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The Southern Cross
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 57 No. 20
Thursday, May 13, 1976
Single Copy Price — 15 Cents
BISHOPS AT WORK ~ Members of the U.S. hierarchy gather to discuss a wide range of concerns at their spring meeting in Chicago. (NC Photo)
U.S. Bishops Discuss Mission Of NCCB
BY JERRY FILTEAU
CHICAGO (NC) - From the
Standpoint of the U.S. bishops, the:*
spring meeting here may have been one
of the most important ones they have
had since they were first organized as
the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops (NCCB) a decade ago.
“This is the first time since I became
a bishop that we have taken a leisurely
look at what we are about as bishops,”
said one bishop appreciatively.
The chief topic that the bishops
devoted their attention to during the ’
three-day meeting was a study of their
mission or purpose as a national
conference.
By prior design that discussion was
not to produce any immediate actions --
but it is expected that in coming years
the results of the discussion will be felt
throughout the conference. These
results will affect the tone and priorities
of the bishops’ work as a national body,
and ultimately they will have a strong
impact on the effectiveness of each
bishop’s pastoral work in his own
diocese.
The major issues that the bishops said
should receive increased attention
included more national emphasis on
evangelization, doctrine, consultation,
pastoral research, and shared
responsibility.
At least one of the theologians
invited to help the bishops in their
deliberations told them that a discussion
of their mission would by its nature be
one of the most difficult projects they
could undertake.
Speaking of the bishops’ primary role
as teachers and preachers of Christ,
Father Carl Peter of the Catholic
University of America in Washington,
D.C., suggested that there are no clear,
easy answers to the question of what
bishops should be or do - individually
or as a body - because what they do is
intimately bound up in mystery of
Christ.
Bishop Raymond Lessard of
Savannah, Ga., introduced the
document on which the bishops based
their discussions - the Vatican’s 1973
Directory on the Pastoral Ministry of
Bishops - as “an ascetical and mystical
compendium for a bishop” that outlines
the bishop’s work in terms of pastoral
ministry, a service of love, and
participation in the whole communion
of the Church.
In his opening talk Archbishop
Joseph L. Bernardin of Cincinnati,
NCCB president, suggested that the
NCCB and the bishops’ other national
agency, the U.S. Catholic Conference
(USCC), ought essentially to be engaged
in “an exercise of our pastoral ministry
as bishops.”
The mission of the conference, he
said, “flows from the mission of all
episcopacy.”
With the bishops searching out the
fundamental relationship between their
roles as individual bishops and their role
as a national body, much of the general
session on the topic centered around the
theological nuances of such words as
pastoral authority, bishops as teachers,
preachers and prophets, shared
responsibility, collegiality, and the
exercise of authority.
Later, breaking up into 10 smail
groups that were closed to the press, the
bishops entered into far more specific
discussions of areas in which they would
like to see the NCCB and USCC
improved.
In a report at the end of the meeting
summarizing the results of the group
meetings, Archbishop Bernardin said
that the idea of “a more pastoral thrust
in the conference’s deliberations and
programs” pervaded all of the
discussions.
The single issue which received the
most attention was evangelization, he
said:
“Several groups said there is need for
a conference entity to provide
leadership for promoting and
implementing a program of
evangelization more effectively in the
American context. Other groups
emphasized that the evangelization of
youth, in particular, requires the
Mortgage Burning Ceremony
At Saint Anthony’s, Savannah
attention of the Church . . . Many
bishops stressed the necessity of good
communication via the media for
effective evangelization.”
Another major concern that emerged
from the discussions, said the NCCB
president, was “strengthening the
doctrinal function of the conference by
adding staff and encouraging a more
active role on the part of the (NCCB)
doctrinal committee in clarifying the
issues which confront the Church
today.”
One group recommended “the
establishment of a task force to
determine what kind of permanent
secretariat is needed for the doctrinal
committee,” he said.
According to Archbishop Bernardin,
other areas in which bishops said the
conference should become more active
included:
- Assistance in the bishops’ “mission
of sanctifying their people,” including
development of programs to encourage
stronger marriage and family life and to
promote and guide spiritual renewal
movements such as the cursillo and the
charismatic renewal.
- A new emphasis on pastoral
research to aid the bishops in their
apostolic mission, using models such as
the NCCB’s nationwide bicentennial
(Continued on page 3)
Bishops Set Priorities
CHICAGO (NC) - As a result of their Spring meeting here May 4-6, in the future
the U.S. Bishops can be expected to place more emphasis on evangelization, doctrinal
concerns, programs promoting holiness, broader consultation, more pastoral research
and the development of shared responsibility.
