Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

FOUR THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA JANUARY 31. 1936 First Priests in Georgia Nearly 400 Years Ago INDIAN BAPTIZED AT MACON IN 1540;MANY CONFIRMED IN 1606 Jesuits and Franciscans of Spanish Period Were Suc ceeded by Secular Clergy After the Revolution “At least fifteen priests lost their lives in the Southeast with the ex peditions of Navaez (1527-28) and De Soto (1539-42),” according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, pg. 384, and Judge Orville Park in a recent address before the Ministerial Association of Macon stated that the first Baptist on the present soil of the United States was on the banks of the Ocraulgee River at Macon, when a priest with De Soto’s party baptized an Indian baby about 1540. Thus ancient is the part of priests in the history of the Southeast and Georgia- The Jesuits came to Florida and Georgia in 1566, and Father Martinez the first Jesuit martyr in the West ern Hemisphere shed his blood, a victim of the Indians, at a place most authorities identify as ' Cumberland Island, which is Georgia soil. It was St. Francis Borgia who sent the first Jesuits to Georgia, St. Francis Borgia, the associate of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier. FRANCISCANS HERE CENTURY AND HALF The Dominicans succeeded the Jes uits but they did not remain; in 1813 the Franciscans came, and for a long er space of time than that which has elapsed from the founding of the republic to today they labored among the Indians with such success, for instance, that in 1606 Bishop Alta- mirano of Cuba and Florida confirm ed about 1200 Indians in Georgia- It was not until after the coming of the English in 1733 that the Fran ciscans withdrew from what is now Georgia. As a result of the labors of these missionaries in Georgia this state has the most ancient sustained' his tory of any of the thirteen original colonies, and of any state in the union except Florida. Catholics were barred from the colony of Georgia, but there is evi dence that they were there from the earliest days, when John Wesley was tried in Savannah in 1737 on the charge that he was not a Protestant and requiring oricular confession as a preparation for communion, he ob jected to the jury panel on the ground that it included “a French man, a Panist, an infidel, three Bap tists and sixteen Dissenters.” MONSIGNOR MITCHELL’S ARTICLES AUTHORITATIVE Mcnsignor Mitchell in the splendid series of articles on Catholics in the early days of Georgia, the standard source of information on the sub ject, states that Peter Tondee. one of the founders of the Union So ciety in 1750, and Cornelius MacCar- thy, who in 1764 received a grant «f 350 acres in what is now Chatham County, were Catholics. French Catholic soldiers constituted the bulk of the Revolutionary Army in the battle of Savannah, in which Count Pulaski was killed. There are traditions of visits of priests to Georgia in the earliest days, but the first definite visit of a priest on record appears to be that of Father O’Reilly, who visited Locust Grove and probably Augusta and Savannah in 1790, on his way from Baltimore to the West Indies. Catholics had eome to Locust Grove, in Wilkes County, from Maryland about 1790- The first record book in Savannah extends from October 15, 1796, and records the funeral of Father le Moine, who died two years before and it was evidently two years be fore a priest Father le Merrier, ap peared and m-d- the funeral possible. Other names of priests of those early davs are Father Sujet, in 1798, Father Babc.de, a Sulpician, a vis itor to the state in 1799 en route from Havana to Baltimore, Father Felix JW?C Carthy. pastor in Savannah in 1802, Father Anthony Charles, castor at Savannah, in 1902, Father Robert Browne, the Augustinian -astor at Augusta in 1810 and in Savannah in later years the famed Father Clori- viere in Savannsh. and Father Eman uel Coo-er, pastor at Aueusta, whose gift of a farm and $10,000 to Mother Seton gave the Emmitsburg Sisters of Charity their start- This brings us to the tin»e of the founding of the Diocese of Charleston under Bishop England. ARCHBISHOP HUGHES ONCE VISITED AUGUSTA The number of priests increased with the creation of the new See; all of them were