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The Southern Cross
BICENTENNIAL PROGRAM
Parish Series Will Give Opportunity To Speak Up
IHOCEH1- Ol •
j» o Box 8789
S*VA**A«,
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September 1, 1975
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V Bishop of Savannah
Much Enthusiasm At Youth Meet
BY FR. MICHAEL SMITH
August 15 - 17 were the dates
Savannah’s Camp Villa Marie, was the
place. Eighty young people and adult
moderators - representing 20 different
parishes and schools - gathered for the
diocesan Youth Leadership Workshop.
The sharing generated so much
enthusiasm that at the closing liturgy
one of the groups described the event in
the following paraphrase of the Biblical
account of the first Pentecost:
“When the day of the workshop had
arrived, all the young people were
gathered together in one place.
Suddenly, there was sharing and the
sounds of many voices which filled the
auditorium! Then they saw what it
looked like - love spreading out and
each person there was touched in some
way by another. They were all filled
with enthusiasm and talked of great
things, as the Spirit of Christ enabled
them to speak.
“Yes, there were Christians living in
Georgia, religious men and women who
came from every county in the diocese.
When they heard about this workshop
and felt the love, they all gathered
together. They were all excited because
Savannah Self Study
The city of Savannah is noted for its historic events and sites. The Catholic
Church in Savannah will take a noted step in its history on Saturday,
September 20th, 1975. The Savannah Self-Study Steering Committee will
sponsor a historic Deanery Assembly on this date, at Blessed Sacrament
Church, 1003 East Victory Drive, beginning with registration from 9 to 9:30
a.m.
The Savannah Self-Study Steering Committee has been meeting and
planning for one year in the Chatham Deanery; the Committee has been
studying models and schedules for the self-study of the Chatham Deanery.
This Deanery Assembly on Saturday, September 20,1975, is convened by
the Self-Study Committee in order to place the tools of planning and
self-study in the hands of Catholics throughout the Savannah Deanery. In
sponsoring the Deanery Assembly, the Steering Committee also seeks input
from every Catholic interested in the planning and renewal of his Church.
The Deanery Assembly will be addressed in its opening Liturgy, by Bishop
Raymond Lessard, of Savannah. This important event in the Savannah
Church is open to everyone who wishes to participate in setting the mission,
goals and objectives of the Church in Savannah.
everyone there was talking of great
things. In amazement and wonder they
exclaimed: (These people who are
talking like this, they are all young.
How is it then that all of us hear them
speaking of great things? We are from
Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Augusta,
McRae, Cordele, Warner Robins, and
Dublin; both adults and youth, and
there are some even from Sylvania; yet,
all of us hear them speaking of the great
things God has done for them.”)
Amazed and confused - they all kept
asking each other, ‘What does this
mean?’ But the others just made fun of
them, saying, ‘These kids are just
obnoxious, don’t listen to them.’
The major goal of the workshop was
to pull together some specific practical
suggestions for youth groups to use
during the coming year. Three major
areas were explored: Youth and Service,
Building Youth Communities, Youth
and Spiritual Growth. These three areas
are called the foundations of church life
in the American Bishops’ Pastoral
Letter, TO TEACH AS JESUS DID.
In each core session, devoted to one
particular area, delegates from various
different places met together in a small
group. Their task was to share their
different experiences and come up with
as many ideas as possible. Then they
evaluated these ideas to determihe
which were most worthwhile and
practical. The top choices from each
group were then consolidated. Finally,
representatives from each parish -
enriched by this sharing with others -
met to decide what specific i^leas they
would recommend to their own group.
(Continued on page 7)
/
An invitation to think seriously about
justice in our nation - the chance to
“speak up” and share our opinions with
Church leaders -- both of these
opportunities are offered to American
Catholics through the “Liberty and
Justice for All” program sponsored by
the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops.
All concerned Catholics are invited to
take part in the program, which will be
presented during the period September -
December, 1975.
During the Fall months, each parish
of the Savannah Diocese will present a
series of discussions and reflections on
such topics as the family, the
neighborhood, personhood, nationhood,
the Church and the world.
In the light of these discussion
sessions, those taking part will be asked
to send recommendations to the
Bishops’ Bicentennial Committee in
Washington, for consideration at their
1976 Bicentennial Conference. And
from this whole process of listening and
discussion, the bishops hope to forge a
new plan of action for future years in
working for social justice in this
country.
Within the Savannah Diocese, a new
handbook has been prepared offering
suggestions for approaches parishes
might use in presenting the national
program. The options offered in the
handbook have been designed to suit a
variety of parishes - from rural to urban,
small to large, inner-city to suburban.
Each parish is urged to study at least
three of the eight major topics covered
by the program, and if possible all of
them.
The options offered fall into three
main categories:
- a liturgy-based approach, with
homily outlines, liturgy aids and
“response sheets.”
- a family discussion approach,
involving a gathering of parish families.
