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JULY 2G, 1947
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LA YMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
SEVEN
Report of Secretary
FEMALE ORPHAN BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
SAVANNAH,Ga.—Monsignor T. James McNamara, as Secre
tary of the Female Orphan Benevolent Society, submit
ted the following report of tne operations of St. Mary’s Home
for the 1946-1947 fiscal year at the annual meeting of the society:
While this duty is a pleasant
one, indeed, nevertheless’ its joy
is lessened by reason of the
knowledge that the report will not
carry the prestige which former
years have given it, nor will there
be in its composition the edifica
tion and satisfaction which its au
thorship in these years assured,to
it. The honor which is mine in
making this report results from a
condition or circumstance which is
the occasion of sadness and sor
row for all you who are interest
ed in the welfare of the little ones
who are shielded by the protect
ing mantle of Holy Mother Church
in St. Mary’s Home. These little
ones and those who have accept
ed the responsibility of providing
them with a normal childhood and
growth, together with all whose
Christ-like charity constitute them
patrons of St. Mary's Home, feel
keenly the absence of our Bishop.
His paternal solicitude and kindly
yet firm guidance are missed and
our interest prompts the prayer
that his highly important mission
will soon be completed so that
once again the Homo might expe
rience the beneficience oT his pres
ence. \
Comforting the Bishop in his
enforced absence from the Diocese
are the devotion and zeal with
which all have addressed them
selves to the needs of the Home.
As the labors for the cause of
God’s Church in war-stricken Eu
rope he is supported in those la
bors by the knowledge that the
children of St Mary’s Home have
the watchful care and intelligent
direction of the Sisters of Mercy.
The happiness that was his in the
liquidation of the debt on St.
Mary's Home intensified, as he
expressed it, because it came at
the time o£ the Silver Jubilee of
his ordination as a priest and the
coincidence of this Jubilee with
the Centennial of the Sisters of
Mercy, now helps to sustain him
amidst the trials and problems of
his present assignment. He would
want that this report should make
special mention of the debt that
he feels as he contemplates the
tenure of the Sisters or Mercy in
St. Mary’s Home.
Adding to the sustaining force,
which support him in his arduous
labors, is the knowledge that Mr.
John Gleason, Vice-president, in
whose thinking and action St.
Mary’s Home takes primacy, has,
in the Advisory Board constituted
by him, the support of men sin
cerely interested in the Home and
anxious to be of service in its wel-
. fare. At the time the Bishop wel
comed the new members of this
Board, addressing the Board in
its lull complement, he stated that
he felt with the Board as consti
tuted, a new chapter was opening
in the history of the Home. The
unfolding of this Chapter has
been a source of joy to him, even
though distance defeats him in his
desire to be more intimately asso
ciated with Mr. Gleason and the
members of the Board as they to
gether advance the progress of
the Home and protect its sub
stance in the affairs of the Fe
male Orphan Benevolent Society.
As he seeks to bring the solace
of true religion and to relieve the
impoverishment of those who suf
fer the devastation of var, the
Bishop must be supported in his
efforts by the thought of the self-
sacrificing work of the lady-col
lectors, who he regards as among
the best benefactors of St. Mary's
Home. Likening them to “mendi
cants for Christ”, he has spoken of
the great debt the Diocese owes
these ladies.
Indeed, although in far away
Romania, the Bishop no doubt
finds joy and comfort in the con
viction of the good which his mis
sion can accomplish for souls, from
reflections on the numerous bene
factions which are bestowed on
St. Mary’s Home by Catholic and
non-Catholic, by priest and laity,
by doctors, giving their talent and
energy, by agencies and institu
tions. To attempt to set down all
who have had part in making for-
this added joy and comfort would
be to recite an endless litany. Sym
bolizing the many who have taken
part in making these benefactions
available to St. Mary's Home and
indicating the nature of the bene
factions are the names of Fat.her
J. A. Morris, Chaplain of the
Home, the Sisters of Mercy of St.
