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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
| ^ Vol. 62 No. 19
Thursday, May 7,1981
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SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS - Awards for
service to the diocese were presented at last
week-end’s meeting of the Savannah Diocesan
Pastoral Council in Macon. Hugh Grady of
Savannah (left) was honored for his production of
K. C. Council 631’s “Catholic Hour” broadcast
by WWSA Radio. He was associated with the
program for more than 40 years. Sister Ruth
Marie Hensler, O.S.F. received plaque from Bishop
Raymond W. Lessard for her work in the Albany
Deanery, where she has pioneered catechetical
work, particularly in rural areas. Mr. Grady was
not present at the meeting but his award was
accepted by his daughter, Sister Laura Ann
Grady, C.S.J.
Cautious Of Education Program
Sav. Pastoral Council
Agrees On Objectives;
Service Awards
WASHINGTON (NC) - To
untangle American education
from “a web of federal laws and
rules” Education Secretary
Terrel H. Bell announced a
proposal to turn much of the
control of federal aid to
education back to state and
local agencies.
Although the proposed
legislation is designed to retain
“equitable participation” in aid
programs for children enrolled
in private schools, Richard
Duffy, U.S. Catholic
Conference representative for
federal assistance, said there
may not be adequate safeguards
and that the USCC may oppose
the bill in its present form.
At a press conference April
29 Bell said the Elementary and
Secondary Education
Consolidation Act of 1981
submitted to Congress April 28
would allow states more
flexibility in spending federal
money for programs serving low
income, minority and
handicapped students. The
consolidation would repeal a
long list of categorical program
legislation.
The bill states that “a local
educational agency or the state
would be required to take
account of the needs of private
school children through
consultation with private school
officials, provide for the
equitable participation of these
children in the project’s
services, materials and
equipment on a basis that is
comparable to that provided to
public school children, taking
account of the number of
children in private schools and
the needs of the private school
children.”
Bell said there would be a
“belt tightening,” but added
that he believes “it isn’t going
to cost as much to administer
this program as before.”
Bell said his department had
“carefully drafted the bill so we
wouldn’t do anything to change
the rights” of private school
children. The bill includes a
“by-pass provision” authorizing
the Department of Education
to provide for the participation
of private school children where
the local educational agency or
the state is unable or unwilling
to do so.
Duffy said the proposed
legislation has some adequate
provisions, such as the by-pass
provision. But using it could be
a long, drawn out process, he
said. Another safeguard, helpful
to private schools is the
provision calling for
consultation with the private
school officials, he added.
However, he expressed
concern about the “comingling
of federal and state funds.”
Under the present categorical
grant system, federal money is
separate and can be identified,
he said.
“I’m afraid if there is little
federal regulation and the states
and locals can comingle the
funds so that they lose their
identity as federal funds . . .
our students would not get a
fair shake,” he said.
With the increased flexibility
a state could choose to put most
of its funding into areas, such as
preschool programs, which
would virtually exclude private
schools, Duffy added.
Duffy said he feels that the
most equitable treatment of
private school children would
be a ‘‘set aside” or
suballocation of funds. In that
case, he said, whatever formula
is used to determine the
allocation of federal funds to an
area, such as a head count of
disadvantaged students or
(Continued on page 2)
BY GILLIAN BROWN
The Diocesan Pastoral
Council, at its meeting in
Macon May 1st and 2nd,
ratified a statement of
objectives which represent a
specific mandate for the
Diocese, its deaneries and
parishes.
The objectives, which were
discussed at some length during
the two day meeting, were
derived from- the Mission
Statement formulated by the
Council in 1979.
Bishop Raymond Lessard, in
his opening statements on
Friday evening, stressed the
importance of the objectives as
providing a clear sense of
direction for the Church in
South Georgia at this time.
“These will be the guidelines
we need,” the Bishop told
Council members, “So we know
where to place our priorities.
Our Diocesan Staff will respond
to the programmatic direction
that you give.”
He referred to the Mission
Statement promulgated by the
Council two years ago as a
Charter Statement identifying
“who we are and what we are
called to do.”
A set of goals, more specific
than the Mission Statement,
was drawn up by the Council
the following year. The
objectives, seen as the next step
in the process, will be subject to
periodic review and evaluation.
The objectives were discussed
under three major headings: the
Church’s prophetic mission, the
Church’s priestly mission and
the Church’s shepherding
mission.
Objectives under the first
heading covered such areas as
leadership training for church
ministry, guidelines for religious
education, development of
strong religious education
programs, efforts at
evangelization, promotion of
dialogue among inter-faith
groups, and establishment of a
Diocesan Board of Education.
Under “the second” the
Council drew up objectives
addressed to the affirmation of
the importance of the family,
the utilization of the gifts and
abilities of lay people, and the
need to oppose all forms of
racism, discrimination and
prejudice. An objective
affirming the importance and
sacredness of human life was
also included under this
heading.
Objectives under the third
concerned the need for a
compassionate response to
human social needs, the
necessity of encouraging a
renewed awareness of the
sacredness of vocations, and the
importance of developing
renewal programs within our
parish communities.
A writing committee headed
by Tom McCuniff of Macon
had drawn up the proposed
objectives discussed by the
Council at its May meeting. The
committee used, as the basis for
its work, topics listed as being
of prime importance at the
Council’s last meeting in
December.
