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Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah http://www.diosav.org Vol. 81, No. 31 Thursday, September 13, 2001 $.50 per issue * # % Pope, bishop express horror at “inhuman terrorist attacks” Castel Gandolfo, Italy (CNS) ope John Paul II said he was horrified at the “inhuman terrorist attacks” in the United States and offered prayers for the victims and all Americans in “this dark and tragic moment.” The pope, who followed news of the September 11 attacks from his summer residence outside Rome, sent an unusually speedy telegram to President Bush several hours after the attacks began. “Shocked by the unspeakable horror of today’s inhuman terrorist attacks against innocent people in different parts of the United States, I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my pro found sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark and tragic moment,” the papal telegram said. “Commending the victims to almighty God’s eternal mercy, I implore his strength upon all involved in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors. I beg God to sustain you and the American people in this hour of suffering and trial,” he said. Bishop J. Kevin Boland, in Washington for a meeting of the Administrative Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued this statement: “September 11, 2001, was a day of national infamy. It will be part of our historical memory from this time forward.” “We pray for eternal rest for those who died. We pray for the living victims, may God be their strength and consolation. We pray for our nation. Let us pray and work together, we need to sup port each other in our hour of need.” “We pray also for our president, national and local government leaders. They bear the burden of leading us in wise ways during these days of • darkness.” “Violence breeds violence. Deep down we know it never solves our human problems. We share a common humanity with those who perpe trated these horrific times. The Gospel directs us to pray for our enemies. In the horror of these happenings, it is the most difficult thing to do. This weekend I am directing all the parishes in the diocese to celebrate the Mass in Time of War or Civil Disturbance with the Second Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation.” “I call upon all members of our diocesan fami ly to renew their trust in God. In the words of the bishops’ administrative board: ‘Let us not engage in ethnic, religious or national stereotyping for what may be the acts of a few irrational terror ists’. And we recall the words of the Psalmist, ‘the Lord is compassionate to all his creatures’.” The bishop will celebrate the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, September 15, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah. The second tower of the World Trade Center in New York City falls after the plane attacks September 11 that destroyed both towers. to host missionaries for Co-op Sunday Diocesan parishes Maryknoll Father Peter C. Brien, shown celebrat ing Good Friday with his missionary flock, will speak in the Savannah Deanery for the Mission Co-op Appeal, September 22-23. By Sister Mary Faith McKean, RSM issionaries from around the world will con verge on the Diocese of Savannah for the annual Mission Cooperative Appeal on Septem ber 22-23. Albany Deanery Albany’s Saint Teresa Church will host Father Charles Opondo-Owora, one of 70 Ugandan priests who, along with 9 European priests, 150 religious brothers and sisters, and over 850 lay catechists, minister to half a million Catholics in the Tororo Archdiocese. Catholics comprise 29% of the population in that part of Uganda, just ten times their percentage in south Georgia. The Church strives to meet the many social service needs in this developing nation. Augusta Deanery The people of the Turkana Desert in Kenya, East Africa, are nomads who live chiefly from the milk and blood of their camels, goats and cows—unless a serious drought means their ani mals die from starvation. Such a drought in 1962 induced the Kenyan government to invite the Medical Missionaries of Mary into the country for the first time to do famine relief. The Sisters also set up the first schools and health centers the Turkana region had ever seen. As Sister Mary Andrew Phillips says, “It is a wonderful experi ence watching starving children gain weight and become healthy again.” Sister Mary Andrew, a native of Michigan, and Sister Bernadette Gilsenan, from Dublin, Ireland, have both spent years in this part of Kenya, doing health and edu cation work and assisting women’s groups. They will speak at Saint Teresa of Avila and Most Holy Trinity Churches. Two priests of the Society of Saint Patrick will (Continued on page 11) Father Garcia installed as pastor —page 6 Vietnamese youth society prospers —page 7 Saint Anne’s, Columbus, turns 40 —page 12