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41ST CONGRESS-PHILADELPHIA AUG. 1-8
Christians Consider Mystery
Of The Eucharist
(THE SOUTHERN CROSS is indebted to
Mrs. William C. Broderick, of Savannah, for
this first-hand report of The 41st
International Eucharistic Congress. Mrs.
Broderick was a member of the forty-five
member Savannah Pilgrimage Group.)
BY MARY BRODERICK
With the Motto, “Jesus, the Bread of
Life,” and the Theme, “The Eucharist
and the Hungers of the Human Family,”
the 41st International Eucharistic
Congress was held in Philadelphia,
August 1-8,1976.
This Eucharistic Congress was the
coming together of Christians of all
ages, nations, and pigmentations to
consider the mystery of the Eucharist.
It was a joyous celebration of the
Eucharist. It was not an event frozen in
time, but an ongoing spiritual voyage,
one with a trinity of parts.
1) A year-long preparatory term of
spiritual renewal and social action; 2)
The Congress itself - eight days packed
with liturgies, lectures, convocations
and cultural exhibits in which individual
pilgrims enrich their understanding and
love of the Eucharist; 3) The
post-Congress period, in which a million
pilgrims return home personally and
apostolically enspirited with the Holy
Eucharist.
With events going on simultaneously
at halls and arenas across the city, the
program had a pattern something like a
10-ring circus. But it was a festival of
faith, focused on the re-enactment of
Christ’s Last Supper. Each day’s
happenings of the Congress were
clustered about a specific theme, one of
the Hungers of the Human Family.
On Sunday, August 1, it was “Hunger
for God,” and the solemn opening of
the Congress took place at noon in the
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. At 6
P.M. a parade of approximately 350,000
people marched from Independence
Mall to the Parkway, and later a
Candlelight Eucharistic Procession
proceeded from the Cathedral to the
Art Museum.
Monday, Family Day used the theme,
“Hunger for Bread.” There was day-long
exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a
Family Life Conference in which Prince
Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco
participated, a Mass in thanksgiving and
intercession for Family Life, and a
“Poor man’s supper.”
Tuesday, Suffering People Day,
stressed the “Hunger for Freedom and
Justice” as the Congress took official
note of its profound concern for the
aged, the ill, the lonely and persecuted
through Masses for senior citizens and
the infirm.
Wednesday, which was Clergy and
Religious Day, used the theme “Hunger
for the Spirit.” It was devoted to prayer
for religious vocations and religious
commitment by clergy everywhere, and
it featured a special Vocations Mass.
Thursday, Pilgrim People Day, carried
out the theme, “Hungers for Truth”
through various liturgies: In Petition
and Thanksgiving for Holiness in the
Americas held in Independence Mall, In
Honor of Blessed John Neumann in the
Cathedral; Native Americans (Indians)
later in Independence Mall, and the
Charismatic Renewal. An Ecumenical
Conference was held in the morning
during which talks were given by
William Cardinal Baum, Archbishop of
Washington, D.C.; the Rev. Doctor
Robert J. Marshall, president of the
Lutheran Church in America; Most Rev.
Maury Alin, presiding bishop of the
Episcopal Church; His Eminence
Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the
Greek Orthodox Church in North and
South America; and Archbishop Fulton
J. Sheen, Titular Archbishop of
Newport. The latter’s address,
“Eucharist in Pluralism and Unity -
Heritage and Hope” evoked a standing
ovation.
That evening the Ecumenical Service
of the Congress took place in
Convention Hall. The representatives or
heads of twelve Christian traditions
participated in the long opening
procession and then occupied places on
the stage as they joined in the service of
prayer, Scripture reading, and
ecumenical hymns. Cardinal Baum gave
the Call to Prayer and Welcome, and the
homily was delivered by Jan Cardinal
Willebrands, Archbishop of Utrecht and
President of the Vatican Secretariat for
Christian Unity. Though a Communion
Service was not possible, the clergymen
expressed the unity that they shared in
the impressive ceremony of the Washing
of the Feet. This was indeed a
memorable occasion.
Friday, Youth Day, carried out the
“Hunger for Understanding” in various
ways: Liturgies for Children at Veterans
Stadium, Military Personnel at the
Cathedral, and Young People at the
Spectrum; a Conference, “Woman and
the Eucharist” at whose Plenary Session
such outstanding speakers as Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, Dorothy Day,
Co-Publisher of the Catholic Worker
News, and Rosemary Goldie, Associate
Secretary, Council of the Laity were
well received, especially Mother Teresa
who received a tremendous ovation. Six
Conferences were held concurrently in
the afternoon, one of which was chaired
by our Bishop Lessard.
The concluding Eucharistic
Celebration for that day, Mary
Tabernacle of the Lord, was held in
Veterans Stadium and was a great
tribute to Our Lady in the Marian
hymns which were sung and in the
homily delivered by Archbishop Sheen.
A Marian Vigil (all-night adoration)
followed.
