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THIRTY-FOUR THE,BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA 'AUGUST 25, 1945 Trailer Missionaries of the Diocese of Richmond On ‘Hour of Faith’ The article which follows, which was written by the Rev. Francis .1. Byrne. D. I)., man aging editor THE CATHOLIC VIRGINIAN, and W'hich appear ed in the June, 1942, issue of that publication, is the second in a scries of articles which THE BULLETIN is reprinting for the purpose of making its readers familiar with the work His Ex cellency the Most Reverend Vin cent S. Waters, D. I)., Bishop of Raleigh, was engaged in when lie was a member of the Mission ary Band of the Diocese of Rich mond. It was a midsummer evening in a small Virginia town. On the spacious veranda of the neat, white-painted houses, the villagers are relaxing—the men in shirt sleeves, the women in their cool linen frocks—trying to catch a bit of fresh air and refreshment after the heat of a sweltering August day. Suddenly the stillness of the summer air is broken by a blare of martial music. Curious ears lisle.i and. a little lazily perhaps, the people wonder what is happen ing now in town to break the pleasant monotony of their lives. Then someone remarks: “Oh, that must be the Catholic trailer chapel which I saw pull up on the lot down by the Masonic Temple this afternoon. Last week's paper said that they played records over a public address system to let the people know that services are go ing to be held. Let’s take a walk down there and sec what it's all about.’’ So they come, singly or in small groups, to hear the “message” which the Catholic preachers have to offer. When they arrive at the lot they find a lack of seating ac commodations. so they approach officers of the Masonic lodge and, with their permission, bring chairs from the Temple, in order that they might assist at this Catholic service in comfort. The martial music gives way to religious melodies, some of them hymn t”.nes with which these non- Catholic listeners are familiar. Finally, the music is silenced and a black-robcd priest steps on the lighted platform, which has ( been let down from the back of the Trailer. After making the sign oi the cross .the missioner begins im mediately lo read from the scrip tures, an action which makes a startling impression On some of these people, many of whom have been taught from childhood that Catholics haw no love for the Bible. After the Scripture reading, the priest welcomes the people to the gathering, explains the reason for their coming and advises them that, at this time on subsequent eve nings. he or his associate will be glad to answer any question ; about the Catholic faith or practice which they may care to propose personally or deposit in the ques tion box on he platform. He then announces to them that, after a short religious musical interlude, his associate will appear to deliver the opening sermon, after which the Fathers will be glad to meet them personally, answer any in quiries 'he.v might care to make, give them Catholic literature to read and invite them to inspect the t ailer and its arrangements. This, in brief, is the plan adopted by the Richmond Diocesan Mis sionary Fatheis for their services from the trailer chapel, Saint Maiy of the Highways. On one night ol their two-weeks sojourn in each town they give an explana tion of the altar and its furnishings and of . .ass vestments,, and show a moving picture of the Mass with running commentary by one of the Fathers. Also during the mis sion they show a picture of the life of Christ, “King of Kings," and “The Great Heart,” a movie “short" based on the '.'fe of Father Damien. The roen who do this work are the Missionary Fathers, a band of three diocesan priests organized in 1937 by the Most Rev. Peter L. Ireton, D. D., then Coadjutor Bishop of Ri.-hmond. Their number is usually augmented by the addi tion of one man during the trailer mission season. The chapel, Saint Mary of the Highways, is a fine example of trailer planning and construction. Its steel body contains comfortable quarters for the two Missionary Fathers who man it, as well as plenty of storage space for every thing needed in their work.. There are comfortable seats, which at night become restful beds. There is an office, with a desk and shelves for reference books, as well as a generous supply of pamphlets and other literature for distribution to the people. There are cupboards for food and dishes, an ice box, electric hot plate, and a sink with running water. The chapel's altar is a little gem of beauty. It is wood and is ar ranged that the priest may say Mass on either side. With the trailer closed, a few people can be accomodated for Mass, but, if a larger congregation is present, the back of the trailer is opened and the altar, which is just inside the rear platform, is arranged for open- air Mass. Has the trailer work been suc cessful? In three seasons—the trailer operates only from mid- May to late September — the Fathers talked to audiences total ing about 35.000 people, many of whom had never seen a priest be fore. They have covered most of those areas of the Richmond diocese where there are no priests and sometimes not even a Catholic chapel. They have distributed over 50.000 pieces of literature absolutely free of charge. They are sending to 450 non-Catholic homes 10,800 pieces of Catholic literature each year, also free of charge. Hero we might mention that no money is ever accepted from the audiences to whom the Fathers preach, since they are practically all non-Catholic. The work of the trailer missions is supported al most entirely by voluntary contri butions of Catholics throughout the Richmond diocese. Also, as a result of the trailer missions, twelve non-Catliolics are at present receiving a corre spondence course of instruction in the Catholic faith. This course is conducted by seminarians of the diocese studying at Saint Mary'.; Sc tinary. Baltimore. Some few converts have already entered the Church because of the trailer mis sions. In these three years, the Dio cesan Missionary Fathers have preached two-week missions in thirty distinctly rural and non- I Catholic communities. They seize every opportuni'y to engage tlje people in conversation and thus they have made many wa;m friends of people who before look ed up the Church and her priests vvilh distrust and suspicion. They have been < mighty propaganda agency for the Church in an area which is still distinctly missionary. Here are some few instances which may illustrate the effective ness of the trailer mission work. The scene with whic' we opened this story actually took place in Heathsville, a lovely little town j in Virginia's Northern Neck, the peninsula between the Rappah in-1 nock and Potomac rivers. There the Fat hex; spoke to splendid audi- J ences every night of their stay i and there is not one Catholic in! Heathsville or its environs. The I people could not do enough to make 1 the Fathers feel perfectly at home among them. The press, repre-' rented by the Northumberland! Kcho, was mast courteous and co operative carrying stories of the services ana accounts of the ser mons on its front page. This has been true of the press in every place the Fathers have visited. On the last Saturday of the Mis sionaries’ stay in Heathsville, the members of the local Methodists church held their annual picnic. At about seven o’clock that eve ning the crowd attending the fes tivities began gradually to di-perse. Some of those who stayed behind were puzzled al this abrupt termi nation of the picnic and asked where everyone was going. Be lieve it or not, the answer was, •that they were going lo the Cath olic “meeting.” From Heathsville and from other places the Fathers still receive let ters from friends whom they made in their travels and occasionally one of them drops in for a visit at Saint Mary’s Mission Church, the headquarters of the Fathers in Richmond. Not infrequently these non-Calholic people write to tell the Fathers of their trials and dif ficulties and ask prayers for them selves or their loved ones. There is a touching incident, which took place during a mission at Chase City last summer. Among the most faithful auditors in that town was a sixty-five year old man. REV. THOMAS E. O’CONNELL, pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Rich mond. Va., and Executive Chair man of the Catholic Committee of the South, who "is delivering a series of nine addresses “On Go ing A Journey", on the “Hour of Faith” program, during August and September. The “Hour of Faith” is produced by the National Council of Catholic Men, in coop eration with the American Broad casting Company, and is broadcast each Sunday at 11:30 a. m. (EWT) over the nationwide stations of ABC. Dates and titles of Father O'Con nell’s talks are: August 5, “Our Invitation;” August 12, “We Plan Our Trip;" August 19, “We Arrive at the Station;” August 26, “We Board the train:" September 2, “The Scenes We Pass;” September 9, “We Dine;" September 16, “The Folks We Meet;” September 23, “On Passing the Time,” and September 30, “The Journey's End.” Father O'Connell, who graduated from Holy Cross College in 1917, served as a sergeant during World War 1. He completed his study for the priesthood at Bel mont Abbey Seminary, Belmont, N. C., and did post-graduate work at the Catholic University of Am erica. 1-Ie has been pastor of St. Paul's Church, in Richmond, for twenty years. He is a former com mander of the American Legion Post in Richmond, and at present is chaplain of the “40 and 8." Advance Class Completes Chaplains’ School Course FT. OGLETHORPE, Ga.