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APRIL 30, 1937
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
THREE
Proclamation of Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta
Consistorial Congregation’s
Decree Proclaiming the New
Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta
Within the limits of the diocese of Savannah, the city of
Atlanta is outstanding both for the number of its inhabitants,
and especially for its commercial activity, so that it has be
come the capital of the entire State of Georgia. Wherefore,
the Bishop of Savannah, in order to provide more easily for
the propagation of religion, has petitioned the Apostolic See
that he might be allowed to reside for some part of the year
in the same city of Atlanta, and likewise that the Church of
Christ the King which is to be erected might be adorned with
the honorary title of a co-cathedral; and that he might perform
he sacred functions of Holy Week in the same church in al-
emate years; and that in the future the diocese of Savannah
might be called the diocese of Savannah-Atlanta.
Therefore, our most Holy Lord Pius XI, by divine Provi
dence Pope, having previously obtained the favorable opinion
of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Amleto Giovanni Cicog-
nani, titular Archbishop of Laodicea, and Apostolic Delegate to
the United States of America, granting the petition has grac
iously decreed that the Bishop for the time being of the afore
said diocese may reside for some time each year in the city of
Atlanta, even at those times At which common law prescribes
that a bishop must reside at his cathedral; and at the same
time permits that the Church of Christ the King be given the
honorary title of co-cathedral, and that the bishop, in alternate
years, may perform the sacred functions of Holy Week there;
and finally that the diocese of Savannah be called hereafter
the diocese of Savannah-Atlanta.
For the execution whereof His Holiness has deigned to ap
point the same Most Reverend Amleto Giovanni Cicognani,
giving to him the necessary and opportune faculties, even of
subdelegating for this purpose any ecclesiastical dignitary.
Concerning which things, His Holiness has ordered the pres
ent Consistorial decree to be issued, which has the same valid
ity as if an Apostolic Letter had been dispatched. Whatever
to the contrary notwithstanding.
Given at Rome, from the Palace of the Sacred Consisto
rial Congregation, the 5th of January, 1937.
V. SANTORO, Assessor.
RAPHAEL C. CARDINAL ROSSI, Secretary.
Diocese of Savannah Is Now
the See of Savannah-Atlanta
DEGREE APPOINTING
ARCHBISHOP GURLEY
TO EXECUTE CHANGE
Address of Bishop O’Hara as
the See of Savannah Became
Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta
(Continued From Page One)
D.. Apostolic Delegate to the United
States, who was given authority to
subdelegate the proclaiming of the
change.
After the reading of the decree and
the address by Archbishop Curley,
Bishop O'Hara explained the steps
which led to the decision culminat
ing in that night’s ceremony. The
address of His Excellency appears
elsewhere in this issue of The Bul
letin.
As a result of the decree, the Dio
cese of Savannah will henceforth be
known as the Diocese of Savannah-
Atlanta, the Church of Christ the
King in Atlanta, soon to be erected,
is given the dignity of a co-Cathe-
dral. honoris causae, during certain
periods of the year, even in times
when the Bishop is required by
canon law to be at his Cathedral,
the Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta is
given the right to have his official
residence in Atlanta, and henceforth
Atlanta will share with Savannah the
honor and responsibility of being an
official center of Catholic life in the
state.
Archbishop Curley, after reading
the Papal decree, paid tribute to
the Diocese and to Bishop O’Hara on
the splendid progress the Church is
making in this state. He referred to
Bishop Keyes, the gentle, lovable,
kindly, priestly preplate, and the re
sults he achieved in his episcopate as
Bishop of Savannah; only a few days
before he himself had seen him at the
Catholic University of America, the
Archbishop said, and he was the
same magnificent but humble char
acter that he was when he left the
University fifteen years ago to as
sume at the comand of the Holy
Father the burden of the episcopate.
The Cathedral of St. John the Bap
tist is dear to him, His Excellency
said, because of his connection with
it through his consecration of Bishop
Keyes, through his participation in
other ceremonies, and because it was
the builder of the Cathedral, Bishop
Benjamin J. Keiley, who consecrated
him Bishop of St. Augustine a quar
ter of a century ago. The name of
Bishop Keiley became synonymous
throughout the nation with that of
Savannah, the Archbishop said, and
he referred to his devotion to the
■■Lost Cause”, illustrating it by citing
the manner in which the venerable
Bishop rendered ‘’The Sword of L«e”.
His Excellency recalled that the last
time he was in Georgia, except to
pass through to the neighboring state
of Florida where he served for so
many years and learned to love Geor
gia and his Bishop, priests and peo
ple so well, was in Augusta thirteen
years ago, when the Jesuit Fathers
observed the golden jubilee of their
return to Georgia.
