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1 1 I Paul VI Reorganizes Council Commissions (B y Msgr. James I. Tucek) VATICAN CITY (NC)—With only days to go before the end of the second session of the ecumenical council on Dec. 4, Pope Paul VI has authorized a reorganization of all the council commissions. Reorganization of the council commissions provides: —That membership in each commission be increased from 25 to 30. —That each commission, af ter increasing its membership, elect a vice president and a vice secretary. The surprise move, announ ced at the Nov. 21 council meet ing, was generally interpreted here as having two aims: The first, and more certain, is to hasten the task of re writing the schemas being sent back to the commissions. The second, and less certain, is to forestall a delaying action r which, reports say, is holding up the revision of certain highly controversial schemas. There are two exceptions to the provision for increasing membership of council com missions. They are in the Com mission for the Oriental Churches, which already has 27 members, and in the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, which has only 18 members. Of the five members to be added to the other commissions, one will be designated by the Pope and four will be elected by the council Fathers. Inasmuch as the Pope has recently added two members to the Commission for the Oriental Churches , the three necessary to complete the number of 30 will be all elected. Of the 12 to be added to the secretariat, four will be named by the Pope and eight will be elected by the council Fathers. The presidents of national bishops’ conferences were ask ed to meet as soon as possible to prepare lists of no more than three names for each commis sion. A deadline of Nov. 25 was set for presentation of the names by the presidents of the national conferences. On Nov. 27 the council Fa thers were to be given printed lists of the names thus turned in. It was announced that the Fathers would be free to vote Lauds Reorganization Of Council Commissions (By Father Placid Jordan, O.S.B.) VATICAN CITY (NC)—Pope , Paul Vi’s decision to authorize \ the election of additional mem bers to council commissions (Nov. 21) has been hailed here as the ideal solution of the pro blem which for a good many days has been of concern to many council Fathers. While it would have been wrong to speak of an actual deadlock, nevertheless an im passe has existed. Therefore there was an alarming prospect of no progress in the debates on the most vital issues before the council. The impasse was caused by what might be called a dragging of feet on the part of a minority determined to stall ’ the majority. Under the new ruling, the ‘council majority will now be able to appoint competent new mdmbers to commissions, es pecially to the Theological Commission. Even more im portant, it makes it possible for the commissions to choose de puty presidents and deputy sec retaries who will reflect the council’s predominant trends much more adequately than was heretofore possible. Some observers feel it would have been preferable to ar- Columbus Columbus Fish Company FISH IS OUR MIDDLE NAME Retail-Wholesale £*/ J Restaurant V V 3800 River Road Columbus, Georgia For Home Delivery Call FA. 3-3651 COLUMBUS, GA. range for the election of com pletely new commissions. But this would have entailed an out right challenge to the authority now in the hands of high curia officials and caused frictions that no one would have consid ered helpful. The procedure now to be adopted will be truly democra tic and definitely a step for ward, inasmuch as it will bring about a proper balance in com mission deliberations. The re organization of the commis sions that will ensue from the forthcoming council vote also will emphasize the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of council Fathers in line with their now historic pronounce ment of Oct. 30. On that date the council Fa thers voted overwhelmingly in an advisory ballot infavor of the principle of the collegiality of bishops and the restoration of the permanent diaconate. The true significance of that vote has again been stressed by the Pope, who said at his Nov. 20 general audience that the Church is an organization, a hierarchy established by Christ Himself in which first place is occupied by the Apostles, the bishops, with Peter, the pope, at their head. It may now safely be said than an intense study during the next few months will en able the competent commis sions to provide formulas in line with this basic concept that will serve as the groundwork for the council’s third session next year. Bible Amendment Effort P rogressing WASHINGTON (NC)—A move to force a House vote on a pro posed constitutional amendment permitting public school pray er and Bible reading is "at the halfway point,” Rep. Frank J. Becker of New York told the House (Nov. 20). Becker said a discharge petition to bring the constitutional amendment to a vote had so far been signed by 108 Representatives; 218 signa tures are required. Columbus’ Finest In Fashion lum fj / KIRALFY’S DOWNTOWN AND CROSS COUNTRY-COLUMBUS, GEORGIA It’s Easy To Open A Kiralfy's Charge Account MacGREGOR WILSON RIDDELL RAWLINGS ’Everything For Good Spojts’ METCALF’S SPORTS CENTER SECOND FLOOR 1214 BROADWAY PHONE FA 3-8823 COLUMBUS, GA. for any one of their choice independently of the names on the lists submitted. Voting for the members of the commis sion was to take place on Nov. 28. At the U. S. Bishops' press panel after the council meet ing, Father Bernard Haering, C.SS.R., council expert, said that reorganization of the com missions will have two imme diate effects: First, the elec tion by the assembly of four members to each commission will increase the majority re presentation in the commis sions, and secondly, the com mission will be able to work bet ter and faster with additional competent heldp. The Southern Cross, November 28, 1963—PAGE 3 MEMBERS of the American hierarchy applaud Pope Paul as he joins them in- second session of Vatican Council II. His Excellency the Most Reverend Th formally after addressing them in English at the Vatican’s Clementine hall. The J. McDonough, Bishop of Savannah is pictured in the back row fourth from^h* 3 Bishops held their annual general meeting in Rome where they are attending the right. ’ e Prayer For The Suecess Of The Eeumenieal Council May the Divine Spirit reign to answer in a most comfort ing manner this prayer which rises daily to Him from every comer of the earth. Renew your wonders in our time, O Divine Spirit, as though with another Pentecost and grant that Thy Holy Church, by uniting in a single-hearted and mounting prayer, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, and the Shep herding St. Peter, may intensify the reign of the Divine Sa vior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen. Bishop’s Council Of Men Savannah Deanery Outlines Program SAVANNAH — Members of the Savannah Deanery Bishops Council of Men heard an outline of coming activities at their meeting held last Sunday at Cathedral Day School. Approximately two - hundred men, including some from as far away as Brunswick, Clax- ton and Statesboro, authoriz ed that the president appoint a 1 committee to study the prob lem of racial segregation in the area. Reporting in the absence of The Spiritual Life chairman, John Stiles, St. Francis Xav ier, Brunswick (who arrived later),' Msgr. John D. Toomey, Spiritual Moderator, told the men of plans to establish a date, in each parish, for In vestiture for the Holy Name Society and of the suggestion of Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke, St. Mary’s, Augusta, to hold a Family Holy Hour in January. Tom McCarthy, St. James, Savannah, and chairman of the Vocations Committee, told of the activity of the Savannah Serra Club and of the program of bringing Altar Boys to vis it St. John Vianney Seminary. Such a visitation is planned for the third Sunday in February. He also told of sponsoring the Vocations Poster and Essay Contest. Mr. McCarthy an nounced that the Serra Club had assisted in the production of a film strip on St. John Vian ney Seminary and suggested that each parish should secure this film for local showing. The chairman of thecommit- Britain Mourns Kennedy LONDON, (NC) — Prayers for President John F. Kennedy were said in Westminster ca thedral here immediately after news of his assassination was flashed to the nation, and the Psalm, De Profundis, has been recited at all Masses since. Prime Minister Sir Alec Dou glas-Home was among thous ands who attended a special Requiem in the cathedral (Nov. 23). President Kennedy’s Catho licism was stressed in the many tributes paid to him by Bri tain. The Prime Minister said in a telecast that the Presi dent was a “man with a deep religious faith dedicated to healing the divisions between men.” The Anglican Primate, Arch bishop Michael Ramsey of Can terbury, said: “He was a man of Chris tian convictions with a deep faith in God and it was this faith which inspired his ser vice of humanity.” '« Archbishop Ramsey asked all Anglican churches to pray on Sunday (Nov. 24) for the president and for the causes for which he cared so much, peace and racial brotherhood. British television tributes to President Kennedy the night of his death were closed by Fa ther Agnellus Andrew, O.F.M., who recited the Our Father and De‘ Profundis. tee on the Confraternity of the Laity, Dr. Louis Castillian, Na tivity Parish, Thunderbolt, re ported on this year’s success ful drive and urged continued support of this annual drive. John M. Brennan, Blessed ; Sacrament parish, Savannah, chairman of the committee on Catholic action urged each par ish group to hold an Open House in order to spread knowledge of the Catholi c Faith. He also told of hopes to televise a Mass from a local church lat- Percy Miller, Most Pure Heart of Mary parish, Sa vannah, chairman of the Catho lic Charities Committee re ported on the many works of chairty done on the parish le vel such as sending children to Summer camp, clothing cam - paigns and visiting the sick. He also asked for the cooper ation of each unit in report ing such activities to his com mittee. Anthony Gannam of Sacred Heart parish, Savannah, report ed on the work being done to combat Obscene Literature in the area, reporting that 41 different organizations now have committees working to combat this evil. He asked for the help of all stating "par ents must set the example at home as it