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SERVING 88 SOUTH GEORGIA COUNTIES
The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 54 No. 8
Thursday, February 22,1973
Single Copy Price — 12 Cents
HESISTANT TOAST TO PEACE? In what might be prisoners of war return home, but in many parts of
considered a hesistant toast to peace, boys at a Vietnam, the killing goes on despite the cease-fire.
Buddhist school in Saigon raise their cups to drink a Thousands have been killed or wounded since the truce
nourishing mixture of corn, soya and milk as provided was signed. (NC Photo)
by UNICEF. Americans see the effects of peace as
Benedictine Vocations Up
SAN DIEGO, Cal. (NC) - There has
been a “remarkable upswing” in the
past two years in vocations to the
Benedictine orders of priests and Sisters,
Benedictine Abbot Primate Rembert
Weakland said here.
“I do not like to prognosticate on the
basis of a two-year period, but in the
past two years there has been a
remarkable upswing,” he said. “There
are novices in religious houses where
there had been none.”
The head of the world Benedictine
Order had recently completed a special
conference and retreat with 50
prioresses of Benedictine convents in
the United States. In an interview with
the Southern Cross, San Diego diocesan
newspaper, he said that the order has
come through its crisis period.
“The biggest crisis was shortly after
the Second Vatican Council,” he said.
“Then people felt they could
immediately change the whole world, so
everyone wanted to get out of the
monasteries and change it. But now we
are finding that people sense the need
for a great deal of profundity, so that
‘inferiority’ is the key word today.”
Abbot Weakland, who was abbot of a
priory in Pennsylvania for four years
before being elected Benedictine
primate, is the first American in that
position. He heads a headquarters in
Rome responsible to 11,000 members
of 21 congregations of men Religious
around the world and a coordinating
office for the 21,000 Sisters of the
order. It is termed a “confederation” on
which he is the “point of unity.”
Most of the order’s establishments
have local autonomy according to
Abbot Weakland, depending on
economic stability to some extent.
i
“We are in almost every type of
apostolate,” he said. “We are not
attached to any specific work by
principle, and we are not service
oriented. Historically, we have been
bound up with schools, but we
constantly adapt to the changing needs
of the Church.”
He said he foresees a resurgence of
monasticism. “It will not be without
difficulties, some of which I have seen
already. I also expect many sufferings to
come. But as I travel the world I am
convinced that the values we represent
are values the Church needs, at all times
and in all cultures.”
HEADLINE
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HOPSCOTCH
Donates Artificial Kidneys
VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope Paul VI donated a set of artificial kidneys he had
received earlier to a children’s hospital in Rome. The artificial kidneys were presented
to the Pope by employes of the European Travenol Laboratories, which specializes in
producing artificial parts of the body. In thanking the laboratory employes, Pope Paul
said: “We find in you the expression of great technical worth in your efforts and
concern for the poor who have need of your charity,” and announced he was sending
the kidneys to the nearby Bambino Gesu hospital, which specializes in caring for sick
children.
Education, Not Violence
MEXICO CITY (NC) - Rich and poor must rely on education, not violence, to
establish justice and peace, said the world head of the Dominican order here. Father
Aniceto Fernandes, Dominican master general, said that violence and weapons seldom
achieve a constructive order of things.” He said his order has organized priest-teams to
study the theology of the liberation of the poor.
Common Market Rapped
LONDON (NC) -- The European Common Market was criticized for its handling of
immigrant labor in a statement by the English and Welsh bishops’ Committee for
Racial Justice. The statement said that because Britain has now entered the Common
Market the committee wishes to draw attention to an aspect of the market’s life that is
often overlooked. The European economy is in fact dependent for much of its future
growth on this ever-increasing army of cheap, usually unskilled, migrant workers.
6,000 Delegates Attend
World Eucharistic Meet
By Gerard E. Sherry
from one group and chatted with
another.
MELBOURNE (NC) -- Silver trumpets of the Australian navy band
sounded as Cardinal Lawrence Shehan of Baltimore, papal legate,
inaugurated the 40th International Eucharistic Congress in St. Patrick’s
Cathedral here.
