Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 56 No. 22
Thursday, May 29, 1975
Single Copy Price — 15 Cents
AT MACON MEETING
’75-76 Religious Education Program Discussed
MODEL OF JOY -- Blessed Maximilian Kolbe
(center) talks with fellow prisoners in the German
death camp of Auschwitz, Poland, during the Second
World War. Father Kolbe, who gave his life for another
inmate, was cited by Pope Paul in a new document as a
IN AUSTRALIA
model of joy. “Witnesses report that his interior peace,
serenity and joy somehow transformed the place of
suffering . . . into the antechamber of eternal life,” said
the pope. (NC Photo)
Late Vocations on Upswing
SYDNEY, Australia (NC) - Father Lawrence Dunlop has a
problem few seminary rectors face today -- he has more students
than his seminary can accommodate.
Father Dunlop, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, is rector of
St. Paul’s National Seminary for Late Vocations. It was set up in
1967 by the Australian bishops to train future priests for
Australian dioceses and Religious orders. It opened with nine
students.
The seminary building *was finished in 1969 and
accommodates 52. At present the seminary has 83 students.
Nineteen of the students are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
and live, with five other students who belong to Religious
orders, at the missionaries’ monastery next to the seminary.
The other students, also members of the Religious orders, live
in houses belonging to their communities and come to the
seminary for lectures.
Next year the seminary will probably have to rent houses
nearby for new students.
The Australian bishops have asked Father Dunlop to find
extra accommodation so that no suitable applicants will have to
be turned away next year.
“I don’t quite know yet what we’ll do,” Father Dunlop said.
Father Dunlop said few of the students who came to the
seminary left before finishing their course.
“Some will find that what they had thought was their calling
doesn’t really suit them,” he said.
“Last year 25 new students came and four left during the
year.
“This year 36 came and none have left so far.” (In Australia
the academic year begins in February.)
The minimum age for students is 25. Of the present
seminarians, most are between 25 and 30, seven are between 50
and 60 and one is 63. They come from all parts of Australia,
New Zealand and Papua-New Guinea.
Among them are 35 former public servants, 12 teachers, a
former official of the New Zealand foreign affairs department,
two engineers, four farmers, three accountants, two solicitors,
two male nurses, an industrial chemist, a former member of the
prisons department, and interior decorator and a company
manager.
Pg. 2
INSIDE STORY
300 Years
Pro-Life
Pg. 3
'Know Your Faith*
Pg. 5
Class of *75
Pg. 7
Albany History
Pg. 7
Readers Reply
Pg. 8
COVENANT SIGNING - Bishop Raymond W. Lessard of the Diocese
of Savannah (1.) and Bishop Paul Reeves of the Episcopal Diocese of
Georgia are pictured at recent covenant signing. The covenant (reported in
detail in last week’s issue) provides for increased cooperation and contact
between the two dioceses. (Church in Georgia Photo by Rev. David G.
Pritchard)
Plans for religious education
programming during 1975-76 were
discussed at a Department of Christian
Formation Commission meeting, held
on May 14th in Macon. The
Commission studied the results of a
survey which was held recently in order
to evaluate present programs and select
priorities for the future. Among the
areas recommended for special attention
next year were the following:
YOUTH MINISTRY: Father Elmer
Powell, SVD, from Philadelphia, will be
working part time in this area next year.
His varied background includes
experience in running a seminary, doing
research in urban ministry, and working
with an International Youth Movement
which he founded while in Rome.
The Commission recommended that
young people in the Diocese should
have wider opportunities for weekend
retreats, and that more should be done
to involve them in parish life. Social
involvement, following the pattern of
the “Candlelight” project in Macon and
other similar programs, was also
recommended. The problems of young
people in rural areas will receive special
study.
A Leadership Training Weekend, for
young people chosen by their parishes
and their adult advisors, will be held at
St. John’s Center in Savannah, August
15-17. Mike Wayne, of St. Anne’s,
Columbus, will help to set up this
specialized training program.
BICENTENNIAL PROGRAM: The
Board of Vicars has set study of at least
three of the eight areas covered by the
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
handbook as a minimal goal for each
parish during the Fall. This program will
replace the Human Development
Educational Program, which is usually
presented during November. The
Department of Christian Formation will
have new program materials ready by
August 1st, including a variety of
alternative approaches to suit different
parishes.
FAMILY CENTERED PROGRAMS:
Because sacramental preparation
programs take up so much parish effort,
the Commission recommended focusing
on the age level at which parents feel
the greatest need for help - the
pre-adolescent stage (grades 6-8.) A
program for parents of pre-adolescents
will be available in the Fall.
The Marriage Encounter movement
will be further encouraged in our
Diocese to help meet the need for
post-marriage enrichment.
Suggestions for home activities and
family prayer during the special times of
Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and
Lent will continue to be made available,
with some additions, next year.