Vincent’s Academy and St. Jo
seph’s Hospital, Dr. W. B. Craw
ford, Dr. G. H. Faggart, Dr. John
J. O’Connor, Mrs. James A. Gross,
Savannah Theatres Company, the
Savannah Ice Delivery Company,
and fraternal organizations of Sa
vannah.
In the name of His Excellency,
Most Rev. Gprald P. O’Hara, our
Bishop, I wish to give expression
to the profound and ever-abiding
gratitude that I know is his as he
reflects on the affairs, the man
agement and the patrons of St.
Mary’s Home. Sharing with His
Excellency this deep sentiment of
gratitude are his priests, who re
gret that duty impels him to ex
perience his joy and satisfaction
in St. Mary’s, Home through re
flection.
• In, concluding this report no
more fitting words could be em
ployed than those of Bishop
O’Hara, wherein he stated, “Hu
man gratitude, no matter how
deep and genuine, cannot be com
pared with the gratitude that God
Himself bears towards those who
do works of mercy and charity in
His name. Our Blessed Lord tells
us that not even a cup of cold wa
ter given in His name goes with
out its reward. He assures us also
that care bestowed on the needy
is, as it were, a charity bestowed
on Himself. He does not forget
in this life, or in the next those
who have taken an unselfish in
terest in the poor and needy. The
benefactions of the poor will dis
cover some day, to their great
amazement, how rich is the re
ward that God bestows on them!
St. Mary’s Home, Savannah, Georgia
The present St. Mary's Home, attractively located on Victory Drive, in Savannah, Georgia, was d di-
cated in 1998 by Bishop Gerald P. O’Hara of Savannah-Atlanta. The home which cost $450,000 is of brick
construction, with an entrance portico forty feet wide and fifteen feet deep with four great solid stone
Doric columns which give the structure a stately appearance. The left wing, as one approached the build
ing, is the spacious and devotional chapel and the right wing contains the auditorium.. Plans for the
building were • executed by Cletus Bergen, Savannah architect, and it is one of the finest institutions
of its kind in the South At St. Mary’s Home, the Sisters of Mercy carry on a labor of love that was be-
i gun more than a century ago when a dozen parentless girls were placed under the care of the Sister.: ::t
St. Vincent’s Convent. Since 1876 tht Sisters have been assisted in caring for orphan girls of the Diocese
of Savannah-Atlanta by the Female Orphan Benevolent Society, which is now headed by Bishop O’Hara.
In compliment to Bishop O’Hara on the occasion of the celebration of his Silver Jubilee in the priesthood,
in 1945, His Excellency’s friends and the friends of St. Mary’s Home in Savannah, presented him with a
parchment as evidence of the payment in full of all indebtedness on St. Mary's Home.
Dan M. McGrath
Dies in McCormick
Atlantans Work Faithfully
Making Surgical Pads for
Patients at Cancer Home
McCORMICK, S. C. Dan M.
McGrath, widely known McCor
mick citizen, died at his home here
on July 12, funeral service being
held from the residence with Fath
er Maurice R. Daly, pastor of St.
Joseph’s Church, Anderson, of
ficiating.
Mr. McGrath was a native of
McCormick, the . son of the late
Michael McGrath and Mrs. Sallie
Beasley McGrath, pioneer settlers
of the community. His wife, the
former Miss Ilettie Creswell, died
eight years ago. '
He is survived by a son. Thomas
M. McGrath, of Greenville; five
daughters, Mr. J. • C. Massey,
Greenville, Mrs. Edward Rondeau, I
Due West, Mrs. Hal Harris, Jr.,
Charleston, Miss Anne McGrath, !
Charlotte, and Miss Helen Mc
Grath, McCormick; a brother, John
T. McGrath, McCormick, a sister,
Mrs. L. S. Cooper, Augusta, and
five grandchildren.
Always active and interested in
community affairs, Mr. McGrath
and his brother had ocen engaged
in the automobile business here
since 1912. He had served as game
warden for McCormick Coujily for
twelve years.
ATLANTA, Ga.—From the day
in 1939 when the Sisters of St.
Dominic of the Congregation of St.
