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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia Vol. 42, No. 6 SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1961 10c Per Copy — $3 A Year "FREEDOM" UNDER CASTRO THE NUNS' STORY LITTLE FOOD AND NO PRIVACY IN CUBA By Millard Everelt (N.C.W.C. News Service) NEW ORLEANS — Months of privation, harass ment and interrogation—then exile. This is what 27 Poor Clare nuns endured in Cuba. This is their story. In January, 1961, Cuban mi litia occupied the nuns’ Santa Clara Monastery in Havana, despite the fact that it was strictly cloistered. The militia, most of them women, installed guns on the roof of the monas tery and ammunition inside it. The Poor Clares depended on iheir property for support, but the Castro regime confis cated it, they sought other ways to exist. They baked food and candy and sold it; they sewed and washed clothes for Cuban families. When ihe Castro_ regime stopped virtually every source of food supply to the monas tery, the nuns were forced to live on canned fish, cornmeal and canned milk. In the cans of food they often found slips of paper inserted by Cuban workers reading: "Don't be fooled. We are slaves." The nuns were interrogated frequently, their rooms were searched and they were even accused of making bombs. For safety’s sake, they lived and slept together in one room for months. Often, even at night, they were forced to move to another room when the militia decided to make a search. One sick nun, completely helpless, had to be moved during each search. The yard man for the nuns told the militia that he would die before he allowed them to molest the nuns. He was beat en and tortured by the milit ia. The next morning his body was found hanging at the front door of the monastery, so ar ranged as to give the impres sion that he had hanged him self. The nuns, many of them still ill from months of malnutrition and suffering under Ihe Castro regime, are now safe in fhe St. Clare Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament here. One is so ill she was anointed by Father Joseph Clinic, O. F. M., chaplain of the mon astery. Some of the oldest nuns were flown to Miami in June on a Philadelphia Requiem For Miss O’Hara PHILADELPHIA — Miss Margaret O’Hara, sister of the Most Rev. Gerald P. O’ Hara, D.D., J.U.D., Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, died on Monday, August 7. Funeral services were conducted from the Church of Our Mother of Sorrows in Philadelphia on Friday, August 11th. Archbishop O’Hara serv ed as Ordinary of the Dio cese of Savannah from 1936 until his resignation in No vember of 1959. Attending the funeral were Bishop Thomas J. Mc Donough and Msgr. Andrew J. McDonald. Hungary Court Rules For Church VIENNA, (NC) — Commun ist Hungary’s Supreme Court has ruled that a museum con nected with the Esztergom ca thedral, which contains a valu able collection of Italian Ren aissance paintings, is the prop erty of the Church, it has been reported in an issue of Uj Em her, Hungarian Catholic publi cation, received here. Eszter gom is the See of Jozsef Card inal Mindszenty, now in ref uge at the U. S. legation in Budapest. chartered plane with 83 Marist Brothers and some other Sis ters. Four in the first group ar rived in New Orleans on June 16. Another group of 16 arrived July 12. The final group of seven came July 17. The Mother Superior and three companions stayed in Havana to try and retain their monastery. What their fate will be, nobody knows. The group of nuns who ar rived here later came to the U. S. by boat. Day after day they tried to arrange for passage from Cuba, only to be turned down by Castro agents, until they finally obtained permis sion to leave. The ones travel ing by boat were allowed to bring more luggage, mostly clothing. But none was permitted to bring money. Instead, each car ried some whisky. The superi or had bought an expensive brand of whisky in the hope that it could be sold in the U. S. to provide the refugee nuns with some cash. Of the 27 nuns, one had spent 70 years in the cloister; another, 55; and a third, 50. The Cuban nuns are almost embarrassingly grateful for ihe haven and welcome given them by the Poor Clares here. New Orleans archdiocesan au thorities and the Catholic peo ple who support the Blessed Sacrament monastery. Their attitude was expres sed best by the 85-year-old nun who has been in the clois ter 55 years and was flown to the U. S. in a wheel chair. When she arrived in New Or leans, she had to be wheeled up a ramp and into the clois tered enclosure, for she can walk only with fhe