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PAGE 2 — The Southern Cross, September 14,1972
Course for Catechists
BY MARY RAUSCH
When you first answered the challenge
which religious programs have
increasingly thrown out, “We need
teachers,” you may have had second
thoughts about this generous offer of
your time and energy. “Who, ME -- a
teacher? But I do not have a certificate.
I’ve never had any training. I’m really not
confident enough to take on the burden
of the religious training of 15-30 children.
The catechism is different
today .. .etc.” Well, you’re not alone.
The Spirit was present when you
accepted the challenge. He guided you
then and he’ll guide you now; however,
the Spirit has some very valuable
assistants too.
In Augusta a few of his most valuable
assistants are four priests: Msgr. Felix
Donnelly, Msgr. Marvin LeFrois, Father
Andrew Doris and Father Michael Burke,
Sister Camille Collini, Carolyn Clark, Jo
Nagel and Father Burke head the
education programs in the four parishes
of the area.
The workshops are successful
examples of the guiding hand of Sister
Camille, who has brought the parishes
together in a unified effort to improve
and expand all the programs from the
Pre-School through Adult
Education .. .in other words “Continuing
“The peace of Christ makes fresh my
heart,
A fountain ever springing.
All things are mine since I am His;
How can I keep from singing!”
The words of this hymn come alive in
the person of Sr. M. Brigid Buttimer,
whose twenty-five years of loving service
as a Sister of Mercy will be celebrated
September 15-16 in Savannah.
Sr. M. Brigid has won the hearts and
respect of all who have known her during
her years as teacher and administrator.
Most of these years she has given in
service throughout her home state,
Georgia; but, eight years were spent in
Baltimore and Potomac, Maryland.
During this time she received her Master’s
Degree in * Education „ from Loyola in
Baltimore.
Sr. M. Brigid’s first assignment in
Georiga included eight years at Sacred
Heart School, Augusta. After that, she
served six years as Principal of Our Lady
of the Assumption School, Atlanta,
moving from there back to Maryland to
become Principal of Our Lady of Mercy
School in Potomac.
A need in still another city of her
home state beckoned her to St. Ann’s
School, Columbus, where she served until
her first assignment in her native city - at
her Alma Mater, St. Vincent’s Academy,
Savannah, where a special liturgy on
Friday will mark her Silver Jubilee.
The person behind the laughing,
sparkling, strong, blue eyes has also
influenced youth of other cities in our
state through her many summers of
leadership at Camp Villa Marie.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P.J.
This August 31st workshop concerned
the textbook series the CCD and
parochial schools Grades 1-8 wil use this
year, “Come to the Father” by Paulist
Press. Msgr. Donnelly opened the session
with a prayer and about 40 teachers
bowed their heads in supplication for
guidance in the coming year.
A “special-delivery” speaker from the
Savannah D.C.F. office, Mary Kay Persse,
gave a clear and precise presentation
about catechesis and the catechist and the
four main programs outlined in the
“Come to the Father” series.
Catechesis is the revealing of God’s
word. The Catechist is the person who
does the announcing of revealing - the
witness of the Christian community. She
will instruct, awaken and foster
meaningful attitudes, bring others into a
new way of life, and give authentic
meaning to values of the Church.
In the textbook presentation the child
grows to awaken to God’s friendship. The
faith of the catechist and those around
him is “caught” - not “taught”. The
child feels the catechist’s FREE
committment to LIVE his faith.
The four programs developed in the
series are: The Trinitarian Program
(which involves the “mystery” of God as
He is DISCOVERED rather than
defined) the Scriptural Dimension
Buttimer, five of her seven brothers, and
her sister, Sr. M. Patrick Joseph (also a
Sister of Mercy) will be present to share
the celebration planned September 16 for
her family and members of her Religious
Community.
No listing of places of service could
ever sum up the impact of this selfless,
loving, woman of prayer. All who have
had the good fortune of sharing
community or mission with Sr. M. Brigid
have learned from her life the meaning of
the chorus of the above mentioned
hymn:
“No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing!”