Also on Friday a number of us visited
the magnificent Cathedral of Saints
Peter and Paul to hear St. Mary’s Choir
of Littleton, Colorado, one of the
presentations in the Cathedral Series of
the Congress. This well-trained choir of
about Fifty voices filled the Cathedral
with glorious music as they sang the
“Ave Maria” and other familiar
selections, concluding with the stirring
“Battle Hymn of the Republic” which
brought forth a spontaneous standing
ovation from the large crowd gathered
there.
“Hunger for Peace” was the theme
for Peoples of the World Day on
Saturday. Liturgies and festivals were
held throughout the day at various
locations for 25 international heritage
groups and Eastern Rites. My choice,
naturally, was the Irish Mass on the
grounds of St. Charles Seminary in west
Philadelphia where, with thousands of
other people of Irish ancestry, I
participated in the liturgy and received
the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. The
principal concelebrant was William
Cardinal Conway, Bishop of Armagh
and Primate of all Ireland and the
homilist was Bishop Edward Daly of
Derry. Several parts of the Mass were
sung in Gaelic and at the Communion,
English, Irish and American hymns were
used, concluding with the official
Congress Hymn, “Gift of Finest
Wheat.” It was indeed a beautiful day.
At 7 o’clock that evening a number
of us participated in the Eucharistic
Procession from Veterans Stadium to
the Spectrum via Roosevelt Park, a
distance of about four miles. What a
privilege it was to be a part of this
procession and at its conclusion to be
present for Benediction of the Most
Blessed Sacrament at an outdoor altar
high above us. The monstrance in which
the consecrated host was carried was the
one used at the 28th International
Eucharistic Congress held in Chicago in
1926. This served as a spiritual link
(Continued on page 7)
Additional Stories On Pages 2-3
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 57 No. 29
Bishops Ecuador Arrested
Protest “Disgraceful Act”
QUITO, Ecuador (NC) - Four U.S.
bishops, a priest and a layman have
protested “the unfounded suspicions”
of Ecuadorean officials who ordered
their arrest by security forces along with
51 other participants at a bishops’
meeting in Riobamba.
They called the violent arrest Aug. 12
and subsequent detention of more than
27 hours “a serious and disgraceful act.”
“We wish to clarify that this meeting
was in no way secretive . . . We further
wish to clarify that there was nothing
subversive about the meeting,” the U.S.
bishops said.
The statement was signed by
Archbishop Robert Sanchez of Santa
Fe, N. M., and by Bishops Patrick
Flores, auxiliary of San Antonio, Tex.,
Juan Arzube, auxiliary of Los Angeles,
and Gilbert Chavez, auxiliary of San
Diego, Calif. Two other Americans
detained along with the bishops -
Father Edgar Beltran and Paul Sedillo,
both of the secretariat of the Spanish
speaking of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic
Conference - also signed the statement,
which the group wrote here while
waiting to leave.
Sedillo read the statement to NC
News in Bogota, Colombia, en route to
Washington, D. C., where he was to
release it at a press conference Aug. 16.
Ecuador’s military government
disrupted the meeting on the grounds
that it had subversive purposes.
Javier Manrique, the minister of
justice acting as interior minister, said
the meeting “dealt with themes of a
subversive character for Ecuador, and
represented a subversive organization
linked to other countries.
“There were as well criticisms of the
Ecuadorean government by the
foreigners,” Manrique added. “We
cannot accept foreigners interfering in
the affairs of our country.”
The U.S. bishops’ statement
countered that “the purpose of the
meeting was the sharing of pastoral
experiences. The pastoral sharing, they
said, would give the U.S. participants “a
greater understanding of the large
number of Latin American people
present in the United States.”
There are an estimated 12 million
Spanish-speaking Catholics in the
United States.
The bishops also protested “most
especially the violence and forceful
manner the meeting (at Riobamba) was
disrupted and all the participants
arrested.”
According to witnesses, some 40 men
in civilian attire but armed with
machineguns, pistols and anti-riot gear
including gas masks, raided the Holy
Cross retreat house where the bishops
had gathered, and ordered them into a
police bus for a five-hour trip to Quito.
They were held from Aug. 12 at 5 p.m.
through Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m.
Refugee Sponsors Needed
The United States Catholic
Conference has sent the Vietnamese
Resettlement Office in Savannah
information about two Laotian families
who are in need of sponsors.
One is a Catholic family of five. The
father, Wong Kayming, is a college
graduate. In addition to his native
language he speaks English, Thai and
Vietnamese. If he comes to the United
States, Mr. Kayming will bring his wife
and three sons (6), (3), (2) with him.
The second is a Buddhist family of
aix. The father, Say Suvansi, is a heavy
equipment operator in road
construction. He speaks some English.
Mr. Suvansi and his wife have four
children, three boys (11), (6), (2) and a
girl (8).
In order to enter this country, these
people must have a sponsor, someone
who is willing to help them find a job
and a place to live. Sponsoring a refugee
family is not always easy. It’s not
something that can be done in a day or
a week. It takes time. It also takes a
little common sense and understanding,
but it works.
If you can help, or know of anyone
who can, please contact the Vietnamese
Resettlement Office, P.O. Box 8789,
Savannah, Georgia 31402, (912)
234-9800.
