Newspaper Page Text
Official
Newspaper For
The Diocese Of
Savannah - Atlanta
Vol. XXXVI, No. 20.
PUBLISHED BY THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
MONROE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1956.
“To Bring About
a Friendlier
Feeling Among •
Georgians Irre
spective of Creed”
10c Per Copy — $3 a Year
WORLD OBSERVES HOLY FATHER S 80TH BIRTHDAY
THE HOLY FATHER AT 80
His Holiness Pope Pius XII celebrates his 80th birthday quietly in Vatican City, as Catholics
throughout the world join to offer prayers for his intentions. The Pontiff is shown in a formal
portrait taken in the closing weeks of his 79th year.—(NC Photo).
Holy Father, In Full Papal Regalia,
To Be Enthroned At Anniversary Mass
In St. Peter's Basilica On March 11
NEW CONVENT
PLANNED FOR
ST. TERESA’S
ALBANY, Ga. — Final plans
for the launching of a fund drive
for the construction of a new
convent, church and rectory,
were made at a parish meeting'
February 22nd.
J. E. Greiner Company & As
sociates are drawing plans for the
new convent on which work is
expected to start within a few
months.
The drive, begun last week un
der the direction of the Rev. D. J.
Burke, V. F., reports to date a
total of £35,000 pledged over a
three year period.
In 1959, St. Teresa’s will
observe its centennial. It is the
goal of the parish to have the
new Church completed in time
for the Centennial Celebrations.
A parish advisory committee
has been established with Robert
E. McCormack as chairman and
including Ray Pinkston, John
Brosnan, Joseph Rau, Fred Wig
gins, Petro Stephens, Paul Keen
an and George Mock.
Fred Mills will head the drive
committee, assisted by Clarence
Shoemaker and Phil Parkas.
Lawrence E. Mock, Jr., is Fin
ance Chairman.
SQUIRES INITIATE
ATLANTA, Ga.—February 12th
was a banner day for the Squires
as 23 new members were initi
ated. The night of the 11th mark
ed a candidates’ valentine dance,
in the morning the candidates
and initiating team attended Com
munion and breakfast as a body.
Seek Funds For
New High School
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A goal of
$250,000.00 has been set in the
Boys’ Catholic Fund Drive
launched here this week. The
drive under the supervision of
the Rev. John J. Kennedy is be
ing conducted by Lawson As
sociates.
General Chairman of the drive
is Alfred M. Battey. His coor
dinator is Joseph O’Connell.
Various committees will be nam
ed within the next few Days.
The new school will be located
in the Daniel Field area of Au
gusta and will replace the down
town building which has been
used since 1939. The school is
under the direction of the Marist
Brothers.
(N.C.W.C. News Service)
WASHINGTON—There began
this week a tremendous and im
pressive observance displaying
loyalty, love and homage of His
Holiness Pope Pius XII by Cath
olic groups and individuals in
every section of the United
States.
The Holy Father will observe
his 80th birthday anniversary on
March 2, and will observe the
17th anniversary of his corona
tion on March 12. The obser
vances throughout the country
will reach a climax generally on
the week end nearest the corona
tion anniversary.
During his 17 years as Pope-
years of constant crisis for most
of the world—the Holy Father
has won an eminent place in his
tory. His efforts to achieve in
ternational peace and his cease
less struggle against the threat
of communism are among his
most notable achievements.
Reports indicate that the
faithful in every archdiocese and
diocese are responding to the call
of their Cardinals, Archbishops
and Bishops in special pastoral
letters to their pastors, that all
take part in a prayerful obser
vance, perhaps, unequaled in the
history of the Catholic Church
in America.
Some 32,000,000 Catholics in
131 archdioceses and diocese of
the United State will celebrate
the anniversaries in a variety of
religious programs, which will j
express their gratitude to God j
for His gift of Pope Pius XII “to I
guide the bark of Peter over the
trouble© waters of a distressed
world.”
