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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.