Newspaper Page Text
Published for the
Georgia Federation
of Junior
Catholic Clubs
The Federation News
Motto
“Better Catholics'’
‘Better Georgians”
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, MARCH 26, 1938
“Federation News” Newest
Addition to The Bulletin
Georgia Federation of Jun
ior Catholic Clubs to Pub
lish Monthly Activities
BY J. ALTON BAUMGARTNER
President, Georgia Federation of
Junior Catholic Clubs
“Orchids to The Bulletin,” This
may seem like a strange way to be
gin an article, nevertheless it is true
in every respect- The Bulletin has
been a mainstay and outstanding fac
tor in Catholicism throughout Geor
gia and the Southeast, known for its
great work in conjunction with the
Catholic Laymen’s Association of
Georgia. People in all sections of the
country know that there are Catho
lics in Georgia and what they are do
ing. This can be attributed to The
Bulletin. To this great man and out
standing publication, high honors
could never be bestowed too often.
Again, The Bulletin has shown
kindness and generosity. Through
its efforts, we, the Georgia Federa
tion of Junior Catholic Clubs, have
secured a page in The Bulletin, to be
titled Federation News- All news
items and activities pertaining to the
Federation will be found on this
page. Through this medium, we will
be able to impart information to the
general public that Catholicism not
only exists in Georgia but it is very
much alive especially among the
younger set.
Possibly, your interest having been
aroused, you wish to know more
about our Federation. What is its
origin and purpose? In order to ex
plain more elucidly, it is necessary
that we retrospect a few years. In
the fall of 1933, in the city of Albany,
Georgia, Father Brennan discussed
with the members of his local club
the possibility of some day organiz
ing a Federation of Junior Catholic
Clubs. He looked around in the dif
ferent cities and discovered that
practically all of the churches had a
Junior Club. The membership is
limited to boys and girls between the
ages of sixteen and thirty.
Functioning in their own locality,
performing creditably, they lacked
one important requisite—a united
front. Distance prevented rapid com
munications and exchange of ideas.
How much more could be accom
plished if all these clubs could be
united under one banner! The idea of
bringing these clubs together was
put forth and at once work and ef
fort began to obtain this aim.
CATHEDRAL CLUB
ANNUAL OPERETTA
The annual Spring operetta given by
the Savannah C.Y.P.A. is to be pre
sented about two weeks after Easter.
“The Red Mill” is the operetta to be
given this Spring. Try-outs for the
cast are now underway. The whole
case is expected to be selected by
March 14th at the latest. There is
much competition -among the mem
bers of the club who are all anxious
to stand out. Many of the songs that
are to be sung were written by that
outstanding composer, Victor Herbert.
Mr. Joseph A. Mendel is in charge of
the acting, while Mr. Charles Donnel
ly is taking over the singing. These
are the same directors that we had
last year, and the club enjoys work
ing for them. The club expects to
make this operetta an even bigger and
better success than that of last year.
—Margaret Cooper.
Federation Sponsors
Several Study Clubs
For years the Catholic Church has
been waging a bitter fight against
Communism, Socialism and other false
economic and social theories. That this
fight has not made greater progress is
due to the apathetic attitude of the
average layman. Thousands of pam
phlets, papers and study clubs are held
to enlighten Catholics and to furnish
them with reasons why these systems
should be fought—yet many, too many
of us are indifferent to their great
purpose. We are apt to sit back smug
ly and say, “Oh, that’s all right for
people who have nothing else to do,
but it’s too far-fetched for me.”
Individual Club Activities
Invitations were sent out by the
Acquinas Club of Albany to the
Shamrock Club of Macon and the
Junior Catholic Club of Columbus to
meet with them and discuss the or
ganization of this Federation. This
meeting was held in Albany, Febru
ary, 1934, and the Georgia Federation
of Juinor Catholic Clubs came into
existence. The formalities necessary
were taken care of. by-laws were
drawn up and Miss Mary Mock was
elected -the first president. To her fell
the duties of guiding this new or
ganization successfully and her ac
complishments will always be re
membered.