Diocesan priests. Those serving in Georgia in the years be tween 1820 and 1850, when the Dio cese of Savannah was erected, in- eluded Father Corkery, assigned to Augusta in 1824, Father Stokes,, Healy, McGinnis and Macenroe at Savannah, Father John Barry, later Bishop of Savannah, Father Jeremiah Francis O’Neill, Father Quiriey, Father Peter Whalen who refused episcopal honors, Father M. D. O’Reilly, Father Gregory Duggan, whom Archbishop Hughes visited in Augusta, Father Thomas Ma'oney. ••m*™ a* Columbus in 1840. where Father James Graham and Father Healey served previously. Father Murphy of Columbus. Father Jere miah O’Connell, who reports visiting Macon in 1844, where Father Graham had died two years before, at 34. after founding the Marietta mission and acquiring the first Macon church. Fathers John and Andrew Boyle, Father John Francis Kirby, Father P. J. Coffey, Father P. J. Dunn, Fath er Patrick Ryan, Father Birmingham. Father Varella, aFther O’Neill the younger. Father J. F. Kirby. Father W. W- Hamilton, Father Michael Cul- linane. Father Shanahan, Father Mas son, Fathe: Charlton. Father Quigley and others. Father Abram Ryan was of the next generation. Death came to many of those mis sionaries at an early age, such were the hardships of those times; others, worn out by labors here, transferred to more settled localities to regain their strength- When the Diocese of Savannah was created in 1850, there were eight priests in Georgia, all sec ular clergy, and an estimated Catholic ponulation of 4,000. The secular clergy have been in the majority in the Diocese of Sa vannah since the creation of the Dio cese, their efforts being generously and splendidly supplemented by the labors of the religious orders, the Jesuits Benedictines, Maris's and So ciety of African Missions. The Bish ops of Savannah have included a Sulpician, Bishop Verot, a Capuchin, Bishop Perisco, a Redcmptorist, B'sh- op Gross, a Marist Bishop Keyes, and four former secular clergy. Bishop Gartland, Bishon Barry, Bishop Beck er and Bishop Kei’ey. PARISHES IN CHARGE OF DIOCESAN CLERGY Parishes in charge of the secular or Diocesan clergy in the Diocese of Savannah at this time follow (the others will be found under articles elevated to their orders in the Dio cese): □ -| SAVANNAH □ CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN the Baptist: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph F. Croke, rector. Rev. Harold J. Barr, Rev- James H. Conlin, Rev. James H- Grady, Bay Branch, Millen, Tybee, Fort Screven are attended from the Cathedral- , .ST. PATRICK’S: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Wentworth is a mission of the parish. BLESSED SACRAMENT: Rev. Jo seph R. Smith pastor, Rev. Thomas L. Finn. Rev. John Bourke. The Benedictine Fathers are in charge of Sacred Heart Church and the Society of African Missions of St. Anthony’s, St. Benedict the Moor’s and St- Mary’s. | ALBANY | -i a ST. THERESA’S CHURCH and the Southwest Georgia Missions: Rev. Thomas A. Brennan, pastor; Rev. Henry J. Honeck, Rev. John Mullins. The missions include Americus, A:a- paha, Bainbridge, Cordele. Douclas, Fitzgerald. Moultrie, Thomasville, Valdosta and Willicooche are missions of Albanv: there are in addition about twenty-five other cities and com munities which are stations on the missions. ATHENS -n 3— n ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH and the Northwest Georgia Missions: Rev. James E. King, pastor. Rev. George Daly- The missions include Gaines ville and Griffin, which have church es, and sixteen other commuities without churches. Coat of Arms of Bishop O’Hara ©item JJmpttt&n? <£l|rifto “To Spend My Life For Christ” is the motto on the coat of arms of His Excellency, Bishop O’Hara. The coat of arms is described by The PhTadelphia Caiholic Stand ard and Times as follows: Two coats impaled. A: Silver, a cross throughout cantoned by four couped crosses, all gules (See of Sa vannah). B: Vert, on a pale irradi ated gold a Lion rampant sable charg ed on the shoulder with a star of five points silver (O’Hara). A Bishop Ordinary, as the Spouse of his Diocese, shows this in his heraldry by dividing his shield ver tically into two halves, placing in the jurisdictional half the arms of his See, and in the personal half his farmi'y arms, or. in