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SEPTEMBER 27, 1952
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
THIRTEEN
200,000 AT KATHOLIKENTAG—More than 200,000 perons gath
ered before a huge 72-foot cross in the Olympic stadium in the
British sector of Berlin for the 75th annual Katholikentag. Many
came from the Soviet zone in defiance of communist pressure
tending to discourage attendance at the annual convention of
German Catholics.—(NC Photos.)
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"Katholikentag" in Berlin
Attracts Throng of 200,000
By REV. DR. MAXJORDAN
(Radio, N. C. W. C. News Service)
BERLIN—Unprecedented in its
scope, timeliness and significance,
the 75th Jubilee Katholikentag
reached an overwhelmingly im
posing climax at a Pontifical Mass
sung by Archbishop Aloisius J.
Muench, Papal Nuncio to Germany.
Some 200,000 people filled every
inch of space of the huge Olym
pic Stadium here, said to be the
largest of its kind in all Europe.
The stadium was built some 20
years ago by Adolf Hitler, and
during the Olympic- games at the
time of the nazi regime the pagan
symbol of the swastika dominated
the scene. Now a 100-foot-high
Cross overlooked a gathering of
the faithful whose Church had
been a principal target of the
nazi persecution.
The cross itself was symbolic
of the spirit in which members of
all religious faiths in Germany are
joining hands in opposing the new
persecution of communism — it
was set up for the Protestant con
vention at the same stadium last
year ,and left in its commanding
position for later use of the Cath
olic congress by the charitable
courtesy of Protestant authorities.
Significantly, too, this Katho
likentag, or “Catholics’ Day,” was
taking place on a spot entirely
surrounded by Soviet-controlled
territory—the only point- behind
the Iron Curtain still freely acces
sible to the Western world.
During the ceremonies flags of
all German dioceses rippled in
summer breezes amidst massing of
Papal and other colors of hundreds
of Catholic societies, especially
youth groups. Meanwhile Ameri
can planes hovered in the clear
sky.
From daybreak on an endless
stream of humanity had poured
into the stadium—crowds thicker
than any sports event had ever wit
nessed .crowds principally coming
from Soviet-occupied Germany, ex
pellees in the main from Silesia
and other territories lost by Ger
many as consequence of war. They
were crowds, too, who felt happily
united in a common Faith, who
had come despite all obstacles put
in their way. They came to
demonstrate with their presence
that the Katholikentag slogan,
“God Lives” was indeed well
chosen.
Numerous Protestants were in
the throng, wearing both Protest
ant and Catholic insignia to ex
press their feeling of Christian
solidarity,
They could feel at home at the
Katholikentag. One of the speak
ers at the opening sessions was a
Protestant. He was enthusiastical
ly applauded when he emphasized
the need for unity among all
Christians in the present emerg
ency.
Furthermore, one of the sessions
was held in the Lutheran Church
of St. Mary in the eastern sector.
Lutheran officials put it at the
disposal of the Katholikentag com
mittee when the east Berlin au
thorities banned outdoor meetings.
The evening before on the same
spot a crowd almost as big had
attended a Holy Hour led by
Cardinal Frings. 1,300 Catholic
churches throughout Germany had
arranged to share this function
with identical simultaneous serv
ices. Countless thousands oi
small candles were lit by all par
ticipants by nightfall, creating a
fairyland impression and an at
mosphere of recollection as in a
church sanctuary.
A similar gathering of 35,000
young people in the Sylvan
Theatre nearby the day before
had been made especially effec
tive by the same procedure.
Numerous other functions with
speakers of prominence filled
these crowded three days. Most
important perhaps among them
was a' meeting commemorating
Catholic victims of Hitlerism such
as the 15 priests executed and
the 400 miserably left to die at
Berlin’s Ploetzensee Prison alone.
The Rev. Peter Buchholz, chaplain
of former prisoners of the Nazis,
in relating his gruesom experi
ences appealed to the wbrld never
to forget them as well as those
now suffering persecution at the
hands of communist oppressors.
At a closing function Arch
bishop Muench, who had sung
Mass at the Soviet-sector Corpus
Christi Church, addressed the
meeting prior to Benediction of
the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Aside from official functions,
probably the most moving of this
eventful congress was the spirit
visibly animating all the partici
pants. It was a spirit of burning
faith, obviously too strong to be
suppressed by wanton edicts of
self-appointed tyrants.
By courtesy of War Relief Serv
ices—N. C. W. C. 700,000 free
meals of soups, sausages and rolls,
were handed out from mobile
kitchens to the East-Zone visitors,
who milled about the wide lawns
mingling with friends they had
not seen in years. Bishop Wes-
kamm in his closing remarks paid
special tribute to American Cath
olics for the generous aid they
have extended over the post-war
years.
Fulda was chosen as the meet
ing place of the next Katholiken
tag, two years hence. At that time
the town which is host to the
annual meetings of the German
Hierarchy will observe the 1,250th
anniversary of the coming of St.
Boniface to. Germany. In the
Fulda Cathedral is the tomb of
the Saint who evangelized Ger
many.
The convention was formally
opened in simultaneous mass
meetings attended by 100,000 peo
ple on the exhibition grounds
across the street from Berlin’s
Radio City. Though in the British
sector, it is still under Soviet con
trol.
Speakers at the opening ses
sions included Prince Carl Loe-
wenstein, Bishop William Wes-
kamm of Berlin, Bishop Paul
Tkotsch, his Auxiliary; the Rev.