Sister M. Brigid
(whereby the living word is transmitted
as, “Jesus says to you TODAY” .. .not in
the past) the use of the child’s own
experience (from which to build and
relate) and to provide at school some
experience of life in an ecclesial
community (wherein the children
discover themselves as part of a living
community of God’s people who believe
and share.)
Sister Camille Collini followed with a
presentation on “Methodology.” She was
concerned not with Church Doctrine but
rather the manner in which these truths
are set forth. The CA11 of Matthew in the
Grade 4 manual was the primary
example. The lesson begins with the LIFE
EXPERIENCE of the child.
Leading questions could include,
“Have you ever felt unwelcome in a
group to which you belong? What makes
a person feel welcome or unwelcome?”
This is followed by the MESSAGE — A
reading from Scripture, “As Jesus was
walking on he saw a man called
Matthew . . .“and Jesus asked Matthew to
follow him. Now Matthew was a tax
collector and not welcome in many
places. DISCOVERY through questioning
and the RESPONSE of the children,
verbally (maybe even a reenactment) or
through some art medium conclude the
lesson.
Another incident which exemplified
the method of presentation was the
Exodus. The Life Experience related to
slavery and liberation. The Message was
taken from Scripture when God spoke at
Mt. Sinai, “I am the Lord your God that
brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
Discovery involved the question, “Who
is God?” (1) He is involved in their lives.
(2) He wanted them to be free. (3) He is a
God who loves and cares - today as in
Moses’ time. The Response involved the
Covenant, the poeple accepted the pact
God wanted for them. They talked, sang,
and celebrated (with a party or the
signing of a covenant.)
The objective is to present Christ, the
person, and a gradual transformation of
the child. The Holy Spirit aids in the
discovery and call for a response.
“Parents plant, Teachers water, and the
Spirit gives growth.” The three “actors”
in this “life’s play” are the student, the
teacher and the Holy Spirit.
Mrs. Dorothy Mainz of St. Teresa of
Avila Parish presented the Scope and
Sequence Chart of the Series. Each grade
level is a small part of a greater puzzle,
each piece fitting in the whole.
A gradual development takes place
including the Doctrinal Content, the
Sacraments, the Bible, the Prayer Life
and the Moral Development. The teacher
does not need to adhere to the text
strictly in procedure as long as the
message is carried and the emphasis
maintained.
Mrs. Mainz briefly described the
central message of each grade level to
bring awareness of the general progression
of development.
A group of mothers and teachers could
not come together without the assistance
of some very necessary aides - the
babysitters! These young ladies included:
Kitty Best, Marianne Moss, Mary Louise
Maxwell, Angela Damiano, Karen and
Erin Casey, Lizzie Markwalter, and Sandy
Clay. Thank you, girls, for your service
and sacrifice.
Jubilee for Sister Brigid
BY SR. CHARLENE, R.S.M.
BISHOP ANDREW J. McDONALD is shown receiving a set of luggage at a farewell reception given by Savannah Council No. 631,
Knights of Columbus, before he left to take up his new post as bishop of Little Rock. The bishop has been a member of Council
No. 631 for over 24 years. Making the presentation is Joseph F. Dyer (right in photo), Grand Knight, and John M. frennan, Past
Grand Knight. (Pollack and Daly Photo)
ONE OF BISHOP MCDONALD’S last official acts at Savannah’s Blessed Sacrament parish (four days before he was ordained Bishop) was
to bless this spanking new school bus for the parish school. Standing next to him is Sister M. Aurelia, school principal. (Pollock and
Daly Photo)
Church in South Georgia
(Seventh part of a thesis by Michael C. Booker on the progress of Catholicism in South Georgia as reflected by Catholic growth
in Valdosta. It was written by Mr. Booker as his thesis for a Master of Arts degree from Valdosta State College and was accepted by
College Authorities in October, 1971.)