Through these years, however, he
has maintained a close contact with
the state, the Archbishop said, and he
referred to the work being done by
Bishop, priest and laity for the ad
vancement of God’s Church in Geor
gia; he recalled his interest in the
work of the laity of the Diocese from
the first stirrings of their organiza
tion. There is need everywhere of
compact, organized effort of Bishop,
priests and laity to oppose the forces
of irreligion and Communism, he as
serted. The development of the Dio
cese of Savannah into the Diocese of
Savannah-Atlanta is a recognition of
new growth and new opportunity in
the state, His Excellency asserted,
and he called on the people of the
Diocese to continue to uphold the
hand of their Bishop in the fight
against irreligion and Communism
and in the advancement of the King
dom of Christ in Georgia.
The ceremony started with the pro
cessional hymn, ‘‘Ecce Sarcedos”, by
the Cathedral choir, followed by the
“Veni Creator”. Then came the
reading of the decree by Archbishop
Curley and his address, the receiv
ing of the decree by Bishop O’Hara
and his response, the pledging of
fealty to their Bishop by the priests
of the Diocese, led by the Rt. Rev.
Msgr. Jos. D. Mitchell, V .G., and
the Rt. Rev. Joseph F. Croke, chan
cellor, and Solemn Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament.
The Rev. Rev. James T. Reilly,
S. M., and the Rev. Joseph B. Smith,
of Atlanta, were chaplains to Arch
bishop Curley, the Rev. Harold J.
Barr, Athens, and the Very Rev.
Boniface Bauer, O. S. B., Savannah,
chaplains to Bishop O’Hara, and the
Rev. James E. King, Valdosta, cross
bearer, and the Rev. T. James Mc
Namara. Milledgeville, and the Rev.
Joseph Kavanagh, Savannah, masters
of ceremony. The Rev. A. Gall, S.
M. A., Savannah, was deacon and
the Rev. Jos. G. Cassidy, Savannah,
sub-deacon, of the Solemn Benedic
tion of the Blessed Sacrament which
followed the ceremony. In addition
to the clergy from many sections of
the Diocese, delegations of the laity
were also present.
(Copyright By P. A. Wolfe)
ARCHBISHOP CURLEY.
By virtue of the special faculty
granted to us by our most holy Lord
Pius XI, by divine Providence Pope,
and made known by the degree of
the Sacred Consistorial Congregation
of the 5th of January of this year;
namely, of subdelegating any eccles
iastical dignitary to execute the con
tents of the aforesaid decree con
cerning the residence of the Bishop
of Savannah for the time being in
the city of Atlanta, the naming of the
Church of Christ the King as an hon
orary co-cathedral, the performance
there of the sacred functions of Holy
Week, and finally the changing of
the name and title of the diocese of
Savannah, by the present decree we
subdelegate for this purpose His Ex
cellency, the Most Reverend Michael
J. Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore
and Assistant at the Pontifical Throne,
with all the necessary and oppor
tune faculties granted to us.
Moreover we command him that he
report to us concerning everything,
and that he send to us two copies of
an authentic document concerning
the execution performed; one to be
transmitted by us to the Sacred
Consistorial Congregation, the other
to be preserved in the Archives of
the Apostolic Delegation.
Given at Washington from the
Apostolic Delegation, on the feast of
St. Patrick, the 17th of March, in the
year of Our Lord 1937.
AMLETO GIOVANNI CICOGNANI
Archbishop of Laodicea,
Apostolic Delegate.
AUGUSTA IS HOST TO
MINE GREEK PARISH
May it please Your Excellency, Rt.
Rev. and Rev. Fathers, dearly belov
ed of the laity:
It is indeed a most pleasant duty
this evening to turn to the Most Rev
erend Archbishop of Baltimore,
Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical
Province of Baltimore, in which our
diocese has the honor to be, to extend
to our distinguished guest, not only
in my own name but in the name
of all my priests and people, words
of heartfelt welcome. His presence
in our midst gives joy to our hearts.
He has come at a cost of no little
personal inconvenience. The life of
an archbishop is one of unceasing
toil and care; this is particularly true
at this time of the year. His coming
therefore on this occasion places us
under a great debt of gratitude. We
wish him to know that the favor that
he confers upon us is most deeply
appreciated, and it is our prayer that
God may preserve him in health and
strength for long years to rule the
flock that has been entrusted to his
spiritual care.
The presence of the Head of this
Province in our Cathedral tonight,
acting as a representative of our Holy
Father, Pope Pius XI, vividly indi
cates the importance of this cere
mony. For us of this diocese at least,
it is an historic moment. The Vicar
of Christ, whose jurisdiction extends
over all the world and who has
solicitude for all the churches, ex
ercises that authority in a special
way on this occasion, by putting into
effect certain canonical changes in
this diocese.