More than 3,000 persons crowded into the 150-year-old edifice, with an
equal number watching on closed circuit television outside. Twenty
cardinals and more than 100 bishops from all parts of the world were
present, along with many leaders of other faiths.
“Love one another as I have loved
you,” the theme set for the congress by
Pope Paul VI, was manifested in many
ways throughout the opening day.
the dignitaries, went to the awaiting
crowd and shook hands and blessed
many of them. School children were
given special attention by Cardinal
Shehan, who accepted a gift of flowers
Among other church leaders present
were Anglican Archbishop Frank Woods
of Melbourne; Bishop Panteleimon,
Greek Orthodox Church; and a variety
of Protestant leaders.
Spontaneous applause broke out as
Cardinal Shehan and the procession
filed out after the ceremonies. A further
special round of applause was given
Fathers John A. Kelly, Eric Perkins and
Francis Little, Melbourne priests who
will be ordained auxiliaries to
Cardinal-elect Knox during the
week-long congress.
Twenty special Masses for migrant
groups were concelebrated in various
churches throughout the city - each
with an overflow congregation. Every
parish in the archdiocese of Melbourne
held a Sunday evening Mass of renewal,
climaxing a year-long renewal program
organized by the archdiocese in
preparation for the congress. Special
preachers were chosen for the renewal
Masses, including visiting prelates and
priests, many of whom were from the
United States.
National, state and local officials
attended the opening liturgy at which
Cardinal Shehan presided and
Cardinal-elect James Knox of
Melbourne welcomed delegates to the
congress.
It is estimated that more than 6,000
persons are registered as delegates, many
coming from overseas - including 20
U.S. bishops and more than 1,000
priests and laity. Australians from other
parts of the country are converging on
Melbourne for specially planned visits to
attend the various functions during the
week of the congress.
Most Protestant denominations have
been cooperating with the congress
organizers and special ecumenical
services and programs are taking place
daily. The only sour note has been the
negative and sometimes shrill reaction
of some Baptist congregations and the
Australian Bible Union. The Bible
Union has inserted paid advertisements
in the major national newspapers
warning people against Catholic
teachings on the Eucharist and the
ecumenical overtones of the congress.
Several Melbourne street preachers have
also attacked the purposes of the
congress but their audiences were small
and seemingly unimpressed.
The Australian government and the
state government of Victoria, of which
Melbourne is the capital, have given
enthusiastic support and encouragement
to the congress. Cardinal Shehan was
met on his arrival in Sydney by Sir Paul
Hasluck, governor general of Australia.
In addition, an Australian air force jet
was put at Cardinal Shehan’s disposal
for his journey to Melbourne, where he
was greeted by Australian Prime
Minister Gough Whitlam and other high
officials.
Two thousand people were at the
airport for the arrival, along with
cardinals, bishops and local clergy and
religious. A military band and honor
guard was drawn up to greet the papal
legate, who immediately after greeting
INSIDE STORY
Liberty & Justice
Pg. 2
Mary Carson
Pg. 4
Movies, T.V.
Pg. 6
Born a Slave
Pg. 7
JUST FOR LAUGHS -- No, folks, this isn’t one of those creatures
created by some mad scientist on a late-night TV horror show. Nor is it
the son of that mythical character Pan. The goat is one of the animals at
the Chessington, England, Zoo and the legs belong to his keeper, who is
just going about his duties. (RNS Photo)
Clergy Appointments
Temporary appointments for three priests of the diocese have been
announced by Father J. Kevin Boland, Administrator of the Diocese of
Savannah.
One priest, Father Lawrence Lucree, pastor of St. Teresa parish, Albany, has
been granted a three-month leave to take part in the Sabbatical Program of the
diocese. As part of this program, he will attend the Institute for Continuing
Theological Education in Rome at the North American College there.
Replacing Father Lucree in Albany for this three-month period will be Father
Joseph C. Otterbein, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Port Wentworth,
who has been appointed temporary administrator effective March 1st and
terminating on May 31.
During his absence, the Port Wentworth parish will be administered by Father
Ralph Seikel, Superintendent of Diocesan Schools, and by Father Gerard
Murphy, Chancellor. Both priests have accepted three-month appointments as
co-administrators of Our Lady of Lourdes. These appointments also begin on
March 1st and end of May 31.