BIBLE STUDY: Various approaches
to group Bible study are recommended,
including the “Gospel according to
Matthew” program, the Collegeville Old
and New Testament Reading Guides,
and the Wichita course on Salvation
History. The possibility of a new Bible
study program from the DCF will be
investigated. Research will be
undertaken into the various home Bible
study programs available.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING: The DCF
Deanery workshops will be presented as
Theology programs for all adults,
widening their scope from the present
emphasis on teacher-training.
Workshops will be held in all Deaneries
during September, November, January
and May. A questionnaire listing
possible topics has been sent to priests,
parish councils and Catholic school
teachers.
Church leaders seminars will be
continued next year, with meetings in
Macon, Augusta, Savannah and
Columbus. A series of seminars will be
held in October, December, February
and April.
Training for Parish Council members
will receive special attention, with the
possibility of an annual sharing session
in each deanery for all members of
parish councils. At least part of the
sharing would be at the level of the
various working committees. The DCF
Staff will also provide ideas for a parish
level Day of Prayer and Reflection.
AUDIO VISUAL LIBRARY: The
heavy use of audio-visual aids has
brought with it some problems in
delayed mailings, damaged resources
and late returns. Schools will be urged
to appoint one contact person for all
requests. Next year, Episcopal parishes
will share in the use of audio-visual
resources, as an outgrowth of the recent
covenant between the two Dioceses.
A recent survey of priests, sisters and
religion teachers in the Diocese showed
that top priorities for next year’s
religious education programs include
adult bible study programs and new
approaches to parent education.
The survey was made by the
Department of Christian Formation as a
means of evaluating its services and
programs during the school year and
selecting priorities for the future. 108
evaluation forms were completed and
returned to the DCF office.
Items most frequently checked as
areas which need attention next year
were “Adult Bible Study Programs,”
“New ideas for Parent Meetings”
(involving preparation of children for
First Communion, First Penance and
Confirmation/, ana “Parent-Education
Programs” (with emphasis on the
psychological and moral development of
children.)
Also listed as priorities were a Fall
Adult Education program based on the
Bicentennial theme, “Liberty and
Justice for All”; further promotion of
the Marriage Encounter movement;
outlines for Days of Recollection for
Parish Councils, and an outline for a
Parish Family Retreat.
Present DCF services most often
listed as “very helpful” included the
audio-visual library, Deanery
workshops, “FOCUS” newsletter, and
Family “flyers” providing suggestions
for activities and prayer in the home for
Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and
Lent.
Pope to Ordain 400
VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope Paul VI will ordain about 400 men to the
priesthood in an evening outdoor ceremony in St. Peter’s Square on June 29,
the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The ordinands will include about 30 Americans. Most of the seminarians
will come from houses of study in Rome and Vatican City, although some
will journey to Rome specifically for the special Holy Year ceremony.
NEW COMMUNICATIONS VICAR
Priests Receive New Assignments
Three parishes received new pastors and one a new associate
pastor this week. Bishop Raymond W. Lessard also announced
the appointment of a new Vicar for Communications for the
Diocese.
The new assignments are:
REV. JAMES STEVENSON has been appointed Pastor of
Our Lady, Star of the Sea St. Mary’s and St. Francis of Assisi
Mission Folkston.
REV. WILLIAM O’NEILL has been appointed Pastor of Holy
Family Church, Columbus.
REV. LIAM O’SULLIVAN has been named Pastor of St.
Matthew’s Church, Statesboro.
REV. JOSEPH STRANC has been named Vicar for
Communications for the Diocese of Savannah.
REV. LIAM COLLINS has been appointed Associate Pastor
of Most Holy Trinity, Augusta.
REV. FRANCIS DONOHUE has been granted a leave of
absence.
Fr. J. Stevenson is a retired Priest of the Diocese of
Youngstown, Ohio and has generously offered to serve the
mission needs of Georgia.
Fr. O’Neill, native of Tipperary, Ireland, born July 21,1942,
was ordained June 4, 1967, and is presently Associate Pastor of
Most Holy Trinity Church in Augusta. He formerly served as
Assistant Pastor of St. Anthony’s in Gretna, La., and of St.
Mary’s and Immaculate Conception Churches in Augusta.
Fr. O’Sullivan, native of Bandon, Ireland, was born March 29,
1945 and ordained June 14,1970. He is presently the Associate
Pastor at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Savannah.
Fr. Collins, native of Tipperary, Ireland, was bom October
29, 1945, ordained June 12, 1971. He is presently Associate
Pastor at St. James Church in Savannah.
Fr. Stranc, a native of Chicago, was bom September 26,
1932, and ordained June 10,1958. He is presently Assistant for
Broadcast Communications, Diocesan Director of Campus
Ministry and Campus Minister at Armstrong State College. Fr.
Stranc formerly served as Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph’s
Church in Macon and teacher of St. John’s Seminary and
Aquinas High School. He was also Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church
in Augusta, St. Anne’s Church in Columbus and Administrator
of Aquinas High School in Augusta.