Convent Built
In 1960, a convent was built on
“Mary’s Acres,” the name given to the
land on Gornto Road by Father Payne.
When asked, “Why did Father Payne
choose the name Mary’s Acres for the
property?”, a local Catholic replied, “He
has a devotion to Mary and wanted to put
the whole project under her patronage.”
When the writer asked Father Payne why
he selected the name, he humbly and
reverently replied, “to give credit to
whom credit was due. Mary did it for us.”
DeGange and Company were again
contracted to build the $43,000
structure. Completed October 28, 1960,
the Sisters settled into their new home,
and Father Payne, who had been living in
the old school building in rooms set aside
for his use on the second floor, returned
to the rectory.
The work load and the administrative
details coupled with committees and
meetings were beginning to make it more
difficult for Father Payne to attend to
the religious needs of the parish.
In September, 1962, Father George
Yiengst, from Buffalo, New York, was
assigned to Saint John’s to assist Father
Payne. He served for only a year and, in
September 1963, was replaced by Father
Robert Rieter, also from Buffalo, New
York. Father Rieter was a valuable asset
to Father Payne; on more than one
occasion he traveled to Quitman, Brooks
County, Georgia, to say Mass.
He also said Mass in other
Communities in the area.
School Expands
In 1962, the school was again
overcrowded, and a new building program
was undertaken. The addition, which
included an auditorium and four more
classrooms, was completed at a cost of
$93,000. In January, 1964, the addition,
which also was built by DeGange and
Company, opened its doors to 210
students. By the 1969-1970 school year
the enrollment reached 245, and on the
faculty were five Sisters, one principal
and four teachers, and five lay teachers,
four women and one man.
The steady increase of Catholics in the
community emphasized the urgent need
for a new church. Because of the financial
strain imposed as a result of the previous
construction, however, the need was not
realized until 1966 when Brust and Brust
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were engaged
by Father Payne to prepare the floor plan
for the church. Addy and Norris of
Valdosta were the architects.
Ground was broken on June 29,1967,
and construction began on the
$200,000.00 beautiful yellow brick
Spanish style church building.
First used on May 25, 1968, Father
Fred Nijem, a Valdosta native, was
ordained to the Priesthood by the Most
Reverend Gerard L. Frey, D.D., Bishop of
Savannah, on this most solemn day. On
the following day Father Nijem said his
first Mass.
Work continued on the church as the
finishing touches were applied, and two
weeks before Christmas, 1968, three hand
made stained glass windows were installed
at the front of the church by four
Trappist Monks from Conyers, Georgia.
On New Years Eve, Joe DeGange, a
local Catholic, mounted a 700 pound
bell, and at 11:55 P.M., it was christened
“Mary” and “rung for the first time by
Helen, Hazel, and Marion Pollard in
honor of their mother in whose memory
they presented the musical instrument.”
Father Payne reflected on the moment
and noted that, “a small but hardy group
joyfully clapped their hands and sang
‘Auld Lang Syne’ as the lovely peals
ascended into the cold air of midnight to
usher in a fresh new beginning of St.
John’s Parish life.”
Church Dedication
Regular Mass, which began in June
1968, continued, and on March 9, 1969,
the new Saint John The Evangelist
Catholic Church was officially dedicated.
During the day’s ceremonies and
activities, Confirmation was at the 10:00
A.M. Mass, and at 1:00 P.M., there was a
chicken barbecue dinner for 600 people.
The formal proceeding began at 3:00
P.M. when the Most Reverend Gerard L.
Frey dedicated the Church. An address,
“A New Parish Life,” was given by the
Right Reverend Monsignor John J.
Cullinan, M.A. Basilica St. Paul, St. Paul,
Minnosota.
Dr. Raymond C. Mensing, Jr.,
presented four basic truths taught by a
church building; 1) certain truths of
Catholicism are taught by the Church; 2)
although diversity exists throughout the
Church, there is also unity in faith and
morals; 3) man is reminded of God’s
majesty and glory; 4) a church constantly
reminds man of his destiny and purpose
of life.
