Newspaper Page Text
(
Published by the
Catholic Lay
men’s Association
of Georgia
Ikfitt
“To Bring About
a Friendlier
Feeling Among
Neighbors Irre
spective of Creed”
Vol. XXVil, No. 10
THIRTY-TWO PAGES
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 26, 1946
ISSUED MONTHLY $2.00 A YEAR
Trappist Monastery in Georgia
Given Status of Autonomous Abbey
Bishop Walsh of Charleston Installs Right Reverend M.
James Fox, of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict
Observance as Abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady of the
Holy Ghost, Which Was Established in Rockdale
County, Near Conyers, in March 1944
(Special to The Bulletin)
CONYERS, Ga. — With all the
splendor of impressive ritualistic
ceremony that has been passed
down through the centuries, the
Most Rev. Emmet, M. Walsh, D.
*D.. Bishop of Charleston, Bestow
ed the Abbatial Blessing on the
Right Rev. M. James Fox, O. C. S.
O., first Abbot of the Abbey of
Our Lady of the Holy Ghost, in
the course of a Solemn Pontifical
Mass, celebrated on October 18,
in the chapel of the Abbey, which
is located in Rockdale County, a
few miles south of Conyers.
In March, 1044, some twenty
priests and lay brothers of the
Order of Cistercians of the Strict
Observance, came to Georgia from
the Abbey of Our Lady of Geth-
semani, in Kentucky, to establish
a new monastery.
At a recent meeting of the Gen
eral Chapter of the Order of Cis
tercians of the Strict Observance,
held in Dijon, France, the monas
tery near Conyers was raised to
the dignity of an Abbey, becoming
an autonomous community, which
elected Father James, who had
been the Superior of the monas
tery since its foundation,- two
years and a half ago. to be
Abbot.
It is customary for the Abbatial
Blessing to be conferred by the
Ordinary of the Diocese in which
Hie Abbey is located, but as the
Most Rev. Gerald P. OHara’s D.
D., J. U. D., Bishop of Savannah-
Atlanta, is at this time in Vatican
City, Bishop Walsh, who served
as a priest in Georgia before being
elevated to the See of Charleston,
was requested by Bishop O’Hara to
officiate for him.
Bishop Walsh was assisted in
the celebration of the Mass and in
the blessing of (he Abbot by tiro
Right Rev. Monsignor Joseph E.
Moylan, Vicar General of the Dio
cese of Savannah - Atlanta, as
archpriest; by the Right Rev. Mon-
signor Edward J, Dodwcll, J. C. D.,
officials of the Diocese of Savan-
nah-Atlanta, as deacon, and by the
Right Rev. Monsignor Joseph G.
Cassidy, rector of the Cathedral
of Christ the King, Atlanta, as sub
deacon.
Abbot James was attended by
the Right Rev. M. Frederic Dunne,
O. C. S. O., Abbot of the Abbey
of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Ken
tucky, and by the Right Rev. Dorn
Edmund Flutterer, O. C. S. O.,
Abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady
of the Valley, Valley Falls, Rhode
Island.
The sermon was ‘delivered by
Father Joseph R. Smith, pastor of
flic Immaculate Conception
Church. Atlanta, and the minor of
ficers of the Mass were priests of
tile Abbey community.
In his sermon, Father Smith
traced the history ot the Monastic
Orders which follow the Rule of
St. Benedict from the founding of
(lie celebrated Abbey of Monte
Cassino, in Italy, by St. Benedict,
1,400 years ago.
At the conclusion of his sermon,
Father Smith read a cabled mess
age from Vatican City convoying]
file blessing of His Holiness Pope
Pius Xll on the new Abbey and
its Abbot: a similar message from
His Excellency the Most Rev.
Amlcto Giovanni Cicognani, Apos
tolic Delegate to tile United States,
in which Archbishop Cicognani
added his personal felicitations to
the announcement of the Papal
Blessing and a message from His
Excellency Bishop O’Hara, who
sent his blessing and best wishes.
His Holiness. Pope Pius XII,
sent a personal radiogram, as fol
lows:
Cittc del Vaticano
Abbot James Fox, <). S. O.
