Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 55 No. 23
Thursday, June 6,1974
Single Copy Price — 12 Cents
FR. TERENCE KERNAN
NBC Special Slated
NEW YORK (NC) - “The People
Problem” - an NBC network
documentary special exploring the
human dimensions of the imbalance
between the world’s growing population
and its resources - will be televised on
Sunday, June 9.
In Savannah it will be shown by
WSAV-TV, channel 3 at 4:30 p.m.
The program is a production of the
NBC Religious Programs Unit in
association with the Division for Film
and Broadcasting, U.S. Catholic
Conference, and will feature a number
of international experts on population.
“The People Problem” is an attempt
to understand forces such as the
staggering increase in the rate of the
world’s population growth, the specter
of famine and exhaustion of existing
raw materials, environmental pollution,
and the inability to satisfy basic human
demands in housing, education and
medical services.
In commenting on the Church’s
moral concern about population, Msgr.
James T. McHugh, director of the USCC
Family Life Division develops the
principle that family planning is
primarily the right of the married
couple themselves and that their
decisions are formulated in the context
of a multitude of responsibilities.
Mrs. Sidney Callahan,
psychotherapist and author, sees
techniques such as contraception,
abortion and sterilization as “questions
which we have to deal with.
tiiiiu
HEADLINE
HOPSCOTCH
Spain Church Tension
MADRID, Spain (NC) -- The Spanish Information Ministry has reappointed the
Spanish Religious Advisory Council and its chairman, Bishop Jose Guerra Campos of
Cuenca, a stauch supporter of the Franco regime. The government had disbanded the
council two weeks earlier and had eliminated most religious programming for its radio
and television networks. The move was reportedly tied to negotiations between the
government and the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, which is seeking some control over
the contents of the programs.
Casaroli to Madrid
VATICAN CITY (NC) -- The Vatican and Spain began a new round of talks on
Church-state problems in the first week of June with a visit to Madrid by Archbishop
Agostino Casaroli, sometimes known as the Vatican’s “minister of foreign affairs.”
Although not specifically stated by either side, it is assumed Archbishop Casaroli and
the Spanish foreign minister will resume talks preparatory to drawing up a new
concordat between Spain and the Vatican.
Foreign Aid Bill Passes
WASHINGTON (NC) -- The general secretary of the U.S. Catholic Conference has
praised Senate authorization of a $1.5 billion loan to the world’s poorest countries as a
“most encouraging” move. Bishop James Rausch, who has repeatedly spoken out for
congressional passage of the loan to the International Development Association (IDA),
the World Bank’s soft-loan window, said that the Senate “clearly voted its conscience
in a statesman-like manner.” The bill now goes to the House which withheld approval
of the loan earlier this year. Backers of the loan hope that Senate approval will prompt
the House to reconsider.
CLERGY CHANGES ANNOUNCED
Fr. Terence Kernan Retires
Father Terence Kernan, pastor of St.
Michael’s parish, Savannah Beach, has
announced his retirement from the
active pastorate effective August 15th.
In accepting his request for
retirement, Bishop Lessard lauded “the
years of dedicated ministry of a true
shepherd of the People of God. I am
confident that, even though Father
Terrence is laying aside the burdens of
active parochial ministry, the building
up of the household of the Faith here in
the diocese of Savannah still has much
to gain from his priestly presence and
the spiritual ministrations which he will
now be more free to exercise in a
ministry less encumbered by the day to
day cares of administering a parish. We
wish him well in a much deserved
retirement.”
Father Kernan, who is 70 years-old is
a native of Camden, N. J. After
attending St. Mary’s elementary school
in Camden, he took his high school
studies at Belmont Abbey, N. C.
He studied philosophy and theology
at Belmont Abbey and at St. Vincent’s
Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa. and was
ordained in 1942 at the Camden
Cathedral.
Father Kernan came to Savannah in
August, 1942 to join the staff of
Benedictine Military School, teaching
religion, algebra and geometry. In
addition, he served as priest-in-charge of
the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Hope
at the Isle of Hope from 1942 to 1950.
before. For the past two years, Father
Payne has been on loan to the Diocese
of Juneau, Alaska.
Father Lawrence A. Lucree, a former
Rector of the Cathedral, will move from
St. Joseph’s parish, Jesup, where he is
presently pastor, to become Rector of
the Cathedral.
Succeeding Father Lucree as pastor
of the Jesup parish will be Father Cyril
Gabbett. Father Gabbett has been
pastor of Queen of Peace parish,
Lakeland, and parish missions at
Nashville and Adel.
Taking over the duties of pastor at
Lakeland will be Father Brendan
Timmins, presently pastor of St. John
the Evangelist parish, Valdosta.
Bishop Lessard also approved three
appointments by Superiors of the
Society of Mary in two parishes staffed
by their priests.
Father Robert W. Brous, S.M. has
been named pastor of St. William’s
parish, St. Simon’s Island. Brother
Albert J. Thiffault, S.M. has been
appointed Pastoral Assistant at the same
parish.
A new associate pastor, Father
Thomas J. Ryan, S.M. has been assigned
to St. Francis Xavier parish, Brunswick.
Rev. Thomas Payne
f
Father Payne, who has been on loan
to the diocese of Juneau, Alaska since
1972, was ordained in 1950. A graduate
of Savannah parochial schools and
Commercial High School, Father Payne
took his theological studies at St.
Bernard’s Seminary, Rochester, N.Y.