greatest of difficulty. But when she was brought into the chapel, she leaped from her wheel chair, threw herself upon the floor, kissed it, and exclaimed, "Thank God!" Youth Camps Hotbeds Of Propaganda BUENOS AIRES (NC)—Two former leaders of Cuban Cath olic Action have charged that pupils in Cuban Catholic schools are being subjected to communist propaganda in the regime’s vacation camps. Alfredo Cepero and Antonio Fernandez said all youths are forced to join Castro’s “Young Rebels” on their 12th birthday. They said the Castro govern ment’s campaign for the eradi cation of illiteracy is a mere vehicle for training in com munism. Dissatisfaction with the country’s precarious economic state is widespread, they said, but so is fear of complaining about it. Already about 100,- 000 political prisoners are in Castro’s prisons, they said. Cepero and Fernandez have been touring Latin America with Father Enrique Osle, S.J., former ecclesiastical ad visor to Christian trade unions in Cuba. To Carry Faith To Soviet Union ans For Secret issioners LONDON (NC) — Father John Ryder, S.J., of the Rus sian Center at Fordham Uni versity, New York, has arrived here with plans for secret mis sionaries to carry the Faith underground into the Soviet Union. The bearded 61-year-old U. S. Jesuit said he is prepared to go into Russia as the priests of Reformation times disguised and smuggled themselves into anti-Catholic Britain to offer Mass, administer the Sacra ments and seek converts, knowing they were facing al most certain capture and a ter rible death. He said he believes hun dreds of young men will vol unteer for such a mission once ihey hear of it. It should not be more difficult than in 16th-century Eng land, he went on. Although communist secret police might be more efficient than authorities of 16th-century Britain, Russia is far larger than England and contains vast areas where a man could live undetected by the authorities for years. Father Ryder spoke in an interview given to the Catho lic Times, British weekly. He said he had dedicated his life to the Russian mission when the plan was started by Pope Pius XI 30 years ago. “It was then thought that within a year or two circumstances would be propitious,” he add ed. “That amount has never come.” But now, he said, he feels that the huge beaucratic sys tem in the U.S.S.R. based on permits, identity cards and other papers has gone on for so long that facilities are to be. found everywhere for ob taining such documents. "We do not want to go info Russia to find a glorious deaih," Father Ryder said. "But by ingenuity and care we want to live for years until we can satisfy the spi ritual longings and needs of even a few of the Russian people." It is impossible to overesti mate the boredom of the Rus sian people with materialism, he added. They are avid for ideas. They want the answer to fundamental questions. Though it is almost impossi ble to send literature into Russia, some books are getting through, Father Ryder said, and they are very welcome. People copy them out in long hand and circulate manuscript copies, he added. Father Ryder said he be lieves the impact of all ef forts to convert Russia so far would be as nothing compared with the inspira tion that would be aroused if it were known thai even one man from the West had gone into the Soviet Union risking his life for no other reason that to tell the people there about Christ. New Rector Named ROME, (NC)—Father Mat thew Schneider, S. V. D., has been named rector of the Col lege of St. Peter the Apostle here to replace its first rector, Father Francis Rosenbaum, S. V. D., who died July 8 in Frit- dorf, Germany. NEW CONGO PREMIER—Cyrille Adoula (right) recent ly named Premier of the strife-torn Republic of the Congo, chats with Msgr. Bakole, vicar general of the Luluabourg diocese, during a special session of the Congolese parliament at the Catholic Louvanium University, Leopoldville. Premier Adoula, regarded as a staunch anticommunist, is expected to respect the liberties the Church in the Congo demands for the family, society and individuals.