Newspaper Page Text
(By James M. Johnson)
ROME - After the initial weariness of the early weeks of the
Second Vatican council had melted away, most of the 2,500
bishops convened here in Rome have developed considerable
optimism and enthusiasm for the work of the council.
Summoned by Pope John
XXIII to seek the proper way
in which to renew the Church
spiritually among the changing
realities of the present day,
the council faces a hard sche
dule of work and study.
In commenting upon his re
action to the council, in general,
Bishop McDonough observed:
“I have an optimistic view
of the council. It has been ex
tremely well prepared. Each
bishop has had ample opportu
nity to present topics to the
Holy See and the best
ecclesiastical minds of the
whole world have been called
to Rome for consultation.
"This is in reality the most
ecumenical council, in view of
its representation, of all the
councils held thus far.
"Of course, there are a great
many problems confronting
people throughout the world to
day. The council gives great
hopes that, if not a complete
solution for each problem, it
certainly will effect a spiritual
renaissance.
"The leadership we have here
is most impressive. And the
agenda that has been presented
to us is extremely thorough.
It seems that all of the bishops
have brought to the feet of the
Holy Father the problems of
the entire world.
“The Holy Father certainly
has allowed each consultant free
expression of thought and he has
listened to them all because of
his belief that each bishop has
fully equated the situation in his
own diocese and his own
country.
"There is a tremendous vol
ume of work attached to the
council and each bishop is de
dicated in giving himself and
everything he has to the work
of the council."
Bishop McDonough is resid
ing in the graduate house of
the Trinitarian Fathers in the
suburb of E.U.R., which is a
considerable distance west of
the heart of the city. The su
burb is growing rapidly with
new apartment buildings push
ing up rapidly throughout the
area. Compared to Rome’s traf
fic and general confusion, it is
a haven of peace and quiet.
Bishop McDonough describ
ed his mode of life in this
oasis of modern architecture
in the only recently consecra
ted graduate house.
“I follow the routine of the
house. I’m up at 6:15 and we
have prayers and meditation
before Mass, which is offered
in the chapel where there are
five altars.
"We eat our meals here.
We have breakfast at 7:30
o'clock and leave for the gen
eral congregations about 8:15.
It takes about 20 to 25 minutes
by car. For the working con
gregations we dispense with
the procession and simply en
ter immediately and take our
places.
"I have registered and re
ceived a Vatican passport and,
as a result, receive the cour
tesies of a Vatican diplomat."
The bishop returns, usually,
from St. Peter's for lunch at
the house and the afternoon
generally is free for study for
the next day’s business. After
prayers, dinner is served at
around 7 o’clock and the bishop
retires early.
As the council proceeds, the
bishop has had the opportunity
of meeting prelates whom he
has not seen for some time.
"Just the other day I met
Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara,
former Bishop of Savannah and
now Apostolic Delegate to Great
Britain. I also met Bishop Cor
nelius Lucey of Cork and Ross
in Ireland.
"The bishop has been a great
benefactor of the diocese help
ing us particularly with priests
and seminarians."
Bishop McDonough now is
getting into the routine of life
in Rome.
"I hadn’t been in Rome since
1950 and it is surprising what
a big city it has become, since
that time. It has grown tre
mendously since the war. The
traffic, of course, is terrible,
you can hardly get through.
Monsignor McNamara and I
went shopping in the city short
ly after we arrived. We were
looking for some vestments.
It was tantamount to taking your
life in your own hands to drive
in this traffic. Not only that,
there are so many one-way
streets now that we virtually
had to learn the city all over
again.
"The Romans, you know, are
so courteous that if you ask
them for directions they will
try to tell you, even if they
haven’t the slightest idea of
where you want to go.
"Shortly after our arrival,
Monsignor McNamara and I
went out into the countryside
and it was amazing; the amount
of interest we found among the
people there in the council.
"In one of the villages we
visited, we were received by
almost everyone in the place.
