Newspaper Page Text
V
4
PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, March 30,1972
OUR MAN IN DENVER
Eyewitness Report Of Priests Convention
(Father Herbert J. Wellmeier, pastor of
Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish,
Savannah, is also President of the Priests’
Senate of the Savannah diocese. He was
selected by members of the Senate to
represent the diocese at the annual
convention of the National Federation of
Priests’ Councils, held recently in Denver,
Colorado. The following is his assessment
of the convention proceedings.)
The topography of the city of Denver
should have been symbolic warning that
the National Federation of Priests’
Councils was in for a rough convention in
mid-March. Rugged mountains and
swirling snow storms to the west, while
we were comfortably quartered in the
Brown Palace Hotel.
The general theme of the convention
was “Justice and Peace”. The keynote
speaker, Reverend Richard McBrien,
attempted to give a theological dimension
to the justice and peace ministry. To
prepare our minds to understand this, he
pointed out the various concepts of what
“Church” means, and demonstrated that
much of the polarization and excessive
conflict occuring today is a result of
overemphasizing one model of church to
the detriment of another.
Immediately after this keynote
address, Father Eugene Boyle spoke on
“Ministry for Peace and Justice: An
imperative for Priests/USA” His was a
long dissertation on the present condition
of human life, so many existing injustices,
ARTHUR EDENF1ELD
AS CONTESTANT
Edenfield
Qualifies
Arthur L. Edenfield, a Senior at St.
John Vianney Prep Seminary in
Richmond, Virginia, has recently
qualified as a contestant in the National
Catholic Forensics League and will
compete in the National Tournament in
Pittsburgh in May.
A member of The Nativity of Our Lord
Parish in Savannah, Art won the third
place trophy for original oratory in the
statewide tournament for all Catholic
high schools in the Diocese of Richmond.
Albany
and directions for the future.
It can be summarized by his opening
remark, “There is no future for a church
which cares too little about the shape of
the future, or about the welfare of the
human community, Yet I have grave
doubts about the shape the future will
take and the quality of welfare the
human community will attain without
the Church.” He repeated the previous
sentence, substituting the word
“priesthood” for Church.
Father Boyle stressed the need for the
priest to be more than cultic, to be an
active agent for justice. He attributed
much of the Church’s inaction to a
“theology of rift,” a separation of secular
from spiritual, and called for theology of
reconciliation.
A most interesting parallel was made to
the original spirit of the rabbinate. The
Pharisees knew well that all Jews, by their
incorporation into the convenental
people Israel, were committed to the
services of justice and mercy. Many
people, though, would fall short of this
responsibility. There was need, therefore,
for men who would dedicate themselves
in a special full-time and publicly
recognized way to this ministry. This role
of reminding the Christian community of
its obligation to the ministry of
reconciliation and peace through actions
of justice properly belongs to the priest
of today.
Monday’s afternoon sessions were on a
regional basis, each group charged to
select outstanding systemic injustices
most rampant in their respective regions.
These reports were collated at the evening
session following the State of the
Federation address. Every social ill
imaginable was catalogued.
Tuesday began at 9 o’clock in the
morning with a heavy dose of technical
jargon in an address by Rev. Robert
Kennedy entitled “Prelude to Strategy:
An analysis of Institutions and
Structures.” Regional workshops
followed wherein each group practiced
how it would designate a target of
injustice and seek solution.
A Jesuit priest, Peter Henriot, spoke at
the afternoon session. His theme was that
the day of the social action priest is gone
in our contemporary Church. No more
specialists who distinguish themselves as
uniquely concerned with problems of
social justice.
Active involvement in action for social
justice is an essential role of every priest,
a defining characteristic of the priesthood
itself. Political responsibility involves -1)
overcoming social sin by effecting a
political change in social structures, 2)
serving as an advocate of the poor and
powerless, 3) witnessing to new social
values by a style of life which has
political consequences for himself and his
community.
Father Henriot’s talk was extremely
consequential and challenging. Especially,
in his demand for priests themselves to
live poverty.
FR. WELLMEIER
Wednesday night we had the
electrifying and inspirational experience
of a Mariachi Mass by the Chicano Bishop
Flores. The presidential election saw the
popular Father Bonnike swamp his
opponent from Michigan, whose platform
called for more aggressive confrontation
vis-a-vis the hierarchy.
Then the mortifying, and frequently
mystifying, resolutions sessions began.
What made this procedure so mind -
boggling and frustrating was that almost
every resolution that we had received in
our pre-convention packet was called into
question for amendment, replacement or
rewriting. Consequently, every five
minutes someone was distributing
another color-coded paper hot off the
mimeo machine. It seems over a hundred
items were suggested.
I’ll try to spot the most important
and their outcome.
Each diocesan senate was asked to
form a Justice & Peace Committee to
work with other agencies and involve
parish councils in local programs. An end
to liberal abortion laws and the death
penalty and the “automated” air war in
Southeast Asia were called for. Support
of the Mexican American Cultural Center
and for the team ministry supplied by the
Padres was passed as a resolution.
By resolution, the debt owed to the
Berrigans as opponents of the Vietnam
war and to non-violent witness of persons
in the peace movement was
acknowledged. The plight of oppressed
people and priests in Latin America was
called to our attention, and working
towards a specific program to “build
bridges” with priest groups there was
approved.
Continuation of the Office of
Economic Opportunity as an advocate of
the poor was recommended.