The need and advantages of con
ventions was discussed, and it was
decided to hold a convention every
three months in a different city, ro
tating among those in the Federation-
Columbus volunteered to hold the
first in her fair city and on Sunday.
May 20. 1934, a arge crowd assembled
from the three charter member clubs
to see the Federation off to grand
start and to lend a helping hand that
the organization would be a success.
Never did they dream that it would
blosom into a strong, successful body
of six hundred.
Yet, we have only to look in our
Catholic papers and see what is hap
pening in Spain and Germany, what
has already happened in Russia and
Mexico, to realize that it could all
happen here. A recent survey of the
N.C.C.W. showed that in the United
States there are thousands of Com
munistic organizations working day
and night to undermine our democra
cy. These organizations realize that
the Catholic Church is THE enemy to
overcome and against her especially
they direct their most fierce attacks.-
It is, therefore, our special duty as
members of the Georgia Federation
of Junior Catholic Clubs to awaken
ourselves to the reality of these at
tacks. We must prepare ourselves
through our study clubs under the su
pervision of our clergy, to not only
defend our faith against the evils of
these theories, but to "beat them at
their own game”—by keeping the
truth and beauty of our religion con
stantly before the eyes of the people
so that they may not be attracted by
the gaudy, false offerings of Commu-
i nism.
We cannot afford to let the oppor
tunity to create good-will and under
standing that we have at this time
pass without some action on our part.
It is our duty as members of the Fed
eration to lead the way for other young
Catholics of Georgia.—Myrtle Sulli-
Today, this same Federation is
moving along hoping to attain new
heights, boasting of a membership of
nine clubs, namely: Acauinas Club
of Albany; Shamrock Club of Ma
con: Young People’s Catholic Club of
the Immaculate Conception Church,
Atlanta; Junior Catholic Club, Co
lumbus; Blessed Chanel Club of the
Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta; St.
Anthony’s Club of St. _ Anthony
Church. Atlanta: the Petrine Club
of LaGrange; the Cathedral Young
People's Association of Savannah;
and the Sancta Maria Club of Rome
The membership from these clubs is
approximately six hundred members,
with crowds of two hundred attend
ing conventions and the Federation 5:
still in its embryonic stages. We are
only at the beginning and will not
stop until all sections of the state are
included in our membership.
The aim and purpose of the Feder
ation is two-fold: First, to help
spread Catholicity throughout the
state; Second, to bring the younger
Catholic boys and girls together that
they' may meet and know each other
The conventions have been very
beneficial in obtaining these objec
tives. Here they do meet each other.
They listen to outstanding Catholic
lecturers, and review the work of
each individual club. Here ideas are
put forth for the advancement of all
and we find all taking an active part.
LaGRANGE: Petrine Club
That the Lenten season is upon us
is an undeniable fact. Therefore, the
Petrine Club, as well as other clubs
have ceased club socials until the
Holy Season is over.
However, a wiener roast was giv
en as the last social before Lent. The
affair was staged in conjunction with
a skating party at Riverside. A large
crowd attended and long will live m
their memory the wonderful time
had by all-
ROME: Sancta
Maria Club
During the Lenten season, the
Sancta Maria Club has discontinued
all club activities. We have Lenten
services three times a week, and at
tending these services we feel it
would be impossible to have our re
gular meetings, until after Easter.
We are very proud to have two
Sisters come to Rome on Fridays and
Saturdays to instruct the children
of the parish. These sisters are the
Gray Nuns of the Sacred Heart from
the parish of Christ The King, At
lanta, and they are doing splendid
work.
On St. Patrick’s day, the ladies
of the Altar Society sponsored a
parish social. A large crowd turned
out for this affair and everyone had
a very delightful evening.
ATLANTA: Young
People’s Club
Sunny, spring weather has tuned
up the softball team of the Young
People’s Catholic Club of the Im
maculate Conception Church, and ac
cording to the scouts attending re
cent tryouts and practices at the
Marist Field, the 1938 league should
prove equally as successful as that
of last year. This Catholic league
was formed last summer and received
State-wide recognition and praise.