Conyers, Georgia.
On the happy occasion of your
Abbatial Blessing as first Abbot
New Abbot
(Continued on Page Nine
The Right Reverend M. James
Fox, of the Order of Cistercians
of file 'Strict Observance, newly
created Abbot of the Abbey of
Our Lady of the Holy Ghost, near
Conyers, Georgia, is a native of
Denham. Mass., an alumnus of
Harvard, who served as an officer
in the Cl. S. Navy during World
War I. lie entered the Passionist
Older in 1921, continuing his
.study for the priesthood until
1927 when lie transferred to the
Trapplst Order, entering the
Abbey of Our Lady of Getlise-
niani, in Kentucky, where ho was
ordained in 1930. He remained
at Gethsemani Abbey until March,
1944, when he came to Georgia
as Superior of the monastery
then being established near Con
yers. He has one brother and
three sisters in religion: Father
Joseph P. Fox, S. J., of Boston;
Sister Katherine Dorothea, presi
dent of Trinity College, Washing
ton, D. C.; Sister Margaret Mary,
also of Trinity College, and Sis
ter Bernard Marie, of Notre Dame
Academy. Villanova, Pa. Another
brother, Bernard Fox, of Balti
more, saw overseas service as an
Army officer during World War
II.—(Plicio by Jack Young,
courtesy of The Atlanta Journal'.
35,000 COPIES of Hie Bible were
sold in Madrid on National Bible
Day, observed in all Dioceses
throughout Spain, The observ
ance was marked by special ser
mons in eliurch and newspaper
and radio appeals urging more
frequent reading of Un» Sacred
Scriptures.
Bishop O'Hara Sends Greetings From
Vatican City to Annual Convention
Catholic Laymen s Association of Georgia
TO THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
From Vatican City, I send affectionate greetings to you as you
assemble in Savannah Ibis year to hold your annual Convention. I
need not tell you how profound is my regret that circumstances,
which keep me here in Rome, will deprive me of the pleasure of
being with you when you meet on the Feast of Christ the King. In
past years, ever since 1 have been Bishop of the Diocc. c, the annual
meeting of the Catholic Laymen's Association has been to me
probably the most Important gathering ef the .rear, it was a joy
to be with our Laymen’s Association at those meetings because of
the edification that 1 derived from them in Hie realization of the
accomplishments rendered passible by the zeal, piety and efficient
apostolate of our Laymen’s Association.
Thotigh relatively few in numbers, our Catholic men and wom
en of Georgia (permit me to say it' are unsurpassed by thorn of any
other Diocese of Hie World. Blessed with a spirit of deep faith with
hearts aflame with an extraordinary love for the Church, the mem
bers of our Catholic Laymen's Association have indeed set a noble
example. It is this good example which has. procured for the
Church no little prestige in our State and has-been instrumental, I
do not doubt, both ill promoting conversions to the Catholic faith
and causing our non-Catholic neighbors to look with admiration
upon the Church which can produce in its members so deep a love
for God—a love so fruitful in good works.
Not the least of the glories of our Catholic l aymen’s Associa
tion has been their unfailing spirit of cooperation with the priests
of the Diocese in their difficult mission, responding wholeheart
edly to every call made upon them by their pastors. They have
fostered the works of religion, education and charity that stand as
imperishable monuments to the devotion and generosity of priests
and laity alike. In the name of our priests, I wish to express deep
est gratitude for such magnificent loyalty.
From the Vatican. 1 obtained for our Laymen's Association
tlie blessing of our Holy Father whom it lias been my privilege to
be near almost all summer. Pope Pius Xll. no less than his pre
decessors, was only too eager to give a token of his benevolence
and gratitude to a group that has been ?o faithful and so loyal to
the Church in fair weather and foul. May this blessing of the
Sovereign Pontiff whom we acknowledge as the Successor of S(.
Peter and the Vicar of Christ on Earth, have the effect ot deep
ening and strengthening your spirit of Christian faith. You can
be sure that your love for the Holy Father and for the One True
Church over which lie presides have given no little consolation to
him in those unhappy years of venomous attacks'upon the Church
and its head—years that have seen some of the fairest sections of
the Catholic world cut off from all communication with the center
of Christianity.