Mrs. Connie Thuente,
Chairman of the DPC, guided
the Council during the lengthy
process of discussing the
proposed list, amending the
objectives and approving them
in their finalized form.
Given
During its Friday evening
session, the Cbuncu approved a
Postulatory letter expressing
support for the request of
Bishop Lessard that the cause
for beatification of the five
Georgia Martyrs be introduced,.
The five Franciscan Martyrs,
Peter de Cop a and his
companions, die- in defense of
the faith in the ec si; 1 Georgia
area over four undred years
ago. The a 4 for their
beatification has been
introduced in Rome.
During the Saturday
afternoon session, Service
Awards were presented to two
recipients honored for their
years of service to the Diocese.
Hugh Grady, former
chairman of the radio
committee responsible for the
Savannah “Catholic Hour”
program on WWSA-radio, was
cited by the Council for his
more than 40 years of service.
Sistei iviaiie iiek.sier,
O.S.F., was honored for her
service in the Albany deanery,
where she has pioneered
catechetical work particularly
in the rural areas.
The Diocesan Pastoral
Council held its meeting at St.
Peter Claver Church, on Ward
Street in Macon. Members of
the Council represent all parts
of the Diocese. Membership
includes laity, priests and
religious.
Sr. Catherine Moore
Receives Liberty Bell Award
Sister Mary Catherine Moore, O.S.F., was awarded the
Liberty Bell Award at the Savannah Bar Association’s Law
Day Ceremonies, Friday May 1st. She was honored for her
efforts to strengthen the legal system particularly as it affects
the poor, those in treatment for alcohol abuse, and those in
crisis situations. Sister Catherine is Director of the Savannah
Social Apostolate.
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Columbus Hosts
42nd D.C.C.W. Convention
Mrs. Rosalie Bruggeman
Catholic Woman Of Year
Mrs. Rosalie Bruggeman
was named Catholic Women
of the Year at the 1981
DCCW Convention in
Columbus, during the
week-end of April 24th,
25th, and 26th. She was
presented a religious medal
by Bishop Lessard at the
Convention Banquet.
Mrs. Bruggeman is a
member of Holy Trinity
Parish, Augusta. She was
bom in Charleston, S. C.
and moved to Augusta after
her marriage. She has been
active in different forms of
parish activities during her
89 years of life. Since 1967
she has raised more than
$400,000 for the Church in
Augusta.
Mrs. Bruggeman has
always been a very
dedicated worker in the
Church. She has 2 children,
5 grandchildren and 7 great
grandchildren.
Mrs. Rosalie Bruggeman
BY FRANCES CUMMINGS
The Columbus Deanery
Council hosted the 42nd
Annual Convention of the
Savannah Diocesan Council of
Catholic Women the weekend
of April 24-26. More than 200
members were greeted and
registered at the Quality Inn
Motel on Friday evening and
were guests at a Covered Dish
Supper at Holy Family Social
Hall.
The Saturday morning
Opening Mass was celebrated in
the Quality Inn conference
room with the homilist being
Monsignor Daniel J. Bourke.
(Text of sermon on page 6).
Concelebrants at the Mass were
Father Mark Sterbenz and
Father Edward Frank. A brief
business meeting followed the
Mass and then members
attended various workshops
throughout the afternoon.
Banquet speaker at the
Saturday evening Banquet was
Mrs. Donald LeFils, National
Council of Catholic Women’s
President. She spoke of the
growing need for increased
participation in the N.C.C.W.
emphasizing the need for
support at the P.C.C.W.
grassroots level ‘‘where
tomorrow’s leaders are now
active and accepting the
challenges which will aid in the
future expansion of the
organization’s programs.”
At the banquet Mrs. Rosalie
Bruggeman of Augusta, (see
separate story) was named the
first “Catholic Woman of the
Year.” The gathering was also
addressed by Savannah’s Bishop
Raymond W. Lessard.
The Savannah bishop was the
celebrant of the Convention
Mass which was held Sunday
morning at Holy Family
Church. During the Mass,
officers for the coming year
were installed and introduced.
They include:
Mrs. George F. Quinn,
president; Mrs. Leo A. Dupont,
secretary; Mrs. Peter Vivenzio,
treasurer; The following
vice-presidents - Mrs. Richard
Sebenoler, Columbus Deanery;
Mrs. John W. Louth, Macon
Deanery; Mrs. William J.
Lieberman, Savannah Deanery;
Mrs. Matthew McCoy, Albany
Deanery; Mrs. William Morris,
Valdosta - Brunswick Deanery;
Mrs. Dallas E. Bahm, Augusta
Deanery.
Special invited guests to the
convention included: Mrs.
Dorothy McCabe, President
South C arolina DCCW;
Charleston, S. C.; Mrs. Marie
Doyle, President-elect Atlanta
Archdiocesan CCW, Atlanta,
Ga.; Mrs. Dot Rozier, Province
Director, Atlanta Province,
Columbia, S. C.; Mrs. Donald
LeFils, President, NCCW,
Osteen, Fla.; Ms. Jean Hayes,
N C CW International Affairs
Chairman, Orlando, Fla.; Mrs.
Helen Merritt, CCW, 3rd
Vice-President, Greenville, S.
C.; Mr. Cheatham Hodges,
Director Ga. Catholic
Converence, Augusta, Ga.; Miss
Vincenza Francese, President,
Charleston Deanery,
Charleston, S. C.
Bishop introduces DCCW officers at Columbus Convention Mass.