He served as assistant rector at the
Cathedral from 1950 to 1953 and as
assistant pastor of Blessed Sacrament,
Savannah, from 1953 to 1955.
After two years as administrator of
St. Michael’s, Savannah Beach, Father
Payne was appointed pastor of St. John
the Evangelist parish, Valdosta in 1957.
In 1970 he was transferred to Augusta
as pastor of St. Teresa’s, where he
remained until. leaving for Juneau in
1972.
Rev. Lawrence Lucree
Father Lucree, a native of Savannah’s
Cathedral parish, was ordained in 1960
after completion of studies at St. Mary’s
Seminary, Roland Park, Md.
Between 1960 and 1966, Father
Lucree served assistant pastorates at the
Cathedral, Holy Family, Columbus; St.
Anne’s, Columbus. During his service as
an assistant at the Cathedral, he was also
chaplain of the Newman Club at
Armstrong College.
In 1966, he became pastor of Sacred
Heart parish, Augusta, returning to
Savannah in 1967 as rector of the
Cathedral. Father Lucree’s next
pastorate was at St. Teresa’s, Ainany,
from 1970 to 1973 when he accepted
an appointment as pastor of St.
Joseph’s, Jesup.
He is a member of the Diocesan
Music Commission and Moderator of
the Diocesan Council of Catholic
Women.
Rev. Cyril Gabbett
Father Gabbett is a native of
Limerick, Ireland and was ordained for
the Diocese of Savannah at St. Peter’s
College, Wexford, Ireland in 1967.
His first assignment in the diocese
was as assistant and later associate
pastor at St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill parish,
(Continued on Page 2)
Summer
Schedule
We are now on our summer
schedule. There will be no paper
next week.
THE SOUTHERN CROSS does
not publish the second and last
weeks of June, July and August.
————— f r? t v-
MACON YOUTH PROJECT
National Honor for Candlelight
In 1950, in addition to his duties as a
teacher, Father Kernan undertook the
care of St. James Mission (now St.
James parish) until 1956 when he was
named pastor of Sacred Heart parish,
Savannah, a post he held until 1969.
He has been pastor of St. Michael’s
since June 3, 1969.
Bishop Lessard has also accepted the
resignation of Monsignor Daniel J.
Bourke from the Rectorship of the
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Monsignor Bourke will continue to serve
the diocese of Savannah as Vicar for
Temporal Affairs and as Diocesan
Comptroller. His resignation from the
Cathedral is effective August 15.
The Savannah bishop also released
early this week, a list of pastoral
changes affecting six parishes. These
changes, too, are effective August 15.
Succeeding Father Kernan as pastor
of St. Michael’s will be Father Thomas
Payne, who has served as pastor there
A group of Macon youths has been
chosen for a national magazine’s special
Youth Group Award for its work in
renovating the homes of elderly low
income persons.
“Candlelight,” a project initiated by
SERVE, Macon interparish Social
Action Group, was cited by PARENT’S
MAGAZINEand will receive a $500 cash
award and an honor plaque.
The PARENT’S MAGAZINE Youth
Group Awards were inaugurated to
encourage and give recognition to young
people in the United States engaged in
volunteer service to the community.
This is the 19th year the magazine has
presented the awards.
Sister Elizabeth Lynam and Dr.
Dewey Lamb are advisors to
“Candlelight,” an interdenominational,
inter-racial group of youngsters from
Macon area schools, which began its
work of renovating run-down low
income homes owned by elderly and
physically handicapped persons June 9,
1973 and has since renovated a number
of homes.
Mrs. Nina McCunniff, a spokesman
for “Candlelight,” says members of the
group “come from different schools and
various backgrounds, but have one thing
in common - the desire to specifically
accomplish a work of service to others.
“The difficulties encountered were
many, including scrounging the
materials needed for the renovations,
locating supportive groups and
communicating a new idea to the
community at large. But the list of
accomplishments is long and indicates
how rewarding and fulfilling everyone
feels the project to be.”
Perhaps one of the greater benefits
flowing from the work of
“Candlelight,” says Mrs. McCunniff, “is
the elimination of a ‘generation gap’ as
the youngsters wolfed down the
delicious food several senior citizens
groups provided. In turn, these fine
people had the opportunity to watch at
first hand, laugh and enjoy feeling
needed as the teenagers demonstrated
their concern for them.”
IT WAS A BRAND NEW HOUSE in less than a
week. Sister Elizabeth Lynam, (center) social services
coordinator for Macon’s three parishes, St. Joseph, St.
Peter Claver, and Holy Spirit, chats with Mrs. Mildred
Barksdale and Mrs. Leola Wright, whose house was
renovated by youngsters of the city’s “Candelight”
project.
The interaction between young and.
old has “obviously deepened the faith
of everyone involved,” she said.
“The general public,” she continued,
“was made aware of how loving concern
can turn a seemingly hopeless situation
into one of fulfillment, joy and unity.
“While the teenagers became aware of
the need to build up and maintain the
individual’s dignity as a unique person
with rights to this dignity, they also
realized their obligation to make our
world a little better place to live in.”
The “Candlelight” project, Mrs.
McCunniff said, illustrates the groups’
motto - “so far as a little candle throws
its beam ... so shines a good deed in a
dark world.”
INSIDE STORY
SALT Program
Pg. 2
Doctors
Pg. 3
'Know Your Faith’
Pg. 5
DCCW Notes
Pg. 8