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The Southern Cross
Vol. 6? No. 24
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH NEWSPAPER
Thursday, June 18,1981
Single Copy Price — 25 Cents
A*
1981 - Year Of The Disabled Person
BY GILLIAN BROWN
When Mary Porter read in
the SOUTHERN CROSS
recently the ‘‘Ten
Commandments re-written for
the nation’s disabled persons,”
she particularly liked
Commandment Two:
“I am the Lord, to whom all
Mary Porter
shall have access. Place no
barriers before me.”
Since the age of ten, Mary
has been crippled with a severe
form of rheumatoid arthitis.
She gets around with the aid of
crutches and - despite her
disabilities - plays an important
part in the life of her parish, St.
Mary’s, in Savannah. Yet she
finds that some of the churches
in the area are hard to reach, for
the disabled person.
“In a lot of the churches the
seats are so narrow you can’t
get in or out. It was hard getting
into the Cathedral for
Confirmation, - but I had to go
because three of the candidates
were mine.”
Mary and others like her are
pleased to note that many
churches today are looking at
their physical accessibility for
the handicapped, marking out
special parking places, building
ramps, and otherwise showing a
new sensitivity to the needs of
the disabled.
Their efforts received
additional encouragement this
year with the proclamation of
1981 as the International Year
of the Disabled Person.
Nationwide, many churches are
planning special liturgical
observances for June 21st, the
feast of Corpus Christi. The
United States Catholic
Conference has assembled
special guidelines for parishes
to assist them in reaching out to
their handicapped members.
Within the Diocese of
Savannah, many parishes have
already taken steps to ensure
that the disabled have the
opportunity to participate in
the life of the local Christian
community.
At. St. Peter Claver church
in Macon, for instance, there is
a recently installed lift in the
parking lot for the elderly and
handicapped. Father Richard
Keil, pastor, has no regrets
about the decision to install the
lift, at a cost of $5,0.00. In
terms of making the church
more* accessible he feels the
expense was well worth it.
Memmbers of his parish place a
value on welcoming the elderly
and disabled. There is a prayer
meeting and social gathering
for them each Friday, with
parish members standing ready
to provide transportation.
In Augusta, parishioners of
St. Mary’s on the Hill brought
together their sick and elderly
as well as the handicapped for a
special annointing service May
31st, organized by the Worship
Committee. Doctors and nurses
were in attendance.
Father James Mayo,
assistant pastor, was pleased
with the overall response of
those who took part. “We had
people who had not been able
to go for Mass for several years,
so it was a very moving
experience,” he said.
Father Mayo also noted that
St. Mary’s on the Hill has
parking spaces for the
handicapped, a ramp for
wheelchairs and a confessional
equipped with a
telephone-type hearing aid.
The CCD program has a teacher
designated for the
“exceptional” child whose
disabilities prevent him from
joining the normal religion
classes. Above all, Father Mayo
believes that the disabled
should be included, as far as
possible, in the full range of
parish life:
“You have to make the
effort to let them know they
are wanted and loved.” he said.
“They have talents and gifts to
share.”
A person who has definitely
demonstrated such gifts is Mary
Porter, who directs the CCD
program at St. Mary’s in
Savannah, types the bulletin
each week, makes the banners
for liturgical celebrations, sews
the cassocks for the altar
servers, helps with the
cater ;menate and is an active
me: r of the Liturgy
Con <ttee. Recently she
prej d several candidates for
Con mation, and served as
Sponsor for three. She’s just a
highly active perso. 1 - a very
courageous woman,” according
to her pastor, Father Liam
Collins.
Mary herself credits Father
Collins as the person who has
done the most to encourage her
to get out of her house and go
to work for others.
“I guess it’s a matter of
having someone believe in
you, ’ she said. “Father always
says “come on, Mary Porter,
you can do it.’ it takes someone
1 e that to help you realize you
ave the ability to do things
and to give you the courage.”
Mary at work at St. Mary’s
(Continued on page 6)
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Sr. Mercedes Sullivan
Director Of Renewal
S i s ter M ercedes Sullivan,
R.S.M., has been appointed by
Bishop Raymond Lessard to the
position of Diocesan Director of
Renewal.
As Renewal Director she will
coordinate the various renewal
movements existing in the
Diocese and will serve as the
official representative of the
Bishop to these movements.
She will provide liaison with
the Charismatic movement, will
serve as Spiritual Director of
Cursillo, will represent the
Bishop in relationships with
Marriage Encounter and will
direct the SEARCH program for
youth. She will also be a resource
person or contact for groups
such as the Teresians, Legion of
Mary,DCCW and KC.
Sister Mercedes will serve as a
consultant to parishes and
communities concerning
spiritual programs and activities
and will collaborate with the
Director of Adult Education in
formation programs for special
ministries.
A native of Savannah who
attended Sacred Heart School
Sr. Mercedes Sullivan, R.S.M.
and St. Vincent’s Academy,
Sister Mercedes received her
B.A. degree from Mount St.
Agnes, Baltimore, Md. and her
M.A. from Loyola College in
Baltimore. In addition she has
participated in continuing
education programs at Towson
State University in Baltimore
and at Armstrong State College
and Savannah State College in
Savannah.
After entering the religious
community of the Sisters of
Mercy, Sister Mercedes held
teaching positions at St. Mary’s
School, Rockville, Md., Blessed
Sacrament School, Savannah,
Immaculate Heart of Mary in
Baltimore, and St. Vincent’s
Academy, Savannah. At present
she serves as full-time counselor
and as Spiritual Director for
adults.
Sister Mercedes was Principal
of St. Francis de Sales School in
Salisbury, Maryland, from
1967-68, and was Principal of
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Baltimore, 1968-72.