Mario von Galli, S. J., and a rep
resentative of the Protestant
Churches.
Preparatory School
At Belmont Abbey
Begins 75th Year
BELMONT, N. C.—The seventy-
fifth academic session of Belmont
Abbey Preparatory School opened
on September 8, with Father Ber
nard Rosswog, O. S. B„ as head
master.
A major change in the curricu
la has been put in effect by the in
clusion of the intra-mural pro
gram in the - physical education
course. All intra-mural sports
will be on Tuesday and Thursday
afternoons from 1 until 3 o’clock
throughout the school year. This
new program will enable the day
students as well as the boarding
students to participate. A well-
developed schedule of sports ac
tivities for the preparatory school
students is being put into immedi
ate operation.
The intra-mural program does
not replace the interscholastic
basketball schedule or the inter
collegiate baseball schedule, for
which preparatory school students
are eligible.
Mansignor O'Brien
Memorial Monument
Blessed in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S. C.—The in
fluence that the late Monsignor
Joseph L. O’Brien had upon the
lives of thousands of young people
was cited in the sermon delivered
by Monsignor John L. Manning at
the Mass offered in St. Patrick’s
Church on September 7 in connec
tion with the unveiling of a monu
ment erepted at Monsignor
O’Brien’s grave in die churchyard.
Following the Mass, which was
offered by Monsignor O’Brien’s
brother, Father William A. O’Brien,
of Long Island, N. Y., Bishop John
J. Russell of Charleston, who pre
sided at the Mass, blessed the mon
ument, which was unveiled by
Traynor Ferillo, president of the
Holy Name Society of St. Patrick’s
Church, and F. Raymond O’Keefe,
chairman of the memorial fund
commitee.
Monsignor O’Brien, a native of
Avoca, Pa., served as a priest of the
Diocese of Charleston from shortly
after his ordination, in 1914, until
his death in March of this year.
He was the founder of Bishop Eng
land High School in Charleston,
superintendent of schools for the
Charleston diocese, and widely
known as a pulpit orator, lecturer,
writer and educator.
SUPREME KNIGHT John E.
Swift of the Knights of Columbus
will deliver a Columbus Day ad
dressed which will be broadcast
over the Mutual Broadcasting
System’s Coast-to-Coast Network,
on Sunday, October 12, at 2:45
p. m,. Eastern Time.
FATHER WERNERT
LEAVES AUGUSTA
FATHER WERNERT
AUGUSTA, Ga.—Father Joseph
Wernert, S. M. A., who has served
as assistant pastor of the Im
maculate Conception Church here
for twelve years, has been trans
ferred to Queen of Angels Semi
nary, of the Society of African
Missions, in Dedham, Mass., where
he will become a member of the
faculty.
Father Wernert was born in
Strassburg, Alsace-Lorraine, when
it was a part of Germany. He
entered the novitiate of the So
ciety of African Missions in Bel
gium, and completed his study
for the priesthood in the semi
nary of the Order at Lyons, ;
France, where he was ordained in
1914.
During the First World War, :
Father Wernert served as a chap- j
lain in the German Army, and j
following the armistice taught for
twelve years in colleges in Alsace-
Lorraine. After serving briefly
in Egypt, Palestine and Greece, :
he came to America in 1935. For
five years he was assistant pastor
at St. Odilia’s Church, Los An
geles. Then, after a short stay at
St. Anthony’s Mission House, Ten-
afly, N. J., came to Augusta as
assistant pastor of the Immaculate
Conception Church.
Father Wernert spent the past
summer at Fordham University, ;
taking a special course in Russian.
During World War II, Father
Wernert was stationed for some
time at Fort Jackson, S. C., as
chaplain for German prisoners of i
war.
Nun Adopted by f
Two Tribes Gives I
Report on Indians '*••> ,
SEATTLE, Wash. (NC)—A nun
who has been adopted into the
Blackfoot and Gros Ventre tribes
gave a report on spiritual condi
tions among American Catholic In
dians, at the National Council of
Catholic Women convention here.
Sister Provindeneia, F.C.S.F.,
instructor in sociology at the Col
lege of Great Falls, Montana, told
about her graduate research on
these conditions made for a degree
at the Catholic University of 1
America. She has served as a home
missionary and as a religious vaca- ;
tion school teacher on several In-
dian reservations.
HOLY TRINITY CIRCLE
MEETS IN MASON
MACON, Ga. — The September !
meeting of the Holy Trinity Circle !
was held at the home of Mrs. God- j
frey Kennington, the president, j
with the other officers, Mrs.
Charles Hays, vice president; Mrs. !
Carl Cain, Jr., treasurer, and Mrs. 1
H. W. Clark, secretary, serving as
hostesses.
Mrs. Kennington presided at the
meeting which was honored by the
attendance of Father Carmine Be-
nati, S. J., new pastor of St.
Joseph’s Church.
Announcement was made that
the annual bazaar sponsored by the
circle would be held on November
19, at St. Joseph’s Hall.
Committee chairmen appointed
at the meeting are: Mrs. William
J. O’Shaughnessey, program; Mrs.
Frances Wyrosdick, war relief;
Mrs. E. H. Buck, N. C. C. W ; Mrs.
Holst Beall, bazaar; Mrs. John
Green, telephone; Mrs. W. A. Mc
Kenna, Jr., organization and mem
bership; Mrs. Edith McMurry,
Catholic charities; Mrs. H- W.
Clark, publicity.