Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, September 21, 2000
The Southern Cross, Page 7
Saint Michael Mission, Montezuma
Welcome Mass for Guadalupanas
On August 13, Saint Michael Mission, Montezuma, looked very different from a normal Sunday. This is one of the very
rural missions in the heart of Georgia. At the same time it is one of the most diverse Missions due to the presence of
Americans, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Latino migrants. The ceremony was designed to show this variety. Eleven Sisters
from four different religious orders participated in the 10:30 a.m. Mass: Besides Sister Mary Faith McKean, RSM, from
Savannah and three others from her order, Sister Cornelia Ramirez, a Filipina, Sister Josephine Nguyen, a Vietnamese,
and the Guadalupanas from Tifton, including the newly-arrived Sisters Guadalupe and Lourdes. All four ethnic groups
were well represented. The parishioners felt that the Catholic Church's caring and concern toward them was a sincere
gesture of appreciation and not a mere religious ceremony. For the first time in the 49 yearns of this mission's existence,
the parishioners had the opportunity to talk in their native languages to a religious. Sister Mary Faith presented the keys
of the new convent to the Mexican sisters in the name of Bishop Boland. The Spanish Mariachi choir from Americus and
the American cantors from Montezuma sang the Mass. The celebrant was Father George Gonzalez, pastor of Saint Mary
Parish, Americus, and Saint Michael Mission, Montezuma. He has been organizing and coordinating all of the many
aspects of this complex project. The Guadalupanas sisters are very welcome in this area of Georgia. Their catechesis of
the Spanish-speaking migrants is one of the most effective tools of evangelization for people who are often unable to
read in any language.
Archives Week 2000 to
be observed October 9-14 in Georgia
Archives Week 2000 will be observed in
Georgia October 9-14. This week is a time to
focus on the stories of the past, with a partic
ular emphasis on journals, diaries and letters.
Following are some suggestions for parishes
and schools preparing to participate in the
celebrations surrounding the diocesan sesqui-
centennial.
1. Oral History projects. Interview older
family members who can remember the early
days of your parish or school, and record
their memories on audiotape or videotape.
Prepare a list of questions which will help to
keep the interview on track.
2. Photo Galleries: Collect photographs
of parish events, buildings, group shots
(school graduations, First Communion,
Confirmation groups, weddings, etc.) These
may be copied and used as part of a display
in connection with the sesquicentennial.
3. Attic Searches'. Search the attic for
newspapers and journals which have been
kept as a record of family life or parish activi-
A movable display, presenting pho
tographs of people, places and
events of 150 years of Catholic life
in the Diocese, is being prepared
for the sesquicentennial.
ty. Copy these (they will look better on copy
paper than they did on the yellowing
newsprint) and make a scrapbook, using the
kind with clear archival-type sleeves for each
page.
4. Antiques Day: Organize an antiques
day, when people bring in objects they treas
ure from the past. Ask the owners to prepare
a brief description, with some stories about
the previous owners.
5. Family Tree: Preparation of a family
tree is a good project for the classroom. Ask
students to research their own family back
ground and to fill in as many ancestors as
possible. Fill in information on their location,
occupation, religious background and ethnic
heritage.
6. Speakers. Invite a historian or geneal
ogist to speak to your class or your parish
group about the ways in which we preserve
the memories of the past. Focus on such prac
tical issues as the materials used in scrap
books and photo albums, how to care for
fragile books and documents, and where to
find information about distant ancestors.
7. Visit the Diocesan Archives: Bring a
class group to the Catholic Pastoral Center,
601 East Liberty Street. Call ahead to make
arrangements, 912-238-2320.