Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1955. THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAWMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA FIVE I YOU CAN WIN CONVERTS 90 Minutes Work By REV. JOHN A. O'BRIEN ■ (University of Noire Dame) Did you ever hear of 90 min utes’ work bringing 20 converts into the fold? Probably not. Yet that’s exactly what happened when Father J. F. Hyatt, M.M., started the Good Shepherd Plan in his parish in Kyoto, Japan. While v the Mar; Fathers in York, I k from thi them deta this plan ! yielding : remarkabk suits amor Nipponese, plan also indicates how our laity can participate effectively in the convert apostolate. . “Father Hyatt, a Maryknoll missioner from Seattle,” said Father Albert J. Nevin, assist ant editor of The Field Afir, “believes . that it’s not so much lack of zeal as of know-how which keeps the ordinary Cath olic from winning converts. So he put his belief.into practice by formulating and launching the Good Shepherd Plan. “Father arranged for a show ing of the film ‘Bells of Nagasa ki. and, in order to insure a good attendance, he called together 26 of his, parishioners. Showing them a map of the parish, he as signed each of the 13 couples a section in which they were to call at each home, invite the family to see the movie and leave with them some Catholic literature. “Father read to them the Gos pel story telling how Christ sent the 72 disciples on their mission, saying to them, ‘Behold, I send you as lambs among wolves. ’The reading was followed by a brief exhortation in which the lay apostles were asked to show their patience, courage and zeal. They were to report back in an hour and a half. “While the Good Shepherds were calling at the homes, Fath er, the women and the children prayed before the Blessed Sac rament for the success of their work. Thus the parish as a whole unit was enlisted in the convert apostolate.” “What were the results?” I asked. “The Shepherds,” said Father W. A. Kaschmiter, “reported that the families with few ex ceptions accepted he printed invitations to the showing, as well as the Catholic literature, and Were pleased to see Cath olics showing such interest in them. Five hundred of them turned out that night ;to see the film. Father Hyatt invited them to the Inquiry Class which he was soon to start, and he an nounced this at the Masses for several consecutive Sundays. At the first class 55 showed up as compared with the previous high of 35. The 90 minutes’ work of Shepherds was thus responsible for the increase of 20 converts. Father folowed up this initial venture by having each Sheph erd pray and offer some sacrifice that his clients would persevere and would receive the gift of faith.” “Yes,” said Father David J. Gaffny, “that part is very im portant. Father told his people to make out lists of the indivi duals whom they would like to see enter the Church.” Then, Father Gaffny added, each Good Shepherd was asked to do the following things for the persons on the list assigned to him: 1. Say at least one prayer each day for their conversion. 2. Offer up some little sacri fice each day for this intention. 3. Mention each person by name at Mass and any other de votion. 4. Receive Holy Communion THE CLOTH SHOP 113 W. PONCE DE LEON AVE. DEARBORN 9556 DECATUR, GA. Dave Price, Manager Ribbon Wholesale Co. Wholesalers of 710 ASHBY ST., N. Wc ATLANTA, GA. REPUBLIC STEEL CO., BERGER DIV. Steel Shelving and Lockers Folding Chairs and Banquet Tables Geo. E. Kinney Bin Co., Inc. 727 PONCE DE LEON PL., N. E. AT 3391 ATLANTA, GA. BACKDROP- (Continued from Page Four) religious convictions of his par ents. Some sought to show that through his wartime association with Soviet Marshal Zhukov he would be a soft touch for the Russians. LITTLE 'HATE' GROUPS Jottings .. (By BARBARA C. JENCKS) Mostly, national party . organi zations have no part in this scurrility. It is turned out large ly by privately financed little hate” groups which seem able to turn up considerable resources every four years. Yet it is often true that when such groups at tack a man seeking office, the victim’s opponent hasn’t the moral courage to tell off the calumny hucksters as they should be told off. After nearly every national election, a Congressional com mittee takes evidence on the outrageous detraction of men who are in public life or who seek to be. Bills are introduced. Statements atesting to the need for curbing action ahe inserted in the Congressional Record. Yet anything affecting election re form seems the most difficult kind of legislation to pass-—there hasn’t been an important change in the laws governing elections now since the Hatch “clean poli tics” law of 15 years ago. You don’t banish prejudice or hate by passing a law. But you can make a start by making it more expensive. AUGUSTA KNIGHTS CONFER DEGREES AUGUSTA, Ga.—Forty-six can didates received the First, Second and Third degrees at an exemplifi cation conducted Sept. 11 by Pat rick Walsh Council Knights of Columbus. Degree work was under the di rection of Patrick Mulherin, Dis trict Deputy, and Frank C. Hes- len, Grand Knight of Council 677. Dan T. Regan, Lecturer, was in charge of the supper, which was served by members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. each month for their conversion. 5. Visit them each month and tell them a little about the Church and invite them to all the activities of the parish. 6. Invite each prospect to Mass and the other services. 