It was almost as if we were
the Holy Father himself. They
told us that they wanted to
greet, as they said, one of the
fathers of the council."
INDEX
MARRIAGES 6
COUNCIL COVERAGE ... .2
EDITORIALS 4
DORIS ANSWERS YOUTH.. . . 4
OBITUARIES 5
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH EDITION
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1962
Pope John
Marks Fourth
Anniversary
ROME - Some 10,000 per
sons, thronged Saint Peter’s
Basilica, last Sunday for cere
monies marking the beginning
of the fifth year of Pope John
XXIII’s reign.
Gathered around were bi
shops from all parts of the
world here for the Second Vati
can Council. Speaking to the
assembled prelates the pontiff
said; "We thank God for this
joy which is felt by our heart."
Quoting St. Paul, he advised
his fellow bishops, "Brethren,
stand firm and hold the teach
ings that you have learned. . .
and may our Lord Jesus
Christ. . .comfort and streng
then your hearts in every good
work and word."
Prayers
Urged For
Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, (NC) - The
assistant director of the Veter
ans Administration chaplain
service has urged that Veterans
Day, November 11, be a day
of prayer throughout the nation.
Msgr. Joseph W. Hartman
said in a special message:
"There are many who still
carry their scars of service
in their maimed bodies. For
these we must not only give
thanks but also our prayers
and support. We pray that all
those who have served us in
our need receive from a mer
ciful God that eternal reward
which alone can satisfy the heart
of man. . .We pray that we may
continue to lead the whole world
toward true peace, the peace
of justice for all mankind."
NCCS Increases
Miami Facilities
WASHINGTON, (NC) — The
National Catholic Community
Service, a USO member agen
cy, has expanded its program
in southern Florida as a re
sult of the buildup of U.S. troops
there occasioned by the Cuban
crisis.
Bell Rings
First Time
In 44 Years
COLUMBUS - The day the
Second Vatican Council open
ed in Rome, the bell of Holy
Family Church, Columbus rang
for the first time in almost 44
years.
Father Arthur Weltzer, pas
tor of Holy family, said it was
not thought advisable to ring
the bell by its cord-pulling
mechanism. Two men climbed
into the belfry to rock the bell’s
wheel to make it ring. The bell
rang from 6:10 p.m. until
the 6:15 p.m. Mass offered
on the day the council open
ed.
The last time the bell was
used was on Armistice Day
at the end of World War 1.
Father Weltzer reports, how
ever that there are unofficial
reports that the bell was rung
at the end of World War II.
MARKS ANNIVERSARY — Bishop Richard Gerow, S. T. B. of Natchez-Jackson was
honored by Bishops of the New Orleans Province on the occasion of the 38th Anniversary
of his Episcopal Consecration. Pictured with the Mississippi prelate is Bishop Thomas
J. McDonough.
DESCRIBES MODE OF LIFE IN ROME
Bishop McDonough Gives
His Reaction To Council
BISHOPS IN ROME - Bishop Thomas J. McDonough is pictured on the grounds of the
North American College with (left to right) Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan of Worcester,
Mass.; Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg, Pa.; Bishop Hilary B. Hacker of
Bismark, N. Dak.; and Bishop Vincent S. Waters of Raleigh, N. C. (N.C. Photo)
Bishop Pleased With u Generosity, Sacrifice”
Returns Indicate Success
International Events Focus
Attention To Moral
Teaching On War
By J. J. Gilbert
WASHINGTON -Many
Americans reacted to the hei
ghtened international crisis
with prayers that the world
would be guided safely through
the time of peril.
Typical was the appeal of the
U. S. Bishops who called on the
nation's Catholics to make the
Feast of Christ the King a day
of prayer for the preservation
of "peace with freedom and
justice."
The crisis was an occasion
for focusing attention again on
Catholic teaching on interna
tional conflicts.