Rose of Lima established Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Free Can
cer Home here, the doors of that
institution have been open to in
digent victims of incurable cancer,
wthout regard to race or creed,
and the people of Atlanta, white
and Colored, of all religious be
liefs, have generously aided the
Sisters in their great work of
charity.
An example of this effort on
the part of the people of Atlanta
was made known recently by
Doris Lockerman, whose column,
“Let’s See How . . ” is a fea
ture of the editorial department of
The Atlanta Conhlitution, in
these words:
MRS. JOHN LYONS
DIES IN SAVANNAH
SAVANNAH, Ga.—Funeral ser- *
vices for Mrs. John Lyons, Sr., who
died July 2, were held at the Ca
thedral of St. John the Baptist.
Mrs. Lyons is survived by four
sons, Loy J. Lyons, Brooklyn, Wal
ter D. Lyons, Reid L. Lyons and
Claude A. Lyons, of Savannah;
five daughters, Miss Helen Lyons,
Savannah. Mrs. Richard Donovan,
Dallas, Mother John Evangelist,
Galveston, Miss Agues Lyons, Sa
vannah, and Mrs. Lyons’ Clark, Sa
vannah, several grandchildren and
two great-grandchildren.
Best Wishes
DeLUXE CAFE
Excellent Food and a Service You’ll Like
STEAKS • SEA FOODS • CHOPS
301 Bull [Street Savannah, Georgia
“Take eight sheets of news
papers, folded once, a thin pad
ding of cotton, a covering of clean
white cloth, and you have the real
ity of a loving service to the poor
and suffering that has gone on
without pause at the Church of
the Immaculate Conception for
eight years.
“Under the ministration of deft
fingers, ‘working in the grace of
God.’ the newspapers and cotton
coverings have become soft clean
pads for the patients of Our Lady
of Perpertual Help Free Cancer
Home, who need hundreds of
them each month. ‘
“It is a work of faith . . . and
of the coffee pot, and one, com
fortable, hearty woman presides
over both.
“Mrs. .11. II. McLauchlin, of 410
Melrose Ave., Decatur, had led the
project since 1939 without ever
asking for workers, money or the
old. worn pillowcases and sheets
that are so useful in the work.
Since the day the Nuns at the
Cancer Home asked her help, she
has turned up every third and
fourth Wednesday of each month
in the basement of her church,
tied a pound or so of coffee in a
White cotton bag, put a pot of wa
ter on to boil, slipped on her thim
ble and begun sewing.
“Then, while the pungent aroma
of the coffee drifted into the
workroom, at least 25 women each
sewing day have found their places
and their needles.
“Never has Mrs. McLauchlin
worked alone. At least 25 women
from churches of all denomina
tions, Peachtree Christian, Deca
tur Baptist, Decatur Methodist,
the Church of Our Saviour and all
Catholic parishes, volunteered to
stitch the simple pads which are
so helpful to the nurses of the
Cancer Home.
“ ‘Of course they do not work
for me!’ There is a serene look of
devotion in the eyes ot Mrs. Mc
Lauchlin as she quotes her favor
ite explanation for the continuing
service. ‘They work for the Lord.
They work to build a better home
in heaven.’
“In the Interest of the Master,
Pope Urges Devotion to Mary as
Antidote to World’s Wretchedness
M0NSIGN0R O’BRIEN
GUEST LECTURER AT
COLLEGE MISER'CORDIA
(Speical to The Bulletin)
DALLAS, Pa.—Monsignor Jo
seph L. O’Brien. S. T. D.. LL. D.,
founder and rector of Bishop Eng
land High School, Charleston, S.
C., and Superintendent of Schools
for the Diocese of Charleston, is
conducting a series of lecture
courses daily during the summer
sesison at College Misericordia.
which opened on June 24 and
which will continue until August
2.
Monsignor O’Brien’s lectures are
grouped under the following ti
tles: “Theology and Sanity.” “The
Conflict Between the Modern
World and the Church.” and “The
Teaching of Social Studies in the
High School.”