The schedule for the coming season
will be announced soon and games
will be played on Sunday afternoons
during the forthcoming months.
An interesting event of the pre-
lenten season was the Sleuth Hunt
given by the club. Upon their arri
val, guests were given a list of ques
tions to answer, such as: “What is
the inscription on the Henry Grady
Monument?” “How many steps are
there to the entrances of the State
Capitol?” “How many suits-of clothes
are there in the windows of the
men’s shop at 73 Peachtree Street?”
Ihis proved to be quite a novel and
enjoyable affair and the prize for an
swering the questions first was
awarded to Alton Baumgartner and
those accompanying him in his auto
mobile on the hunt. The guests then
assembled at the home of Marie and
Jeanette Bart for a buffet supper and
entertainment. Leona Van Mansfeld,
entertainment chairman, planned this
party and she was assisted by the
Misses Bart.
Under the guidance of our pastor,
the Rev. Joseph R. Smith, the Study
Club has ben making rapid progress
Using as a basis of information, the
“Quadragesimo Anno” by our pre
sent Holy Father, Pope Pius XI,
many enlightening and interesting
discussions have taken place. Being
familiar with the Catholic point of
view, they are enabled to form cor
rect views of the many theories of
economic principles prevalent at the
present time. Fortified with some
knowledge of the truth and filled
with the desire to execute the wishes
of the Church, (by incorporating in
to their individual daily lives the
principles of sane Christian inter
course) they are thereby fulfilling
the desires of the hierarchy for
serious and concentrated Catholic
Action.
SAVANNAH: Cathedral
Young People’s Glub
The recent play, “Nothing But the
Truth”, presented by the Savannah
C.Y.P. was a success. It was every
one’s opinion that every character was
amiably selected and they felt that the
parts were taken off as grand as could
be. The club owes its thanks to Mr.
Joseph A. Mendel who so generously
gave up his time to drill and drill
these members of the club in the art
of acting and who so wonderfully
made this play a success. The club
takes this time to also express its
thanks to those who were in the play.
The C.Y.P.A. basketball team for
the boys, better known as the "Sham-
rockscame out at the top of the list
in the city league. The "Shamrocks”
really have a grand team. It is spon
sored by the joint societies of the Holy
Name and the C.Y.P.A., this being i
first year to play under the sponsor
ship of the two societies.
A barbecue nicnic v/as held on Sun
day, March 13, by the C.Y.P.A.
Camp Villa Maria. A large crowd at
tended and everyone enjoyed himself
and had a grand time. The members
of the club all go for these picnics in
a big way, but they go for the many
other things that the club undertakes
in the same spirit.-
The C.Y.P.A. boxing team which so
far is undefeated, is striving to keep
this record clear and not to smear it.
There are to be about three or four
more meets withoutside teams before
the end of the season, and they are
very anxious to win all of them. This
boxing team as is the basketball team,
is under the joint sponsorship of the
Holy Name Society and the C.Y.P.A.
COLUMBUS: Junior
Catholic Club
The Junior Catholic Club’s pre-
lenten Mardi Gras Ball was attend
ed by many of Columbus’ younger
dancing set at the Club’s residence
on Broadway, Friday night, Febru
ary 25.
Officers of the Club are: Miss Vince
Spano, President; Miss Genevieve
Bruni, Secretary; Miss Alexandra
Perroux, Treasurer.
The chairman of the committees
for the dance appointed by Miss
Vince Spano, who was general chair
man, were: Miss Beulah Gamble,
tickets; Miss Lucy Wingate, invita
tions; Salvador Spano, orchestra; Miss
Merle Kennon, Miss Margorie Zett-
ler and Joseph McDermott, decora
tions; Miss Elizabeth McCafferty,
publicity.
Chaperones- were Mr. and Mrs.
John T. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Suelzer, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Per
roux and Mrs. Lucille Kennon.
Preceding their annual Mardi Gras
dance, members of the Junior Catho
lic Club were hosts at a bingo party.
