Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, November 23, 2000
The ‘Bishops ©IF Sstvaminmlh
The Southern Cross, Page 11
3339 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON. O. C. 20008-3807
June 27, 2000
No. 6362
Dear Bishop Bolands
As the Diocese of Savannah celebrates the 150th
Anniversary of its establishment and also the opening of its
newly restored Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on the occasion
of the centennial of its rededication, it is my distinct
privilege to convey to Your Excellency and to your beloved
ecclesial community the heartfelt congratulations and prayerful
good wishes of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
It is the Holy Father's earnest hope and desire that
the celebration of these historic milestones will be a rich
opportunity for the Church in Savannah to give thanks to Almighty
God for His abundant blessings and to grow in a renewed
consciousness of the dignity and the mission of each baptized
Christian. *
In this Jubilee year of grace, His Holiness encourages
the clergy, religious and laity to work with ever greater zeal
fdr the ordering of temporal realities according to God's plan
(cf. Lumen Gentium, 31), for the building up of the Church in
faith, hope and love, and for the extension of Christ's Kingdom
on earth.
Apostolic Nunciature
United States of America
As a sign of his paternal affection and spiritual
closeness, the Holy Father imparts to the local Church entrusted
to your pastoral care his Apostolic Blessing, granted through the
intercession of Mary Immaculate.
To the sentiments of His Holiness may I add my own warm
greetings and prayerful best wishes.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
4 j,vuDA v: i
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo
Apostolic Nuncio
His Excellency
Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland
Bishop of Savannah
601 East Liberty Street
Savannah, GA 31401-5136
Most Rev. J. Kevin Boland,
D.D.
Thirteenth Bishop of
Savannah
(1995-)
J OHN KEVIN BOLAND was bom
in Co. Cork, Ireland (Diocese of
Cork and Ross), on April 25, 1935.
Father Boland was ordained a priest
for the Diocese of Savannah at All
Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland, on
June 14, 1959. On February 7, 1995,
Pope John Paul II appointed Father J.
Kevin Boland thirteenth Bishop of
Savannah. He was ordained and
installed as Bishop of Savannah on
April 18, 1995.
The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
coincides with the Sesquicentennial
(150th anniversary) of the establish
ment of the Diocese of Savannah and
the 100th anniversary of the rededi
cation of the rebuilt Cathedral of
Saint John the Baptist, after the dis
astrous fire of 1898. To prepare for
the Jubilee, Bishop Boland asked the
Diocese to produce a 3-year prepara
tion program, called The Fullness of
Time and to publish it in three lan
guages: English, Spanish and
Vietnamese.
Because of its evident stmctural
deterioration, Bishop Boland had the
the Cathedral given a “complete
physical” in 1997. The results indi
cated that a major restoration was
needed. As a result, the bishop spear
headed the Jubilee Campaign “One
Faith ... One Family” to raise over
$10 million for the diocese. The
money was earmarked for the re
storation of the Cathedral, Hispanic
ministry, technology and parish
development. The campaign brought
in well over $15 million.
On November 29, 2000, just over
100 years after the rebuilt Cathedral
was dedicated, Bishop Boland will
dedicate the restored Cathedral, in
the presence of two cardinals, the
bishops of the region, the clergy, reli
gious and people of the Diocese of
Savannah.
The Door of Our Past Opens 1
To the Promise of Our Future 1
As we celebrate the 150 th Anniversary
Of the Diocese of Savannah,
And the Rededication of its
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist;
The Parish Family of
St. Frances Cabrini Church
Opens wide its doors to all.
With our thoughts and with our words,
In our homes and in our hearts;
By our deeds and through our faith,
With the opening of our new school;
We seek to share the gospels’ truth,
So that the light of Christ will shine
On generations to come.
Faith brought us to this celebration.
Faith will guide us as we grow.
May God bless this glorious day!