Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
About Bulletin (Monroe, Ga.) 1958-1962 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1962)
jSgSSKj : , : < \ *\ **■"* nmmvwuuiimiuui^i. Pi#?#? THE MOST REV. ARCHBISHOP EGGIDIO VAGNOZZI, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, presided at installation of Bishop McDonough as Savannah Ordinary. Photo above shows Mr. Julian Halligan, Bishop McDonough, Archbishop Vagnozzi, Bish- Statistics Show Growth Of Diocese a) Number of children enrolled in Catholic Schools: 1957, 5,578; 1962, 9,500. b) Catholic Population: 1957, 23,039; 1962, 30,065. c) Diocesan Priests: 1957, 32; 1962, 31. d) Priests of Religious Communities: 1957, 47; 1962, 49. e) Total Number of Priests working in diocese: 1957 72' . .1962,82. f) Four Priests are on temporary loan in Diocese. g) Number of seminarians studying .for Diocese: 1957 18 - 1962, 84. VN Number of Parishes in Diocese: 1957, 28; 1962, 35. umber of Sisters in Diocese: 1957, 229; 1962, 284. Hew Camp Villa Marie Camp Villa Marie, ever since its inception, has been one of the most valued institutions in the Diocese. Many of our chil dren, located in areas without Catholic schools, feel at home in our camp. The priests, the Sisters and the seminarians who conduct the camp can be justifiably happy in what has been accomplished. Many of the boys who went to the camp are now semi narians; many of the girls be long to religious communities. Our Camp Villa Marie is en tirely new. It is a blessing to the Diocese. Franciscan Sisters Of The Atonement The Atonement Sisters came to the Diocese in the fall of 1960. They staff the catecheti cal school at St. Paul's Church, Douglas. Graymoor is the story of a dream come true, the dream of two great lovers of St. Francis, Very Reverend Father Paul Francis and Mother Lu- rana Mary Francis, who founded the Society of the Atonement at Graymoor, Gar rison, New York, in 1898. At that time they were both mem bers of the Episcopal faith. Here, too, the Chair of Unity Octave, now a worldwide movement, was inaugurated in 1908. The following year, in October, 1909, the little pio neer band at Graymoor came into the Catholic Church. Mother Lurana gave her all that she might bring her ideal to life; to work in union with God in His ceaseless quest for souls. When, on December 15, 1898, she plodded through the drifted snow up to the dark and lonely farmhouse which was to be her convent, she opened the door into a new life as she stepped from the world she knew and loved into the cold, dreary, bare room. Being a practical woman, she began to make the old house more livable. She lighted a fire, a fire that was to have a dual the spi- flame, the one to warm cold room; the second, a ritual fire whose embers were to glow through all the years to come, drawing souls into the warmth and solace of God’s love. As cosmopolitan as her na tive New York, Mother Lurana began to send her Sisters into the missionary field as early as 1918. Her work spread to cit ies, towns and rural areas, from coast to coast in the United States. It has crossed the boundary into Canada reaching into the snowy wastes of the Far North. It has span ned the Atlantic into Europe and the Pacific into Japan. In their extensive program in the field of social service endless opportunities are open to help souls who are perplexed, trou bled, and discouraged with the many and conflicting problems arising in the complex life of today. It matters not whether those who seek advice, guid ance and help are children teen-agers, middle-agers or old-agers, an Atonement Sis ter refuses no one. The approach to souls is thoroughly Franciscan. The Community, which became Pa pal in 1946, was affiliated with the great Franciscan Order in 1921. THE BULLETIN, February 17, 1962—PAGE 3 New School ai St. Mary's-on-the-Hill was opened in the fall of 1980. Domestic Prelate from Bishop McDonough. FIFTEEN NAMED TO PAPAL HONORS Our Sovereign Pontiffs, Pope ■ Pius XII of happy memory, . and Pope John XXIII, now ■ gloriously reigning as the Vi- V car of Christ on Earth, con ferred honors upon the clergy (and the laity. One priest was designated a Protonotary Apostolic; five priests made Domestic Prelates. Of the laity honored, three ■ were made Knights of Saint Gregory, and six received the medal “Pro Ecclesia et Ponti- fice.” Profonoiary