You have heard the reading of the
Decree. It is only fitting that I
should now outline briefly enough
the motives and reasons which, step
by step, have led to the effects that
the Decree produces.
Carolinians Go to Georgia.
Paved Highway and Elec
tricity Now Being Planned
for Famed Mission
Literary Recital by
St. Angelas Girls
AIKEN. S. C.—The Timrod.Literary
Club of St. Angela Academy present
ed its second lecture recital here re
cently, featuring selections from the
poems of Father Abram Ryan. “Poet
Priest of the Confederacy”, and Joyce
Kilmer. Those participating included
the Misses Mildred Fortson, president;
Joyce Reynolds, Martha Kaney, Ver
onica Kleeman. Maglin Morris. Doris
Reynolds. Mariana Milner and Doro
thy Dyches.
AUGUSTA. Ga.—Members of the
famed St. William’s parish at Mine
Creek, S. C., were entertained here
a week ago Sunday by Patrick Walsh
Council, when they came to assist
at High Mass at St. Mary’s Church.
The Rev. John J. Kennedy delivered
the sermon, recalling the history of
the congregation, the members of
which belong to one family, descend
ants of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wil
liam Rodgers, or married to descend
ants of this couple who became Cath
olics because of the example of the
late Jerry Donovan, a stone mason
who settled in the Mine Creek sec
tion a half century ago.
The convert congregation made the
trip of forty miles to Augusta for
the get-together sponsored by Patrick
Walsh Council, C. Victor Markwal-
ter, grand knight. After the Mass at
St. Mary’s, the visitors were guests
at a luncheon at Knights of Colum
bus Hall, the ladies preparing and
serving the meal. Musical numbers
were rendered by Mr. Paul Punaro,
Miss Barbara Van Sant, Miss Ade
laide Thompson, Frank Egbert and
the Mt. St. Joseph Glee Club, which
is directed by Mrs. Bertha Pendleton
Walker. Mrs. J. Coleman Dempsey,
Miss Loyola Stulb and Miss Margie
Mulherin were accompanists.
The Rev. George J. Dietz, pastor at
Aiken, on which the mission is lo
cated, and who built the present mis
sion buildings, and the Rev. A. W.
Calner, now in charge of the mis
sion, accompanied the visitors to Au
gusta. The local committee included
Grand Knight Markwalter, Lawrence
J. Cashin, chairman, J. Coleman
Dempsey, Edwin J. Dorr and Louis J.
O’Connell.
St. William’s Mission will have a
paved road, work on it starting July
L The mission is now on a dirt road,
After I became acquainted with
conditions in the Diocese of Savan
nah, I perceived what seemed to be
an abnormality, regarding the capital
of the state, in relation to the epis
copal city. Atlanta is the capital of
the state, the legislative, commercial
center of the state. There are two
universities there for whites and one
for colored. It is not only the most
important city in Georgia; it is also
one of the most eminent and out
standing cities in the country. These
facts called for recognition on the
part of the Catholic Church.
There were other factors that re
ceived consideration. Atlanta is geo
graphically distant from Savannah.
This fact alone raised a kind of bar
rier between the two cities, and the
link that binds together the Catholics
of this part of the state with those of
Atlanta and the entire northern and
western part of Georgia needed
strengthening. In times gone by the
difficulties of transportation made it
practically impossible for the Bishop
of the Diocese to be often enough
amongst his people in the upper part
of the state. These difficulties de
creased with the coming of the rail
roads. and more recently with the
building of good roads, but there
was -'Iways the question of distance
between the two cities, and an in
tangible sense of separation between
the Savannah portion of the Diocese
and northern and western section.
I soon became convinced that some
thing should be done to bridge this
separation and to bring the Catho
lics remote from the Episcopal City
in more intimate contact with their
Bishop. I felt that Atlanta should
have more ecclesiastical recognition
and that the Catholics there should
take a more important part as a cen
ter of Catholic life and that it should
share with Savannah the honor as
well as the responsibility that Savan
nah has always had in this regard
I need not say that my sole motive
and object in approaching and solv
ing this problem has been, as I hope
it will always be. to promote the
honor and glory of God through the
saving of souls.
The matter was first taken up in
formally with a Cardinal of the Curia
in Rome who is perfectly familiar
with conditions in the United States.
I wrote to him on September 2, 1936,
asking him unofficially if the Holy
See would entertain the proposal of
permitting certain changes in the
Diocese and of calling the Diocese
the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta.
Under date of September 18, 1936, I
received the following reply: “Your
plan mentioned in the letter of Sep
tember 2nd is very advisable—con
sidering the importance of the City
of Atlanta and its population.” On
October 29. 1936, I broached the sub
ject to His Excellency. Archbishop
Cicognani. the Apostolic Delegate,
who on November 5, 1936, informally
approved of it.
