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bishop McDonough is pictured on steps of Savannah's St. Mary’s Home
with a few of the Diocese’s dependent children. The Bishop has issued an
appeal to Catholics of the Diocese asking their generous response to the
Christmas Collection, for these children. (Staff photo by Bob Ward)
AT VATICAN MASS
Importance Of Council
Cited On Anniversary
VATICAN CITY (RNS)~
With the passage of a year
since the solemn closing of
the Second Vatican Council,
“we are beginning to have a
better understanding of its
great importance,” Pope Paul
VI said at ceremonies in St.
Peter’s Basilica marking the
anniversary.
At the same time, he warned
--as he has repeatedly done in
the past—against post-con-
ciliar doctrinal and other “ ex
cesses.”
Thousands gathered in the
Basilica — including 20,000
nuns representing virtually
every Catholic sisterhood in
the world—for a concele-
brated Mass on the Feast of
the Immaculate Conception.
The Pope said that Vatican
II was “recorded among the
great events of Christian his
tory, among the great events
even in the religious life of
mankind generally by reason
of its harmony with history,
the admirable way in which it
was conducted, the richness of
its teachings (with almost un
limited practical implica
tions), its deep spiritual out
look, and yet its openness to
everything and to everyone.”
Pope Paul went on to exhort
the faithful, now that the Coun
cil was over, to be careful not
to fall into two errors con
cerning it.
“It seems to us,” he said,
“there are two possible er
rors which must be avoided,
the first being that of sup
posing that the Second Vati
can Council represents a
break with the tradition of
doctrine and discipline that
preceded it, as if it were
a novelty comparable to a re
volutionary discovery, to an
emancipation that justified a
separation from what the
Church taught and professed
with authority until yesterday,
an emancipation that, in con
sequence, seeks too often, no
vel and arbitrary interpre
tations of Catholic dogma, in
terpretations often changed
beyond the limits of that ortho
doxy that we cannot renounce,
offering to Catholic life new
and intemperate expressions
oft-times borrowed from the
spirit of the world.
“This is something that
would not accord with his
tory’s view of the Council,
nor with the Council’s spirit
as predicted by Pope John
XXIII. The Councils value con
sists precisely in its contri
bution to the continuing life
of the Church. It does not
make a break in the Church’s
life or discover it, but streng
thens the life, develops it,
perfects it.
“The other error, contrary
to the fidelity we owe the Coun
cil, would be to fail to appre
ciate the immense richness of
its instructions and the pro
vidential and abundant means
for renewal that we have from
the Council itself.”
“The Council gave us
awareness of the living
Church,” Pope Paul said. “It
is this awareness that calls us
to another duty imposed by
the Council, that of inward
personal reform, whereby
profession of the Christian re
ligion to which the whole Coun
cil relates should become for
each and every member of
the faithful a sincere way of
life, a return to the Gospel,
an encounter with Christ and
a striving for sanctity.”
HEADLINE /’S
HOPSCOTCH _?
NATION
Hierarchy Changes
Pope Paul had made the following changes in the United States -
The Most Rev. Edward D. Howard, retiring Bishop of Portland,
Oregon, is transferred to the titular See of Albule. Archbishop
John M. Gannon has resigned as bishop of Erie and is transferred
to the titular See ofTacarata. Bishop Robert J Dwyer of Reno is
appointed archbishop of Portland, Oregon. Auxiliary Bishop John
J. Whealon of Cleveland succeeds Archbishop Gannon as bishop
of Erie. Msgr. Thomas J. Mardaga, rector of the Basilica of the
Assumption in Baltimore, is named titular bishop of Mutugenna
and auxiliary to Lawrence Cardinal . Shehan of Baltimore. The
appointments were announced Wednesday by Arcibishop Egidio
Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate in the United States.
VATICAN
Pope Praises U. S.
VATICAN CITY (NC)~Pope Paul, receiving a group of
American congressmen, praised the U. S. for its help to
needy nations. “The United States has been richly blessed
by God,” he said, “and your country has given generously
. . .to peoples in need and want. In our address to the U N.