Neo-Colonialism in Rodesia, South
Africa, Mazambique, Angola and
Northern Ireland, and economic
exploitation there and elsewhere were
roundly condemmed. Local councils were
asked to educate people about this
matter.
Immediate and general amnesty for
those who fled the country or are
imprisoned, or deserted the armed forces,
for reasons of conscience in opposition to
Metal Sash
Steel
Construction Supplies
3
'1 JJ lit
Joe Broshears
Steel, Inc.
P. 0. Box 1305
Phone HE. 5-4548
ALBANY, GEORGIA
*RKocb^,%c.
furniture
JACKSON STREET AT PINE
Albany. Georgia
SERVING
T HE SOUTH
SINCE
10 7 5
the war was urged. There was a request
that civic and fraternal clubs that have
discriminatory provisions in their
constitution change these statutes so as to
accept minority people. Further, it was
urged that we use the faculties of such
clubs.
The Guaranteed Annual Income at a
figure determined by the Labor Bureau as
minimum standard for decent living was
approved. The National Committee on
Peace and Justice was mandated to draw
up guidelines to examine church
investments and holdings of diocesan
corporations to make certain they
conform to the Church’s social justice
teaching.
Also approved were resolutions calling
for the National Office of Black Catholics
to be re instated in the current budget of
NCCB, and a National Committee to be
formed to allocate the Indian and Negro
Mission Collection to dioceses.
Directly affecting the ministry and life
style of priests these policies were called
for: open placement, freedom of
residence, new ministries, elimination of
stipends, selection of Bishops on the
model proposed by the Canon Law
Society, admission of women to the
diaconate. Bishops were urged to seek the
necessary indults to be able to ordain
married men, councils were asked to urge
their bishops to encourage married men
to seek ordination, and individual bishops
were asked to allow priests who have
married to continue in the priestly
ministry.
Most all the resolutions passed had
much merit, although they were often
hotly debated as to precise wording or
presumptions contained in the “whereas”
clauses. My main personal objections to
procedures in dealing with resolutions
were that there were too many rushed in
at the last minute; that special interest
groups sometimes put the entire body in
a position where voting against
resolutions because they were awkwardly
worded looked unjust; insufficient time
for proper consideration was allotted.
The convention, however, was very
worthwhile. The sincerity, dedication and
concern of the priests were obvious, their
enthusiasm a hopeful sign for the people
of God and the brotherhood of all
mankind.
One final word addressed to the charge
that NFPC is a highly liberal group: I
believe this to be true. But I think greater
balance could and should be achieved.
It would be if those conservative
diocesan senates who have refused to
affiliate would join. For when they do
not participate, their place is frequently
taken by more groups of ultra-liberal
Priests’ Associations, thus resulting in
even further “leftist” bent to the national
organization and convention.
FATHER FRED NIJEM leads Palm Sunday procession of students from Savannah
Deanery Sunday School for Exceptional children.
BL. SACRAMENT
’ '' i l' • " ' . '•
Exceptional Children
Observe Holy Week
The blessing and procession of palms
began the observance of'Holy Week for
the children of the Savannah Deanery
Sunday School for Exceptional Children
and their families as they gathered in the
rectory meeting room of the Cathedral of
St. John the Baptist on Palm Sunday
afternoon.
Led by the Spiritual Moderator, Father
Fred Nijem, the procession moved
through the lower floor of the rectory
onto the sidewalk and then back to the
meeting room as the children sang,
“Praise Him, praise Him, all the little
children. God is love, God is love.”
Then followed a Mass whose liturgy
was geared to the understanding of the
children. For the homily Father described
Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem
and the Last Supper. Prayers of the
Faithful were offered by some of the
children and parents and three of the
boys participated in the Offertory
Procession.
At the Communion of the Mass the
children who were not able to receive
were given a special blessing by the
celebrant as they gathered around the
Table of Sacrifice.
After the Mass was concluded, Father
Nijem briefly described Christ’s passion
and death with the children, assisted by
their teachers, following along in the
booklets of the Stations of the Cross for
Children. Next Father lighted the Paschal
Candle, explaining its meaning and that
of the New Fire and Easter Water.
•
The observance was brought to a close
with the story of the Resurrection and
the children singing, “Allelu! Allelu!.
Ev’rybody sing Allelu! For the Lord has
risen it is true. Ev’rybody sing Allelu!”
W illingham
& Payne
INCORPORATED
INSURANCE and
SURETY BONDS
Calder W. Payne -- Alberta D. Williams
350 SECOND STREET
MACON, GA.
Macon
STOKES-SHAHEEN
Inc.
wholesale fruits
AND VEGETABLES
PHONE SH. 2-4517 477 HAWTHORNE ST.
STATE MARKET. MACON. GEORGIA
PLEASE PATRONIZE
OUR ADVERTISERS
STORES IN
ALBANY, DUBLIN, AMERICUS, WAYCROSS
WOMENS ft CHILDRENS READY-TO-WEAR
MILLINERY — SHOES — ACCESSORIES
FABRICS — NOTIONS — DOMESTICS
MENS ft BOYS CLOTHING ft FURNISHINGS
EXECUTIVE OFFICES LOCATED AT
312-14 MARY STREET —WAYCROSS, GA.
MIDDLE
GEORGIANS
READ
jHaton CtUgraph
THE MACON NEWS
Middle Georgia's Favorite Newspaper
Telephone Number 743-2621
MACON, GA. 31208
120 BROADWAY