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Vol. 45, No. 10
Cardinal Bea
Relate Confident
bout 3rd Session
Official
His Excellency Bishop Thom
as J. McDonough announces the
jcannonical erection of Saint Jo
seph’s Parish, Jesup, Georgia.
The parish comprises Wayne
and Long counties.
The Most Reverend Bishop
has announced the following ap
pointments:
I
REVEREND JOHN LOFTUS,
pastor of St. Joseph’s parish,
Jes
r!We
REVEREND BENJAMIN WER
NER, assistant pastor of St.
John The Evangelist parish,
Valdbsa.
REVEREND FRANK GIL-
^ETHER, S.M.A., assistant pas
tor of Immaculate Conception
parish, Augusta.
MUNICH (NC)—Augustin Car
dinal Bea, S.J., declared here
that there is good reason to
look forward “with confidence”
to the third session of the Sec
ond Vatican Council. But he in
sisted that all baptized Chris
tians must pray for its success.
The head of the Vatican Sec
retariat for Promoting Christian
Unity was speaking over the
Bavariar radio system Sept. 9,
five days before the council
was to reconvene at the Vati
can.
Cardinal Bea, German - born
Scripture scholar, predicted that
the third session will bring to
fruition much of the ground
work done during the first two
sessions. Among the documents
he said he expects the council
Fathers to act on is the schema
on the nature of the Church. He
called this the most important
document of Vatican II. Be
cause it is so important, he
said, it is no wonder that it has
required so much deliberation.
He indicated that he expects
the document on the Church to
be passed with an overwhelm
ing majority, as was the Con
stitution on the Liturgy last De
cember.
Other documents the Cardinal
expects to be brought to com-
(Continued on Page 6)
NATION
FAR FAST
Services At Olympics
TOKYO (NC—The thousands of Catholics athletes and tourists
vho will come here in October for the World Olympic Games need
lot worry about religious facilities. The Catholic Olympic Committee
s publishing a pamphlet giving detailed information together with
3 map showing the location of places where Sunday and daily
Masses are celebrated, giving languages in which confessions are
beard and sermons preached. In addition, a Catholic information
center will be set up in the building of the National Catholic Com
mittee of Japan—10, Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
No Obstacles To Unity
CLEVELAND (NO—There are no insurmountable obstacles
to “organic unity” among Christians, the president of the World
Metf*fcst Council told some 600 Catholics at a meeting of the First
Fri^^Club here. Bishop Fred Pierce Corson, Methodist bishop of
Philadelphia and an observer at the Second Vatican Council’s first
two sessions, said (Sept. 4) the council convinced many that much
of the outward signs of differences were not matters of principles,
but of tradition. “We came to understand,” he said, “that things
which we thought separated us were no longer there. We found
we had many, many things in common.”
V MIC AN
Pope’s India Visit Denied
VATICAN CITY (NC)— A competent Vatican source has denied
reports that Pope Paul VI intends to go to India to participate in
the 38th International Eucharistic Congress which opens in Bombay
Nov. 28. The source which was unidentified by the Vatican press
•office said (Sept. 7) that such reports are “touching” evidences of
the “filial desires” of many Catholics in Asia. However the source
stated that these reports “are not confirmed by realistic expecta
tions.”
Pope Asks Prayers
For Council
VATICAN CITY (NC)—Pope Paul VI has asked that
Sunday, Sept. 27, be set aside as a day of worldwide pray
er for the success of Vatican Council II’s third session.
He also asked that all who are able to do so offer up the
st on September’s three ember days (Sept. 23, 25 and 26).
The Pope revealed he chose the feast of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14) as the opening day of the
ecumenical council’s third session to point to the cross as
a source of salvation and the source of the council’s hopes
for success.
He also said he decided to concelebrate the opening
Mass of the session with 24 council Fathers to show the
union of hearts and souls in the council.
The Pope spoke through a letter addressed to Eugene
Cardinal Tisserant in his capacity as the “first member
of the Council of the Presidency of the Second Vatican
Council.”
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
SAVANNAH. GEORGIA, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER"lO," 1964
10c Per Copy — $5 Per Year
Meat On Friday
WASHINGTON (NC)—Three more airlines—National, Eastern,
1 and American—have been granted dispensations by the Vatican’s
*• Congregation of the Council whereby Catholic passengers on their
y planes may eat meat on Fridays or other days of abstinence. When
the first such dispensation was granted to Trans World Airlines in
March, a Vatican spokesman said the same privilege would be ex
tended to other airlines if they applied' for it.
