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Serving Georgia's 88 Southern Counties DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH Vol. 43, No. 10 Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n of Georgia SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1962 10c Per Copy — $3 A Year LEAVES FOR ROME - Bishop Thomas J. McDonough (third from right) and Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. James McNamara (fourth from right) wait for train which will take them to New York and Jet flight to Rome for the Ecumenical Council. On hand to say “Bon Voyage” were several priests of the Diocese. They are left to right, Rev. Herbert Wellmeier, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. McDonald, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Toomey, Rev. Francis J. Donohue, all of Savannah, and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke of Augusta. 1 GOAL OF THE CONFRATERNITY DRIVE OCTOBER, 1962 1. Construction of new wing to St. John Vianney Minor Seminary. The overwhelming success of the vocation drive to invite young men from the soil of Georgia to serve God as Priests has made it necessary to add a new wing to the minor semi nary. We have enrolled at the Seminary seventy boys. The facilities constructed last year were, we believed, more than adequate. The new construction is now in progress. We appeal to you for sacrificial contributions. The new fa cilities, plus equipment, will cost $40,000.00 2. Education of young men for the Priesthood. The prayers of our religious and faithful are being heard. We are educating 115 students who will, one day, serve as priests of the Diocese of Savannah. The future is promising but the sacrifices of today most demanding. Formerly many who were blessed by God with earthly riches established burses for the education of priests. Today we depend en tirely upon the generous offerings of the faithful. To educate our seminarians we need, in addition to the annual collection. $25,000.00 3. Orphan and,Dependent Children. The welfare of our orphaned and dependent children is quite capably provided at St. Mary’s Home and St. Joseph’s Home. The children in these homes reflect the gracious kindness of the Sisters who direct the institutions. Of all the worthy causes presented to our people the homes for dependent children seem to receive the priority of their charity. We are grateful for the annual collection and for the superb work of St. Mary’s Guild. In addition to these wonderful agencies of charity we need. 5 000 00 4. Renovation to Our Mother Church — The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. From some sources we have heard rumors that our faith ful wondered why they are requested to contribute towards the renovation of the Cathedral Church. It is the Mother Parish of the Diocese which over the years has given generously to the work of Catholic expansion in the Diocese of Savannah. From the Cathedral Parish we have been blessed with many vocations to the Priesthood and the Sisterhood. In fact, it would be impossible to measure the debt of gratitude we owe to the Cathedral. Furthermore, it is the Bishop’s Church- and all Catholics are privileged to assist the Cathedral Parish. The Cathedral is a symbol of our Faith; it is the beginning of our Faith in Georgia. $30,000.00 5. Carmel Monastery. The faithful of the Diocese refer to Carmel as a spiritual storehouse and a fortress of prayers. The good Sisters depend upon donations to make ends meet. It is difficult to liqui date their building debt (presently $85,000.00) without our help in the Confraternity Drive. We have pledged to give them annually towards the reduction of debt. $5,000.00 6. Mission Churches. Mission Churches are beginning to dot the rural areas of the Diocese of Savannah. During the past five years eighteen Mission Churches have been constructed for God's glory and the salvation of souls. Just think of all the Masses of fered in these new Mission Churches. We contemplate build ing three Mission Churches this year and two parish halls. To assist in this work we ask through the Bishop's Confra ternity Drive. $30,000.00 7. Contingency Fund. During the year many calls for financial assistance come to us from every area of the Diocese. In most instances we assist readily these appeals. Land must be purchased for new parishes and missions; maintenance must be supplied to our very poor parishes. Through the Confraternity Drive we provide automobiles for the missions; pay the teachers’ salaries; and take care of the insurance. We estimate for these purposes. $25,000.00 K. of C. Plans New Council SAVANNAH - A new Knights of Columbus Council is being formed in Savannah. Location of the second Coun cil in the city will be in the Southeastern section near De- Renne avenue. Several