makes of one for a certain kind of life. A person is said to have a vocation to a particular career in life if he is sincerely convinced, as far as he can judge with God’s grace, that such a career is the best way for him to attain the end for which God placed him on this earth, and is found fit by his talents, habits and circumstances to enter that ca reer with a fair prospect of success. A vocation to the reli gious state or the priesthood, therefore, supposes, not only a supernatural inclination or de sire to embrace it but an ap titude or fitness for its duties. God does not act inconsistent ly. If He wishes a person to follow Him he must give him the means of doing so. In the case of the call to the religious state the aspirant’s fitness will be tested in the novitiate and God’s call will be made mani fest through the decisions of the superiors. In the case of the secular priesthood the voca tion will be stamped with ap proval through the call of the bishop. Now, my dear ladies, God’s Church will last until the end of time and triumph over her enemies. Of this there can be no doubt. The Church in any particular section of the Lord’s vineyard, however, will be strong in proportion to the number of vocations that par ticular section is producing. Vocations usually come from families in which the Faith is strong and active. If you look around the world you will find that those sections where the people are conservative in their living, where the fami lies are closely knitted and prayerful, that those are the places where priests and bro thers and sisters abound. Such districts are Northern Spain, Holland, Alsace Lorraine, Ire land, French-Canada and, in the United States, such dioces es as Boston and Philadelphia. Ireland has the highest per centage of young men ordain ed each year to the priesthood, thirteen and six-tenths percent per one hundred thousand of the population or nearly four hundred and fifty priests per year. This number, I may say, is apt to increase in the years ahead. If we in the Diocese of Savannah were to produce a proportionate number of priests there would be three to four men, natives of the dio cese, ordained each year. If we had such a number ordaineo we would soon cease to be a missionary diocese. Perhaps we shall soon be able to supply our own needs. The success of the Minor Sem inary gives us strong hone. You, in your molding of the lives of your children, can strengthen that hope. If your family life is good, vocations will come. I know that it is not always easy to have a strong, Christian family life when Catholics are propor tionately as few as they are in the Diocese of Savannah, but with God’s grace you can suc ceed. In order to have a good, Christian home, from which vocations are likely to come, the parents themselves must be godfearing, prayerful peo ple, temporate and chaste in their habits, courteous and re spectful towards one another. The self discipline which they exercise themselves will be a powerful factor in the mold ing of their children’s lives. Towards the children God may give. them they will be kind and loving. Their love will ofttimes manifest itself in the gentle, but firm, insistence on discipline and a rule of life within the home. This ordering of the home life will be all- embracing. It will extend to prayer, to work and to play. I know of one family in the State of Georgia where the parents are endowed far be yond the average with intel lectual attributes and worldly goods, who desire to give their children everything that is coming to them and, who, be cause they are anxious for the well-being of their children, limit their viewing of tele vision to three rather brief periods ehch week end. On week nights, their children, though of high school age, are not allowed to go to parties even if those parties are spon sored by Catholic organiza tions. And, strange as it may seem, because those parents are themselves disciplined their directions are well re ceived by their children who are happy and contented. Remember that young boys naturally like to find their recreation with other young boys and that young girls nat urally desire to associate and to play with other young girls. Do not force them at an early age to attend social functions where they have to go as cou ples. Such forcing on the part of many parents has not only impeded developing vocations but has resulted in that early steady dating which is so dan gerous and which all parents deplore, though often they have only themselves to blame. Take the positive approach. Be prayerful yourselves. Teach them, even before they attend Kindergarten, their prayers. See that they say them every morning, that they say their prayers before and after meals, with you leading the way. Re ceive the Sacraments frequent ly and have them come with you to the altar rail. If they speak about the religious life or the priesthood, give them encouragement and ask them to speak to their priests for direction. Gather the family together for evening prayer, including the Rosary. And I ask you, the mother of fami lies, to add one trimming to that Rosary. The trimming I ask you to add is the prayer for vocations said after every Low Mass celebrated in the Diocese of Savannah. And, if