BISHOP McDONOUGH poses at Sava n-nah airport with Rt. Rev. Msgr. An
drew J, McDonald, Chancellor, prior to boarding flight on first leg of jour
ney to third session of the Second Vatican Council. The Council re-convenes
September 14.
St. Christopher’s, Claxton
Family "Vacations”
At Georgia Mission
CLAXTON (NC) — If you are
an average American, a vaca
tion plan probably means mon
ey in the bank for summer fun.
The Vince McGinleys of St.
Rose of Lima parish, Audubon,
N.J., gave their vacation an
other meaning: a chance to be
missionaries for the Church in
America.
They are one of 98 couples
from the Christian Family
Movement who volunteered their
services this summer to mission
priests in the South and South
west.
Early in July, the McGinleys
loaded their five youngsters into
a borrowed stationwagon and
headed for Claxton. They met
Father George Mathis, pastor
of the parish here, where the
nearest of seven parish families
lives eight miles from the
church.
Mrs. McGinley says she knows
now what it means to be part
of a “struggling minority.”
Their first day at St. Chris
topher’s in Claxton, the McGin
leys met the other “vacation
ers,” two other CFM families
who would join forces with two
priests, a few seminarians, and
a brother for 14 days of com
munity living.
With the children they were
a group of 21 people, living,
eating, working, praying — all
under the same roof.
Vince McGinley and his wife
spent the first three days knock
ing on doors, some Baptist, oth
ers Methodist, to invite t h e
neighbors over for an “open
house” at St. Christopher’s and
find out “what the Catholic
Church is all about.”
This way, Mrs. McGinley
said, they hoped to erase the
idea of the “strange” church by
getting some people to meet
Father Mathis.
Claxton Protestants ama zed
the McGinleys with their re
sponse. When she saw the
“open house” turn into a “full
house” with nobody “stacking
the deck,” Mrs. McGinley ex
claimed, “it must be that south
ern hospitality!”
Father Mathis showed t h e
crowd the vestments of the
Mass, statues, stations and bap
tismal font: visual aids for ex
plaining Catholic worship, sac
raments and devotions.
Later, at an interracial meet
ing of mostly Protestant college
students in nearby Statesboro,
the CFM couple met Father Au
gustine Guppenberger. He and
Father Mathis are Glenmary
Home Missioners, a group of
American priests who try to
put the Church where it has
never been.
(Continued on Page 6)
HOLY CROSS DAY, Sept. 14, date of the opening of the
third session of Vatican Council II, is an ancient feast cele
brated in the Eastern Churches as well as in the West.
NEW CLASSROOMS—Bishop Thomas J. McDonough is pictured as he blessed
the new five classroom addition to St. Mary’s School in Augusta. Over
630 students now attend the school. Pictured behind the Bishop is Right
Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Bourke, Pastor of St. Mary’s on the Hill, Au
gusta. (Photo by Robert Wilkinson)
Convenes on Monday
Final Preparations
For Third Session
Of Vatican Council
By Father Placid Jordan, O.S.B.
(N.C.W.C. News Service)
VATICAN CITY—The Second Vatican Council
is now certain to achieve its major objectives. That
is the strong impression prevailing here on the eve of
the opening of its third session.
In a sense, competent observers feel, these objec
tives already have been realized inasmuch as two
achievements now are on hand which point the way
toward that “aggiornamento,”
or “updating” of the Church
that Pope John XXIII had set
as the council's principal goal.
Pope Paul VI, in turn, in his
first encyclical solemnly con
firmed “aggiornamento” as his
“program of action” and as
“the guiding principle of the
council” which, he said, is to
bring about “the rejuvenation
and renewal of the Church.”
The first objective now within
close reach is the broadening of
the authority of the individual
bishops in conjunction with the
supreme power of the pope.
This is expected to bring about
a decentralization in Church
government that will lead to a
better appreciation of the true
catholicity and universality of
the Church.
The second objective, already
realized, is the greater “open
ness” of the Church, which will
allow for a “dialogue" with the
modern world. This implies an
adaptation of Church life to
pre=ent-dav needs. It will help
at the same time to maintain
the friendly climate in interfaith
relations inaugurated by Pope
John.