—(NC Photos). DEATH WITHOUT TEARS PRICE OF IDEALISM IN CUBA Newark, N. J. — Idealism dies hard in Cuba; some times it dies without tears. This is how 23-year-old Alberto Tapia Ruano died: standing, dry-eyed, against the wall in La Cabana fort ress in Cuba — his faith in Fidel Castro shattered, his faith in God renewed. De tails of his death have now been received here. Alberto was an idealist. As a student at the University of Havana, he joined the Cuban University Students Federa tion. He started revolutionary activities against the dictator ship of Gen. Fulgencio Batista by joining the Revolutionary Students Directory. He was a close friend and collaborator of Jose Antonio Echevarria, ex president of the group, who who was killed by Batista po lice in front of the university. Alberto at first believed in the promises and ideals of Fi del Castro, as did 90 per cent of the Cubans. Alberto joined the students’ militias that helped keep order in Havana during the early days of Jan uary, 1959. But when he really realized that Castro was betraying his countrymen, Alberto joined the underground and worked against Castro’s brand of com munism. He helped relay sup plies for the revolutionary movement against Castro. He was captured this past April through the efforts of a com munist neighbor who spied on him and his companions. Alberto Tapia Ruano was tried on April 17 and sentenc ed to death. He was shot in the early morning hours of April 18. But Alberto had an opportunity to write a last let ter to his parents. This is what he wrote: "Just a few momenis ago I received Ihe raiificaiion of fhe death penalty, and that is why, now that I am in my final hours, I write you these lines. You will not believe it, but I assure you that never in my life have I experienc ed so much peace of soul as I feel now. Sincerely, I tell you that I am happy to think that very soon I shall be with God, waiting and pray ing for you. (Continued on Page 8) Editorial Comment 4 Book Reviews 7 Backdrop 4 Obituaries 5 Marriages 5 Doris Answers Youth 5 Report From West Berlin 2 Federal Aid To Education 3 Headline Hopscotch 4 Now In Session At Camp Villa Marie Leadership Class In Christian Living CAMP VILLA MARIE—Ap proximately 40 student leaders from Georgia, Florida, Alaba ma and Maryland are attend ing a Leadership Camp in Christian Living sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, province of Baltimore. The camp open ed August 17th and will con tinue through the 26th. Object of the 10-day session is “to afford student leaders with an opportunity to learn techniques of leadership as well as to gain a wealth of background information on current problems.” Students attending are from the colleges, nursing schools and high schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The speakers at the camp session include men and wo men in the theological fields, professional areas, political figures. > The speakers and their top ics are as follows: The Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara, rector, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savan nah, “Leisure — Its Meaning and Use,” Rev. John Cuddy, Diocesan superintendent of schools, Diocese of Savannah, “The Ecumenical Council”; The Rev. W. Thomas Larkin, pastor, Christ the King Church, Jacksonville, Fla., “Commun ism”; The Rev. John McShane, S.M., Marist Seminary, Wash ington, D. C., “Prayer and Sac rifice in the Church”; The Rev. Marvin Le Frois, pastor, St. Theresa Church, Albany, “The Mystical Body”; the Rev. Felix Donnelly, pastor, Church of the Nativity, Thunderbolt, “Parish Life.” Sister Mary Gratia, R.S.M., Mount Saint Agnes High School, Baltimore, Md., “Effec tive Public Speaking”; Sister Mary Sarto, R.S.M., Catholic High School, Pensacola, Fla., “The Psychology of Leader ship”; Sister Mary Michelle, R.S.M., principal* Mercy High School, Baltimore, Md., “Joy in Sacrifice—Religious Life.” Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDon ough and Mr. and Mrs. Chris R. Sheridan, “Joy in Sacrifice —Family Life”; Miss Patricia Cannon, Director, Nursing Ser vice, Chatham County Health Department, “Joy in Sacrifice —Nursing”; Andrew Ryan, so licitor general, Savannah, “The Christian in Politics”; Bart Shea, attorney, immediate past president, Savannah Junior Chamber of Commerce, “Labor —Its Organization, Manage ment, and Dignity.” Michael Gannam, attorney, instructor in political science, Armstrong Junior College, Savannah, “International Life”; William Starrs, director, Savannah Little Theater, “The Church and Drama”; John F. Ahern, Director, Occupational Training Center, Savannah, “Modern Quest for Truth—De velopment of the Intellectual Life”; Mrs. W. C. Broderick, past president, Deanery Coun cil of Catholic Women, “Prac tical Points of Parliamentary Law”; Miss Margaret Ann Broderick, faculty member, St. Vincent Academy, Savannah, “Critical Thinking — Com munications.” SISTER THERESE CLOTHED IN HOLY HABIT OF CARMEL SAVANNAH — Saturday morning, August 5th, Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, Car mel’s chapel was filled with friends and relatives, as a young girl