Newspaper Page Text
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The Southern Cross
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DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Vol. 62 No. 23 Thursday, June 4,1981 Single Copy Price - 25 Cents
Ordination of Father Michael J. Cerrone (Pollack & Daly Photo)
Michael J. Cerrone Ordained At Cathedral
BY GILLIAN BROWN
Michael J. Cerrone - a West
Point graduate and former
military officer who served in
Vietnam - was ordained to the
Order of Priesthood at the
Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist in Savannah, May
30th.
Among the crowd
assembled for the solemn
ceremony were members of
the Cerrone family from New
Jersey as well as members of
Sacred Heart Church in
Warner Robins and Sacred
Heart parish, Savannah - both
communities served by Father
Cerrone during his period of
pastoral work preceding
ordination. Members of the
Vietnamese community -
whose contacts with him
dated from his work with
them during his stay in
Savannah - were also present
for the ceremony.
Bishop Raymond Lessard,
during his instruction on the
duties of the priesthood said
“Today we are indeed
celebrating the gift of love -
the gift of Christ’s
priesthood.” Noting that each
disciple is called individually
and by name, he said “Our
brother today has heard that
call and responds in love.”
“I am confident that you
have responded because the
love of God has been poured
into your heart,” the Bishop
said. “The message you are to
preach is uniquely a message
of love.”
Concelebrants with the
bishop were Msgr. Felix
Donnelly and Rev. T. James
Costigan. Msgr. Marvin
LeFrois, who - as pastor of
Sacred Heart, Warner Robins -
presented the candidate for
ordination, served as
Archpriest.
During the 11:00 a.m.
ceremony Mr. Robert Perry
was instituted into the
Ministry of Reader. Mr. Perry,
a native of Dublin, is a
candidate for the Permanent
Diaconate. A member of the
military, he began his
formation while stationed in
Washington. He is presently
continuing the formation
program while stationed in
Biloxi, Mississippi.
The Savannah Deanery
Choir, under the direction of
Dr. J. Harry Persse, sang for
the ceremonies, with Mrs.
Joseph C. Schreck at the
organ. A reception followed
the ordination at St. Vincent’s
Auditorium.
Mr. and Mrs. Cerrone,
Michael’s parents, assisted
with the Investiture and
brought up the gifts at the
Offertory.
PAPAL HONOR — Bishop Raymond W. Lessard presents Papal
medal to Mrs. J. C. (Patty) Schreck.(Additional photo on page 3).
Papal Honor For Mrs. J. C.
Mrs. Joseph C. (Patty)
Schreck, who has been Music
Director at the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist for 35 years,
2 received the papal medal “pro
r Ecclesia et Pontifice” at a
> reception held in her honor
o Sunday May 31st.
o Crowding the auditorium of
| St. Vincent’s Academy for the
occasion were friends and well
wishers including many of the
men and women who sing in the
choirs she directs.
The St. Vincent’s Alumnae
Choir, which is under her
direction, performed during the
ceremonies. Soloist Claudia
Apolinar was accompanied by
Sr. Mary Laurent Duggan, C.S.J.
Members of the Cathedral Men’s
Choir and the two choirs at St.
Vincent’s which are directed by
Mrs. Schreck - the Chorale and
Les Chanteurs, - were also
present.
Frank Rossiter, speaking as
Chairman of the Cathedral
Parish Council as well as
Savannah’s Mayor Pro Tern,
proclaimed May 31st “Patty
Barragan Schreck Day” in her
honor.
Citing her many years of
service to the church through her
love of music, Bishop Raymond
Lessard said that after all these
years of hearing her sing praise it
was time now for others to sing
her praises.
Speaking to her assembled
guests, Mrs. Schreck had words
Schreck
of recognition and thanks for the
many men and Women who have
been her friends through the
years and for those who taught
her a love of music and liturgy.
She paid particular tribute to
Msgr. McNamara who - as rector
of the Cathedral - first
introduced her to the task of
Music Director, to Msgr. Felix
Donnelly, the present Rector, to
Sr. Gilbert Maggioni, and to her
sister, Sr. Fidelis Barragan,
(Continued on page 3)
CAMP VILLA MARIE
Being A Christian Thru The Fun And Friendship Of Summer
BY FR. BENEDICT SWIDEREK
Camp Villa Marie is a yearly attempt at Christian community.
Every year, for the past fifty or so, upwards to 170 children and
35 staff gather at the Isle of Hope in Savannah, Georgia, to
experience something of what it means to be a Christian thru the
fun and friendship of summer camp. And it is all about to
happen one more time!
Please pardon me, if I sound like I am describing Camelot or a
little bit of heaven, but Camp has been and remains for me a
living example of what it means to be a Christian, and I guess
that’s why I am about to go back for my eighth summer, and
why others, like Sr. Carmel have been returning for 12 years.
There have probably been more changes in the camp than I’ll
ever know, but I suspect some things have not changed. For
example, I suspect that the camp has always been simple in its
housing and food and activities, and I bet that has been one of
the reasons for its emphasis not so much on the program as such,
but on relationships - with each other, and with the Lord.
Rural children still come from all over middle and south
Georgia for Religious Education Session, and in addition to the
regular camp activities like swimming and arts and crafts, and
trips that take advantage of Savannah’s history and location on
the coast, they participate in classes designed to supplement the
religious training they are receiving from their home churches.
One of the particularly nice aspects of this session is the fact that
many of these boys and girls come back year after year. In fact,
we are getting the children of campers and the children of the
children of campers.
But there are some new things, too. For the last two summers,
we have sponsored a program - we think the only one in the
nation like it - designed to integrate a number of autistic children
into the over-all camp program. These special children are very
much caught up in their own inner worlds and find it difficult or
impossible to listen, to play, to engage in many of the activities
that most children take for granted. We feel that these children
benefit from being with normal children, something that they
are often not able to do, and that the normal children become
more sensitive and accepting to others thru their contact with
the autistic children.
For the four week Recreation Session, children come from as
far away as Atlanta, and Florida, and Alabama, and South
Carolina in addition to almost every city in the diocese. Again,
it’s a chance for children (seven through thirteen) and parents -
to be on their on for a little while, to meet new friends, to learn
to live together with people that they may not have a chance to
otherwise - children of other races, different backgrounds, some
handicapped children.
For all the fun and learning and growing, camp is a place
where I think the presence of Christ is alive and well. In fact, we
would like to think that the center of the camp is the Lord, that
He is the one who is calling us to community, to service, to
growth, to celebration! And that goes for the staff more so than
the campers, I think! I believe the Lord calls together a group of
people - sometimes from as far away as Germany and Minnesota
Tim Persse as M.C., at evening entertainment.
and during orientation, the staff becomes a Christian
community - and ultimately, this is what we give to the children.
I think that’s what makes Camp Villa Marie a good camp.
And it continues and continues because staff and campers
continue to hear the call and respond to it. We trust that Camp
Villa Marie, ’81 will be no different!
II
Staff members provide musical accompaninent at Camp
Liturgy (with help from camper with violin)
Swimming pool - a popular spot.
Arts and crafts are part of the daily schedule of activities.