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Published By The Catholic Laymen's Ass'n Of Georgia THE SAVANNAH BULLETIN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH QUESTION BOX ON PAGE 4 Vol. 38, No. 19. MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1958. 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year Centennial Year Opens Mary's Call Prayer Vibrant Echo At Lourdes AMERICANS THRONG FAMOUS SHRINE Our Lady’s Shrine at Lourdes is expecting three times the usual number of visitors—an esti mated six million—during the 100th anniversary celebrations of the apparitions of Our Blessed Lady to St. Bernadette Soubirous. Pictured, a typical scene of visitors, and the sick seeking rebel from their ailments. Msgr. T. James McNamara, rector of the Cathedral, and Father D. J. Bourke, pastor of St. Mary’s, Augusta, will lead a Diocesan Pilgrimage scheduled to depart April 22nd — y IN G 1 I1U LU/ Colony Founded 225 Years Ago Catholics Were Among Earliest Georgia Settlers EDITOR'S NOTE: THE SAVANNAH BULLETIN is pleased to reproduce this article which appeared in a special issue of THE SAVANNAH MORN ING N El VS commenting on the 225th Anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Georgia- By Walter C. Hariridge Catholics were among the ear liest settlers of Oglethorpe’s col ony. It is true that the charter under which Georgia was found ed prohibited Catholic worship. But Oglethorpe, the son of ardent Catholic parents, regarded with benevolence the presence in his colony of adherents of the “Old Religion.” They came from many lands, England, Ireland, France, Spain and Canada, and in spite of the restraints imposed upon them by the penal laws, they achieved positions of trust in Colonial Sav annah. This interesting and little- known phase of history is being recorded by Mrs. Marmaduke Floyd, an authority on Georgia colonial period, whose biography of Peter Tondee, already publish- Installatlon Of Officers At Saint Benedict’s SAVANNAH—The officers of the Catholic Women’s Club of St. Benedict’s Parish were installed in a brief ceremony Sunday eve ning, Feb. 9, by Rev. Francis B, Gillis, at St. Pius X High School. The following officers were in stalled, Mrs. M. Allen, president; Mrs. Angela Grant, vice presi dent; Mrs. Evelyn Walker, sec retary; Mrs. Ethel King, treasur er. A short address was given by Father Gillis in which he stressed the increasing responsibilities of our Catholic women. Miss Sandra Williams, Miss Do lores Clark and Miss Ann Myers, students from St. Pius X High School, entertained the group with a short musical progx-am. A luncheon was served to the members and friends of the Cath olic Women’s Club who . were present for the occasion. ed, has focused attention on this Catholic layman, founder of the Union Society and a leading pat riot of the Revolution. .Through out the struggle for independence, the Catholics of Savannah gave many proofs of their patriotism. They had the consolation of at tending Masses, celebrated by chaplains of the French troops in the lines before Savannah when the city was held by the British and besieged by combined forces of Americans and Frenchmen, Pu laski, their Polish ally, whose last words, “Jesus, Maria, Joseph,” were uttered as he fell mortally wounded at the seige of Savannah in 1779, is especially remembered by Savannahians. The 150th an- niversai'y of his death was com memorated by a military Mass in the Park Extension, with repre sentatives of the Polish, French and American governments in attendance. In the years of prosperity after the Revolution, several thousand new residents were added to Savannah’s population. These in cluded some five hundred Cath olics, Frenchmen, refugees from the Revolution in France, and the slave insurrection in St. Domingo; Irishmen, forced to emigrate be cause of the political and eco nomic troubles that plagued the Emerald Isle; and Marylanders of English colonial stock who had come South in search of fertile lands on the Georgia frontier. It Was not long before a priest came to Savannah to care for the spiritual needs of these diverse groups, bound together by their Catholic faith. This pioneer cleric, the Abbe John Lamoyne, was a Frenchman. He died in Savannah in November 1794, after a mini stry of little more than one year dn 1796, his successor, the Abbe Le Mercier, another French priest, arrived in Savannah and after visiting those Catholic fam ilies who had taken lands in the upper part of Georgia, he re turned to establish a church in Savannah. In 1799 the mayor and aldermen of Savannah conveyed a lot on Montgomery street to the Catholic congregation. T h e next year a small frame chapel was built, and on March 22, 1801, Pontifical Mass Highlights First Day Ceremonies By Paul W, McCloskey (Radio, N.C.W.C. News Service) LOURDES, France — The jub ilee year in this mountain city of Our Lady opened with a vibrant echo of Mary’s call for prayer of a hundred years ago. But the start of the centenary celebrations was marked by a note of triumph which muted, for the day at least, the Blessed Mo ther’s call for penance. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world—some of whom had spent the night praying at the grotto where Our Lady first ap peared to St. Bernadette on Feb- ★ ★ ★ ★ FORTY HOURS DEVOTION St. Jerome, Americus, Feb. 23, 24, 25. Holy Family, Columbus, March 2, 3# 4. St, Mary's-on-ihe-Hill, Au gusta, March 9, 10, 11. Immaculate C o n c e p lion, Moultrie, March 16, 17, 18. St. Williams, St. Simons Is land, March 16, 17, 18. St. Anthony's, Savannah, March 23, 24, 25. 