—The Advanced Class of the first session of the Chaplain School held at Ft. Oglethorps concluded during the week of August 7. The school was recently removed from Ft. Devons* Mass. The benediction at the graduation exercises was given by Capt. John J. Roche, C. M. Chap lains in the Advanced Class arc those with overseas experience. The Basie Course, taken by the majority of the 154 chaplains at the school will continue to August 25. Col. Maurice W. Reynolds is Commandant of the school and LI. Col. Terence P. Finnegan, a priest of the Diocese of. Har tford, is As sistant Commandant. physically a veritable giant, who came every night lo the services directly from his work, dressed in his faded blue overalls On the day the Fathers were to leave Chase City, he left his.war/ to bid them farewell. He stood beside the trailer, his great size and his ven erable old age making him 'appear like Moses of old a:; he raised his hands over his head and prayed thus: “Oh. God. take care of these two pastors: bless them and their work with every blessing, so that they may bring the message of light and truth lo many wandering souls. They have taught me the truth and showed me the light. Oh, God, bring them back. Amen.” With that he dropped his hands, warmly clasped those of the Fathers and murmured as he turn ed away: “Pray for my dear old mother. She was a good Christian woman.” During the 'month of May the Diocesan Missionary Fathers again set forth in Saint. Mary of the Highways to bring the message of Christ’s life and passion and death and of the Church which he found ed to many who do not know Him, or who know Him but imperfectly. Again their field of labor will be Southside Virginia, where county upon county is without priest or church. May God bring success to their efforts and give them fruit of souls. British Officer Defends Leopold, King of Belgium (By N. C. W. C. News Service) I LONDON.—On behalf of King Leopold of the Belgians, ir.terest- !' ing evidence was given by Lord Keyes, a non-Catholic, who was British liaison officer to the Bel- j gian Army at the time of its sur- : render in 1940. In a letter to the | London Times commenting on the debate in the Belgian Parliament, Lord Keyes accused M. Spaak, one of the King’s most vehement opponents, of making, will) his col leagues, “ceaseless efforts . . . between May 14 and May 24, 1940, I to persuade King Leopold to de sert his army.” The Belgian political attitude, Lord Keyes added, “certainly alarmed him” because “the fate of the small British army, during their retreat, depended on the steadfastness of the Belgian Army on the northeast flanks.” Only the inspiration and leadership of King Leopold enabled that army lo make a stand "almost as gallant as their fathers had done during the last war -under King Albert, who had also been urged by his Prime Minister to abandon his army,’ ’the writer added. But for “Leopold’s refusal to fly with M. Spaak and his col leagues many thousands of British soldiers who escaped to Dunkirk would surely have perished or been captured,” Lord Keyes con cluded. MISSIONS AT CHURCHES IN WAYNESVILLE, BRYSON CITY WAYNESVILLE, N.C.—The Very Rev. H. Louis Motry, S. T. D., J. C. D., Dean of the Faculty of Can- j on Law at the Catholic University , of America in Washington, D. C., j conducted a mission for Catholics and non-Catholic:: * at St. John’s Church here, August 12-14, and a similar mission at St. Joseph’s Church. Bryson City, August 17-19. Apostolic Delegate Leads Victory Day Service in Capital (By N. C. W. C. News Service) WASHINGTON. — Unrestrained joy mingled with deep reverence marked the observance in the na tion's capital of the conclusion of the war in the Pacific. His Excellency the Most Rev. Am- leto Giovanni Cocognani, Aposto lic Delegate to the United Stales, officiated at a Solemn Te Deum service in St. Patrick’s Church, fol lowed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, al which he was celebrant. The Apostolic Dele gate officiated at similar services in the same church when V-E Day was proclaimed last May. On the present occasion, the Very Rev. Lyle McDonald, S. S., served as deacon, and the Rev. Thomas Dade was subdeacon. The singing of the Te Deum was led by the choir of the theological college of the Catholic University of Am erica. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was the scene of an impressive service oLthanksgiving, as was the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of the Catholic University of America. Celebrant of the Bene diction at the Shrine service was the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edward B. Jor dan. Vice Rector of the university. Thousands of the faithful visited churches in the Washington metro politan area on the Feast of the Assumption. Virtually all of the two-score churches in the area held special services to mark the coming victory. Additional rites were held throughout all the churches in the area in compliance with the proc lamation of President Harry S. Truman that a day be observed as one of thanksgiving to God for the victory and “in praying that He will support and guide us into the paths of peace.” Best Wishes From MRS, H. E. CHESHIRE Produce 1509 WALTON WAY AUGUSTA. GA. Compliments -of- THE SOUTHERN COTTON OIL CO. Augusta, Georgia Best Wishes From BUDWINE BOTTLING COMPANY Augusta, Georgia