received the Holy Habit of Our Lady of Mt. Car mel. Dressed in the family wedding gown of rich lace and tulle and holding the lighted tapering candle, symbolic of the Virgins, Sister Therese of the Queen of Carmel knelt at the open grate to offer herself to God and to pray for souls in a life of prayer, solitude, penance and works. The Right Rev. John D. Toomey, pastor of St. James Church and Diocesan Vicar for Religious, celebrated a Low Mass and performed the Inves titure ceremony. After the Low Mass, Sister Therese retired from the open grate to exchange her bridal gown for the rough brown Habit of Carmel. The Holy Ha- PIED PIPER PRIEST OPERATES HOME FOR "LITTLE BROTHERS" Providing a home for 200 boys in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Father Guillermo Wasson has formed a “hogar” of love out of selfishness and hate. Starting with one juvenile delinquent who robbed church poor boxes in 1955, Father Wasson has developed the Our Little Brother Institute into a self-support ing enterprise. During the day, formal workshops and classes are attended by the hoys. Pictured at left, Father Wasson towels the first of a group of ■■■ ■. , i r> : "little brothers” who have been through the shower. In center photo, the hoys pitch in on the home’s newest project, a garden. A few goats provide the milk for the little ones. At right, the priest escorts some of the older boys on a cultural visit to the University of Mexico in Mexico City, 48 miles from Cuernavaca. His final goal is to help the boys become future leaders of their country. (NC Photos) bit is a symbol of consecration to God; the color brown for labor, austerity, penance, mor tification; the girdle of leather for chastity, soldiers gird themselves for battle, travelers for the journey, laborers for their work. It is a shield of protection. The scapular sym bolizes the arms of Our Lady enfolding and guarding and sustaining. It is a pledge of dedication to her. The mantle is a symbol of purity . . . vir gins follow the Lamb clothed in white. It expresses a life of prayer. Brown and white re veal the double spirit of the great Teresa of Avila and St. Elias. Penance-mortification; prayer-contemplation . . . the heart and spirit of Carmel. The Rev. John V. Mulvey, S.M.A., delivered an inspiring sermon, explaining the interp retation of the new Novice’s name, Theresa ... as “Bearer of sheathes of corn” . . . the fruit of good works and virtue. the marriage promises of hus band and wife to those inade by the Bride of Christ who also promises to leave all other loves for the Heavenly Bride groom as she offers “her all” for the salvation of souls, by renuoncing the world’s materi al gains, pleasures, and even her own will to follow in the Footsteps of Christ. At the end of the ceremony relatives, friends and visitors went to the “speakroom” to see the newly clothed Novice and to express their good wishes, before Sr. Therese of the Queen of Carmel returned to her cloistered life in Car mel. A simile was made between can institutions. 58 Foreign Sisters Arrive CHICAGO, Ill. — 58 foreign nuns from India, Burma, Peru and Brazil have arrived in the U. S. to begin four years of ed ucation at 30 Catholic colleges at the expense of the Ameri- ST. JOSEPH’S, SAVANNAH, GRADUATES TWENTY-ONE SAVANNAH — Twenty-one young women were graduated by St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing on July 30th. Commencement exercises were held in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, with the Most Rev. Thomas J. McDon ough, Bishop of the Diocese, delivering the graduation ad dress. First honor graduate was Margaret Kay Stegin. Second honor graduate was Sheila Elizabeth McNall. Both honor graduates are from Savannah. Other Savannahians among the graduates: Kaye A. Bruggeman, Ashby Elizabeth Connolly, Lucille M. Dulohery, Zona Elizabeth Glackin, Mary Helen Johnson, Kathleen E. Killorin, Carolyn F. Parrish, Lillie L. Rawlings and Sharon Ann Sumner. Out-of-towners among the graduates were Barbara Jean Brown of Augusta, Billie J. Burke of Brunswick, Dora G. Coffey of Charleston, Florrie L. Cook of Augusta, Joan E. Copeland of Jesup, Ruth C. Hood of Thunderbolt, Anita K. Lenz of Brunswick, Hanna Emily Salvo of Charleston and Linda Fay Sapp of Collins. l pray for OUR | PRIESTLY DEAD * i * i REV. WM. F. BROWNE Aug. 23. 1881 REV. CHAS. J. RETHANS Aug. 26, 1951 O God, Who didst give to thy servants by their sacredotal office, a share in the priesthood of the Apostles, grant, tve im plore, that they may also be one of their company forever in heaven. Through Christ Our, LwdL Amen, _ . . *