at times you are unable to say the Rosary with your family, then add the prayer for voca tions to your own night pray ers. I guarantee that if you follow these instructions, sim ple though they may be, that the number of vocations in our diocese will increase; that your daughters will serve as sis ters who will heal the sick and bring enlightenment to the young; that your sons will serve as teaching or nursing brothers; that many of them will become priests of God, other Christs who will raise man to God and bring God to man. If your children show signs of a vocation, encourage them. If your sons want to enter the Minor Seminary do not prevent them. They are not too young and if the au- lew Officers Elected By Sacred Heart School" AUGUSTA — Mrs. Wm. S. Dickson was elected president of the Sacred Heart Home and School Association at the meeting which was held last Wednesday evening in the school auditorium. Other offi cers who will serve with Mrs. Dickson are Dr. Victor Della- Giustina, vice president; Mrs. John Thornton, secretary and Mrs. Clarence Weissenburger, treasurer. Sr. Mary Rosalie, principal of the school, announced that the annual May Procession will be held on May 21 at Sacred Heart Church, and that a breakfast honoring the grad uates will be served immedi ately following the graduation Mass on June 2. The principal expressed her appreciation to the retiring officers and to all the parents for their coopera tion during the past year. The organization voted un animously to send a spiritual bouquet to Father Edward Shields, S. J., pastor of Sacred Heart Church, who is ill in St. Joseph’s Hospital. Mr. John T. Holleran an nounced that the annual school picnic will be held on May 30 and that each child attending must have his parents’ written permission and be in the cus tody of an an adult. The retir ing president thanked the members for their support durnig his term of office and pledged his cooperation to the new officers. A vote of thanks was extended to the retiring officers, Mr. Holleran, Mr. J. L. Newsome, and Mrs. John Eig- ner. Mr. J. F. Oetjen, general chairman for the fun nights which are to be held on May 13 and May 27, invited everyone to participate in this project. Serving on the nominating committee were Mr. John Wheatley, chairman, and Mrs. Wm. Carrick and Mr. Oetgen, co-chairmen. The grade count was won by the eighth grade and a social hour was held after the bus iness session. RESOLUTIONS D.C.C.W. CONVENTION 1. RESOLVED, that this Council pledge its undying de votion to Our Lady of Good Council and seek her inter cession with her Beloved Son for his help in all our endeavors. 2. RESOLVED, that this Council pledge its loyalty to and affection for our Pontiff, His Holiness Pope John XXIII, and offer our prayers for the success of all his endeavors and that God may bless him with good health in these troubled times. 3. RESOLVED, that this Council pledge its prayers and support to His Excellency, Most Reverend Thomas J. Mc Donough in all his endeavors in behalf of the Diocese; especially in fostering vocations. 4. RESOLVED, that this Council express its condolence to Monsignor John Toomey on the death of his beloved Mother and offer our prayers for the repose of her soul. 5. RESOLVED, that this Council continue to give whole hearted support to St. Mary’s Home and strive to in crease membership in the Guild. 6. RESOLVED, that this Council deplore the present trend in advertising immoral pictures during the show ing of a good family picture. 7. RESOLVED, that this Council rededicate itself to the continuance of a vigorous program of Catholic Action throughout the coming year. 8. RESOLVED, that this Council express its gratitude to the Columbus Deanery and to Saint Teresa’s Parish Council for its hospitality in this convention, and that appreciation be given to Father LeFrois for his gracious kindness to all. 9. RESOLVED, that this Council express our appreciation to the management of Radium Springs for their pleas ing cooperation, also to the press, radio, and the tele vision for their coverage of the convention. Hew Officers At Blessed Sacrament SAVANNAH — At the An nual Meeting of Blessed Sacra ment Parish Council, Mrs. William P. Schneider was re elected president and Mrs. C. H. Laird vice-president while Mrs. Robert S. Parrish was elected secretary-treasurer to succeed Mrs. E. D. Cribbs. The slate was presenttd by Mrs. I. E. Smith, Chairman of the Nominating Committee. Fol lowing the election the offi cers were installed by Mrs. William J. Lynch, the imme diate past president. Annual reports were given by Mrs. Schneider and the chairmen of standing commit tees and showed many accom plishments by the Council dur ing the past year. Comprehensive reports were given on the recent Conven tion of the Savannah Diocesan Council of Catholic Women by Mrs. R. C. Brower and Mrs. I. E. Smith who served as delegates from the Council. An invitation was extended to the members by the Cath olic Women’s Club to partici pate in the Corporate Com munion of all the Catholic women in the area which was held at St. James Church on Sunday, May 7, at the 8:30 o’clock Mass. A continental breakfast followed in the par ish hall. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas A. thorities there discover that they do not have a true voca tion the education they have received there will still be to their advantage and will be a sustenance to them all their days. Through your aid the number of priests in the Dio cese of Savannah will increase and, as a result, the number of those that will dwell in the House of the Lord will in crease and your sons and those they have brought into the Church will not only praise the Lord, they will also praise you, who gave them example and guidance, through the eon3 of eternity. God bless you. Brennan spoke to the group on the progress being made in the building of a new rectory in Blessed Sacrament Parish. “Don’t ever think that re ducing traffic accidents is out of our hands as individuals,” says E. R. Klamm, accident prevention director of Allstate Insurance Companies. “Every one who drives has in his own two hands, his mind and his heart the capacity to recognize and avoid accident situations.” Final Council meeting Of Year At Dublin DUBLIN — New pews for the entire church, a new Bap tismal Font, and other furni ture has been ordered for the Immaculate Conception Church in Dublin, according to an announcement made by Rev. Cajetan McDyre, M.S., SS. T., pastor, at the May meeting of the Parish Council of Catholic Women in Dublin. Delivery and installation of these furnishings is expected in three months. These pur chases have been made in con nection with the Renovation Program being carried on by the Immaculate Conception Church in preparation for its Fiftieth Anniversary observ ance. This last monthly meeting for the year 1960-61 was held Wednesday evening, May 3 at the Church Center. President, Miss Louise Ludwig, presided, and opened the meeting by ex tending a cordial welcome to Mrs. Martin Austin of Perry, president of the Perry Parish Council of Catholic Women. In her report for the Catho lic Charities Committee, Miss Mary Dana stated that cancer pads were cut and available for sewing. Members were urg ed to pick them up at the Center any time and take them home to be sewed, in order that this last lot may be sent to the hospital this month. A letter was read from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Free Cancer Home in Atlanta, thanking the Parish Council of Catholic Women for the boxes of can cer pads delivered to the hos pital last month by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hall. A car pool has been orga nized to facilitate all ladies of the parish getting to the meet ings, and Dr. Elizabeth Holmes, as chairman of the car pool committee, read the list of captains and co-captains in the various sections of the city. Each month, the Captain is to call the ladies on her list and offer to pick them up for the meeting. If the captain cannot attend, she must notify her co-captain, who in turn does the same, using her own car. Miss Ludwig pointed out that the constitution and by laws of the Dublin Parish Council of Catholic Women have not been renewed or re vised in several years, and appointed Miss Grace Farley and Mrs. Hugh Craig to revue them during the summer months and report in Septem ber. Roadeo Winners COLUMBUS — At a Teen age Automobile Driving Roadeo sponsored recently by the Junior Chamber of Com merce Roger J. Wein, a Junior at Pacelli High School, Colum bus, was winner of the boys’ division. Roger is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Joseph C. Wein of Fort Benning. Runner-up in the girls divi sion was Miss Carol Hester, also a Junior at Pacelli High School. Carol is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hester of Columbus. Written tests and actual driving skill netted for Roger a plaque and for Miss Hester a certificate. Cathedral Civics Club George Phillips, president of the 6 th grade Civics Club of Cathedral Day School calls a meeting to order. Others in photo are (1. to r.) Mary Ann Muller, corresponding secre tary; Paulette Kaluzne, vice president, and Marie Di Pietro, secretary. Bottom photo shows club mission committee dis playing samples of rosaries and costume jewelry the club sent to clinics in various parts of Peru and to leprosarium in British Guiana. (L. to R.) Thaddeus Parsons, Richard George and Larry Dillon. SCIENCE FAIR WINNER — Donald Nichols, student at Aquinas High School, Augusta, won top honors in the C.S.R.A. Science Fair held recently. Pictured with Donald is his physics teacher, Brother Joseph Abel, F.S.M. In the background is Donald’s exhibit on the pendulum. Both Don- and and Brother Joseph Abel received an all expense paid trip to Kansas City to show the exhibit at the National Science Fair held May 9 to 12. Silver Jubilee (Continued from Page 1) turns apparent inaction into a very positive seizure of the spirit of holiness and opens the floodgates of divine mercy to bring a torrent of blessings on those who enter the orbit for union with God . . . This of Carmelite influence.” He continued by noting that the Carmelite way of life de mands a contemplative spirit and a deep sense of God, a complete dependence on Christ, and a brotherhood with Mary. Bishop McDonough, after the Mass, expressed his appre ciation of the prayerful pres ence of the Carmelities in the Diocese of Savannah and enu merated