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The Confraternity Of The Laity Drive
October 12, 1975
My dear Friends in Christ:
As in past years, the month of October is set aside in the Diocese
of Savannah for our annual Confraternity of the Laity Drive. This
diocesan-wide effort offers the opportunity to all of us to participate
in supporting the programs of the Church in south and central
Georgia.
Again this past year, the Diocese has been the beneficiary of
considerable assistance from outside sources. In fact, approximately
$155,000.00 was received in outright grants from agencies as the
Catholic Church Extension Society, the American Board of Catholic
Missions and the National Board of Indian and Negro Missions. We
are indeed grateful to these sources for their continued help and
interest.
At the same time, it is our own responsibility to share to the
extent possible in supporting the programs of the Church in this area.
One way of exercising this responsibility is through the annual
Confraternity of the Laity Drive.
been able to give to the many mission parishes of the diocese,
especially in establishing new centers in Cordele, Donalsonville and
Pembroke. The needs of our own missions continue to call for our
concerned support.
A glance at the recently published budget for the year 1975-76
reveals the number and nature of the programs which we are being
called upon to support. This year’s-100th anniversary celebration of
St. Mary’s Home in Savannah reminds us of the importance of this
work of mercy for our homeless children. Similarly, the expanding
programs of the social apostolate throughout the diocese call for our
continued interest and support. A crucial area of need is that of
education, including sound catechetical programs for our young
people and adults as well as the continuing education of our priests.
We are most encouraged by the number of young men who are
preparing for the priesthood for the diocese, but the expenses
involved are very high. Worthy of special note is the help we have
As we launch this year’s Confraternity of the Laity Drive, I want
to express a word of admiration and gratitude for the generosity
which our people have shown in the past. I am certain that you will
respond in the same generous way again this year.
With a prayer for God’s blessing, I remain
Devotedly yours in Christ,
^rJl j£f*****L-.
Bishop of Savannah
The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 56 No. 35
Thursday, October 9,1975
Single Copy Price — 15 Cents
Confraternity Of Laity
Drive Set For Oct. 19th
Catholics throughout the Diocese of
Savannah are making preparations for
the 1975 Bishop’s Confraternity of the
Laity Drive. This annual one-day drive
for funds will be held on Sunday,
October 19 Goal of this year’s drive is
$150,000.00.
The Con fra e ■ V the Lai tv Lriw
was inaugurated in the Diocese in 1957.
Its continued success has been a source
of financial and spiritual strength to the
diocese.
The Confraternity is composed of
every Catholic in the Diocese of
Savannah. Through the sacrificial gifts
of the members, the diocese is better
organized. There are more priests, more
parishes, more mission churches, more
agencies to spread the Good News of
Christ and serve the needs of the People
of God.
In a letter written in conjunction
with the Drive, Bishop Raymond W.
Lessard, of Savannah, outlines many of
the projects to benefit from the funds
collected. He expresses gratitude to
outside sources which, in the past year,
contributed approximately $155,000.00
to the Diocese of Savannah.
Bishop Lessard points out, “At the
same time, it is our responsibility to
share, to the extent possible, in
supporting the program of the Church
in this area. One way of exercising this
responsibility is through the annual
Confraternity of the Laity Drive.” (Text
of Bishop Lessard’s letter appears
elsewhere on this page.)
Each w p«e?r-er is . quested, if
possible, to contribute at least $30.00.
Those especially blessed by God are
expected to, and must, give more if the
Drive is to meet its goal. However, those
who cannot give the $30.00 are asked to
give what they can.
The campaign for funds will be
conducted on a door-to-door basis on
Sunday, October 19. Parishioners of the
various parishes are requested to remain
at home from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The
next Sunday, October 26, wili be a
follow-up Sunday when workers will
call back on those who were not at
home on Drive Sunday.
Proceeds from the 1975 Drive will be
used as follows:
EDUCATION OF SEMINARIANS:
Father Francis Barry was ordained in
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EVEN ANGELS GET SLEEPY - The day’s activities became too much
for one of the angels involved in festivities honoring La Virgen de la
Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity of the Cove) in Tampa, Fla.
Almost 4,000 Spanish speaking Catholics took part in the celebration
honoring the patron Saint of Cuba. Homilist Father Angel Villaronga said,
“There are many images of the Virgin we honor ... but the Virgin of
Cuba is the Virgin of Charity which means love. She is still in Cuba
helping us in exile.” (NC Photo by Jack Harron)
STATEMENT SAYS NO ORDINATION - Although a woman’s hand ministers and are urged by the archbishop to exercise “a greater leadership
holding the Eucharist may suggest priesthood, a recent statement by role in the Church” at the diocesan, national and universal levels, but
Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin reaffirms Catholic teaching that “women cannot become priests. Archbishop Bernardin spoke as head of the
are not to be ordained to the priesthood.” Women can serve as Eucharistic National Conference of Catholic Bishops. (NC Photo)
ARCHBISHOP BERNARDIN
Teaching On Women’s Ordination Reaffirmed
WASHINGTON (NC) - The president
of the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops has issued a statement affirming
the Catholic Church’s teaching that
“women are not to be ordained to the
priesthood.”
Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin of
Cincinnati, NCCB head, stated:
“It is not correct to say that no
serious theological obstacle stands in the
way of ordaining women to the
priesthood, and that the fact that
women have not been ordained up to
now can be explained simply by
culturally conditioned notions of male
superiority.
“There is a serious theological issue.
Throughout its history the Catholic
Church has not called women to the
Sr. Mary Barbara Brickley
Observes Golden Jubilee
BY SR. M. HELEN MCCREARY
On Saturday, September 27, at St.
Joseph Church in Macon, many friends
and former pupils of Sr. Mary Barbara
Brickley gathered to honor her on the
occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of
her religious profession as a Sister of
Mercy.
Sr. Mary Barbara left Boston, the city
of her birth, on June 18, 1922, and
entered the novitiate at “old” Mt. de
Sales. She was admitted to simple
profession of vows on July 2,1925.
Her first teaching assignment was at
the old St. Joseph’s School, located at
that time in two spare rooms in the
rectory and two other spare rooms in
the basement of the Church.
Since then, Sister has held
assignments in nearly every convent and
school conducted by the Sisters of
Mercy in Georgia. On all these
institutions, Sr. Mary Barbara has left
the imprint of her devotion to God and
to His people.
Fr. Patrick Adams, O.S.F., of
Cordele, former pupil and life-long
friend of the jubilarian, was the main
celebrant of the Mass of Thanksgiving.
Concelebrating priests were Rev. John
Cuddy, Rev. Bede Lightner, O.S.B., and
Rev. William Leahy. Music for the Mass
was provided by Mt. de Sales High
School Glee Club, under the direction
of Mrs. Ty Smith, accompanied by Mr.
John Osteen.
Following the Liturgy of
Thanksgiving, a reception honoring the
jubilarian was held at Mt. de Sales
Convent, on College Street.
Among the out-of-town guests were
Sr. Mary Barbara’s sister, Sr. Mary
Agnes of Columbus, Miss Sarah Harmon
and Mrs. Dorothy Harden of Largo,
Florida, and many Sisters of Mercy.
Included also were: Mrs. Agnes
Crumpler, Mrs. Delia Powell, Mrs. Anna
White, Mrs. Marguerite Curry, and Mr.
Michael Bruni, all former students of
the jubilarian at the “old” St. Joseph
Academy, Columbus, Georgia.
priesthood. Although many of the
arguments presented in times gone by
on this subject may not be defensible
today, there are compelling reasons for
this practice.”
Archbishop Bernardin was authorized
to make a statement reaffirming Church
teaching on the ordination of women by
the NCCB Administrative Committee at
its meeting here Sept. 9-10. The
statement was prepared subsequently
and was issued after consultation with
the NCCB Executive Committee. Copies
have been sent to all U.S. bishops.
Archbishop Bernardin quoted at
length from a 1972 report of the NCCB
Committee on Pastoral Research and
Practices entitled “Theological
Reflections on the Ordination of
Women,” which he said gave “a very
powerful reason for not ordaining
women.”
That report states in part: “The
constant tradition and practice of the
Catholic Church against the ordination
of women, interpreted (whenever
interpreted) as of divine law, is of such a
nature as to constitute a clear teaching
of the ordinary magisterium (teaching
authority) of the Church. Though not
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HEADLINE
HOPSCOTCH
Religious Senate Retreat Weekend
The Religious Senate of the Savannah Diocese will be sponsoring a weekend retreat
get-together at St. John’s Center, Grimball Point, October 10-12. Bishop Raymond W.
Lessard will be the principal speaker and celebrant for this occasion. Using the
threefold approach of prayerful, powerful and positive the weekend will be geared to
taking a new look at the vital role religious have in Ministry. It will also afford an
opportunity for the religious in this diocese to pray together, share experiences,
welcome new members, and to meet informally with Bishop Lessard.
Nearly 300 Refugees Resettled
The Resettlement Office of the Diocese of Savannah reports that nearly 300
Vietnamese refugees have been resettled in the Diocese of Savannah. There are still
many thousands of refugees who are in three camps throughout the country awaiting
sponsors. It is definitely not too late to become a sponsor. Information may be
obtained by writing Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke. P.O. Box 8789, Savannah, Ga. 31402, or
calling the Diocesan Resettlement Office, (912) 234-0601.