This affair was enjoyed by a large
number of participants, and many
beautiful prizes were awarded.
The committees responsible for the
success of the party were: Miss Vince
Spano and Miss Marjorie Zettler,
prizes; Miss Beulah Gamble, tickets;
Miss Merle Kennon, Miss Marjorie
Zettler, and Joseph McDermott, de
corations.
The games were called by Salvador
Spano, Bartow Spano and Louis Gig-
lio.
MACON: Shamrock Club
The Shamrock Club of Macon
seems to be getting places these days.
If we met a member of one of the
other clubs of the Federation, the
first thing he or she would probably
say is: “What is the Shamrock Club
doing for excitement?” The writer
will endeavor to give you a brief out
line of what is really happening.
The Shamrocks recently went skat
ing in Tatnall Square Park, after
which they were invited to the home
of Janette and Nelle Huhn for “eats”.
We always have a good time at the
Huhns and let us not forget Mary
Long’s “Coming Out Party”. We had
gobs of fun—Mary is a real pal any
way.
Then there was Joy Smith’s “Get
Together” with still more fun. Joy is
one of the latest additions to the
Shamrock Club as well as the Dra
matic Club and played the lead in
their last play.
On almost every team that assisted
in taking the Parish Census last week
was one or more members of the
Shamrock Club. When any Parish
work is to be done the members of
this club are always first to volun
teer. Refreshments were served Fri
day night to those assisting
work.
St. Anthony y s Club
in Atlanta Parish
The members of St. Anthony’s Club
have been very enthusiastic over their
many activities these past few weeks.
Some time ago, we inaugurated the
idea of sponsoring a Junior group
composed of boys and girls between
the ages of fourteen and sixteen who
attend the public schools and who are
thereby deprived of close contact with
Catholic friends. On the afternoon
of February 26th, this Junior group
was entertained with a party at the
West End Civic Club. The plan has
worked very successfully and the
group is being fostered with the idea
of their becoming members of St. An
thony’s Club as soon as their age per
mits.
in this
Study Clubs have been orgenized at
home to learn our fath more com
pletely. Monthly papers are being
published by a number of the clubs.
Others have gone into amateur
snorts under their club banners. Ail
clubs have been leading good ex
amples and spreading Catholicity.
Now comes one of the most impor
tant events of the Federation’s ca
reer—our obtaining a page in our
grand publication, The Bulletin.
Through this factor we hope to let
you, and you, and you know our ac
tivities.
The staff of this page will be com
posed of a corespondent from each
club in the Federation, along with
Robert Johann and J. Alton Baum
gartner. We will direct the affairs of
the page and to that aim we dedi
cate our efforts. Undoubtedly, mis
takes will be made, but they will
not be intentional. Please remember,
we are only beginners and we ask
your support. Above all, constructive
criticism. It is our earnest desire and
steadfast aim to serve this Federa
tion to which we belong. We ask
again and confidently expect your
cooperation in this worthy under
taking.
The regular Communion day for
the Club was observed on the first
Sunday of March, and was followed
by a breakfast in the club room. Due
to the initiative of the Membership
Committee, which is headed by Aid
Garoni, there were about fifty mem
bers present. Breakfast was prepared
by Bob Hackman Jr.. David Eber-
hardt, Howard Smith, Joe Carroll,
Dr. Stephen Gernazian, and Mrs.
Gershon Epler. and inspired a feel
ing of warmth and good fellowship
that added to the satisfaction of this
assemblage. New members recently
enrolled in the Club are: Joe Carroll.
Mary Anne Fuller. Jaime Vendre'I
Carlos Villaneuva and Margaret
Maloof. The Membership Committee
is launching a drive for new mem
bers and it is hoped that through
their efforts every eligible young man
and woman will become enrolled in
this club, organized especially for
them.
The 17th day of March marked the
feast of our most beloved patron
Saint Patrick and it was celebrat
ed with fitting observance through
out all Ireland as well as by all the
Irish in this country. The gift of
Faith which has been the kernel of
Ireland’s life throughout history, and
won the hearts of man and women of
Gael, was brought to the Emerald
Isle by St. Patrick in the year 432 A.