7. Put a pamphlet in the hands of each prospect. “These specific duties kept the minds of the whole parish and enlisted every man, woman and child in the work, Father Nevin commented. “The plan, started in 1952, has already spread throughout the dipcese of Kyoto and to 40 parishes in other parts of Japan. In its first year alone, the Good Shepherds brought 800 people to Father Hyatt’s classes and have been instrumental in increasing the number of con verts in every parish where it has been tried.”, “Would it be suitable for use in America?” I asked. “Yes,” replied Father Nevin, “it is just what the laity here and in every other country need —detailed guidance -and know how. If this plan were adopted in every parish, it would make the convert apostolate not the work of a few zealous souls but of every Catholic man, woman and child. Then we would double and even triple the present an nual total of converts.” “I hope that the Good Sheph erd Plan will speedily be adopt ed in every parish,” I said. “It will help to spread the Crusade for Souls in every diocese and bring Christ, His love and His truth to ever-increhsing millions. May God bless the Maryknoll missioners who have done so mucn to kindle the missionary spirit among the American peo ple!” ARE YOU SUCCESSFUL? What is your personal idea of success? What are the things you desire to become or have? Whom do you consider as ex amples of success? What event in your particular life has or will spell success? Stop and find yourself a pad and pencil and list your prerequisites for suc cess. See how they measure up. what insight into a person’s very being such a listing would bring. Psychiatrists would have a field day. So destroy your list after you have had time to meas ure and study and judge It and the person who wrote it. I suppose most lists will in clude the attainment of things in superlative measure namely wealth, health and position. Hal Boyle, the Pavement Plato, recently wrote a column, on the subject of success and its achievement. He wrote that nothing is more changing in changing America than the idea of success. He also wrote that he believes that only old people come to a full realization of what success is all about. Many spend life trying to acheive the outward trappings that pass as success without fully realizing that they have missed the real thing. Boyle’s idea of success is pret ty solid. It is the ability to meet fortune and misfortune with fortitude. All people do not pass so high on the list. The idea of success changes with ) age especially. A young fellow will consider “success” as his first pair of long trousers. In time, success will be synony mous with a tailor-made suit, a bank presidency, membership in an exclusive golf club, the house in the right section of town and a new car every year. To every girl, success at one time means a date with the football captain. The first evening gown, fur coat, first trip to New York City, all are stations along the way in her picture of success. Later suc cess will mean initiation into the best sorority, the junior league or marrying an ivy-leaguer and being president of the woman’s club. All these mean success to the modern secular woman. These are the false trappings that pass as success. As for myself a by-line and a press card at one period sym bolized success. Free press tick ets to events around town, be ing recognized by a head waiter at the local hotel and an all ex pense trip to a convention came to me erroneously under the success label at various stages in my life. Therefore, we were most amused at Hal Boyle’s success listing for moderns as follows: $25,000 a year job, an expense account, somebody to answer the telephone (for some obscure reason corporation employees always regard themselves as failures. unless a secretary, filters their phone calls), the right to conduct business on a golf course, or durtng a. martini- haunted three-hour luncheon, the ability to get tickets to the right shows and sporting events. ‘There are a few who struggle for the right thing. Their gauge is well centered. There are those who consider success as bringing up their families in peace and decency and in the fear of God. They, dream small little big dreams: a house of their Own, (which will have all specifica tions of a mansion, Jr. grade in their eyes), a car and Catholic College educations for their chil dren. These people are the back bone of society. Which reminds that the lives of the saints would make no ap peal as success stories to most. St. Therese dying of tuberculosis would hardly be considered a success. Yet she was one of the greatest successes of all times. St. Francis in rags would repel today’s “successful” man of dis tinction. Our Lord at the age of thirty- three was nailed to a cross in a seemingly disgraceful death. His Life Story is the model success story of all times. Think about it. Read your flighty list of dreams and ambitions. Pretty empty, aren’t they? SOUTHEASTERN HATCHERIES U. S. Approved — MONEYMAKER — Baby Chicks 139-141 Forsyth St., S. W. Phone Main 117,5 WILL SHIP C. O. D. 100% LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEED Atlanta, Georgia CLARK LAUNDRY — DRY CLEANING TWO COMPLETE PLANTS 1107 Peachtree St., N. E. 2987 Peachtree Road HEmlock 4466 CHerokee 5311 ATLANTA, GEORGIA GORDON MacGREGSR, Inc. TTELEPHONE 88 26 GLYNN AVENUE BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA flair fashioned and alive with beauty