A student of papal teachings
in this field held that the
"quarantine" of offensive arms
shipments to Cuba announced
by President Kennedy was in
conformity with the papal teach
ings. Msgr. Harry C. Koenig,
editor of "Principles for
Peace," a collection of papal
documents, said the teaching
of the popes "opposes block
ades which aim at starving and
demoralizing people but it does
not oppose a blockade prevent
ing the shipping of offensive
armaments."
As for the question of war
fare in the nuclear age, most
experts agree that Catholic
teaching has undergone major
modifications in view of the
tremendous destructive power
of modern weapons.
Catholic moralists, of cour
se, universally agree that so-
called "obliteration" bombing
of population centers is for
bidden. Beyond this, however,
there is the question of what
targets, if any, nuclear weapons
may be used on.
The recently published "Dic
tionary of Moral Theology,"
compiled under the direction of
Francesco Cardinal Roberti,
Prefect of the Supreme Tri
bunal of the Apostolic Signa
ture, poses this question. In
reply it notes that there is no
possibility of escape for non-
combatants in the area of an
atomic explosion and says;
"Hence, the use of atomic wea
pons should be restricted even
more than that of ordinary
bombs, and should be limited
to exclusively and specifically
military objectives."
But the dictionary also notes
that war has its own brutal
logic and that "often a war
reaches a point where anything
goes, fair or foul.” In view of
this, it says, "the only sane,
moral and humane approach. ..
is to establish a system where
by all conflicts between nations
are referred to a higher tri
bunal with effective power re
cognized by all countries of the
world.”
It is well known that the pro
blem of war was one of the
agonizing concerns of the late
Pope Pius XII. Thus, comment
ing in 1953 on ABC warfare,
the Pope said that if the damage,
resulting from war is not com
parable to the injustice which
has raised the possibility of
armed conflict, “one may be
(Continued on Page 3)
FATHER WELTZER inspects antique bell cast in Mass
achusetts in 1779. The bell was last rung in 1918 to mark
end of World War I parishioners say. - (Ledger-Enquirer
Photos)
Large Quota
Among First Over Top
SAVANNAH - Returns made to the Chancery in Savannah during
the week of October 28th indicated that the Bishop’s Con
fraternity of the Laity Campaign is already a success.
Parishes having large quotas were among the very first to
make complete returns. They are St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill,
Augusta; St. Joseph's, Macon; and Blessed Sacrament, Savannah,
Their quota was $12,500.00 each.
The Cathedral of St. John ttie
Baptist has also reported com
plete success. Other parishes
reporting fulfillment of quotas
are St. Christophers’s, Claxton;
St. Benedict’s, Columbus; Im
maculate Conception, Dublin;
St. Martin’s, Americus; St. Jo
seph's, Augusta; Our Lady of
Lourdes, Columbus; St. Peter
Claver’s, Macon; St. Ber-
edict’s, Savannah; St. Mary’s,
Savannah; St. Matthew’s, Sta
tesboro; Assumption, Sylvania;
Star of the Sea, St. Mary's;
St. Augustine, Thomasville; and
Nativity, Thunderbolt.
St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill, Au
gusta; St. Martin’s, Americus;
St. Joseph’s, Augusta; St.
Christopher’s, Claxton; St. Pe
ter Claver, Macon; Blessed Sa
crament, Savannah; Star of the
Sea, St. Mary; and Assumption,
Sylvania all reported their quo
tas over subscribed. <
The annual drive for funds
began on Sunday, October 7th.,
with the distribution of leaflets
outlining the proposed dis
bursements of proceeds among
various Diocesan projects, a
letter from His Excellency, Bi
shop Thomas J. McDonough, and
sermons in all churches on the
importance of "SacrificialGiv
ing" toward the widespread
works of the Diocese.
The first solicitation was
made on Sunday, October 21st
when workers called at every
Catholic home, asking for a
minimum contribution of $25.00
Sunday, October 28th was
"Follow-up Sunday" and work
ers called back on those who had
been at home the previous Sun
day, or who had indicated that
they would make their contri
bution on the 28th.