These were the main concerns that the bishops expressed in nearly a full day of
discussions on the mission and goals of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
and U.S. Catholic Conference (NCCB-USCC).
During the meeting the bishops also:
- Issued a statement charging that many of the elderly in American society suffer
denial of their basic rights because of social attitudes and policies; and urging
substantial social change to correct injustices;
-- Passed a resolution urging the American people to learn the issues and candidates
and participate actively in the 1976 election;
- Reaffirmed their backing of Catholic schools and praised Catholic parents and
educators for their sacrifices to maintain and improve them;
- Petitioned the Vatican to allow deacons in this country to impart a number of
blessings now reserved to priests; and,
-- Suggested that when the Vatican revises the rites for admission to candidacy and
ordination of deacons, for married deacons it should incorporate formal affirmation
and consent to the deacon’s ministry by his wife and family.
More than 200 of the nation’s bishops attended the three-day meeting - including
three new bishops-elect who had been named auxiliary bishops of Newark, N.J., the
day the meeting opened.
As a result of a statutory change that the bishops approved at their previous meeting
last November, for the first time in the history of the NCCB the apostolic delegate in
the United States, Archbishop Jean Jadot, was invited to join in the deliberations. He
did not, however, have a right to vote on any motions - a right reserved by general
Church law to members of the national hierarchy.
A planned statement on American Catholic history was removed from the agenda
before the meeting.
In the course of the. m^etiifg aiK^jtw action document, Mi^gestvg guidelines for
diocesan vocations offices, was also withdrawn -- on the grounds that the bishops
vocations committee could issue the guidelines without general conference approval.
Best Front Page ” Award
For The Southern Cross
THE SOUTHERN CROSS has received the award for “Best Front Page” for
standard size newspapers in the 13,000 and below circulation group.
Journalism Awards were announced at the annual convention of The Catholic Press
Association of the United States held last week in Washington, D.C.
In making the selection the judges said, “taking care to crop pictures properly and
to diversify with the use of color, THE SOUTHERN CROSS succeeds better in its
front page than others in this category.”
THE CATHOLIC BANNER, Charleston, S.C., placed second in the competition.
THE WYOMING REGISTER, Cheyenrte, Wyo., was awarded third place in this
category.
This marks the fifth time that the paper has received this award. THE SOUTHERN
CROSS was similarly honored in 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
“Let there be peace on earth”
resounded throughout the church and
nearby environs as the parishoners of
Savannah’s Saint Anthony’s Church
culminated their evening service on
Sunday May 2. The service was held to
celebrate the parish mortgage burning.
Final Savannah Deanery
•/
Assembly On May 22
The Savannah Self-Study Steering Committee will hold its Third and final
Deanery Assembly on Saturday, May 22, beginning at 10 a.m. in Saint
Vincent’s Hall. A Deanery Mass, celebrated by Bishop Raymond Lessard will
follow the meeting at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
The Savannah Self-Study Steering Committee is completing close to two
years of study and prayer in the Savannah Deanery, and at this third deanery
assembly the Committee will present its report and findings to Bishop
Lessard. During the Cathedral Mass, parish council representatives will present
parish plans from each of the eleven deanery parishes to Bishop Lessard.
This Savannah Study is the culmination of much work, expense and prayer
on the part of the Church in the Savannah Deanery, and it is hoped that
many will be present to receive the extensive findings of the Steering
Committee and celebrate God’s Grace in this undertaking.
Parishoners in conjunction with other
lay members of the Catholic
community, friends and members of the
religious community prayed together
giving thanks to God for his many
blessings. The event marked the first
time in the history of its 66 years of
existence that the church has been debt
free.
The Eucharist was celebrated by
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard, of
Savannah. The bishop stressed the
sharing of gifts of love, grace, life and
hope in his message. He stated that “our
mission is not to outdo those gone
before us but to try to do as well.” He
gave concrete examples of the
significance of sharing during this Easter
Season.
Assisting Bishop Lessard in the
celebration were Fathers Nijem, Lucree,
Kenneally, Patterson, Stanton and
Higgins (pastor of St. Anthony’s). The
lector was Mr. Pinckney Brannan.
Following the Mass a program was
held in the parish hall with music
rendered by the choir under the
direction of Mr. Julius Stevens. Creative
works were presented. A reception
followed.
MORTGAGE BURNING - Pictured as St.
Anthony’s mortgage is burned (1. to r.) are: Mr.
Frank King, Bishop Raymond W, Lessard, and Father
Frank Higgins. (Pollack and Daly Photo)