Newspaper Page Text
SERVING 88 SOUTH - GEORGIA COUNTIES
The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 51 No. 7
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12,1970
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$5 Per Year
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Bishop’s Office
Diocehe op Savannah
P. O. Box S7M
Savannah , Georgia
01402
My dear People:
Today's Catholic is a Catholic who is continuously aware
of and informed about the chief business of his life--living his
Catholic faith.
The traditional means for accomplishing this are prayer,
reception of the Sacraments, a spirit of personal renewal, con
scientious effort to practice the virtues of Faith, Hope and
Christian Love. But, basic to these means is an ever-growing
understanding of them--a living knowledge of the faith we profess.
That faith, which is the Word of God, has come to us in
various forms--first through Christ Himself. Then, through the
preaching of priests, ordained to carry on his mission of salva
tion. Then, through the printed word--sacred scripture, books,
pamphlets, newspapers, magazines. Most recently, through the
electronic media of radio and television.
It seems, however, that the most permanent, widespread
and effective form of teaching the faith is still the printed word--
the Catholic press.
In fact, it's difficult to see how one can grow in his
faith today without stimulating and encouraging that growth by
reading the Catholic press and espcially, in our Diocese, THE
SOUTHERN CROSS.
Through our diocesan newspaper, you have a valuable means
of remaining alert and informed concerning the events, trends, and
attitudes reshaping the Church today and thus vitally affecting
our faith.
Conversely, it seems to me, it is quite possible to become
less and less knowledgeable as a Catholic by a partial or total dis
regard of our own diocesan Catholic press.
Besides the homily at Mass on Sunday and the knowledge de
rived through formal religious training of whatever duration, as
well as the adult religious education programs developed by the De
partment of Formation, what other source of knowje^pe of
the Word of God and its effect on modem life do most of the people
of our diocese possess besides THE SOUTHERN CROSS.
Then, too, as I noted when speaking to you last year about
the paper, it is also an effective instrument available to our peo
ple at large for dialogue with one another and with the institutional
church everywhere in the diocese, through the letters to the Editor
Column in THE SOUTHERN CROSS.
So, I urge you, today's Catholic--to read and support our
diocesan newspaper.
Sincerely in Our Divine Savior,
+GERARD L. FREY
Bishop of Savannah.
DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER
Annual Subscription
Drive Starts Sunday
The annual diocesan drive
for new and renewal
subscriptions to THE
SOUTHERN CROSS will
begin next Sunday February
15, with the reading of a
pastoral letter from Bishop
Gerard L. Frey and sermons
on the value and necessity of
the Catholic Press in every
parish and mission church in
The Rev. Dermot
O’Mahony, Assistant Rector
of the Cathedral of St. John
the Baptist, has been
appointed Chaplain of the
Catholic Campus Ministry
program at Savannah State
College, Savannah. Father
O’Mahony succeeds the Rev.
William V. Coleman, recently
named pastor of St. Joseph’s
parish, Macon.
Announcement of Father
O’Mahony’s appointment was
made by Bishop Gerard L.
Frey in a letter to both the
Savannah priest and Father
the diocese.
An ad hoc committee for
the drive was appointed by
Bishop Frey last month.
Members are Monsignor
Daniel J. Bourke, pastor of
St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill church,
Augusta -- Chairman; Mr.
Charles Bellman of Augusta,
Mr. John Markwalter,
Coleman.
Said Bishop Frey, “I am
sure that this program will
benefit from your guidance
and leadership.
“We are all aware of the
importance of this apostolate
and also conscious of the fact
that in the years ahead, the
service of the Church will
have to be emphasized and
developed in this direction.”
Father O’Mahony’s
appointment was effective
February 6th.
Managing Editor of THE
SOUTHERN CROSS; Father
Francis J. Donohue, Editor;
Father Herbert Wellmeier,
pastor of Sacred Heart parish,
Augusta.
Committee suggestions to
pastors concerning the
subscription drive were sent
last week.
They suggested that along
with the reading of the letter
of endorsement from Bishop
Frey, there be a “strong
‘pitch’ for THE SOUTHERN
CROSS from the pulpit.
