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MAY QUEEN AT SAVANNAH BEACH—Mildred Johanna Burke, May Queen at St. Michael’s Church, is pictured with statue of Blessed Virgin which she crowned at the Parish May Procession on Mother's Day, May 12th. Miss Burke is an 8th grade student at St. Michael’s School. AUGUSTA FOOD TO TAKE HOME SHRIMP BOAT* “THE BEST SEAFOOD & CHICKEN ANYWHERE’ 1631 WALTON WAY PA. 4-2411 AUGUSTA Parish Founded In 1810 St Patrick’s Church Consecrated In 1863 One hundred years ago, on April 12, 1863, St. Patrick’s Church was consecrated by Bi shop Augustin Verot, Bishop of Savannah and Administrator Apostolic of Florida. It must indeed have been a day of joy, jubilation and interest to both Augusta’s Catholics and non- Catholics. THE CONSTITU TION, Augusta’s newspaper at the time, estimated that 7,000 people attended the consecra tion ceremonies, surrounding a platform which had been raised in front of the church and over flowing to the opposite sides of Telfair and Eighth Streets. The historic event must have been surrounded with much solemn ity as is evidenced by the num ber of hierarchy present. Every Bishop of the Confederacy was invited. Some, however, by reason of distance and the un certainty attending travel be cause of the war, found it im possible to attend. The Most Reverend W. J. Quinlan, Bishop of Mobile, preached from the platform at the beginning of the ceremonies to the people out side of the church. The Most Reverend P. Lynch, Bishop of Charleston, assisted Bishop Verot in the consecration ce remonies. The Most Reverend J. McGill, Bishop of Richmond, preached at the Pontifical Mass which “was attended by quite a number of soldiers who wore the uniform of the Confederate for ces.” The ceremony of consecra tion was begun at seven o’clock in the morning. At three o’clock in the afternoon, the congrega tion was dismissed with bene diction. At seven o’clock in the evening, Vespers were sung and Bishop Lynch of Charleston de livered a sermon to the assem bled throne. P. Keenen relates in an Ap pendix which he published to the program of consecration that when Bishop Quinlan spoke to the vast multitude in front of the church, “his voice reached every ear in the vast audience —not a syllable was lost in the solemn silence produced by its ■3 i For The Finest In Dairy Products FRESH DAILY BORDEN'S ★ Milk ★ Ice Cream sv AUGUSTA, GA. This is the first in a two part history of St. Patrick’s Church. The history was com piled by the Rev. Ralph E, Seikel, pastor, from available records and histories of ear lier years. delivery. The war was raging then, raging in all its fury, and the dead and wounded coming in on every train. When the Bishop raised his hands to hea ven, invoking the Divine power to put an end to the slaughter and restore ‘peace on earth to men of good will’ many in the audience shed tears for the lost ones that the cruel fate of war had deprived them of.” Altogether, the occasion was an interesting and impressive one, and would be long and gratefully remembered by the Catholics of Augusta. For they now had secured for themsel ves a church worthy of the great object for which it had been built, one that would be an or nament to the city and a cource of satisfaction to themselves. But all this did not transpire over a matter of weeks, months or even years. Catholicism in Richmond County dates from the years of 1539 and 1540 when Hernando DeSoto and his band of explorers passed through Georgia on their his toric march from Tampa to the Mississippi, when the party with twelve priests, eight ec clesiastics and four religious, camped for some time near the present site of Augusta, their Masses having been the first Christian rites ever celebrated in this section. (Narrative of DeSoto, Bourne) After the settlement of Augusta under Oglethorpe in 1733, we hear no more of the Spanish in this part of Georgia, though there were other Catho lics in Georgia prior to the Revolution. It is a fact that when the British separated the Acadians in 1755, a colony of 400 of them come to Georgia and were so hostilely received that they went to Carolina where religious intolerance was not carried so far as in the region governed by Oglethrope. Immediately after the Revo lution, a group of Catholics came to Wilkes County from Maryland, and in 1796, Father Le Mercier left Savannah to live at Locust Grove in Wilkes County, with Augusta as a mis sion. The Catholic population of Augusta was soon greatly in creased by the arrival of exiles from the Revolution in France as well as refuges driven out of San Domingo by the racial and factional strife occuring there. For many years there were more French among the Catholic population than Irish and German combined. So far as can be learned the first Mass was offered by Abbe Carles whom the Revolution had driven out of France and whom Bishop John Carroll of Balti more sent to Georgia, in which diocese this state then was. He celebrated Mass in the home of a Mr. Bignon on Broad Street just below Monument Street. (Richard Reid) Th^ first record in Augusta is thfe’ burial service on No vember 28,1796, of Louis Char les Magon from San Domingo at which a Father Le Mercier officiated. This record is kept in the Cathedral in Savannah. (Survey of State and Local His torical Records: Mrs. Clara Augusta’s Oldest Augusta’s Largest Augusta’s Leading RAILROAD BANK & TRUST COMPANY AUGUSTA. GEORGIA ; ; MtMBtf t 0 1C • MEMIII 'fDCRAl BtSftVI ST? TIM More People Bank At The Georgia Than Any Other