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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. 20. MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1958 10c Per Copy — $3 a Year March Officially Proclaimed As Vocation Month Ptesars-Wide Tridum Scheduled March 17-19 BISHOP'S HOUSE 222 East Harris Street Savannah, Georgia March 1, -1958 My dear People: The words ol our Divine Master, “Come follow Me,” as sume tremendous proportions when we think in terms of the apostolate to souls in the Diocese of Savannah. Statistically, the Diocese of Savannah has only 21 diocesan priests, yet geographically we cover an area much largei than Ireland, in the 88 Counties which comprise this Diocese there is an overall population of 1,700,000, of which number less than 25,000 are Catholics. Indeed, the phrase “The Harvest is great but the Laborers few” is filled with meaning for us. Unless we obtain more priests we shall be greatly deterred in our efforts to bring Christ, our Divine Savior, into every County under our spiritual jurisdiction. Our most critical need is priests. Our Divine Master will give us priests but we must pray and make sacrifices. From our Catholic homes must come can didates for the priesthood. From our own Diocese; from the soil of Georgia we look for other Ambassadors of Christ to bring all men to a knowledge of the truth. The month of March is designated as “Vocation Month.” Priests, Sisters, parents and children are asked to pi ay fervent ly during this month for vocations to the sacred priesthood. A special triduum will be conducted in every parish and mis sion of the Diocese, beginning on March 17th and concluding on March 19th. * In this centennial year of the apparitions at Lourdes we beseech Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, the Mother of the Great High Priest, to intercede in our behalf. Begging you again to pray for vocations to the priesthood and imparting to you and your loved ones my paternal bless ing, I am, Devotedly yours in Christ, thomas j. McDonough Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah. SAINT MARY'S HOME—Pictured here is St. Mary’s Home in Savannah. Plans have been announced for the formation of St. Mary’s Home Guild to help the Diocese maintain the home. First Meeting Sunday, 3:30 P. M. ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF SAINT MARY’S HOME GUILD SAVANNAH — Organizational plans are now complete for the St. Mary’s Home Guild and the first meeting has been set for Sunday, March 9, at 3:30 P. M. His Excellency, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, has invited the Cath olic women of Savannah and Chatham County to attend this meeting. Every Parochial organi zation should be well represented. Sunday afternoon. They are anx ious for all of Savannah to come to the Home and see the man ner in which the Home is main tained. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will close the initial meeting. Membership in the St. Mary’s Home Guild will be open to all who are interested in the Home. The Guild will assist the Diocese The Sisters of Mercy will spoil- of Savannah in the support of the sor an Open House at St. Mary’s I institution and its members will Home beginning at two o’clock I assist the Sisters of ■ Mercy in supplying the needs of the girls who reside at St. Mary’s. The Guild will be an interparochial organization and will be affiliated with the Savannah Deanery- Council of Catholic Women. The Very Reverend John D. Toomey will be introduced and installed at the meeting, and a proposed constitution will be presented to the membership. In a letter dated Februray 25th, Bishop McDonough urged every priest and pastor in Chatham county to attend this special meeting. CLERICAL * APPOINTMENT The Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough announces the ap pointment of the Rev. John F. X. Fallon, newly ordained, as assistant at Holy Family, Columbus. The appointment was effec tive February 20th. Bishop Confirms Invalid Convert In Private Rite BAINBR1DGE — Mrs. Roscoe Burke, of F.D.R., a small rural community south of Donaldson- ville, received the Sacrament of Confirmation from His Excellen cy Thomas J. McDonough, at a private Confirmation which took place in her home. Mrs. Burke, an invalid for the last ten years, became interested in the Catholic Church through her readings of the Knights of Columbus convert course. Mrs. Burke had completed all of the mail order course before contact ing Fr. Hilary Deck, O.F.M. for formal instructions. Following the course of instruction, Mrs. Burke was