Thursday, August 19, 1976
Single Copy Price — 15 Cents
MASS FOR HANDICAPPED ~ Cardinal James Knox of Melbourne,
Australia anoints the hand of a woman at a Mass for the handicapped
during the 41st Eucharistic Congress. Several thousands were either
wheeled or carried onto the turf in John F. Kennedy stadium during the
Mass. (NC Photo by Bob Strawn)
Clergy Assignments
The Most Reverend Raymond W. Lessard has announced the following
appointments:
REV. PATRICK SHINNICK as Pastor of St. Anne’s Church, Columbus,
replacing Rev. Tadg O’Mahony, who was recently named Pastor of St. John
the Evangelist Church, Valdosta. Father Shinnick has served at St. James,
Savannah, St. Mary’s on-the-Hill, Augusta, and most recently as Associate
Pastor at St. Joseph’s, Macon. The appointment is effective September 1,
1976.
REV. BENEDICT SWIDEREK as Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church,
Macon. Father Swiderek was ordained by Bishop Lessard in June of this year
and this will be his first pastoral assignment. The assignment was effective
August 2, 1976.
In other personnel action, Bishop Lessard and Right Reverend Egbert H.
Donovan, O.S.B., Archabbot, Saint Vincent Archabbey, have announced the
appointment of FATHER DAVID R. GRIFFIN, O.S.B., and BROTHER
ERIC T. VOGT, O.S.B., to Benedictine Priory and Military School in
Savannah.
Father David will succeed Father Albert C. Bickerstaff, O.S.B., who is
being freed from faculty responsibilities in order to pursue graduate studies in
Baltimore. Brother Eric will succeed Brother Shawn F. Gearing, O.S.B., who
has been recalled to the Archabbey. Both appointments were effective August
16, 1976.
Congress ‘Launching Pad’
For Continuing Renewal
BY GERARD E. SHERRY
PHILADELPHIA (NC) - The
recently completed 41st International
Eucharistic Congress here is not the end
of a process but a “launching pad” for
continued spiritual renewal in the
nation and the Church, according to
Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia.
Speaking with reporters at his
residence the day before the congress
closed Aug. 8, Cardinal Krol said,
“We’re not so naive as to think we can
change the world, but you have to
change the hearts of men.”
“It’s not what we can do, but what
God can do, and God has been part of
this since the beginning,” he said. “I’ve
never seen such enthusiasm and such
generosity on the part of priests, Sisters
and lay people, all of whom wanted to
be part of the action.”
Cardinal Krol noted that the purpose
of the congress was “to bring to the life
of the Church, especially in the United
States, a renewal of eucharistic piety.”
However, the cardinal said, “the
reception of Christ doesn’t terminate
with you.”
He recalled, that during the opening
eucharistic procession down the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, he had
asked the 350,000 participants and
spectators to “live what you receive.”
“To preach the Gospel without its
fruits (of justice and charity) is sterile,”
the cardinal explained. “But to give
bread without the Gospel is to ignore
the spiritual dimension.”
We must “focus on the central and
essential part of Christian life, the glory
due to God,” he said.
Cardinal Krol recalled that he “didn’t
have the heart to turn it (the congress)
down,” when the Vatican picked
Philadelphia as the site for the 1976
event.
The cardinal said he had agreed to
host the congress only if a spiritual
preparation program preceded it and
only if the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops voted to sponsor it
with him.
“The first stage, the spiritual
preparation program, was a success,”
the cardinal said. He cited examples of
days of eucharistic adoration in
parishes, a renewal of the Forty Hours
devotion, a eucharistic preaching
program in Miami and a specially
prepared adult education program on
the Eucharist in New York.
He also, noted that Operation Rice
Bowl, a program whereby families ate a
sacrificial meal one day a week during
Lent and contributed the saving to the
hungry had not only netted $5 million
but also educated children in the home
about the problem of world hunger and
the responsibility to share. The cardinal
also praised Operation SIGN (Service in
God’s Name), the congress sponsored
program in which 10 million young
people offered more than 18 million
hours of service to others.
Commenting on the interfaith
dimension of the congress, Cardinal
Krol said, “Our ecumenical brethren
saw this as an opportunity to highlight
the fact that religion is a priority of
life.”
And what impact will the congress
have on unbelievers in American
society?
“The least it can do,” Cardinal Krol
said, “is to make them wonder if they’re
on the right track.”
$10,000 Extension Grant
CHICAGO -- The Catholic Church
Extension Society has awarded a
$10,000 grant to the Diocese of
Savannah, according to the Rev. Joseph
A. Cusack, President of the Papal
Society.
The grant is to be used to assist in
purchasing a motor home serving the
Albany Deanery. Sister Ruth Marie
Hensler, O.S.F., Religious Education
Coordinator for the Deanery, will use
the motor home in her work in the vast
area of the Franciscan missions.
Founded in 1905, the Extension
Society is dedicated to serving the
neediest home missions in the United
States and its protectorates. Since its
founding, the Society has distributed
more than $61 million in aid to the
home missions.