sites are now being surveyed. Savannah Council 631, the mother council of Georgia, was organized more than 50 years ago. It is proposed that the new unit of the Knights will have club, facilities, a swimming pool, playground area and youth center, according to Nicholas S. Kenny, chairman of the or ganization committee. Kenny and Vestus J. Ryan, committee secretary, were named by Dan iel J. Keane, district deputy. Both Kenny and Ryan are past grand knights of Savannah Council and also past district deputies. Ryan, a member for 20 years, is a past state sec retary and state warden of the Georgia K. of C. Kenny said authorization for the organization of the new council was secured from Su preme Headquarters by Jos eph Zwicknagel, state deputy in Atlanta. PRAY FOR OUR PRIESTLY DEAD REV. JAMES A. KELLY Oct. 16, 1876 RT. REV. MSGR. JOSEPH F. CROKE Oct. 19, 1951 RT. REV. MSGR. LOUIS F.X. BAZIN Oct. 21, 1916 Oh God, Who didst give to thy servants by their sacredotal office, a share in the priest hood of the Apostles, grant, we implore, that they may also be one of their company forever in heaven. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. “Most Articulate Expression Of Faith 99 Confraternity Fund Drive Minimum Goal Is $140,000 WORKERS TO CALL SUNDAY, OCT. 21 SAVANNAH - On Sunday, October 21st, hundreds of campaign workers representing the Bishop’s Confraternity of the Laity will call at every home in the Diocese of Savannah, seeking funds for diocesan projects. Minimum goal of this year’s drive is $140,000.00. Funds collected in this annual effort will be distributed for the con struction of a new wing to St. John Vianney Minor Seminary in Savannah; for the education of seminarians at St. John's and other seminaries; for the care of dependent children of the Diocese at St. Mary’s Home in Savannah and St. Joseph's Home in Washington, Georgia; for the renovation of the Dio cese’s mother church, the Ca thedral of St. John the Baptist; for the continued operation of the Carmelite Monastery; and for the building of Mission Churches in rural and sparsely populated areas of the Diocese. The Bishop’s Confraternity of the Laity was organized four years ago by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough, to provide an al ternative to periodic capital funds drives involving long term pledges. Instead of pledges, Catholics of the Diocese are now asked, in October of every year to make a cash contribution to ward the works of the Diocese. In a letter read in all church es of the Diocese on Sunday, Oct. 7th, Bishop McDonough referred to the work and sacrifice of “Our forefathers”, who “gave us a rich spiritual inheritance which has kept our faith inviolate,” and declared that “We, of today, are charged with the obligation of adding to the spiritual and material gifts given us.” He urged Catholics to be “particularly generous” this year “so that we will be able to complete the new construc tion at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary.” Ground for the new wing was broken last month and it is anticipated by seminary autho rities that construction will be finished in the early spring. Bishop McDonough noted that, in contrast to the small num bers of young men studying for the Diocesan priesthood in past years, the Diocese of Savannah now has 115 seminarians in several houses of studies. He also noted, in a pamph let distributed throughout the diocese that there are now se venty students at St. John Via nney. Referring to the necessity of diocesan-wide contributions to ward the renovation of the Sav annah Cathedral, the Bishop declared, “It is the Mother Pa rish of the Diocese, which over the years has given generously to the work of Catholic expan sion in the Diocese. . .” The Cathedral is a symbol of our Faith; it is the beginning of our Faith in Georgia,” he said. In a separate letter to pas tors of the Diocese, Bishop Mc Donough designated Sunday, Oc tober 21st as the day for collec tion of contributions to the Con fraternity drive. He directed that sermons on Sunday, Oct. 7 and Sunday Oct. 14 should be directed to Diocesan needs and the inability of the Church to fulfill its mission of "strength ening and spreading the Faith” without the “wholehearted, prayerful, sacrificial gener osity of the WHOLE church, here in south Georgia - Bishop, priests, religious and laity.” Pastors have asked parish ioners to remain at home during the early hours of the afternoon of Oct. 21st, to receive cam paign workers and make their contribution. INDEX MARRIAGES 5 EDITORIALS 4 DORIS ANSWERS YOUTH.. . . 4 OBITUARIES. 