Inasmuch as Canon Law reserves
to the Supreme Pontiff the making of
substantial changes in dioceses, the
entire matter had to be referred to
him. Accordingly on December 4,
1936. I addressed the following letter
to Pope Pius XI: “Most Holy Father,
prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness
I humbly beg permission to make
known the following:
“1. In the year 1850 the state of
Georgia in the United States of
America was separated from the
jurisdiction of the Bishop of Charles
ton and erected into a diocese. The
new diocese took its'name from Sa
vannah, which was at that time the
principal city in the entire territory.
“2. With the passing of the years
another city, that of Atlanta, had
such rapid and great development
that it soon became the most impor
tant not only in the state of Georgia
but in the entire Southeast of the
United States. This city had a popu
lation of 21,789 in the year of 1870.
By 1900 this number had increased
to 89.872. Today Atlanta has 270,366
inhabitants, not to speak of 89,302
others who reside in the neighbor
ing territory.
“3. Atlanta is the capital of the
state and is the legislative, commer
cial and industrial center of the same.
“4. In 1870 Savannah had a popula
tion of 28.235. According to the latest
census the population is 85,024.
“5. The distance between Savan
nah and Atlanta is 307 kilometers by
train, by automobile 457 kilometers.
There are some churches and mis
sions of the Diocese that are still far
ther away from Savannah.
“6. Relative to the numerical and
material development that the City
of Atlanta has had, the progress of
our Holy Church has been small in
deed.
“7. In view of the distance that
separates Savannah from Atlanta and
of the means of transportation, the
Bishops in the past could not go to
Atlanta frequently, and therefore the
Catholics of that city did not see or
hear their Bishop except at long in
tervals of time. The result qf this
was the fact that the bond which
united the Catholics of that part of
the Diocese with their Bishop was
not too strong.
“Wherefore, having before my eyes
the glory of God, the prestige of the
Church and the good of souls, I hum
bly ask Your Holiness to grant the
following:
“a. That the name of the Diocese
be changed from the Diocese of Sa
vannah to the Diocese of Savannah-
Atlanta.
“b. That the future church of
Christ the King which will shortly
be erected in the City of Atlanta be
the official residence of the Bishop
in the same city: and that it receive
the title of ‘Co-Cathedral church ad
honorem’.
“c. That the Bishop of the Dio
cese have permission to fix his of
ficial residence at this church during
certain periods of the year, e. g., for
two or three weeks, four times a year.
“d. That the Bishop of the Dio
cese have the faculty to conduct the
Holy Week services, including the
blessing of the Holy Oils, every other
years in the Church of Christ the
King, Atlanta.”
Our Holy Father graciously grant
ed the reduest; you have just heard
the Most Rev. Archbishop of Balti-
mor read his answer.
This occasion is taken to lay at
the feet of Our Holy Father, Pope
Pius XI, the tribute of the filial
homage, veneration and undying de
votion of the Bishop, priests and peo
ple of this diocese. We publicly pro
fess our belief that he is the Vicar
of Christ upon earth and the succes
sor of St. Feter, to whom Our Blessed
Lord Himself said: “Thou are Peter
and upon this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.” We rejoice in the
recovery of Our Holy Father from
his recent illness and we beg God
to spare him to rule the Church of
God for years to come. “Beatissimo
Patri, nostro Pio Summo, Pontifici
pax, vita et salus perpetua. Amen.”
none too good in bad weather. Fa
ther Calner has also been advised by
Walter C. Herbert of the Public Util
ities Commission, Electrical Utilities
Division, that the South Carolina Gas
and Power Company will soon start
work on an electrical line to St. Wil
liam’s and the surrounding commu
nity, thus bringing home lighting and
modem electrical conveniences to
them for the first time. W. J. Cor-
mack, rural engineer for the commis
sion, and Hon. J. W. Chadwick, rep
resentative from Saluda in the House
of Representatives at Columbia, ex
posed themselves to all sorts of weath
er to make surveys which would has
ten these improvements.
Spring Hill Degree
for Bulletin Editor
Doctorate of Laws to Be
Awarded at Commencement
(By N. C. C. W. News Service)
MOBILE, Ala. — (NC) — The Rev.
John J. Druhan, president of Spring
Hill College, here, has just announced
that the college will grant Richard
Reid the honorary degree, doctor of
laws, at commencement exercises on
May 25.
Mr. Reid, recipient of the Laetare
Medal award from Notre Dame Uni
versity in 1936, is editor of The Bulle
tin, organ of the Catholic Laymen’s
Asociation of Georgia. Mr. Reid is a
former president of the Catholic
Press Association.