received into the church about five years ago. Mrs. Burke has never been in side a Catholic Church because of her invalidism. She anticipates her first when the new church at Bainbridge is dedicated. Even men who can make both ends meet are getting bored— they keep hoping they will over lap a little. Lourdes Connotes Hope In Troubled World SAVANNAH — Speaking on “The Savannah Catholic Hour,” one of the longest sustained re ligious programs in radio, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough called the story of Lourdes a “Spiritual ro mance founded in faith an su stained by the penetrating love and affection of Mary, the Mother of Christ for the children of tjhe whole world.” “Lourdes, to all Catholics,” said Bishop McDonough “connotes hope in a troubled world.” He recalled briefly the chronicle of events and apparitions which fin ally led the Bishop of Tarbes, in which Diocese Lourdes is located to decree that “We judge that Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, did really appear to Berna dette Subirous on the 11th day of February, 1858, and on certain- subsequent dates, eighteen times in all, in the Grotto of Massa- bielle, near the town of Lourdes; that these appearances have ev ery mark of truth and that the belief of the faithful it well- grounded.” The Bishop pointed, out that this declaration followed the most searching investigation of Berna dette and many witnesses, over a period of four years. “Pope af ter Pope approved of Lourdes,” said Bishop McDonough. “Lourdes is a Shrine of Miracles. Lourdes, as one of the Popes stated is the most worthy of places to pray for peace . . . Pope Pius XI said that Bernadette’s 1 o V e can be summed up in three words; she was faithful to her mission, she was humble in renown, she was strong in trial. Many of the weak who visit Lourdes take home their afflictions with them, but after a visit to Lourdes their af fliction is no longer a burden but a blessing.” Quoting a French Bishop, His Excellency declared “For those who believe in God no explana tion is necessary; for those who do not believe in God no expla nation is possible. Calling Lourdes a land of mira cles and a place where an ava lanche of grace takes place, Bish op McDonough likened his listen ers to pilgrims “in memory.” “Like Bernadette, We too, will recite our rosary all the time while Mary smiles down upon us,” he said. “We will look at the many, many pilgrims kneeling be side us and in their faces we will behold peace and love for God in His Immaculate Mother ... We, too, will cry out with all present —“Lord, that I may see,” “Lord, that I may hear,” “Lord that I may walk.” Lourdes has the an swer, we must have the faith. In this Centennial year let all of us come to Jesus, through Mary, and in strident tones cry out—“Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us, “O, Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have re course to thee.” “Heed Message Of Our Lady,” Archbishop’s Pastoral Urges • FIRST TEEN-AGE NURSES AIDES CAP* ED—Ten Aqumas High School students were capped in services at the American Red Cross Chapter Headquarters in Augusta, becoming the first class of junior and senior high school students to win their nurses aides’ certificates. They are (front, 1-r) Barbara Schafer, Mildred Mulherin, Carolyn McIntosh, Katheryn Fox and Josephine Agee. Standing (1-r) Gail Meton, Clarise Holley, Rebekah Paulos, Sandra Salmon and Beverly Powell.—(Fitz photo by Vernon Gould). Nations First Teen-Age Burses Aides Receive ‘Caps’ AUGUSTA — The nation’s first teen-age Red Cross nurses aides were capped in ceremonies at Red Cross Chapter headquarters here. Ten Aquinas High School stu dents received their caps in the ceremonies conducted by Mrs. Franklin W. Reese, chairman of Red Cross Service Groups. The first teen-age nurses aids are Josephine Agee, Katheryn Fox, Clarise Holley, Carolyn Mc Intosh, Gail Meton, Mildred Mul herin, Rebekah Paulos, Beverly Powell, Sandra Salmon and Bar bara Schafer. Plans for this . training group got underway last spring in Au gusta to help provide more nurses aides for local hospitals. The course, started last, fall, was held in cooperation with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Aquinas High School. SAVANNAH — Most Rev. Thomas J. McDonough, Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, has official ly designated March as Vocation Month in the Diocese of Savan nah. At a recent meeting convened by Bishop McDonough, plans were laid for an intensive cam paign designed to interest the youth of the Diocese In vocations to