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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 (Continued on Page 7) 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 (Continued on Page 7) 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.