"Of course, the returns we
have are not final," said the
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Andrew J. Mc
Donald, Chancellor. "There
are many people who are on
monthly salary or who have
recently had pressing debts to
discharge, and who have in
dicated that they would be very
happy to contribute at a later
date to the wonderful work the
Diocese is able to carry out
because of this yearly cam
paign,” he said.
The chancellor also said that
names of contributors have al
ready been forwarded to Bishop
McDonough in Rome, and that
the Bishop will send letters of
appreciation before he returns
from the first session of the
Ecumenical Council.
"His Excellency is most
pleased by the ready response
of our people to his appeal, and
by their spirit of generosity
and sacrifice, and he wishes
me to assure every member
of the Diocese of Savannah that
he remembers them all in his
daily Masses and prayers," he
said.
When asked whether this
year’s Confraternity Campaign
could be termed more success
ful than previous efforts, Mon-
15 Schools Have
Dropped First Grade
GREEN BAY, Wis., (NC) —
The number of grade schools
in the Green Bay diocese which
have dropped first grade has
reached 15.
Five schools cut out the grade
this year. In addition, two others
eliminated the second grade and
one school closed entirely.
A lack of teachers and fac
ilities was to blame.
In announcing these develop
ments, doscesan school offi
cials said that nevertheless,
Catholic school enrollment was
at an all-time high of 50,443
pupils, an increase of 1,007.
signor McDonald declared,
“The most gratifying part of
this year’s drive is the fact
that it is now so well accepted
that many people in various
parishes approached their pas
tors with their contributions,
evern before the first solicita
tion Sunday."
Another report will be re
leased from the Chancery
sometime in December.
Requiem For
Deceased
Cardinals
VATICAN CITY, (Radio, NC)
- A commemorative Mass was
celebrated in St. Peter’s basi
lica November 8 for the six
cardinals who have died during
the past year.
His Holiness Pope John XXIII
gave the absolution at the end
of the ceremony. The Mass was
offered by Giuseppe Cardinal
Ferretto, a member of the
Vatican administrative staff.
The cardinals for- whom the
Mass was offered are Aloisius
Cardinal Muench, former
Bishop of Fargo, N. D., who
served as Apostolic Nuncio to
Germany before being trans
ferred to the Vatican adminis
trative staff; Elia Cardinal dalla
Costa, Archbishop of Florence;
Gaetano Cardinal Cicognani,
who was Prefect of the Sacred
Congregation of Rites ;Teodosio
Cardinal de Gouveia, Arch
bishop of Lourenco Marques,
Mozambique; Giovanni Cardinal
Panico, member of the Vatican
administrative staff and veteran
papal diplomat; and Gabriele
Acacio Cardinal Coussa, Sec
retary of the Sacred Congre
gation for Oriental Churches.
NEW CANADIAN
BISHOP NAMED
VATICAN CITY, (Radio, NC)
—Father Remi De Roo, pastor
of Holy Cross parish in the St.
Boniface archdiocese, has been
appointed Bishop of Victoria,
B. C.
He succeeds the late Bishop
James Hill who died on March
29.
Bishop-elect DeRoo was born
February 24, 1924, in Swan
Lake, Man. After graduation
from the University of Mani
toba, he earned a degree in
theology at the Angelicum Uni
versity in Rome.
PRAY FOR OUR
PRIESTLY DEAD
RT. REV. WILLIAM H.
GROSS C. Ss. R.
FIFTH BISHOP OF
SAVANNAH
Nov. 14, 1898
REV. CORNELIUS M.
SHEEHAN
November 18, 1875
RT. REV. JOHN
BARRY D.D.
SECOND BISHOP OF
SAVANNAH
November 21, 1859
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.
Serving
Georgia's 88
Southern Counties
Vol. 43, No. 12
Published By The
Catholic Laymen's
Ass'n of Georgia
10c Per Copy — A Year
Of Confraternity Drive