'The Savannah Bulletin In Every Home' Early Returns Indicate That Drive Is Progressing Well Name Boundaries For New Parish At Augusta Final Solicitation Set For Ail Parishes Sunday, February 23rd Going To Gourdes? GOING TO LOURDES THIS YEAR? CONTACT MONSIG NOR T. JAMES McNAMARA, CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, 222 EAST HARRIS STREET, SAVAN NAH, OR SEE YOUR PAS TOR. it was dedicated under the in vocation and name of St. John the Baptist. Father Le Mercier was succeeded by a third French priest, the Abbe Antoine,, whose exertions placed the parish on a secure footing. Over the first decade of the ndw century, the growth of the Catholic congregation Was rapid. Large numbers of Irishmen came to Savannah, and though many of them died of yellow fever in the epidemic of 1819 and 1820, the majority survived and became an integral part of the community. BISHOP ENGLAND'S TENURE In 1820 Georgia and the two Carolinians were erected by the Holy See into the diocese of Charleston. John England, a forceful Irish priest of unusual ability, was made bishop, and he lost no time in making an official visitation to the Savannah congregation. Noting with pleas ure the progress that had been made under the pastorates of Father Le Mercier and Carles, Bishop England took measure to insure an even greater develop ment. During this rule, which lasted until his death in 1842, a number of zealous priests wbrked in Savannah for the salvation of souls; a substantial brick church the walls of which are still stand ing, was built for the congrega tion on Drayton Street, and sev eral schools under Catholic aus pices were founded. The c gregation continued to grow throughout the rule of Bishop England’s successor, the Rt. Rev. Ignatius A. Reynolds. Father Jeremiah Francis O’ Neil, appointed pastor of Savan nah by Bishop Reynolds, gained a unique place in the affections of the community. A man of apos tolic zeal, he spent himself for the education of the children and especially of the orphans in his care. With that end in mind, he brought from Charleston a band of Sisters belonging to the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, a sister hood established in Charleston by Bishop England. Six of these re ligious arrived in 1845 and took possession of the beautiful eon- (Continued on Page 8) ruary 11, 1858—assisted at the opening Mass offered by Bishop Pierre Theas of Tarbes and Lourdes in the morning. An hour earlier the people of Lourdes, including some who are kinsmen of Bernadette Sourb- irous, made their way in proces sion from the parish Church of the Sacred Heart down the wind ing streets of the town to the great basilica built into the moun tainside above the grotto of the apparitions. His Eminence Pierre Cardinal Gerlier, Archbishop of Lyons and former Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, presided at the centen nial year’s opening and also preached at Pontifical Vespers in mid-afternoon. After Benediction of the Bles sed Sacrament there followed a Eucharistic procession in which the Body of Christ was carried through the ranks of the fit as well as of the sick, maimed and blind. The celebration of the feast culminated in the evening with a (Continued on Page 8) LENTEN REGULATIONS My dear People: In accordance with the provisions of Canon Law, as modi fied through the use of special faculties granted by thq Holy See, we herewith publish the regulations for the Lenten Season of 1958. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 19th, and ends at midnight on Holy Saturday, April 5th, 1958. I. THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE 1) The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat and of soup or gravy made from meat. A day may be one of complele abstinence, in which case no meat or soup or gravy made from meat may be taken; or a day may be one of partial abstinence, in which case meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be taken once that day at the principal meal. 2) Complele abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednes day and on all Fridays. 3) Partial abstinence is to be observed on the Ember Wednesday and Saturday which occur during the Lenten season on February 26th and March 1st. 4) Everyone over 7 years of age is bound to observe the law of abstinence. II. THE LAW OF FAST 1) The law of fast means that only one full meal may be taken on that day. 2) Everyone over 21 and under 59 years of age is obliged to observe the law of fast. 3) All weekdays of the Lenten season, including Holy Saturday, are days of fast. A dispensation is hereby granted from fast and abstinence on the Feast of Saint Patrick. 4) Meat may be eaten by all at the full meal on all days during the Lenten season, except on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays. 5) The one full meal permitted on days of fast may be taken either at noon or in the evening, according to one’s choice or convenience. 6) In addition to the one full meal, two other light meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs; but together these two meals should not equal another full meal. No meat, or soup or gravy made from meat may be taken at these two meals by anyone who is bound by the law of fast. 7) Eating between meals is forbidden; but liquids, in cluding milk and fruit juices, are allowed. 