several instances of Divine blessings which came in apparent answer to the prayers of the Carmelites for the problems of the Diocese. He, further, congratulated the Jubilarian and expressed the hope that she might see many more years of fruitful and prayerful service in Savan nah’s Carmel. The Bishop commended the work of the Savannah Carmel Club in helping Carmel and encourag ed them to continue this work of love. For the three days follow ing, the Jubilarian received friends in the speakroom of the Monastery. During this time she was permitted to re move her veil, the last time such permission will be grant ed until her golden jubilee. The jubilee celebration was brought to a close the follow ing Monday afternoon with Solemn Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop McDonough took this occasion to reiterate his pleas ure at having the prayers of the Carmelites ascending be fore the heavenly throne in behalf of the Diocese of Sa vannah and renewed his ex pressions of congratulations and benediction to Mother Magdalen. Mother Magdalen of Jesus entered the Carmel of Phila delphia in the Fall of 1935 and receive the Habit of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1936. She pronounced her solemn vows in 1940 and in 1943 was ap pointed Novice Mistress. She was elected Second Council Sister in 1946 and in 1954 was elected Prioress of the Phila delphia Carmel. In 1958 she brought the Foundation to Savannah and was appointed Prioress in October of the same year after the solemn ceremony of the Enclosure of the Monastery. After the Jubilee Mass the Officers of the Carmel Club graciously served coffee and ouns to the visitors. St. Patrick’s (Continued from Page 1) nation and development, Miss Mary E. Sullivan; Catholic charities, Mrs. Moore; spiritual development, Miss Mary Lou Shurley; public relations, Mrs. EL S. Buckley; telephone, Mrs. C. C. Whilden and Mrs. Annie L. Humphrey; foreign relief, Mrs. Stallings; confraternity of Christian Doctrine and Youth, Miss Margaret Strauch; family and parent education, Mrs. Ruth Strauch; libraries and literature, Mrs. Peggy Kiol- bassa; St. Mary’s Guild, Mrs. H. B. Roberts. The Council voted unani mously to have Mrs. Arthur represent St. Patrick’s Parish at the Leadership Training In stitute, to be held at Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama August 5-7. The meeting was closed with a prayer by Father Weltzer. Meeting Of Sacred Heart Parish Council SAVANNAH — The Annual meeting of the Sacred Heart Parish Council of Catholic Women was held on Monday evening, April 24th at eight o’clock in the Benedictine Armory. The president, Mrs. Joseph M. McDonough, pre sided. Interesting reports were giv en by the various committees citing the work done during the past year and plans were made for an afternoon of re collection held on May 7, from 2:30 until 5 o’clock in the Sacred Heart Church. Election of officers took place at this meeting. Father Terence, O.S.B., gave a short talk and thanked the outgoing officers for their efforts and he installed the new officers who are: President, Miss Cas- sie White; vice-president, Mrs. William Semmes; secretary, Mrs. Harry Butler, and treas urer, Mrs. Rudolph Heitmann. Refreshments were served by a committe of women from the Sacred Heart Home and School Association, headed by Mrs. Frank Hahne, president, and a social hour followed. Elizabeth II (Continued from Page 1) courtyard of the Vatican Pal ace. Here the Queen and her party alighted and were wel comed by Msgr. Beniamino Nardone, Secretary of the Sa cred Ceremonial Congregation, and by detachments of Swiss Guards, Palatine Guards and Pontifical Gendarmes. The Queen, wearing a full length black dress and with her hair covered with a black lace veil, and Prince Philip in a Royal Navy Uniform, ex changed greetings with Vati can officials. Then the Palatine Guards’ band struck up the British na_ tional anthem, “God Save The Queen,” and the Queen in spected a detachment of Pala tine Guards and another of the Pontifical Gendarmes. More than 600 priests, semi narians and nuns from British Commonwealth nations lined the walls of the Clementine and Consistorial Halls. Loud cheers shattered the stately formality of the-Queen’s pro gress toward the large throne room where Pope John was waiting at the threshold. The Pope, smiling, shook hands with the Queen and Prince Philip and then usher ed them into the throne room. While the rest of the suite re mained outside, the Pope and his two visitors chatted pri vately for more than 20 min utes. Then the Pope summoned the others who had accom panied the Queen and greeted each personally. Speaking in French, the Pope told the as sembled crowd of his esteem for the English royal house and the admiration and affec tion he felt toward the people of England and the common wealth. At the end of the audience the royal couple visited Do menico Cardinal Tardini, Vat ican Secretary of State, in his apartment on the floor below. The visit, which follows nor mal Vatican protocol, was brief and the Cardinal pre sented to the Queen and Prince Philip the principal officials of the secretariat. TIP TO MOTORISTS Observe all safety rules on the highways — it will prevent accidents and heartaches.