the Priesthood. Present at the meeting were Very Rev. Msgr. Andrew McDonald, Chancel lor, Rev. Marvin LeFrois, Diocesan Director of Voca tions, Rev. John Cuddy, Su perintendent of Schools, Rev. Wil liam Coleman, Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Herbert Wellmeier, Diocesan Director of Youth Activities and Rev. Francis Donohue, editor of the Savannah Bulletin. A campaign was outlined, which will include a Diocesan wide Triduum for vocations to begin in all churches of the Dio cese on March 17th and ending on March 19th, the Feast of St. Jos eph. Talks on vocations to the Sacred Priesthood will be given by guest speakers in the high schools of the Diocese. The talks will be followed up by youth rallies, to be held in SAVANNAH — In a recent Lenten Pastoral letter, His Ex cellency, The Most Reverend Gerald P. O’Hara, Archbishop- Bishop of Savannah and Apostol ic Delegate in Great Britain urg ed ;he people of the Diocese of Savannah to heed the message of the Blessed, Virgin at Lourdes. Said the Archbishop, “Penance, Penance, Penance,” she cried. They understood; they , knew that was Our Blessed Mother’s message.” His Excellency noted that the cry of “Penance” is the message of the Church during the Lenten season. “Good for us if at least we realize that the demands of Lent are serious and inescapable. Good for us if we were raised in a home which met those demands generously. Good Catholic mothers do not let their children forget the claims of Lent. They say the right word about Morning Mass and the Stations on Fridays. May God re ward them for their firm and prudent training! They echo faithfully the message of Our Lady and the Church,” he said. The Archbishop said that those who take the message to heart are following in the footsteps of the Saints. “A long face is no part of our Lenten Observance,” he said, quoting form the Gospel accord ing to St. Matthew, “When you fast be not like the hypocrites, sad . . . Annoint thy head and wash thy face that thou appear not to men to fast but to thy Fa ther who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay they.” Archbishop O’Hara also urged all who can do so to join the Doi- cesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, which will leave New York on April 22nd, and extended to all Easter Blessings. Georgia Girl Will Receive National Award SAVANNAH — Word was re ceived here recently from the Na tional Catholic Rural Life Con- Bishop Confirms At TIiomasvilEe « The Most Rev. Thomas J. Mc Donough, auxiliary bishop of Savannah, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation Mon- day, February 17, at eight P. M., at St. Augustine’s Church Thomas- ville. Those confirmed came from Camilla and Bainbridge as well as Thomasville. Around 200 were present. Immediately following the serv ice a reception was held in the Friary to honor the bishop on his first visit to Thomasville. PATRICIA PROUTY ference that Miss Patricia Marga ret Prouty has been judged wor thy of the Catholic God-Home Community Award. Miss Prouty is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs M. J. Prouty, Rt. 6, Norwood Av enue, Savannah, and a member of the Harrock Hall 4-H Club. A junior at St. Vincent’s Acad emy, she has been actively en gaged in 4-H Club work for the past six years and recently was awarded the Danforth award for leadership. Plans have been made to pre sent the award medal at the an nual observance of 4-H Sunday on March 16, at 9:15 A. M. at St James Church of which Miss Prouty and her family are mem bers. The Very Reverend John D Toomey, Pastor, will present the award. The handsome bronze medal is engraved as a “Youth Award” of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and bears a cross and a CHI-RHO symbol. It is attached to a ribbon bearing the papal colors of yellow and white. Remember Your Pledge To The Bishop's Campaign the three deaneries of the Dio cese. A special feature of these rallies will be motion pictures and film strips dealing with Sem inary and Priestly life. Posters reminding the Faithful to pray for vocations will be dis tributed to all schools and Churches in the Diocese. It is hoped that through this campaign young men from this Diocese will be moved to offer their lives to the work of streng thening and spreading the Faith in their own home Diocese in the ranks of the secular clergy. At present, although the Dio cese of Savannah is geographical ly one of the largest east of the Mississippi River, there are only twenty-one Diocesan Priests. Of this number, only seven are natives of Georgia. In a letter which appears