• an adult discussion approach using a
slightly modified version of the eight
outlines given in the national
“discussion guide.”
Following the “liturgy” approach,
parishioners will first be introduced to
the topic through Sunday’s Mass and
homily. The homily outlines pose a
number of questions which will be
answered by members- of the
congregation. Their answers will be
collected and the results published in
the next week’s parish bulletin.
All parish members will then be
invited to a meeting to discuss specific
recommendations to send to the
Bicentennial Committee in Washington.
They will also try to come up with some
ideas for future action to be taken in
their own parish during the Bicentennial
year.
The “family-discussion” approach
follows a pattern already established in
some of our parishes - one which has
proved popular and effective. Families
are invited to come together for a
“covered dish” supper followed by
discussion. “Table talk” suggestions
introduce the people to the topic in an
informal manner while the meal is in
progress.
After supper, families split up into
three age-groups for discussion:
adults/teens, intermediate, and primary.
The adult/teen group ends its discussion,
with formulation of specific
recommendations for the Bishops’
Committee. At the end of the evening
all family groups reunite to share ideas
and to think of concrete actions each
might perform in the light of the
foregoing discussion.
The eight discussion outlines for
adults have been modified slightly, but
follow the themes given in the national
guide-book. Changes have been made to
suit local conditions and needs. While
the national program asks only for
recommendations for Washington, the
Savannah Diocesan handbook goes one
step further, asking for specific
suggestions for action within the parish
itself, during 1976.
Each pastor and program leader has
received a copy of the diocesan
handbook. Many will also use copies of
the national “Liberty and Justice for
all” discussion guide. By early
September all should be ready for the
launching of the program. Its success
will be ensured by the active
participation of Catholics of all ages, in
every parish.
Official Appointments
The Most Reverend Raymond W. Lessard, Bishop c F Savannah, annou ■ >
the following appointments:
FATHER EDWARD R. FRANK, transferred from pastor of Our Lady of
Lourdes, Columbus, to pastor of St. Joseph, Augusta, effective September 20,
1975.
FATHER RALPH BAILEY, OSB, designated as Civilian Auxiliary Chaplain
at Hunter Army Air Force Base, Savannah.
FATHER CLEMENT F. BORCHERS, Glenmary, named Vicar Forane
(Dean) of the Statesboro Deanery.
FATHER ROBERT BAKER, S.M., named Vicar Forane (Dean) of the
Valdosta-Brunswick Deanery.
Mother Seton Rites On Television
NEW YORK (NC) -- A special telecast
of the canonization ceremonies of
Mother Seton will be presented Sunday,
Sept. 14, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on
NBC, according to Jesuit Father Patrick
J. Sullivan of the United States Catholic
Conference Film and Broadcasting
Division.
Entitled “A Saint for America,” the
program is a joint presentation of the
USCC and NBC. Father Sullivan said
NBC will share the broadcast with the
CBS and ABC television networks for
inclusion in their two Mother Seton
specials on Sept. 14.
CBS will present a film essay on
Mother Seton on its “Lamp Unto My
Feet” program at 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
and ABC will present a Mother Seton
special on its “Directions” series at 1 to
1:30 p.m., Father Sullivan said.
Arrangements for the NBC broadcast
were inadvertently jeopardized by the
Vatican however when the time and
place of Mother Seton’s canonization
were changed, Father Sullivan said.
Originally, the canonization
ceremonies were to take place at St.
Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. Rome time.
This meant that broadcast of the event
by Italian Radio and Television (&AI)
from the Vatican would be received at
NBC studios here between 3 a.m. and 5
a.m., enough time for NBC to edit the
broadcast for its one-hour special at 2
p.m., Father Sullivan said.
But in the meantime, the Vatican
Changed the canonization ceremonies
from St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Peter’s
Square and the time to 5:30 p.m.,
Rome time. This was done, Father
Sullivan said, because the basilica could
not accommodate the large crowd
expected at the event and because the
afternoon would be cooler.
While the change of place caused no
great problems, the time change “would
have killed the broadcast arrangements”
because NBC could not edit the
broadcast and prepare a script and
commentary for a 2 p.m. deadline,
Father Sullivan said.
“When we found out this decision
had been made by the Vatican,” he said,
“it was devastating news.”
So the USCC made a direct appeal to
the Vatican, explaining the time change
would scuttle the broadcast. The
Vatican complied with the request,
Father Sullivan said, and again switched
the canonization time back to the
morning. Canonization ceremonies will
take place in St. Peter’s Square at 9:30
a.m., Rome time.
TO MARK CENTENNIAL - St. Mary’s Home, on Savannah's Victory
Drive, will mark its 100th Anniversary on Sunday, September 14th.
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard will be the principal celebrant at the
Centennial Mass scheduled for 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow until
5:00 p.m. The Sisters, staff and children extend a cordial welcome to all
to share their celebration and thanksgiving.
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