Monsignor O’Brien opened the
workshop on inlercultural educa
tion ,the first of its kind in the
South, which is now under way at
the University of North Carolina.
The workshop is being sponsored
by the National Conference of
Christians and Jews as part of.
the nationwide program to pro
mote iftiderstanding, justice, and
good will among members of dif
ferent religious groups in this
country.
FATHER P. J. O’CONNOR, a
priest of the Diocese of Savannah-
Atlanta, presently serving as a
member of the faculty of the
Catholic University of America, in
Washington, D. C., will deliver
the sermon at a Mass which will
be celebrated on August 24, in the
vast amphitheatre on Roanoke
Island, site of the settlement of
“The Lost Colony.”
VATICAN CITY.—(Radio, NO
—His Holiness Pope Pius XU ,n
an audience granted to the Cana
dian delegates to the Internation
al Postal Congress held in Paris,
referred approvingly to the recent
Marian Congress in Ottawa and
said that “devotion to the Mother
of God is the most salutary mem
ory to awaken in these sad days
when physical wretchedness un
dermines Christian morality and
shameful proposals made by irre
sponsible persons, heedless of
God’s law and recgless of the ir
reparable harm that would ensue
to domestic and civil society, aim
at its utter collapse.”
(Recently Mrs. Margaret Sanger
Slee, honorary chairman of the
Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, in connection with her
visit to England to attend a con
ference on family planning, advo
cated a ten-year moratorium on
births as a remedy for food short
ages in the hungry countries' of
Europe.)
"The world will never be better
ed through moral degradation,”
the Pontiff declared, expressing
to the delegates the wish that
“Canada may preserve intact the
glory of her Christian heritage
through a self-disciplined rever
ence for what is holy, just and
honorable.” “Thus,” he said, "the
world will be her eternal debtor.”
pennies, nickels, and dimes fall
into Mrs. McLauehlin’s hands as
they are needed.. There is one
regular sizable donation from Miss
Olivia Collins for needed cotton,
and charitable organizations do
nate whatever they can salvage
from shirts, spreads, towels, cur
tains and sheets.
“The Sewing Wednesdays are
not entirely things of the spirit.
The little bags of sandwiches, the
homemade cookies, the wedges of
sharp cheese, the gardening tips,
the philosophies of child guidance
— these things punctuate the
stitching in a warmly, human way.
“Yesterday, for i nstance, two
little boys, Val Lambert and Jos
eph Smith, both 10, hustled
around carrying chairs and count
ing out the pads, while the ladies
conjectured on ' how grownified
they had become.
“ ‘It was just yesterday,' said
one, while the youngsters squirm
ed, ‘that you were learning to
walk in this place.’
“Suddenly, all who heard what
she said, knew that within the Im
maculate Conception parish, the
sewing ladies have created more
thau bandages and pads.”
PITTSBURGH.—(NC)—In pro
posing a ten-year moratorium on
births in the hungry countries of
Europe, Mrs. Margaret Sanger
Slee, director of the Birth Con
trol Research Bureau, “has plainly
pursued the birth control thesis to
its ultimate absurdity,” the Pitts
burgh Post Gazette declares in an
editorial entitled “Experiment in
Suicide.”
“What she now advocates,” the
paper adds, “is an experiment in
mass suicide. For a period of ten
years, the creation of life would
become a crime, just as it is now
a crime to destroy life. This is
more than birth control on a mass
scale. It is a disruption in the civ
ilization of Europe and the v/ov'd.
The cost in human values is be
yond estimate.”
Asserting that “surely our re
sources, our highly developed eco
nomic machine, our ingenuity and
imagination are capable of meet
ing the challenge” of hunger
abroad “without resort to this ex
periment in suicide,” the editorial
says:
“Years of war have reduced the
world’s resources, diminished its
potential production. Even so. we
have not yet reached so bankrupt
a state that we must declare a
moratorium on human life.”
FOR THE FIRST TIME since
the beginning of the war. the
Catholic University of America
will field a varsity football team
this season, with six games sched
uled with teams in the Mason-Dix-
on conference.