It is stressed in informed
quarters here that Popp Paul
himself, not only in his encycli
cal. Ecclesiam Suam, but even
sooner at the general audience
last Nov. 6. spelled out the full
meaning of “aggiornamento”
when he said that “one must
widen the horizons of Catholi
city”, and when he stated in a
Pentecost homily that “in its
concrete reality the catholicity
(Continued on Page 5)
BISHOP’S OFFICE
225 Abercorn Street
Savannah, Georgia
September 10, 1964
Dearly beloved in Christ:
Within a few days, I will leave for the Eternal City to participate in the Third
Session of the Second Vatican Council. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Bishops
from all over the universe will assemble in St. Peter’s Basilica to labor for the glory
of God and His Church upon earth. The so-called updating of the Church has command
ed the attention of the whole world, and men of good will are fervently praying for a
better world built upon a love of God, a love of neighbor, and the quest for universal
peace.
Our Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Paul VI, has unequivocally dedicated His Pontificate
to the strengthening of the Church and to the elevating of the hearts and minds of the
people to God. In His first Encyclical “Ecclesiam Suam” an emphasis is placed upon
spiritual renovation, and the perennial role of the Church. He calls for an unswerving
faith and a resolute confidence in God.
The world is going through a progression of experiences. Survival is pre-eminently
in the foreground. With the utilization of the great minds of the world; with the un
precedented expenditure of our material resources; with the almost immeasurable ma
terial advantages, we are appalled at the religious apathy of so many. All of these
things come from God. Why, then, do we not use such gifts to glorify Him. Instead of
losing God, these modern advances should demonstrate clearly the greatness ol God, His
omnipotence, His wisdom, His power. We must therefore, think about spiritual survival.
Our Holy Church, the custodian of divine truth, is charged with the responsibility of
bringing all men to a knowledge of the truth. Every creature of God has the task of
glorifying God and of honoring His name, above all names. How insignificant are all
the honors of the world, if in the process of obtaining them we lose God.
Through the operation of the Council, every effort is being made to bring Us
closer to His Eternal life. The contemplated changes in the Sacred Liturgy, through
the use of the vernacular, are being adpoted in the Mass, November 29th, the first
Sunday of Advent. The sacrifice is the same. But it is believed that the use of
English will weld a greater cohesion and incite a more profound depth of understanding.
All of you will, I am confident, accept these innovations with enthusiasm.
There are many more subjects to be treated at the Council. In your charity, 1
call upon your prayers for its continued success.
As I travel to St. Peter’s daily, your intentions will be included in my own. As
I visit the tombs cf Sts. Peter and Paul, I will ask Almighty God to give us the courage
and faith which they possessed. When I kneel at the tomb of St. Pius X, my prayer
will be to lead my people to the throne of Heaven. Rome is the City of Martyrs, the
Citadel of Saints, the throne of Him who rules the Church on earth—Our Supreme Pontiff.
It is with reluctance that 1 shall absent myself from the Diocese of Savannah.
On the other hand, what is transpiring in Rome will greatly effect this world in which,
we iive. To be a part of such a great decision is an unexpected privilege which I value
highly. <
With every good wish and blessing. 1 am,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Bishop of Savannah.
St. Mary’s on the Hill
Bishop Dedicates New Classrooms
For the fourth year in succes
sion the Bishop has paid a Fall
visit to St. Mary’s on the Hill
in Augusta and held enthralled
an audience of men and boys of
the parish.
His day here was a full one.
He celebrated the 8:00 a.m.
Mass and spoke to the congre
gation on his impending visit to
Rome for the Third Session of
the Council.
Next he dedicated five new
classrooms recently added to
the new St. Mary’s School,
which now comprises sixteen
classrooms, a modern kinder
garten, a clinic, lounges for the
sisters and lay teachers and a
large cafetorium. The attend
ance this year totals six hun
dred and thirty students.
At the Communion Breakfast
following the Dedication the
cafetorium was thronged with
the men and boys of the par
ish. The Bishop was introduced
by Dr. C. Stephen, President of
the Holy Name Society. His Ex
cellency after complimenting
Monsignor Bourke and the par
ish for continued loyalty and
support of the Bishop’s Confra,-
ternity of the Laity delivered a
witty and instructive talk on
“Liturgical development in the
Church”.
He knew, he said, that Litur
gical change was accepted re
luctantly by Catholics of Irish
and English stock who associat
ed such change with those who
(Continued on Page 3)