default of such, his adopted heraldic bearings. The arms of the Diocese of Savan nah bear as their principal figure the cross of St. George, which is al ways of red on a silver “field.” thus indicating that the diocese comprises the State of Georgia. The four small St. George crosses are placed in the angles formed by the larger one, fol lowing the pattern of the arms . of the Kingdom of Jerusalem which show five crosses similarly arranged but slightly different in shape and dif’erently colored, the Jerusalem crosses being of gold on a silver field. The five crosses cn the arms of Jeru salem have been held to symbolize he five Sacred Wounds of Christ. They may be held to serve the same function on the Savannah arms, which, furthermore, suggest in her aldic terms a new Jerusalem in the State of Georgia. The Bi hop’s personal insignia are the ancient arms of the O’Hara fam ily, with the addition of a silver star on the black lion’s shoulder. The arms of His Eminence. Cardinal Dougherty, have on them three such stars. By adding one of them to his own coat, Bishop O’Hara heraldically indicates his homage to the Car dinal; and also, as the star is an her aldic attribute of Our Lady, under her title of “Stella Maris” the Bi hop by displaying it, indicates his devo tion to the glessed Virgin. Bishop Keyes Is Bid Touching Farewell ? ATLANTA IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH: Rev. Joseph E. Moylan, pastor; Rev. Charles Rethans, Rev. Henry Phillips. Rev. Herman Kernel is chaplain at the Federal Peniten tiary. ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH: Father James H. Conlin, pastor; Father P. J. O’Connor Rev. Nicholas Quinlan. The Marist Fathers are in charge of Sacred Heart Church and the So ciety of African Missions of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. 3 C | AUGUSTA u o ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH: Rev- Leo M. Keenan, pastor; Rev-Jere- miah O’Hara. ST. MARY’S-ON-THE-HILL: Rt. Rev. Msgr. James A. Kane, pastor; Rev. John J. Kennedy. The Jesuit Fathers are in charge of Sacred Heart Parish and the So ciety of African Missions, of the Church of the Immaculate Concep tion. ~ BRUNSWICK 7 □ — 6 The Marist Fathers are in charge of the Southeast Georgia Missions with headquarters at Brunswick. ? COLUMBUS □ S (Continued From Page Three) then return to the Marist College in Washington, where he was presi dent before becoming Bishop of Sa vannah. The day before the installation of Bishop O’Hara, Bishop Keyes was presented a substantial purse from his friends in the Kocese, every city in the Diocese and every parish be ing presented by contributions, as an indication of the appreciation of and affection for Bishop Keyes on the part of the people of the Dio cese, The purse was oresented by a committee which included Thomas F. Walsh, Jr., Judge James P. Hou lihan. Henry B. Brennan and John W. Gleason. Savannah, and J. J. Haverty, Atlanta. seph’s Church and the Fathers of the Society of African Missions at St. Peter Claver’s Church, Macon. Q- I Q- MILLEDGEVILLE □ h SACRED HEART CHURCH: Rev- T J. McNamara, pastor. Missions, Dublin, Sandersville, Ivey. James, Sparta and Eatonton. O □ I ROME □ □ ST. MARY’S CHURCH: Rev. Joseph G. Cassidy, pastor. Missions: Adair- ville. Budapest, Buchanan, Calhoun, Cedartown, Dalton. Kingston, Menlo. HOLY FAMILY CHURCH: Rev. Dan J. McCarthy, pastor; Rev. John Crean. Rev. John F. Monahan, Ma- ior-Chaplain. U. S. A., is stationed at Fort Benning. □, □ \MACON ^ The Jesuit Fathers are at St. Jo- | SHARON Q U CHURCH OF THE PURIFICA TION: Rev. H. A. Schonhardt. pas tor. □ : □ WASHINGTON □ fJ ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH; Rev. Thomas A. Sheehan, pastor. Savannah Diocese’s Clergy, Religious and Institutions The Diocese of Savannah, with a Catholic population of 19,360, accord ing to the most recent Catholic Directory, has the following clergy, re ligious, churches and institutions: 33 Diocesan clergy and 34 priests of religious orders. The religions communities of men in the Diocese include the Benedictines, Jesuits, Marists, Society of African Missions and the Brothers of Mary. 15 students for the Diocesan clergy. Many others are studying for the priesthood in religious orders. 