5 Fr. Levernier At Sylvania SYLVANIA - The Rev. Don ald Levernier has been appoin ted assistant pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption par ish. Father Levernier is a native of Glenview, Ill. He attended Loyola Academy and Loyola University in Chicago and took one year of philosophical stud ies at Mount St. Mary’s Semin ary in Norwood, Ohio, and four years of theological studies at the Glenmary Seminary in Glen dale, Ohio. He was ordained on May 28, 1961, and has served in parish es in western North Carolina during the past year. Bishop’s Office Diocese of Savannah 223 Abehcohn Stheet Savannah, Geohoia October 1, 1962 My dear People: The progress of our Diocese is a constant source of inspiration. Even though we are numerically small, the faith of our Fathers is strong and resolute even in the remote areas of the State. Our forefathers gave us a rich spiritual inheritance which has kept our faith inviolate. Our good bishops, our dedicated religious, our loyal laity have literally spent themselves for the Kingdom of God on earth. We, of today, are charged with the obligation of adding to the spiritual and mat erial gifts given us. If we dedicate ourselves resolutely to the cause of building up the House of God on earth, our treasure will increase day by day. Your prayers and material assistance during the past five years have been a constant source of edification to me. The numbers of our seminarians have reached 115; our new mission churches have increased by a score; new schools; convents; parish halls; rectories and other institutions have been constructed. In a word we owe so much to Almighty God for His Providential care. Once again we are prepared to embark upon the Bishop’s Confraternity of the Laity Drive. The funds realized from this drive have made possible most of the mission construction work carried on in the Diocese. In fact, it is the most articulate expression of how the Laity of the Diocese of Savannah participates in the extension of our Faith. All of the projects merit your most charitible interests. This year, however, I am urging you to be particularly generous, so that we will be able to complete the new construction at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary. The love of our new seminary has captured the imagination of all. Please do not turn down our appeal for assistance in the Confraternity Drive. God will not be outdone in generosity. Begging your prayers upon the work imposed upon me and pledging you a rem embrance in my daily mass and prayers, I am, Devotedly yours in Christ, A- ^ Bishop of Savannah Bishop Dedicates New Aquinas Gym AUGUSTA - “Today is a day which should gladden our hearts.” Bishop Thomas J. Mc Donough told the crowd gath ered for the dedication cere monies at Aquinas High School’s gymnasium. The ceremonies opened with the blessing of the building by the Bishop, followed by a mu sical program by the Aquinas Girls’ Glee Club under the di rection of Sister Anne Richard, C.S.J. Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus formed a guard of honor for the Bishop. Master of Ceremonies was the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke, V. F., president of Aquinas High School and pas tor of St. Mary’s on-the-Hill Church. Prior to introducing the speakers, Monsignor Bourke said that the “simple but im pressive ceremonies just wit nessed had fulfilled a long standing need of the school,” Bishop McDonough paid tri bute to those responsible for the new facility, particularly to Mr. John McDonald for his ef forts in building the new gym nasium. The Rev. Ralph Seikel, Mod erator 0 f Aquinas High told those gathered that “my heart is full—I have been waiting a long time for this day.” The Augusta Educator envisages the gymnasium as “a center of Catholic activity in Augusta. . . for the High School students, the grammar school children and the adults.” Father Seikel expressed his thanks to Sister Mary James, principal of the Girls’ section of the school and to Brother Alphonse of the Marist Broth ers who heads the Boys’ divi sion. The gymnasium, which is 90 feet by 114 feet, is equipped with folding bleachers which will seat 600 for athletic events. The building will be put to im mediate use in the physical education program at the school and will, for the first time, provide a home for the Aquinas basketball teams. (See Photo Page 8) MASS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR ROME - Photo was taken during Solemn Pontifical Mass for success of council offered prior to Bishop’s departure for Rome. Left to right: Rev. JosephStranc, Rev. John Cuddy, Rev. Herbert Wellmeier, Bishop McDonough and the Rev. William V. Coleman. SEMINARIANS ENTER CATHEDRAL - First year seminarians in procession to the Cathedral where they were invested with the sur plice by Bishop Thomas J. McDonough. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of the Pontifical Mass offered October 2nd for the success of the council. -jit Hi d3e CjenerouS to the C^onj^ratenxity the cjCciity C^c ampcuan