is from us our children learn.” In commenting on the Cath olic Action outlined for the Council Msgr. Toomey, Spiri tual Moderator said that through such action "the Council would move forward and develop into the strong organization hoped for.” Julian Halligan president of the Deanery Council reminded that the success of this pro gram "goes back to the grass roots level—the parish. Here rests the success or failure of the organization.” The Eighth Week Vatican Council In Review VATICAN CITY (NC)—The Fathers of the ecumenical coun cil in a momentous week com pletely approved a charter of sweeping liturgical reform and saw Pope Paul VI intervene to provide for reorganization of the counil commissions. Meantime they witnessed the Fathers of the English-speak ing world present a solid front in favor of the document seek ing to tighten the ties that bind all Christians together. The finalization of the whole liturgy schema provides for major reforms designed to lead the people to full participation inwardly and outwardly in the Mass and other services of the Church. The schema was pass ed Nov. 22—only hours before the Council Fathers were plun ged into grief by the slaying in Dallas of President Ken nedy. The schema was approved with only 19 nay votes out of a total of 2,178 cast. One vote was invalid. All that remained before the document becomes the official guide of the Church were the ceremonies surrounding the solemn proclamation of the schema by the Pope. ——— According to Bishop Thomas K. Gorman of Dallas - Fort-. Worth, bishops could then au thorize the use of English or other vernacular languages in the Mass and the sacraments at once. The day before the approv al of the worship document, the Fathers received word that Pope Paul had arranged for en largement of the existing coun cil commissions from the nor mal 25 to 30 members. The council Fathers were to choose the majority of the new mem bers in a special election on Nov. 28. The Pope was then to appoint one new member apiece to each commission. The com missions themselves were to elect vice presidents to suc ceed those appointed by the individual presidents 14 months ago. The papal intervention was interpreted as a move to fore stall any possible footdragging by the commissions in the work of revising council documents in line with the consensus of the Fathers. The week’s council delibera - tions centered on the proposed schema on ecumenism.The or iginal document had been ex panded to include two new chap ters, one on the bonds between Catholics and Jews, and anoth er upholding the right of free dom of conscience and worship. Albert Cardinal Meyer of Chicago, the first of the day’s speakers on Nov. 20, urged the council to keep the two added chapters despite suggestions that they should be put in other schemas. The Fathers in an earlier vote had approved in principle the first three chap ters on ecumenism, but had put off action on the other two “There might be some dif ferences of opinion on their places in this (ecumenism) schema or another,” Cardinal Meyer said, “but it is the opinion of numerous council Fathers that the subjects of these two chapters are inti mately connected with the whole News From Pacelli High Bv Llovd Heekin COLOMBUS—The honor roll was posted on the Pacelli bulle tin board at the end of the first quarter. Those who earned first hon ors by receiving no more than two B’s were seniors Mike Cerrone, Carol Keown and Larry Magner, junior Jack Guernsey, sophomore Jackie Harrison and freshman Susan Henderson, David Schermann and Joan Key Zeranski. The students who made sec ond honors by receiving no grade lower than B were sen iors Lloyd Heekin and Bill Hig gins, juniors Cheryl Dye, Anne Federal, Val Lawrence andKa- theleen Sweeney, sophomores Kathy Bentley and Geraldine Sweeney and freshmen, Becky Bowick, Connie Campbell, Nan cy Guernsey, Laura LaCombe, Margaret Laughlin, Robert No lan, Clarence Sappington and Kevein Sweeney. * * * A group of Pacellians presen ted a skit about National Educa tion week. Buddy Haggart, announcer, introduced Eddie Doucette, Shiela and Sharon O’ Byrne, Doris Rice, Toni Thompson, Anne Federal, Brian Boyle and Madelaine Castro, who told the origin and signi ficance of Education Week, the opportunities which the com munity offers to educated young people and the goals for which we should strive. question of ecumenism. Al though the text can and should be perfected, it is to be hoped that the entire schema will be approved as it stands.” Archbishop Maurice Bau- doux of St. Boniface, Man., and Archbishop John C. Heenan of Westminister, England, both spoke out strongly in favor of the schema. The chief means of promoting understanding a- mong Christians are “mutual pardon, friendship and mutual confidence,” said Archbishop Baudoux. Bishop Sergio Mendez of Cu ernavaca, Mexico, called the schema “the finest gift the council can make to the church.” But he asked greater stress on “the importance of the liturgical movement and the Biblical movement” in promot ing Christian unity. Two French-speaking council Fathers asked that ecumenism be furthered by a less strict law against Catholic participa tion in the religious services of non-Catholics. 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