8) When one’s health or ability to work would be serious ly affected, the law of fast does not oblige. In cases of doubt, your parish priest or confessor should be consulted. We earnestly exhort all our people to attend daily Mass during the holy season of Lent; to receive often the Sacra ments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist; to attend the eve ning devotions in their parish churches; to contribute gen erously to works of religion and charity; to perform volun tary mortification especially in regard to alcoholic drinks and worldly amusements; to pray for peace and the intentions of our Holy Father, and to recite the family rosary daily with the members of your household. Imparting to you rny blessing, I am, Devotedly yours in Christ, thomas j. McDonough. Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah. SAVANNAH — Early returns indicate that The Savannah Bul letin subscription drive is rapidly gaining momentum. “If the present rate of subscrip tion return is maintained uutil the end of the drive, w T e will cer tainly reach our goal of “The Savannah Bulletin in every Catholic home,” said John Mark- waiter, managing editor. The drive started with pulpit announcements and sermons on the Catholic Press in every church of the Diocese. Envelopes were provided for subscribers and the first returns were made on Sun day, February 16th. Final returns will be completed February 23rd. In urging support of the drive, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, auxiliary bishop, stated, “The Savannah Bulletin aids parish and diocesan projects by keeping be fore the minds of our people the work being done in the Diocese. No other Catholic periodical however excellent, can accom plish the work of The Savannah Bulletin, for it alone has the ex clusive role of making southern Georgia more Catholic.” The drive stressed the necessity of a strong and popularly sup ported Catholic Press if Catholic people are to be well informed about the truths of their Faith and Catholic p»actice. FLEMING HEIGHTS — The Chancery Office in Savannah has defined the following boundaries for the newly erected parish of St. Joseph, here. WEST South from Milledgeville Road along the eastern boundary of the Ft. Gordon Reservation, west along the southern boundary of the Ft. Gordon Reservation to the Richmond County - Jefferson County line, SOUTH East from the Ft. Gordon Res ervation boundary along the Rich mond County-Jefferson County line to the Georgia-South Caro lina state line. EAST North from the Richmond County-Burke County line along the Georgia-South Carolina state line to a point eastward from Nix on Road. NORTH West from the above indicated point along a line to Nixon Road, west on Nixon Road and Tubman Home Road to Milledgeville Road. West along Milledgeville Road to the Ft. Gordon Reservation. Fort Gordon Reservation. Knights Of The Altar Invested At Cathedral SAVANNAH—In a very im pressive ceremony, one which would remind a priest of his Tonsore, Monsignor T. James Mc Namara, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, invested the altar boys in the Knights of the Altar. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral of St. John and was witnessed by many of the Cathedral parishioners. In a short talk Msgr. McNamara congratulated the boys for their splendid service to the Cathedral, and reminded them that because they had the distinct privilege of serving Our Lord in the Bishop's own church their service to God should always be most edifying to the faithful. F ather Herbert Wellmeier Spiritual Director of the Knights, delivered the sermon at the in vestiture comparing the Knights of the Altar to the knights of old. The Knights of old would train very diligently for so great an honor to be a knight, and took an oath of loyalty to their king. How much greater should be the preparation and loyalty of the Knights of the Altar when they consider Christ was their King! Said Father Wellmeier: “When We speak of knights, all kinds of pictures flash through our minds from days of old: men in shining black armor on great stallions, lances clashing over a dragon, or to win the favor of a golden haired maiden. The romance and glory of those days tends to ob scure the hard work that went into preparing oneself for knight hood.” “It is most fitting that you young men should be called knights. Your training, your du ties strongly resemble those of the crusading knights of old. You have your period of training when you learn how to serve your Lord. You study your religion, you study how to conduct your selves around this castle. You are not a knight merely on the day and for the half hour you serve mass. You are to be a knight at all times. You have weapons to fight Satan, your king’s enemy. Your sword is good example, your shield is your will ingness to sacrifice. These re sponsibilities are heavier than ar mor.” “Your dignity as a knight is great. You serve the greatest lord there is, Christ the King. You have the place of honor at Christ’s banquets, you are nearer Christ and his priest than anyone, you are expected to love the Blessed Sacrament and receive Commun ion often.” “You are not only a knight but a modern day Levite. In the sac rifices of the Old Testament the tribe of Levi were the chosen as sistants to the Jewish high priest (Continued on Page 8) KNIGHTS OF THE ALTAR—Newly invested Knights of the Altar are pictured with Msgr. T. James McNamara, rector of the Cathedral, and Rev. Herbert Wellmeier, their spiritual director. Officers are: Supreme Grand Knight, Vincent Saunders; Vice Supreme Grand Knight, Eugene Ko- bider; Grand Knight Secretary, Edward Pigman; Grand Knight Treasurer, Victor Strojny. The following are Knight Commanders; Patrick Barbee, Thomas Brennan, Harry Crawford, George McCloy, Charles Ray and Peter Vasta. Knights are: Arthur Boondry, Edward Burns, Julian Corish, Hubert Gibson, Joseph Kwolek, Frank McKenna, Michael Remion, James Graves, Robert Kelly and Stephen Saunders.—(Andrew Bunn Photo).