Catholic
DALLAS, Texas (CPF) - A major
publisher of church music was forced out
of business and another publisher lost
several million dollars during the last four
years because of “pirating” of hymns by
Catholic parishes, according to a report in
a diocesan newspaper here.
The Texas Catholic, newspaper of the
Dallas and Forth W T orth dioceses, said in a
page one story by editor Steve Landregan
that the World Library of Sacred Music, a
Cincinnati film, was one victim of the
“pirating” practice.
In the story, Dennis Fitzpatrick, chief
executive of the competing F.E.L.
music-publishing firm in Los Angeles, was
quoted as saying:
“I want to express publicly my sorrow
at a recent catastrophe in the
worship-music field. I refer to the
financial circumstances which overtook
my friend and colleague, Omer
Westendorf, former owner of World
Library of Sacred Music.
“It is disheartening to see Mr.
Westendorf lose control of the company
he founded and through which he
contributed so much to worship in the
past years. Undoubtedly the collapse of
W.L.S.M. was due to the unauthorized
use of copyrighted music in churches and
schools.”
He was referring to the practice
whereby the choir leader, music director,
folk Mass leader or parish secretary
mimeographs or Xeroxes music from a
single copy of a song rather than
purchasing needed copies from the
publisher.
The World Library of Sacred Music
was recently sold to J.S. Paluch, the
Chicago-based publisher, of missalettes
and church bulletins.
Another official for F.E.L.
publications, James Shaefer, informed
The Texas Catholic that the Los Angeles
firm had estimated its losses due to
“pirating” in excess of three million
Three other events during Father
Payne’s administration are worthy of
note.
The first, concerning ecumenism, was
a Nuptial Mass celebrated in a Baptist
Church. A young couple wanted Father
Payne to marry them but in the bride’s
church. To do this required special
permission from the Bishop. The Bishop
consented, and in May, or June, 1967,
the couple was married at the Homerville
Baptist Church.
This was the first time a Catholic
priest in Georgia had said Nuptial Mass in
a Protestant Church. The second point
was the establishment of the
Valdosta-Brunswick Deanery and the
appointment of Father Payne as its first
dean.
The Deanery system established as a
statewide geographical division in which
the priest and lay people within a specific
locality could express a unity one to the
other and the whole to the Bishop. The
priest and lay representatives represented
the parish to the Bishop and the Bishop
to the parish.
Valdosta and Brunswick were chosen
because they were the largest parishes in
this geographical division. The other
diocesan deaneries are Savannah,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Albany, and
Statesboro.
‘Pirates’
dollars over the last three or four years.
The official also suggested that the
“pirating” practice is more prevalent
among Catholic parishes than Protestant
churches, since “most Protestant
institutions are scrupulous about asking
permission and paying the nominal fees
required.”
A spokesman for J.S. Paluch,
operating the World Library of Sacred
Music as a subsidiary, believes that “most
churches and schools are willing to pay if
they understand what the publishers
want.”
However, a church organist in the
Dallas area, someone long active in the
field of Catholic liturgical music, told The
Texas Catholic:
“Catholic institutions just don’t want
to spend the money and they don’t think
that the publishers will prosecute a
church or a school.”
None of the three publishers contacted
by The Texas Catholic said they had
initiated legal proceedings against
•Catholic church parishes for “pirating”
their music, despite the financial losses.
However, the paper did add:
“One publisher did indicate that if all
other means of impressing on the
institutions the need of respecting
copyright laws failed, a lawsuit against a
church or a school, with all the attendant
publicity, might succeed.”
One publisher’s spokesman
complained to the paper that bishops and
pastors tend to look the other way in the
matter of “pirating,” despite the injustice
involved.
The paper nevertheless did note that
Archbishop Robert J.' Dwyer of Portland,
Ore., has forbidden the use of “pirated”
songs in his See, demanding that the
institutions wishing to use the songs
obtain permission to do so from the
publishers and pay whatever fees were
charged.