Among her special
assignments, Sister served in
Guyana, South America at a
government-run leprosarium
from 1964-67. She was President
of the Diocesan Senate of
Religous (now Council of
Religious) during the seventies
and also represented her
community on the Chatham
Deanery Pastoral Council.
Sister attended a school for
Charismatic Spiritual Directors
in January 1980 and in March
1981 at the Benedictine
Monastery in Pecos, New
Mexico. In addition she has
attended numerous seminars and
workshops, mostly in
psychology, to prepare her for
her work.
She will succeed F ather
Michael Smith, who formerly
held the position of Director of
Renewal and Planning. Father
Smith is now Vocations Director
for the Diocese and Pastor of St.
Anthony’s, Savannah.
APPOINTMENTS
ishop Raymond Lessard has announced the following
personnel changes among the Diocesan clergy for the coming
yeai * t. FELIX G. DONNELLY, to be associate pastor,
Savannah, effective August 26th, 1981.
J. WELLMEIR, to be rector of the
1 of St. John the Baptist, effective August 26th, 1981.
J. NELSON, to be associate pastor,
l of St. John the Baptist, and Diocesan Master of
ties, effective August 26th, 1981. Father Nelson will
itinue his work as Officials, at the Diocesan Tribunal.
REV. FRANCIS PATTERSON, to be co-pastor, St. John the
Valdosta, effective immediately.
V. FINBARR STANTON, to be co-pastor, St. John the
, Valdosta, effective immediately.
!V. FREDERICK J. NIJEM, to be pastor, St. Teresa,
active August 26th, 1981.
jRARD A. MURPHY, to be pastor, St. Mary’s on the
1, Augusta, effective August 26th, 1981.
REV. MICHAEL A. DELE A, to be pastor, St. Benedict,
, effective August 26th, 1981.
DANIEL P. O’CONNELL, to be associate pastor, St.
t, Augusta, effective August 26th, 1981.
REV. JAMES M. MAYO, to be associate pastor, St. Teresa,
r, effective August 26th, 1981.
\ THOMAS E. CAMPBELL, to be pastor, St. Joseph,
tsup, and missions, effective August 26th, 1981.
REV. MICHAEL CERRONE, to be assistant pastor, St.
Joseph, Macon, effective August 26th, 1981.
*****
REV. DOUGLAS K. CLARK, who is at present pursuing
studies in Rome, is to be named Director of Adult
n, Department of Christian Formation, effective
REV. JEREMIAH McCARTHY is assigned to post-graduate
studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America,
Washington, D.C. He will work at the Diocesan Tribunal until
Fr. Clark Named Head
Of Christian Formation
Father Douglas Clark, who
has been appointed to the
position of Director of Adult
Education with the Diocesan
Department of Christian
Formation, is well known to
readers of the SOUTHERN
CROSS because of the editorials
he frequently contributes and
the “Liturgy Comer” column
which has appeared under his
name.
At present Father Clark is
pursuing doctoral studies in
Sacred Theology at the North
American College in Rome. His
new appointment will be
effective January 1st, 1982.
Father Clark is a native of
Dayton, Ohio. He attended
elementary and high schools in
Kettering, Ohio. Raised as a
Methodist, he converted to
Catholicism at the age of
nineteen. He received his
Bachelor’s degree in Medieval
History from the College of
William and Mary in 1972,
graduating “cum laude.”
Having completed his
seminary training at the North
American College in Rome, he
was ordained to the priesthood
July 3rd, 1976, by Bishop
Raymond Lessard, at the
Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist, Savannah. He returned
to Rome to complete his studies
for his Licentiate in Sacred
Theology.
In 1977, Father Clark was
appointed associate pastor at St.
(Continued on page 6)
Fr. Douglas K. Clark
REV. RONALD A. PACHENCE, who has been teaching at
D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, has accepted a
position in systematic theology at the University of San Diego.
*****
The following special assignments have also been announced
SISTER MERCEDES SULLIVAN, R.S.M. is named Diocesan
Director of Renewal, effective July 1,1981. The appointment is
made in cooperation with Sr. Helen Amos, R.S.M.
BROTHER JOSEPH TESTON, F.M.S. is named Diocesan
Director for Development as well as pastoral assistant at the
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah. The appointment is
made in cooperation with Brother Philip Robert, F.M.S. It is
effective July 1,1981.
REV. JOHN G. O’ROURKE, a priest of the Diocese of Dallas,
has been appointed Chaplain of St. Francis Hospital, Columbus,
effective May 1,1981.
REV. JOEL BLADT, S.T., is appointed to be associate pastor
of Immaculate Conception Church. Dublin, and its missions,
effective August 1, 1981. The appointment is made in
cooperation with Rev. Conrac Schmitt, S .T.
REV. CHET ARTYSIEWICZ, of the Glenmary Home
Missioners, is appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church,
Waynesboro, and its mission, St. Joan of Arc, Louisville,
effective August 21st, 198L. The appointment is made in
cooperation with Rev. Robert Berson, of Glenmary.
Brother Joesph Teston
Development Director
Brother Joseph Damian
Teston, F.M.S, has been
appointed to the new position of
Director of Development for the
Diocese, by Bishop Raymond
Lessard.
In this position, Brother
Joseph will coordinate and
promote financial development
in the Diocese. His specific
responsibilities will include
assessment of current
fundraising efforts, development
of new approaches, and
counselling services to parishes
and other diocesan agencies in
approved fund-raising programs.
He will represent the Diocese
in contacts with regional and
national funding organizations.
In his position as Director he will
also give special and prior
attention to the developmental
needs of the Cathefral parish.
A Marist Brother who spent
many years in educational work
in the Philippines, Brother
Joseph has been Coordinator of
the Diocesan Department of
(Continued on page 6)
Br. Joseph Teston F.M.S.