Apostolic: Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James Mc Namara. Domestic Prelates: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Tho mas A. Brennan; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Herman J. Deimel; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. Mc Donald; Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Toomey. Knights of Saint Gregory: Mr. Daniel J. Sheehan; Mr. Alfred Battey; Mr. John M. Brennan. Medal "Pro Ecclesia et Pon- tifice: Mr. Robert E. McCormack; Mrs. Robert E. McCormack; Mrs. Loretto Flanagan; Miss Mollie Lehr; Mrs. Francis X. Mulherin; Mr. Desmond O’ Driscoll. Sisters Leber With Devotion The work of our devoted Sisters in our schools, our hos pitals, our institutions, is ever in our debt. Their many acts of heroic sacrifice is a source of great edification. The work of the Church in South Georgia can trace much of its impetus to the almost three hundred Sisters who are now in the Diocese of Savannah. We are grateful for their devotion, loyalty and prayers during 1957-1962. examine Bishop McDonough and Mr. John Brennan document naming the prominent Savannahian to the Order of Knight of Si. Gregory. Negro Convert Rate Increases The Apostolate among the Negroes in South Georgia con tinues to grow year after year. Our Holy Faith attracts the Negro population. The priests and sisters who work in this privileged field of God's har vest, are quite optimistic about the present and presage an even greater future. The number of converts in creases annually, as does the enrollment of children in our schools. The priests and the sisters deserve our highest en comiums for their intelligent and dedicated devotion. Our prayers accompany them as they bring the light of faith to the many who seek God. Mother’s Day Collection You will perhaps wonder why so many churches in the Diocese of Savannah are nam ed in honor of Mary, the Mo ther of God. Prior to 1957, the Mother’s Day Collection was designated for the construction of new churches in memory of Our Blessed Lady. We particu larly allude to the Church of the Assumption in Sylvania, and the Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea in St. Mary’s. Even though we were aided through generous gifts from outside sources, the Mother’s Day Collections represented the largest contributions. Hear! Church, Savannah and Benedictine Military School for more ihan a half century became an independent Priory. MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Two Trinitarian Fathers came to labor in the Diocese of Savannah in 1960. Their spi ritual activities are centered in Dublin, Georgia. In addi tion to the Mother Church in Dublin, there are also missions in Fort Valley and Perry. We anticipate the arrival of more Trinitarian Fathers to the Dub lin Missions. Canonically erected as a Re ligious Congregation in 1929, the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, or “Trini tarians” as they are more fa miliarly known trace their be ginnings back to the mission ary zeal of their founder, a Vincentian priest, the Very Rev. Thomas A. Judge, C.M., who formed a small group of mission minded lay Catholics into a band known as the “Outer Missionary Cenacle,” in 1909. From this lay apostolate there developed two religious congregations, one of Priests and Brothers (Missionary Ser vants of the Most Holy Trini ty) and one of Sisters (Mis sionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity). But the Out er Cenacle, lay missioners, still carry on their work under the direction of the two Religious Congregations who now com prise the Inner Missionary Cenacle. Although their assignment in Dublin is their first in this Diocese, the Missionary Serv ants of the Most Holy Trinity are no strangers to Georgia. When Father Judge was first assigned to work in the South at Opelika, Alabama in the fall of 1915, he persuaded three lay Associates to come with him to start a Catholic School. Anti-Catholic feeling was running high at the time, and a man who had offered a house for the use of the Asso ciates was forced to withdraw his offer under threat of vio lence, without the promised house it seemed that the idea of a school would have to be abandoned, at least temporari ly. But at this point, Mrs. Mary K. Walker and the Misses Deg- nan, Catholics of Columbus, just across the river from Ope lika offered