Newspaper Page Text
Contents
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Diocese of,
Savannah
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News 1-3
Commentary 4-5
Around the Diocese 6-7
Faith Alive! 8-9
Notices 10-11
Last But Not Least 12
Vol. 79, No. 35 $.50 per issue
Thursday, October 14,1999
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Millennium Mass draws 3000 to Macon
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Left: Bishop J. Kevin Boland greets participants in the Macon deanery Millennium Mass. Center: a scene from the Mass.
Right: the banner from Saint Peter Claver Parish.
By Anne Pacosa
Macon
pproximately 3000 Catholics from the Middle
Georgia area joined Bishop J. Kevin Boland to
welcome the third millennium of Christianity on
October 3 at the Macon City Auditorium.
Banners representing all nine parishes in the
deanery and a large banner representing the theme
“Rooted in Faith, Called to Grow” provided the
backdrop as Bishop Boland concelebrated the Mass
with all the deanery priests.
A deanery-wide choir of over 70 adults and 40
children, accompanied by organ, piano, brass
ensemble, timpani, bagpipes and handbells was
directed by Lindsey Skinner, Director of Liturgy
and Music at Sacred Heart Parish, Warner Robins.
Macon Mayor Jim Marshall, a member of Saint
Joseph Parish, welcomed everyone to the city and
led the congregation in a prolonged tribute to the
deanery priests and sisters. One of the most touching
moments of the Mass occurred when three thou
sands Catholics stood and proclaimed the Creed as
our shared profession of faith.
Lunch was provided for everyone after Mass.
A steering committee composed of members
from all the parishes in the deanery planned the
event.
“Catholics have come a long way,” said one
Macon native. “When I was growing up, the only
group that could fill the city auditorium was the Ku
Klux Klan.”
Celebrations are planned for each of the seven
deaneries in the Diocese of Savannah.
Father Patrick Adams, OFM, dies; was Cordele
Saint Petersburg, FL
F ather Patrick Adams, OFM, died
Wednesday, October 6, in Saint
Petersburg. The Macon native had
served in the Diocese of Savannah as
pastor of Saint Theresa Parish,
Cordele, from 1968-1994.
Bom in Macon in 1916, Patrick
Adams professed vows in the Order of
Friars Minor (Franciscans) on August
16, 1937 and was ordained a priest on
May 28, 1942 at the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, DC.
Father Pat served as a Navy chaplain
during and after the Korean War. He
was founding pastor of Saint Francis
of Assisi in Triangle, Virginia, from
1956-1964.
After four years in New York City
and Providence, Rhode Island, Father
Adams was assigned to Saint Theresa
Cordele, and Saint Michael, Monte
zuma. During his 26 years in that
assignment, Father Pat was known for
his daily visits to hospitals and nursing
homes. He was active in programs for
abused children and migrant farm
workers.
Father Adams was a member of the
diocesan Commission for the Beati
fication of the Georgia Martyrs, five
Franciscan missionaries who were
slain in the course of their efforts to
evangelize the Guale peoples of what
is now Georgia. He was also largely
responsible for initiating the annual
Memorial Day Mass at Andersonville.
Father Pat celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of his religious profession
with a special Mass of Thanksgiving
and reception on August 30, 1987, at
Saint Theresa’s. He retired from his
pastorate in 1994.
The Mass of Christian Burial was
celebrated for Father Pat Adams on
October 8 at Saint Mary Church, Saint
Petersburg.
Bishop J. Kevin Boland celebrated a
memorial Mass for Father Pat at Saint
Theresa’s, Cordele, on October 10.
The bishop paid tribute to Father
Adams’ zeal and noted how greatly
revered he was in southwest Georgia.
pastor 26 years
Father Patrick Adams, OFM