Since our Laymen’s Association last met. further proof of bur
Holy Father’s good will towards our Catholic Laymen’s Association
was given when seven of its officers and members were made Hie
recipients of Papal honors. In each instance, the dominant factor
in the granting of those distinctions, over and above the personal
merits of each recipient, was his activity in promoting the interests
of the Georgia Catholic Laymen’s Association.
We in America have no lull conception of the great liberty that
we as citizens and as Catholics enjoy. Here in Europe the Church
is bleeding because of the wounds inflicted upon it by enemy
hands. Bishops, priests and outstanding laymen have been perse
cuted and many ol' them put to death in so many parts of Europe.
Dark are the clouds upon flic horizon and yet through the dark
ness we see a refulgent cross, bright with the glory of God. to re
mind us that the Church is never more glorious and never more
triumphant than when it is suffering. United as we are by the
bond of the unity of Catholic faith with all our brethren the world
over, certainly we will pray for those who are feeling so keenly
and bitterly the sharp edge of the sword ol persecution.
At this moment at which I write, an Archbishop is on trial in
a certain Country in Europe. From the little news that has come
from the court room, all people friend and l'oc alike, have had to
admire the screnily and the intrepidity of that brave Archbishop
whose only crime was his devotion to his duties as pastor of his
Hock and protector of the rights and liberties not only of his own
(Continued on Back Page)
Guest Speakers at Convention
justice McGuire
The Honorary Matthew F.
Me-,
WILLIAM SllAW McCALLUM
At the luncheon which will be
Guire Justice of the United States held in connection with the con
District Court of the District ofjvention of the Catholic Laymen’s
Columbia, who will address the . Association of Georgia in Savan-
afternoon session of the Catholic | nah, William Shaw McCalluni. of
Laymen's Association convention Boston, a former Georgian, will he
in Savannah. | the guest speaker
* GERALD P. O’HARA
Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta
SAVANNAH TO BE
HOST TO CATHOLIC
LAITY OF GEORGIA
(Special to The Bulletin)
SAVANNAH. Ga.—The thirty
first annual convention of th<
Catholic Lay Men's Association oi
Georgia, which will be held in Sa
vannah on Sunday, October 27
(lie Feast of Christ the King, will
open with a Mass to be celebrat
ed in tlie Cathedral of St. John
the Baptist by Monsignor Joseph
E. Moylan, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta.
The Honorable Matthew F. Mc
Guire, Associate Justice of tlie
United States District Court ol
the District of Columbia, will ad
dress the afternoon session of
the convention, while William
Shaw McCallum, formerly of Sn-
vananli, and now an attorney, in
Boston, will speak at the con
vention luncheon which will be
held at the DeSoto Hotel, at .1
o’clock.
Bernard S. Faliy, of Rome, who
lias headed tlie Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia, as i!s
president, since liis election to
that office at the convention held
in Augusta ill 1943, will preside
at tlie morning and afternoon ses
sions of the convention, both of
\vhidh will lie held in the Gold
Room of the DeSoto Hotel.
Mayor Peter Roe Nugent, ot
Savannah, will extend a welcome
to Hie visitors at the luncheon,
while Mrs. Joseph E. Kelly, pres
ident of the Savannah Branch of
the Association, will welcome the
visiting delegates at the opening
of the morning session.
It. Habenicht Casson, president
of the Macon Branch, will respond
to the welcome of Mayor Nugent,
while Fred Mills, president of tlie
Albany Branch, will respond on
behalf of the visiting delegates to
Mrs. Kelly's words of welcome.
Clarence Haverty, of Atlanta,
will present Justice McGuire to
his audience, while C. A. Mc
Carthy, of Savannah, a member
of tlie executive board of the As
sociation, will act as (pastmaster
al the luncheon.
Monsignor Moylan will offer
Hie prayer which will begin the
morning session, and aflcr Ids
closing remaiks. vvin coiiclui i
Hie afternoon .session v\ilh pi'.iy.s.
(Continued on back page)