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4 V i « 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)