The committee noted that
in 1969 the size of the paper
was increased from a six page
paper to an eight page one,
and suggested that pastors
call the attention of
parishioners to a new feature,
inagurated last month in
cooperation with the Adult
Education Department of the
United States Catholic
Conference, administrative
arm of the National Council
of Catholic Bishops. TTie new
feature is entitled “Know
Your Faith” and is comprised
of special columns which,
every week, treat of the
changes in today’s church,
including the updating of the
Church’s understanding of
Theology and Revelation as
well as the Liturgy.
(Continued on Page 2)
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Bishop Names
Fr. O’Mahony
m SAVANNAH
Consolidation
For Catholic
High Schools
In a move to consolidate faculties and student bodies of Savannah’s three
Catholic high schools, St. Pius X High School will be phased out over a two year
period and its faculty and student body amalgamated with the city’s other two high
schools, St. Vincent’s and Benedictine, it was announced last Tuesday by the Office
of Father Ralph E. Seikel, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools.
The purpose of the move was set forth in a joint statement by Diocesan School
Officials and officials of the Franciscan Order which staffs St. Pius X along with
some lay and Clergy instructors, issued by Father Seikel’s office.
OWERRI, NIGERIA - This little fellow holding a bowl isn’t
asking for more-just for something to eat. He and his
companions are Biafran victims of the Nigerian civil war, who
waited recently for food at a distribution center here. (NC
Photo)
ON HOLY THURSDAY
Vow Of Celibacy
Renewal Asked
The statement said: “In
order to effect more
meaningful integration within
the Savannah Catholic
Schools, we feel it imperative
to set forth a master plan of
amalgamation whereby our
integration process will be
accelerated so that the results
demanded by social justice
and the tenor of the time will
be soon affected and realized.
Such a plan would also be in
accord with the policy of the
Sisters of St. Francis to
continue staffing only those
schools which are
meaninfully integrated.
“On the secondary level,
St. Pius X High School will be
amalgamated with
Benedictine and St. Vincent’s
by September of 1971. This
amalgamation will take place
in two phases.
“1) In September of 1970,
all eighth grade students will
enter the ninth grade at either
Benedictine or St. Vincent’s,
thus precluding a ninth grade
class at St. Pius.
“2) In September of
1971, the present Freshman
and Sophomore classes at St.
Pius will be amalgamated
with Benedictine and St.
Vincent’s.
“Between now and
September of 1971, the
administration of these three
schools will work together to
foster and atmosphere
conducive to a smooth and
complete amalgamation
which will reduce to the
best educational interests of
all concerned, as well as to
ensure that Catholic
Secondary Education will
remain available, attractive
and attainable to all.
“The entire process will be
aided by the re-direction of
the faculty members
presently staffing St. Pius to
become members of the
faculties at the other two
Catholic High Schools. The
parishes of the Savannah area
in co-opemticn with the
Diocesan administration will
also help implement this plan
both economically and
otherwise.
“On the elementary level,
more meaningful integration
must be effected by June of
1972. Between now and the
end of the year, more precise
steps of action will be
developed and published
along with the exact target
dates by which this process
will be scheduled and
implemented.”
Commenting on the
amalgamation move for THE
SOUTHERN CROSS, Sister
M. Jude, Principal of St.
Vincent’s said: “Of course,
we share with the faculty,
students, friends and
supporters of St. Pius X High
School, the regret we know
they feel over the closing of a
fine high school which has
prepared so many Savannah
boys and girls for the roles
they now occupy as valuable
members of the community,
and which has been the
foundation stone of a higher
education for many of them
at some of the finest Colleges
and Universities in the
country.
“It is always hard for
students to leave a school
they have come to love. But,
since this move is an
amalgamation involving the
three Catholic high schools of
Savannah, rather than simply
the closing of one of them,
faculty members of St. Pius X
will be joining the faculty at
St. Vincent’s, and we are sure
the students who will be
coming to us from St. Pius
will quickly find themselves
‘at home.’ We welcome them
and we know that St.
Vincent’s will be a better
school for their contributions
to its student life.”
Said Father Aelred Beck
O.S.B., Headmaster of
Benedictine, “I think all
educators in Savannah will be
sorry to see St. Pius X High
School close. It has served the
community and the cause of
quality education well. St.
Pius X students, too, we
know, will grieve at the
passing of the school they
love.
“However, as both Bishop
Frey and the Sisters of St.