else where on this page Bishop Mc Donough said, “Our Divine Mas ter will give us priests but we must pray and make sacrifices. From our Catholic homes must come candidates for the priest hood. From our own Diocese; from the soil of Georgia we look for other Ambassadors of Christ to bring all men to a knowledge of the truth.” D8LUMBUS DEANERY HEARS * PLEA FOR H0RE VOCATIONS DOUGLAS — The spring meet ing of the Columbus Deanery Council of Catholic Women was held on Thursday, February 27, in Douglas. The Most Rev. Thos. J. McDonough, D.D., J.C.D., Aux iliary Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, was the celebrant of a Dialog Mass at St. Paul’s Church, immediately preceding the meet ing. Msgr. Andrew McDonald led the clergy and ladies in the re sponses. The ladies of the council received Communion in a body. The luncheon was held at the Plantation Restaurant. The meet ing was opened with the prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel, by His Excellency. Mrs. George Han na, of Douglas, president of the host council, welcomed everyone and Mrs. Richard Bettinger, of Warner Robins, gave the re sponse. Father T. Howard Payne, pas tor of St. John the Evangelist Church, in Valdosta, gave an in spiring talk on the need for reli gious vocations in our diocese. He stressed the urgent need of “Workers in the Vineyard,” and asked the prayers of everyone during the month of March, which has been designated “Vocation Month.” The speaker stressed the importance of the role of the mother, in the guiding and nou rishing of religious vocations in her children. Other members of the clergy present were Father Gerard A. Moran, pastor of St. Paul’s, Douglas; Father Gerard R. McDonald, O.F.M., Thomasville; Father Henry L. Madden, O.F.M. Americus; Father Finian F. Ker- win, O.F.M., Bainbridge; Father Thomas, Albany; Father Eugene Card, Douglas and Alapaha. His Excellency reiterated Fa ther Payne’s appeal for prayers for vocations, and announced that there would be a Triduum throughout the diocese, beginning on March 17, St.. Patrick’s Day and closing March 19, St. Joseph’s Feast Day, for the intention of religious vocations in the Savan nah Diocese. Mrs .Norman Boatwright, pres ident of the Savannah Diocesan C.C.W., told that the exhibits for the diocesan convention, to be held this year on April 19 and 20 at the Bon Air Hotel, in Augusta would be shhrines honoring the Centennial Mrs. R. E. McCormack, of A1 bany, past President of the Sav annah Diocesan Council of Cath olic Women, Mrs. John T. Buck- ley, of Augusta, Diocesan His torian, and Mrs. H. S. Buckley president of the Augusta Deanery C.C.W., were honor guests. The following deanery chairmen gave reports at this meeting: Cooperating with Catholic Chari ties, Mrs. Frances Wrosdick, of (Continued on Page Eight) Plan Cana Conference At Augusta AUGUSTA—Mrs. Eugene Long, deanery chairman of the Family and Parent Education Committee, has announced that a Cana Con ference will be held on Friday, March 28, from 7:00 p. m. til 10:00 p. m., at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, on Monte Sano Avenue, in Augusta. Rt. Rev. T. J. McNamara, V.F., of Savannah, Dr. Chas. Mul herin and Mrs. Henry Holmes, of Augusta, will be the speakers. Very Rev. Daniel J. Bourke, V.F., pastor of St. Mary’s-on-the- Hill Church, will serve as mode- tor. The Conference will begin promptly at 7:00 p. m. with the brief talks by the speakers, after which written questions may be placed in the question box, to be answered after intermission. There will be an informal social hour, and coffee will be served during the intermission. Mrs. J. J. O’Connell is hospi tality chairman. Co-chairmen are Mrs. Norman Boatwright, Presi dent Savannah Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Mrs. H. S. Buckley, President Augusta Deanery C. C. W„ and Mrs. Wm. Barrett, President St. Mary’s La dies Auxiliary. Co-chairmen for refreshments are Mrs. E. J. Mc Mahon and Mrs. Albert Rice. Mr. J. J. O’Connell and Mr. Wm. Bar rett will collect the written ques tions during the intermission. At 9:30 p. m., the group attend ing this session, will proceed to St. Mary’s Church, where the couples will renew their marriage vows, and the Conference will be closed with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Augusta Deanery C. C. W. extends a most cordial invitation to all married couples, in this area, to attend this Cana Con ference. Mrs. Louis Alexander of Dub lin, and Mrs. Louis Battey and Mrs. Ernest Dinkins, of Augusta, are co-chairmen of the Family and Parent Education Committee.