General Assembly last year we urged nations to ‘live and
help live’ because only in an atmosphere of collaboration
and co-operation. . .based on respect and love, can peace
be had in our time.”
Raid Commemorated
HEILBRONN, Germany (NC)~A memorial mass for 7,000
persons killed in a Dec. 4, 1944, air raid on this city during
World War II was held in the chapel of the American garri
son here (Dec. 3) in the presence of Archbishop Philip M.
Hannan of New Orleans. Heilbronn, a rail junction and indus
trial center, was about 80% destroyed in World War II air
raids.
The Pope paused here to
speak to the nuns. He praised
them for their “unique and im
portant position in the very
center of the Church’s life of
prayer, silence and contem
plation.”
SERVING 88 SOUTH GEORGIA COUNTIES
The Southern Cross
NEWSPAPER DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
Vol. 47, No. 23 SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1966
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ASKS CHRISTMAS GENEROSITY
Savannah Bishop Appeals
For Children Of Diocese
Bishop Thomas J. McDonough has asked Cath
olics of the Savannah Diocese to respond generous
ly to the annual Christmas Appeal for the support
of the Diocese’s dependent children at St. Mary’s
Home, Savannah and at St. Joseph’s Home in Wash
ington, Georgia.
In a letter to be read at
all the Masses on Sunday, De
cember 18th, the Bishop re
minds Catholics that “grati
tude for the gift of faith can
be singularly expressed by our
charity to others at Christ
mas time. Our dependent chil
dren hold out their devoted
hands to receive our gifts. We
must be responsive to their
needs because the Child of
Bethlehem calls upon each one
of us to love all children
especially those who are
denied so much love in this
world.”
Bishop McDonough has
urged that each wage earner
contribute at least ten dollars
to this collection. The full
text of the Bishop’s appeal
is carried to the right of this
story.
In a statement issued to the
Southern Cross this week,
Bishop McDonough said that
he was “certainly mindful of
and grateful for the truly gen
erous response the Christmas
Appeal has always received
from our people.
“On the Saviour’s entry into
our world, angels sang God’s
promise of ‘Peace on Earth
to men of good will’.
“That peace came with the
birth of Christ. And it will
come to each of us if we
truly consider Christmas
as a time for our own
rebirth. A time to cast off
the ties that may bind us too
tightly to the things of a pass
ing and fragile world and to
be reborn in the Spirit of
the poor, lowly, loving, com
passionate Christ.
“On Christmas Day was
bom the Son of God Who
healed the sick and befriended
the poor and the homeless.
“He thought little of His
own needs, reminding His fol
lowers that though the birds
had their nests and the foxes
their dens, He had not so much
as a place to lay His head.
He reminded, not to complain,
but to exhort. He taught us -
you and me - by example, the
essence of love which is ser
vice to the people of God -
all of them - even the least
of His children.
“It is this love that we ask
from our people when we
solicit their generosity in be
half of the dependent children
of the Diocese every Christ
mas.
“God will short-change no
one. And those who sacrifice
of their own need, to aid
Christ’s homeless children
may be certain that the Babe
of Bethlehem will bestow
upon them the true spirit of
Christmas - His peace, His
joy, His love.”
Bishop’s Office
Diocese of Savannah
223 Abbbcorn Street
P. O. Box 2227
Savannah, Georgia
31402
December 14, 1966
Dearly beloved in Christ:
The year 1966, will be recorded as an epochal one in the history of the Catholic
Church. The impact of the Second Vatican Council has been felt in every corner of the
world and men of good will have responded generously to the renewal within our midst.
For the most part, the renovation of the Church has brought together the people of God
working in unison towards the establishment of Christ in every community. The Pilgrim
Church is found wherever men reside.
And as the Church reaches out to every corner of the world and penetrates the
hearts of men, the story of the birth of Christ is told and retold. It is the very essence
of our faith. Christians and the Christ Child become synonymous with salvation and
the lifting up of men to new spiritual heights.
Christmas is peace, love and understanding among all men. Christmas is a time
to open our hearts and extend the hand of charity. Christmas is a solemn reminder of
God’s gift to the whole world — the gift of His Divine Son.