26 churches with resident priests, and 37 missions with churches, a total of 63 churches, in a Diocese of less than 20,600. or a church for about every 300 Catholics. There is a priest for every 280 Catholics. There are 21 chapels in the Diocese in addition to the churches. 208 Sisters, representing five religious communities, the Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph, Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Im maculate Conception, Little Sisters of the Poor and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, or one Sister for every ninety-two Catholics in the State and Kocese. Four high schools, five academies, one school for small boys, and 17 parishes with parochial schools, a total of 27 schools. Two orphanages for white children and one for colored, caring for 14(1 children. 4,150 pupils are enrolled in the parochial schools for the Diocese. Two hospitals, in Atlanta and Savannah, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, who treated 2,972 patients in 1934, the most recent statistics at hand. A Home for the Aged, conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor, caring for 116 aged persons. Cardinal,!6 Archbishops and Bishops Attend Installation (Continued from Page Three) E ointed if we do not also get to love im. “You will have noticed the large number of his first priests and of the Philadelphia laity who have ac companied him to your beautiful and historic city of Savannah- This tribute is a slight mark of the es teem in which they hold him. We assure you there is nothing that wc should not gladly do for him. “In Bishop Gartland Philadelphia gave Georgia its first Bishop; now it gives you Bishop O'Hara; but not without a pang to our hearts as we cart with him. We are sure you will show him the manly chivalrous fair- mindedness for which your State of Georgia is- conspicuous in the an nals of our land.” MONSIGNOR MITCHELL SPEAKS FOR DIOCESE The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph D. Mitchell of Savannah, vicar-general of the Diocese under Bishop Keyes and the late Bishop Keiley, deliver ed the iddres of welcome to Bishop O’Hara, assuring him that Georgia has already taken him to its heart and that he would find in the state a most kindly feeling due among other things to the magnificent ex ample of Bishops and priests, to the natural normal disposition of the people of the state, to the work of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia and to the loving, gentle- Christ-like zeal of beloved Bishop Keyes. Bishop O'Hara expressed his pro found and undying gratitude to His Eminence for his gTeat kindness in coming the long distance to Savan nah for die installation ceremony, the latest of an overwhelming series of kindnesses bestowed by one lie raid had been not only his superior but a father and friend and his in spiration. He expressed the prayer ful hope that he would be able in Some faint measure at least to be worthy of them. Bishop O’Hara paid a glowing tribute to his predecessors, Bishop Keyes, who he said “has governed this Diocese with honor and fruit fulness. Under nis leadership and guidance the Kocese has grown and religion has flourished. His labors have been crowned with success and have won for him the deep respect and genuine affection of his priests and people. The testimonial of filial love and the expressions of keen re gret that marked the announcement of his resignation three months ago bear witness to these facts. Bishop Keyes leaves behind him a precious heritage of Episcopal devotion, and I know that he will never be forgot ten by those to whom he minister ed so unselfishly for more than thirteen years. I say unto you, dear ly beloved in Christ, in the words of St. Paul: ‘Remember your Prelates who have spoken the word of God to you: whose faith follow, consid ering the end of their conversation.’ (Heb. 13-7).” BISHOP O’HARA PRAYS FOR RICH BLESSINGS FOR STATE Outlining the office ana duties of a Bishop, and the great responsibil ity of the Episcopacy, from which even great men have recoiled, Bish op O’Hara said he especially would shrink from it were it not for the consolation given him by his faith “which teaches me that God who in the designs of His mysterious ways chooses ‘the weak things of this world’ to perform tasks that involve His honor and glory and the salva tion of souls will .not abandon me in my weakness.” Expressing confidence in his i priests and in his people, Bishop O'Hara said: “God grant that Heav en’s richest blessings may ever de scend upon this diocese, and upon all the people of the great State of Georgia. May our labors for Christ, our prayers and supplications be ac ceptable in the sight of God to the end that His Holy Name may be come ever more widely known and loved and that His Kingdom on earth may receive increment. May this land, irrigated by the sweat of our brows, and watered too, per haps at times, by our tears, show eve rthe blossoms and the fruits of virtue- so that all may possess in the words of St. James, ‘the fruit of righteousness that is sown in peace’.” MEMBERS OF HIERARCHY ATTENDING INSTALLATION Members of the hierarchy at the ceremony in addition to His Emi nence, Bishop O Hara and Bishop Keyes included the Most Rev. John T. McNicholas, O. P., S. T. D„ Arch bishop of Cincinnati; the Most Rev. Edward Mooney, D. D.. Archbi r hon of Roohes'er; the Most Rev. Patrick Bar ry. D. D„ Bishop of St. Augusiine, the Most Rev. C. E Byr .3, D- D„ Bishop of Galveston; the Most Rev. E. J- Fi'z- maurice, D. D., Bishop of Wilming ton, the Most Rev. John M. Gannon, D. D„ Bishop of Erie; the Most Rev. Richard O. Gerow, D. D.. Bishop of Natchez, the Most Rev. William J. Hafey, D. D„ Bishop of Raleigh- the Most Rev. Peter Ireton, D. D., Coad- iutor Bishop of Richmond; the Most Rev. Moses Kiley, D. D„ Bishop of Trenton; the Most Rev. John M. Mc Namara, D. D., Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore; the Most Rev. John B. Morris, D. D„ Bishop of Little Rock; the Most Rev. John F. Noll, D D., Bishon of Fort Wayne; the Most Rev. Emmet M. Walsh. D. D„ Bishop of Charleston; and the Rt. Rev. Vincent Taylor. O. S. B„ D. D. Ab bot-Ordinary of Belmont. Present also were the Rt. Rev. Frederic Dunne, D. D.. Abbot of the Traopist Monastery of Gethsemani in Ken tucky, the Rt. Rev. Alcuin Deutsch, O. S. B.. Abbot of St. John's Abbey, Coilegcville, Minn., the Rt. Rev. Martin Veth, O. S. B.. Abbot of At kinson, Kansas, fifteen monsignori and four Papal Knights, who were an escort of honor to His Eminence. Several religious orders, were repre sented by their provincials. BISHOP BARRY, FATHER MOYLAN DINNER SPEAKERS Monsignor Mitchell presided at the dinner for the visiting prelates and clergy at the DeSoto Hotel; the speakers were His Eminence, whose subject was “The Holy Father”, Bishop Barry. “The Province of Bal timore’’, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph M. Corrigan, D. D.. “The Archdio cese of Philadelphia”, the Rev. Jos eph E. Moylan, Atlanta, “The Dio cese of Savannah”, and the response by Bishop O’Hara. Over two thousand persons met the “Bishop O’Hara Special” from Philadelphia when His Eminence the Cardinal, Bishop O'Hara, and their party arrived at Union Station. They were greeted by Bishop Keyes, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jos. F. Croke, chan cellor of the Diocese of Savannah, clergy of the Diocese, city officials and lay leaders. Bishop Keyes, retir ing Bishop of Savannah, and Bishop O’Hara, his successor, walked arm in arm from the station after His Emi nence, Monsignor Croke. chancellor, and Monsignor Mitchll, formerly vicar-general, between solid masses of people to the cars which escorted them to the Bishop’s House, where Bishop O’Hara adressed a few words of appreciation to the people and es pecially to the children who were gathered there. En route, they were saluted by the Benedictine Cadets, and escorted by a motorcycle detail of officers. Bishop O’Hara granted a holiday to the children in honor of His Eminence, and said that he hop ed that the children would have the same love in their hearts for nim as they have for Bishop Keyes. Among those who witnessed the ceremony of installation were Bish op O’Hara’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. P J. O’Hara of Philadelphia, who six years ago saw him consecrated at Philadelphia, then the youngest Bishop in tire world. A delegation of one hundred priests and many members of the laity accompanied Bishop O’Hara to Savannah. The Rev. Dr. Francis J. Furey, D. D., secretary to His Eminence., was mas ter of ceremonies at the installation.