Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, November 4, 1999
A® BI©e®§®
Blessing of new CSS building, Augusta
The Southern Cross, Page 7
By Richard Tuchscherer
O n October 13, Bishop J. Kevin Boland was in Augusta to bless and help
celebrate the opening of the new Catholic Social Services building in
downtown Augusta. The building was purchased on Ascension Thursday,
1999, and renovations were recently completed. CSS opened for business on
September 20, 1999.
Franciscan Sister Celine Fahy, who was bom in Dublin, Ireland in 1912
founded Catholic Social Services (CSS) in Augusta in 1969. At that time
Sister distributed meager amounts of food and clothing to the poor of the area.
As Augusta grew, the need for more room also grew, and in 1981 Sister relo
cated CSS to the property of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. The min
istry remained there for 19 years. Sr. Celine died in 1986 and is buried in
Augusta.
In 1999, CSS purchased the “old” Red Cross building on 12th Street in
downtown Augusta. This is a large 4,000-square-foot building that offers ade
quate office space, a small kitchen, handicapped access bathroom, staff bath
Lett to right: Sister Jackie Griffith, Diocesan Director, CSS; Richard New Location: 811 12th Street, Augusta, 4,000-square-foot facility
Tuchscherer, Director, CSS Augusta; Linda Michael, Executive
Assistant; Bishop Boland; Barbara Larson, Administrative Assistant;
Debbie Kesevani, Receptionist; Steve Arrayo, Food Pantry
Operator.
rooms, meeting room, waiting room and an interview room that gives the
clients and volunteers some privacy.
CSS in Augusta is now one of the largest and most respected multi-service
agencies in the Augusta area. This deanery level ministry has 3 full-time and 4
part-time staff members, and is supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers
who last year donated over 17,000 hours to this ministry. CSS consists of a
main business office offering financial assistance, food pantry, thrift shop, and
an affiliate St. Vincent de Paul Health clinic. Last year CSS provided service
to over 40,000 people.
Support for CSS comes from Most Holy Trinity Church, St. Joseph Church,
St. Mary on the Hill Church, St. Teresa of Avila Church, St. Michael Military
Chapel of Fort Gordon, St. Ignatius of Antioch Melkite Greek Catholic Church
and the Diocese of Savannah.
Right: CSS Birthplace
1215 12th Street, Augusta, 1969-1981
2000
Diocesan calendar, and other
Calendars
As part of the Diocese of Savannah’s celebration of the Great
Jubilee of the Year 2000, the sesquicentennial of the establishment
of the diocese in 1850 and the centenary of the rededication of the
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in 1900, a calendar has been
produced highlighting the history of the diocese and its bishops. The
Calendar
100
memorabilia available soon
14-month calendar features biographical sketches and pictures of
every bishop who has served in the Diocese of Savannah, identifies
Sundays and Solemnities of the Church year and highlights signifi
cant dates in the history of the diocese and its parishes.
Parishes will be sent copies in bulk, for sale at $5 each. Other
Catholic groups interested in selling these calendars to raise funds
should contact the Office of Communications. The calendar is the
first of many Millennium memorabilia to be offered by the Diocese
of Savannah.
Souvenirs
The Office of Communications will send information shortly to
parishes about taking orders for other souvenirs, including magnets,
message cubes, static cling labels, coffee mugs, lapel pins, caps, tote
bags, pens and pencils.
The items will feature the diocesan logo for
the celebration of the 150th anniversary and
Jubilee Year 2000. The logo—in three colors: red,
blue and black—incorporates the Diocese of
Savannah shield with the “Open Wide the Doors
to Christ” theme of the worldwide celebration of
the beginning of the Third Millennium of
Christianity. The enamel lapel pins will feature the
logo in gold against a blue background.
Office of Communications at 912-238-2320
150
Lapel pin