Today the Church in the Diocese of Savannah pauses to reflect upon the many
blessings given by the Christ-Child. Our gratitude for the gift of faith can be singularly
expressed by our charity to others at Christmas time. Our dependent children at St.
Mary’s Home in Savannah hold out their devoted hands to receive our gifts. We must
be responsive to their needs because the Child of Bethlehem calls upon each one of us
to love all children, especially those who are denied so much love in this world.
This Christmas, I invite you to give your first gift to the Christ Child for-the
children of St. Mary’s Home. Envelopes will be distributed today and each wage earner
is requested to contribute at least ten dollars. Your Christmas gift to St. Mary’s Home
will not go unrewarded but bring you spiritual joys in abundance.
Assuring you of a memento in my Christmas Masses and imparting to you my
blessings, I am,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Bishop of Savannah.
INSAYAMAH
ATLANTA MASS — Bishops and Abbotts of the Atlanta Province marked
the first anniversary of the closing of Vatican Council II with a concelebrat-
ed Mass on Thursday evening, December 8th, in the Atlanta cathedral. The
Most Reverend Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States was
the principal concelebrant. Pictured left to right—First row: Bishop Thom
as J. McDonough, Savannah; Archbishop Vagnozzi; Archbishop Paul J. Hal
lman, Atlanta; Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, St. Augustine. Back row: Ab
bott Walter Coggin, Belmont Abbey; Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler, Charles
ton, Bishop Coleman F. Carroll, Miami and Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin, At
lanta Auxiliary.
INSIDE STORY
Question Nows Accuracy Rg. 2
Bishops 7 Posts listed Pg* 3
Military Rites Pg* 3
'Hand Of God’ Pg* 5
Catholic listener library Pg. 6
Interfaith Clergy Group
Holds Service For Unity
In what was, for Savannah,
a unique venture, 24 clergy
men representing Baptist
Episcopal, Greek Orthodox,
Methodist, and Presbyterian
congregations gathered at
Christ Episcopal Church for a
Prayer and Scripture Service
for Christian Unity last Mon-
'day, Dec. 12. The service pre
ceded the monthly meeting of
the Chatham Clergy Confer
ence of which the clerics are
members.
The service was under the
direction of the Rev. F. Bland
Tucker, Rector of Christ
Church.
After the singing of several
Advent hymns, clergy of vari
ous churches read selections
from the Old and New Testa
ments. The prophecies of Isais
were read by the Rev. L. Scott
Stell, Jr., pastor ofBethlehem
Baptist Church.
Bibical narratives of the na
tivity of Christ were read by
the following clergymen: Rev.
F. D. Jaudon, pastor of St.
Phillip’s Monumental A. M. E.
Church - St. Luke; Rev.
Charles E. Raum, pastor of
Savannah Christian Church -
St. Matthew; Rev. Pledger W.
Parker, pastor of Aldersgate
Methodist Church - St. Matt
hew.
The Rt Rev. Msgr. John
D. Toomey, pastor of St. James
Catholic Church delivered a
homily on the meaning of
Christmas. Then, after the
singing of a Christmas hymn,
the service was closed with
a prayer and blessing by Rev.
Tucker.
At the meeting which fol
lowed, the Clergy Conference
conducted its annual elections.
The Rev. F. Scott Stell, Jr.,
will serve as president for the
next year. Elected Vice Pre
sident was the Rev. Thomas J.
Paris, Pastor of St. Paul’s
Greek Orthodox Church. Sec
retary is the Rev. Michael
Smith, Assistant Pastor of
Blessed Sacrament Catholic
Church. The Office of
treasurer will be filled by the
Rev. James Hooten, pastor of
Covenant Christian Churdh.
Early Press Date
Due to the heavy volume of Christmas mail, next
week’s Southern Cross will go to press Tuesday, De
cember 20th. The early press date will insure our
subscribers receiving their Christmas issue on time.
Deadline for local copy to appear in this edition
will be 10 A.M. Monday morning, December 19th,
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