the hospitality of their homes and a few weeks late the Associates were able to rent a house in Opelika. In the forty-six years that have passed since that time, the spiritual sons of Father Judge have become familiar sights to the Catholics of Col- lumbus as they generously lent their assistance whenever nec essary. Communities Of Priests Cited Many religious orders and communities of priests serve the mission areas of South Georgia ' with steadfast devo tion and unparalleled distinc tion. These priests, at the invita tion of the Bishops of the Dio cese, in lieu of our great short age of diocesan priests, have accepted the most difficult as signments. The present Ordi nary of the Diocese is con stantly in admiration of the truly dedicated apostolate of these priests. Without the Christ-like de votion of our priests from re ligious communities, areas of the Diocese of Savannah would still be deprived of the benefits and consolations of the one, true faith. May their work prosper and increase dialy. CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS BUILD, EXPAND PLANTS SAVANNAH — : The empha sis today is upon Youth. We must bring to fruition the tal ents which God has given them. We believe that this can best be obtained through a Catholic education. In other words, our program for our Youth is Catholic High lew Priory For Diocese The Diocese of Savannah re ceived a new honor when the Benedictine Fathers in Savan nah established the indepen dent Priory of the Sacred Heart. The vision of the mem bers of the new independent priory reflects the dedication of the loyal priests who will continue to give to the Youth of the See City, an education “Par Excellence.” We pray, too, that their numbers will in crease — that they will receive many vocations to the Bene dictine way of life. Through them may the works of God be glorified. Schools. During the past five years tremendous attention has been placed upon this important segment of our Diocesan De velopment Program. Three new High Schools have been constructed and four have un dergone major improvements or extensions. New High Schools: Aquinas High School, Au gusta. Pacelli High School, Colum bus. Mount de Sales for Boys, Macon. Major Improvements and/or Extensions: St. Vincent’s Academy, Sav annah. St. Pius X High School, Sav annah. Immaculate Conception High School, Augusta. Mount de Sales for Girls, in Macon, completed a new high school prior 1 to 1957. Projected New High School: Benedictine Military School, Savannah, is completing a new building to be located on a large tract of land. It is esti mated that construction will be started in 1962 Cork Diocese Aids Savannah His Lordship, Bishop Lucejq has designated the Diocese of Savannah as a missionary pro ject of the Diocese of Cork. Last summer Bishop Mc Donough visited Cork and ad dressed seminarians who were interested in Georgia. The re sults of the tour of Ireland, in behalf of vocations, were most rewarding. Seventeen young men from the Isle of Saints and Scholars are enrolled in various seminaries in Ireland, for the Diocese of Savannah. iflk ST g ■ a Drive Success Extensive building has been carried on in most of the mis sion areas of the Diocese. Mis sion chapels have been built, tracts of land acquired, and catechetical centers establish ed. These projects were made possible through the annual drive known as the Bishop’s Confraternity of the Laity. This financial campaign, car ried on for three years, has brought to the Diocese a total of $324,000.00, realized as fol lows: 1959 $ 94,000.00 1960 104,000.00 1961 126,000.00 Immaculate Conception Hall, Augusta—one of many impressive parish structures erected during five year construction program of Diocese. MR. GENE POWERS, Grand Knight of Savannah Council 631, Knights of Colum bus, presents check for $750.00 to His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough. Mr. Hugh Grady, State Deputy, looks on approvingly. Check represents Savannah Knights’ contribution to Diocesan Seminary Burse. Among outstanding laymen and women receiving papal honors since 1957 is Mrs. Loretta Flanagan, of Savannah. Recently constructed Nurses' home adds to modern facilities of St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, Georgia. op Emmet Walsh, presently Bishop of Youngstown, and Monsignor T. James McNa mara, Savannah’s Vicar General.