Priests, Brothers, Sisters in re
ligious communities in every See
of the country will observe the
anniversaries with a triduum of
prayer for the intentions of the
Holy Father. Community Masses
will be held on the Pope’s birth
day. During the celebration
period lectures will be given on
the accomplishments of Pope
Pius XII’s pontificate.
So overwhelming is the re
sponse of the clergy and faith
ful to the call of their Bishops,
it is virtually impossible to set
down all the plans.
In the Archiepiscopal Sees of
| the four U.S. Cai'dinals, a Pon
tifical Mass of Thanksgiving
will be observed on March 11.
In the capital city of the na
tion, His Excellency Archbishop
A m 1 e t o Giovanni Cicognani,
Apostolic Delegate to the Unit
ed States, will preside at a Holy
Hour of Thanksgiving in the
National Shrine of the Immacu
late Conception on March 4. The
Archbishop will offer a Solemn
Pontifical Mass there on March
11. In St. Matthew’s Cathedral,
a Pontifical Mass will be offered
by Archbishop Patrick A.
O’B o y 1 e of Washington on
March 4.
In Baltimore’s Cathedral Ba
silica of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, the Moth
er Church of all Catholic
churches in the Untied States,
Archbishop Francis P. Keough,
who is chairman of the Adminis
trative Board of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference,
will offer a Pontifical Mass on
March 11, and preside at a Holy
Hour there in the evening.
Catholic schools and semina
ries throughout the nation, will
have exhibits and discussions on
the various pronouncements and
Encyclicals of the Holy Father.
In New Orleans’ St. Louis Ca
thedral, Archbishop Joseph F.
Rummel will preside and speak
at a sacred music devotion which
(Continued on Page Three)
Requiem For
Father Rapier
ATLANTA, Ga.—Rev. George
S. Rapier, S. M., formerly station
ed in Atlanta, died in Washing
ton, D. C. on Feb. 15. Following
his ordination to the Priesthood
on June 21, 1901, in Washington,
D. C., Father Rapier came to Ma
rist College in Atlanta as a Pro
fessor. In 1902, he became the sec
ond Principal of Marist College,
continuing in that office until
1911. From 1911 to 1914, he was
president of Marist College, pas
tor of Sacred Heart Church, and
Superior of the Marist Fathers
of Atlanta. During his years in
Atlanta, Father Rapier fostered
and developed the institutions of
Marist College and Sacred Heart
Church which were begun by his
predecessor, the late Bishop John
E. Gunn, S. M. The present resi
dence of the Marist Fathers was
erected during his administration.
Father Rapier was intensely in
terested in the various phases of
art, science, and literature and he
inaugurated a series of lectures
for the general public in Atlanta,
inviting nationally prominent
speakers to the city. His death
will sadden his many friends here
who loved and revered him.
Father Rapier was born in New
Orleans, La., on Feb. 13, 1873. He
completed his elementary and
high school education in Louisi
ana.. He studied for the Priest
hood at Marist Novitiate in Paign
ton, England, and at Marist Col
lege, Catholic University Cam
pus, Washington, D. C. Prior to
his ordination to the Priesthood,
he taught at All Hallows College
in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After leaving Atlanta in 1914,
Father Rapier continued his ca
reer as an educator in All Hal
lows College, Salt Lake City.
Utah; Jetferson College, Convent,
La.; and St. Mary’s Manor, Prepa
ratory Seminary of the Marist
Fathers, in Penndel, Pa.
Due to failing health, from 1935
until his death, Father Rapier re
sided at the Provincial House of
the Marist Fathers in Washing
ton, D. C., where he acted as Sec
retary to the Very Reverend Pro
vincial. He was buried at a Sol
emn Requiem Mass at Marist Col
lege Chapel, Washington, D. C.,
at 10 o’clock Saturday morning,
Feb. 18. Interment there in Mt.
Calvary Cemetery.