(Continued on Page 2)
\
VATICAN CITY (NC) -
In a letter urging
establishment of diocesan
programs of theological
studies for ordained priests,
the Holy See recommended
that each year priests renew
their ordination promises,
especially to celibacy and
obedience.
The Congregation for the
Clergy made the
recommendations in a
circular letter dated Nov. 4,
1969, and published Feb. 9.
The congregation said its
recommendations were based
on the results of a survey
carried out among the
bishops of the world.
The letter put heavy stress
on the choice of professors
for the continued training
program for priests, saying
that selection should be
confined to “those who can
solve the problems laid before
them and not those who raise
and increase doubts.”
Dr. Carl Jordan, M.D., of
Savannah, has been named
Vice President for Region III
of the National Association
of the Holy Name Society.
Region III is comprised of
Georgia, Florida, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Alabama,
Mississippi, Delaware,
Maryland, District of
Columbia, Virginia, West
Virginia, North and South
Carolina and the Virgin
Islands.
Dr. Jordan’s election was
announced February 3rd by
the Very Reverend Brendan
Larnen, O.P. National
Director.
The election took place at
a meeting in New Orleans
Jan. 29 - Feb. 1 at which
delegates from Arch diocesan
‘‘Those who are
accustomed to attack
tradition, institutions and the
authority of the Church are
not suitable to fulfill such a
task,” said the circular letter.
It was signed by John
Cardinal Wright, the former
Pittsburgh bishop who
became prefect of the
congregation last summer.
Joined to the publication
of the letter’s contents was
the new “Mass of the
Chrism” destined for
concelebration on Holy
Thursday by the bishop and
his priests. At this Mass holy
oils are consecrated and
priests reaffirm their
promises.
The new rite for Holy
Thursday suggests the
following formula for the
re n ewal of priestly
commitments:
The bishop “Dearest sons,
at this yearly celebration of
(Continued on Page 2)
and Diocesan Unions of Holy
Name Societies in the United
States ratified and adopted a
constituion drafted by an
ad-hoc committee headed by
Louis C. Fink of Atlanta,
president of the national
organization which adopted
the official name of ‘The
National Association of the
Holy Name Society.*
The new constitution,
according to a news release
issued by the oranization’s
New Orleans office, is
designed to “make the
Society truly national in
scope and purpose, uniting
the membership to meet
current social and eonomic
challenges on all levels. “In
addition to Dr. Jordan,
twelve other national officers
were elected.
s
INSIDE STORY
New C.II. By-Laws Pg* 3
"Know Your Faith’ Pg* 5
New Lectionary Pg* 6
’Readers’ Reply* Pg* 3
f.
HEADLINE
HOPSCOTCH
a
Abbot Coggin Resigns
WASHINGTON (NC) — Pope Paul VI has granted the request
of the Rt. Rev. Walter Coggin, O.S.B., that he be permitted to
resign as Abbot-Ordinary of Belmont Abbey, North Carolina,
Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, Apostolic Delegate in the United
States, announced here. Abbot Coggin made his request by
reason of his poor health, it was stated.
Biafrans Get Food
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (NC) - Severe malnutrition cases
in the former secessionist region of Nigeria (Biafra) are now
being served with newly-delivered supplies of a special food
mixture, Henry R. LaBouisse, executive director of the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reported here (Feb. 3). He
has just returned from a visit of several days in the areas. Fifteen
tons of “K-Mix-2” - a formula that includes casein, sugar and
skim-milk powder-was delivered by air last weekend and have
been flown to Enugu and Port Harcourt for treatment of serious
cases of kawashiorkor, Labouisse said. The ailment, of which
small children are the greatest sufferers, results from
undernourishment and is characterized by edema and a reddish
cast cf the skin and hair.
Fast Protests War
WASHINGTON (NC) - Two anti-war groups began a
itional ecumenical 70-day fast in front of the White House Ash
ednesday, Feb. 11. Objectives of the fast, according to its
lonsors, will be to show that there are thousands of people still
mcemed about the Nixon Administration’s Vietnam policies
id that they are willing to publicly dedicate themselves to the
tuse of peace. Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam
id the Fellowship of Reconcilation are sponsoring the fast
hich will cover the Lenten and Passover periods.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Dr. Jordan Named
To National Post
i