Augusta Bank The Southern Cross, May 18, 1963—PAGE 3 Colson) The church records of St. Patrick’s show statistics of births and marriages as early as 1807. It was about this year that a temporary chapel was secured, in itself proof of the increasing number of Catholics in Augusta. In 1810, a charter of incor poration was obtained from the Legislature and the number of Catholics had increased to justify a resident pastor. The first pastor of Augusta was a Father Browne. The charter issued to the Roman Catholic Society of Richmond County constitutes it one of the oldest bodies in Georgia. It was grant ed the deed to the site of St. Patrick’s Church by the Rich mond Academy Trustees by the authority of the legislature of 1811. (Memorial History of Au gusta, Jones.) In 1812, a committee was ap pointed to secure subscriptions for a church, and the edifice was completed in 1814. It was of modest dimensions and humble architecture, 49 feet high and 24 ft. wide, and was situated within the confines of the block upon which the present church is located. It was named the Church of the Most Holy Trini ty. This Church sufficed the Au gusta Catholics until the year 1843 when it was found too small. A resolution was passed to enlarge it, which resolution was immediately carried into effect. A transept was added to the nave and a wing on either side, making the church cruci form in accordance with gen eral usage throughout the Catholic world. The first Catholic known to <be born in this section of Geor gia is Mary Drummond Mac- Murphy. Her son, who was still living when the golden jubilee of this church was celebrated, listed the names of families identified with the early church here. He lists them in three groups, French, Irish and Ger man, and a glance will show how many more there were of the former than of the latter two combined. Among the French families were those of Talvande, Brux, Boulineau, Gardelle, Mande- ville, Boisclaire, Carrie, Bau- dry, Lany, DeCotted, Boutette, Picquet, Sartz, Sabal, Debeau- regard, Allude, Babie, Bouyer, Caffin, Gieu, Crepue, D'Antig- nac, Rossignol, Robert and Dor- tie. Among the Irish families were those of Hurley, Maguire, Duffy, Starling, McTeir, Gar- gan, Kinchley, Riley, Grady, Markay, Dunbar, Henry, Quinn, Maher, Hackett, Barry, Shields and Tobin. Only three German family names can be found in connec tion with the history of the “first” church. They areNehr, Fredrick and Rudler. Father John Barry seems to have been the most outstanding pastor of the early Augusta Ca tholics. P. Keenan writes of him, “Father John Barry. . .is the one to whom the Catholics of Augusta are most largely in debted. He may be considered the first author, after God, of the excellent order and flourishing state in which the congregation of Augusta is now. Father Barry is deeply engraved in the memory of all. They remember with the most sincere sentiments of admira tion, gratitude and love, the works of this truly good man He was not a man of sounding words, but of bright works. His untiring zeal in instructing and reforming his congregation, his indefatigable patience in visit ing the sick and administering to all the succours of religion; his self denial and abnegation, which he exhibited in innumera ble instances; his heroic forti tude in times of pestilence and epidemic; his unbounded chari ties, which made him truly the friend and father of the poor; his spirit of prayer, which made him often spend long, sleepless nights in communion with his God, are known to everybody in Augusta. And there is no doubt the eminent sanctity of this truly good pastor that drew such an abundant benediction upon the flock and gave the Catholics of Augusta that re- spectibility and good name, which, in the beginning of this pastoral ministrations were at a very low ebb. All those who came into contact with Father Barry had to modify their views in reference to the Catholic faith, and became unsuspecting ly and perhaps unwillingly con vinced that in that church were found supernatural, heroic and heavenly virtues.” PAROCHIAL TRANSFERS REGISTER IN PROTEST m A group of Catholic mothers led by Mrs. Albert J. VanHoecke (left), registered their children for public school classes in the Kansas City suburb of Raytown, Mo., in protest against the Missouri legislature’s refusal to permit parochial school students the use of public school bus transportation. A widespread influx of parochial school children in Missouri public schools caused overcrowding and forced some schools to close their doors. (NC Photos) Raps Proposed Law Prelate Denounces Migratory Labor System In S. Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa —The Archbishop of Cape Town has denounced South Africa’s migratory labor system, noting that it has a damaging effect on the family life of Negroes. Archbishop Owen McCann also said that a proposed labor direction system would put Ne groes in a “defenseless, ser vile condition in the urban areas.” He spoke at a Mass in St. Mary’s cathedral here on the feast of St. Joseph the Work er (May 1). Migratory labor is found in other countries, too, the Arch bishop noted, but he said that, in other countries, either a man can take his family with him or the migration is season al. In South Africa, the minimum work assignment is 18 months, he said, adding that this is too long for a man to be away from his family. “The labor of these people has been used in the production of the wealth of the country, “Archbishop McCann said. “Have they been justly