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Vol. 81, No. 21
Thursday, May 24, 2001
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Pope, cardinals identify pastoral challenges and solutions
Pope John Paul II opens the consistory in Synod Hall at the
Vatican May 21. More than 150 of the world's 183 cardinals
were meeting for three days of closed-door sessions.
By John Thavis
Vatican City (CNS)
n the largest meeting of its kind
ever held at the Vatican, more than
150 cardinals sat down to identify
pastoral challenges and possible so
lutions at the start of the third millen
nium.
Pope John Paul II opened the May
21 -24 consistory with a prayer and a
request for the cardinals’ input, say
ing he wanted a free and fraternal
exchange of opinions.
The meeting’s first day provided
short speeches on a wide range of
topics: the role of the pope, the call to
personal holiness, pastoral problems
of the family, opportunities offered
by modem media, and the need for
justice and charity in globalization.
Two particular suggestions came
from U.S. cardinals: preparation of a
document that would clarify what the
church means by “new evangeliza
tion” and an annual worldwide Sy
nod of Bishops with an open agenda.
In his welcoming talk, the pope avoi
ded specifics. He said the church needs
to find the best ways to evangelize in
modem societies, and that means prior
itizing goals and evaluating every level
of its pastoral operations.
He described the meeting as a fol
low-up to the Great Jubilee of the
Year 2000 and to his recent docu
ment, Novo Millennio Ineunte (“At
the Beginning of the New
Millennium”), which outlined pas
toral aims and obstacles for the com
ing years.
The cardinals, seated in the shell
shaped Vatican Synod Hall, applaud
ed the 81-year-old pontiff, who was
(Continued on page 6)
Eighteen men approaching ordination as deacons
T his coming Saturday, May 26, Bishop J.
Kevin Boland will ordain two seminarians,
Mike Ingram and Steve Schraufnagel, to the
order of deacons at Saint Mary on the Hill
Church, Augusta. After their ordination, thg new
“transitional” deacons will be given summer
assignments to parishes in the Diocese of
Savannah and then return to the seminary for a
final year of study before their planned ordina
tion to the priesthood. Another seminarian, Ben
Dallas, who is studying for the priesthood in
Rome, will be ordained a deacon with his class
mates in the fall. On June 2, the bishop will
ordain 16 men as permanent deacons for the
Savannah Diocese in the Cathedral of Saint John
the Baptist.
Their four years of spiritual and academic for
mation began with three years of graduate-level
study through Loyola University. Those who are
college graduates received a Masters Degree upon
their successful completion of all academic
requirements by the university. The fourth year
consisted of locally taught courses in Dogmatic
Theology, Mariology, Canon Law, Counseling
Techniques, Social Justice Issues, Homiletics,
Parish Administration and Liturgy. During the
Seminarians Mike Ingram (left) and
Steve Schraufnagel (right) will be or
dained transitional deacons for the Di
ocese of Savannah at Saint Mary on
the Hill Parish, Augusta at 10:00 a.m.
on May 26 by Bishop J. Kevin Boland.
The public is invited.
Photos by Landmark.
formation period, the candidates were also requi
red to meet quarterly for a weekend. At each of
the quarterly gatherings, an outside speaker pre
sented a specific subject to aid the future deacon.
The fourth year of study also enabled the
wives of the candidates to make a private retreat
that directed their thoughts of the ministry their
husbands would be ordained for. The wives were
also invited to partake in all academic studies
during their husbands’ formation. Also required
of the candidates was a three-summer internship
program at their respective parishes working
hand in hand with their sponsoring pastor.
The candidates are Elmore J. Butler, Church of
the Most Holy Trinity, Augusta; John C. Dallas,
Saint Teresa Parish, Albany; Edgar L. Ensley,
Jr., Saint Anne Parish, Columbus; Richard F.
Fetterman, Immaculate Conception Parish,
Moultrie; Brian Goodman, Saint Mary on the
Hill Parish, Augusta; Lawrence A. Guyer, Saint
William Parish, Saint Simons Island; Robert
Herrmann, Saint Anne Parish, Columbus; James
A. Hunt, Sacred Heart Parish, Warner Robins;
Ronnie F. Joiner, Saint Mark Parish, Eastman;
Robert D. Lasseter, Saint John the Evangelist
Parish, Valdosta; Cedric T. Leslie, Saint Peter
Claver Parish, Macon; Michael V. Marchek,
Saint Michael’s Parish; Fort Gordon; John R.
Quillen, Christ the King Parish, Hamilton; Gary
Templin, Saint Stephen’s Parish, Hinesville;
William H. Wilson, Saint Francis of Assisi
Parish, Saint Marys; Stephen Wulf, Saint John
the Evangelist Parish, Valdosta.
A
“Sister Act
—page 3
99
Blessing of the Fleet
—page 6
Birthday concert at
Cathedral
—page 12