D.
On March 17. the spirit of St. Pat
rick lived again in the hearts of the
members of the Shamrock Club of
Macon, when we celebrated that
night with a dinner-dance. Father
McNally, our Counselor, attended the
dinner and added to the occasion.
The Dramatic Club, composed large
ly of members of the Shamrock Club,
rendered a program befitting the oc
casion. It was in the form of a skit,
written by Joy Smith and directed by
Bubber” Cassidy. The title of this
skit was “Seeing Green” and includ
ed many old Irish songs and dances.
Each member of the Shamrock Club
attending the dinner-dance was per
mitted to bring a couple that they
think would make good prospective
members. The spirit of St. Patrick
will live always in the hearts of the
Irish and the Shamrock Club.
Honoring Saint Patrick, a program
was arranged for Sunday, March 13,
by Fritz Baumgartner, Popular Irish
ballads were sung by the members
of the newly-formed Ava Maria
Club with Jack Chess, Dot and Joe
Maloof, rendering solo parts. Marie
Maloof gave an appropriate recita
tion.
Sympathy is extended to Mrs. J. T.
Caudle :n the loss of her father, Mr.
Harry Badger, Sr, and to the family
of Mrs. Frederica Gardner in her
recent death. Both the Gardner and
Badger families have been closely as
Our study club, which is known as
the Loyola-Chesterton Club, meets
every Monday evening. While we do
not follow entirely the outline given
by the Federation, nevertheless, we
feel that we are endeavoring to have
Catholic books of philosophy, history,
etc, as well as dictionaries and en
cyclopedias placed in the public li
brary. So far, we have been suc
cessful in having a Catholic diction
ary placed in the Uncle Remus
branch of the library and several
books on the Spanish situation have
been placed in the main library.
We have corrected several misstate
ments in the secular press and have
appointed committees to scan the
newspapers and magazines for errors
published regarding our faith. We are
planning to unite forces with other
organizations throughout the country
in their drive for clean literature and
we shall make every effort to wipe
out obscene magazines and books
from the newstands in Georgia.
sociated with the Club for a number
of years.
The many friends of Mrs. John H.
Denson will be glad to learn that
she is recuperating after a serious
illness.
Many of the Club members assist
ed Mr. Gershon Epler, chairman, in
talcing the census of the Immaculate
Conception parish. It was a genuine
pleasure, to be of service and to help
our Most Rev. Bishop in this task
and it is hoped that the reports from
the diocese will prove that Catholici
ty in Georgia is making creditable
progress.
THE ANTONIAN PLAYERS, the
dramatic society of the club, success
fully presented “A Merry Death” to a
capacity audience on March 1st. Thie
was a fast-moving three-act comedy,
full of trip-hammer dialogue which
kept the audience laughing until the
final drop of the curtain. A feature
of the performance was the Gold Pin
awards—three outstanding players
chosen by the ballots of the audience.
The awards went to Myrtle Sullivan,
Raoul Patron and Virginia Brannon.
Honorable mention was given to Ann
Mallinson. Betty Ham and Joe Mal-
linson. The cast was completed by
Jean Todd, Joe Sullivan, Clara Mae
Oberst, Julia Hammock, Robert Cline
and Tom Elkins. The Antonian Play-
s. under the direction of Father
Quinlan, have successfully presented
twelve performances during the past
two years. The proceeds of this per
formance were turned over to Father
Conlin for the rectory debt fund.
Our membership has been steadily
increasing during the past year and
we are endeavoring to set an example
of true Catholic Action—by obtain
ing a practical knowledge of our re
ligion, in order that we may counter
act any false reports regarding the
Church, and by endeavoring to live
up to the ideals of our faith in our
every day lives. s>
MARYKNOLL’S first martyr. Fa
ther Gerard A. Donavan, is coming
back to his native land for inter
ment; the remains of the missionary,
kidnapped and murdered by Chinese
bandits, will arrive in San Francisco
April 14.