remunerated? By human stand ards we cannot answer affirma tively. * ‘Their housing has been con siderably improved, though transport is costly. But the effect of migratory labor on family life is grave, and the sys tem has to be condemned from a Christian standpoint. “And now further restrict ions are proposed. A system of direction of labor is to be in troduced. That is what the new Bantu Laws Amendment Bill means. It means the placing of the Bantu in a defenseless, ser vile condition in the urban areas. “Our south African Bantu are to become aliens, allowed into the towns only to suit the needs of the white man, to be draft ed here, sent there, as our economic system requires —a mere unit of labor. “Labor bureaus are ex cellent, but freedom of movement must not be denied. The restrictions proposed are really heavy on the workseeker. And the man who has served the community well for many years does not escape if he leaves his job. “Let us speak against these POWDER POST BEETLES calir-^ 1100 Years Of Slav Christianity ROME, (NC)—The 11th cen tenary of the apostolate of SS. Cyril and Methodius among the Slavic people was commemora ted on May 12 by a Byzantine Liturgy celebrated by Arch bishop Josyf Slipyi of Lvov, recently released after 18 years of detention in the Soviet Union. The rite was celebrated in the ancient Roman church of St. Clement’ s where, in 867, St. Cyril was brought the body of St. Clement for burial and where 18 years later, St. Cyril him self was buried. In connection with centennial ceremonies the Pontifical In stitute of Oriental Studies has organized a series of lectures which illustrate the life and work of the two saints. evils, these faults and flaws, Let us appeal to the conscience of the public to have the wrongs righted. The obligation and the blame rests on each of us.” The Bantu Laws Amendment Bill, which is sponsored by the government, is now in draft form and is due to come up soon in Parliament. rHE^ vtaontoiL LITTLE PILES of SAWDUST IN YOUR HOME MAY MEAN^ MOTOR HOTEL • TV h AIR CONDITIONING • FAMOUS MIAMI BUFFET • ICE A BEVERAGE STATION* • COFFEE MAKER, BACH ROOM LUCKIE AT CONE ST. A Good Address in Atlanta LEBANON: A TREE DIES The Holy Father’s Mission Aid for the Oriental Church The other day one of the famed CEDARS OF LEBANON <died. Obituary notices appeared in four Middle East news papers . . . Why? Because these trees are historical and legendary, deeply rooted in the life and hills of Bible lands . . . The Prophet Ezechial ••"■"jTjlO. Q spoke of them, as did the Psalms. I rvlii Solomon used them for building the Temple . . . Cleopatra and St. Helen ordered them, one for her royal barge, the other for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In modern times, their wood was used in Sacre Coeur Basil ica, Paris . . . Now there are just 400 left, with only a dozen or so of ancient origin. Not far from the famed trees, some Lebanese laboring people are trying valiantly to build a church for their parish, BEIT-EID, in the Maronite diocese of SABRA ... No longer, they hope, must they assist at Mass in their all-too-small building where in winter many had to stand outside. Through their Bishop and parish priest they ask us to aid them to the amount of $3,000, enough to pay for materials like cement and iron which must be purchased. . . . Will you help ? THUNDER OVER JORDAN Jordan is much in the news today. Political unrest, plans to divert the waters of the Jordan River into the Negev, the find ing of the oldest theater of the Middle East in the “rose red city of Petra”—and in the midst of these happenings, the con tinuing, sad, never-solved problem of the PALESTINE REFU GEES . . . They fled their homes in the 1948 Israel-Arab war and were taken into hospitals and convents, orphanages and schools. Temporary quarters were built . . . Their needs were many and are still enormous. Will you help with a $10 FOOD PACKAGE which will keep a family for a month? . . . And for the Bedouins, blankets are needed which cost $2 . . . Re member them now! TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE Billy P., a nine-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, writes us: “I have a great desire to help orphans ... I receive a dollar a month for my chores and I would like to give it to the orphans.” You know, Billy, the priests and sisters in the Middle East will be encouraged by your generosity. They too are helping orphans ... We have our ORPHANS’ BREAD CLUB to help these children. Your monthly sacrifice of $1 and a prayer keeps it going! KINDLY SEND US YOUR MASS OFFERINGS. They are often the sole support of the 15,000 priests under our care in the 18 Middle East and Near East countries. ADOPTING A SEMINARIAN OR NOVICE? This means paying the cost of their training. A seminarian needs $100 a year for six years, a sister-to-be needs $150 a year for two years. We have many names such as PIETRO TEAME and BERNARDO TESFAL, studying with the Cistercians in Italy for missionary work. Also SISTERS BERNARDINA AND MERCITTA of the Sisters of the Destitute in Alwaye, India. PLEASE REMEMBER US IN YOUR WILL. Our title: THE CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION. Dear Monsignor: Enclosed find for Name Street City Zone . State lMi < Dear £ast OlissionsjM) FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN, Presidoftt Magr. Joseph T. Ryot, Nat*l Soe*y Send all comatMfcatloM to: CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION 480 Lexington Ave. at 46th St. New York 17, N. Y.