Newspaper Page Text
4JLa_
SmiiLern Cross
Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese ofSavannah
http://www.diosav.org
Vol. 81, No. 32 Thursday, September 20, 2001
$.50 per issue
“Seek reconciliation, not revenge,” bishop urges
A memorial wreath and the Easter candle crossed by the American flag
in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist honor the victims of the
September 11 attack on the United States.
By Barbara D. King
4 {rpihe most difficult part of our
1 future journey is reconcilia
tion, forgiveness and renewal of
trust,” Bishop J. Kevin Boland said
during a moving service at the
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Sunday in the aftermath of the ter
rorist attack on two major U.S.
cities.
The bishop celebrated the Mass
in Time of War and Civil Distur
bance in a Cathedral whose pews
were packed with grief-stricken
worshippers. Tears and somber
faces filled the sanctuary as organ
ist Patricia Schreck led the choir
through religious hymns inter
spersed with patriotic songs.
It was the first time the bishop
had celebrated Mass at the Cathe
dral since returning from a meeting
of the Administrative Committee of
the U.S. Bishops in Washington,
DC. It was during that meeting last
Tuesday that he heard of the at
tacks on the World Trade Center in
New York and the Pentagon in
Washington.
“I speak to you in my role as
spiritual leader,” the bishop told his
hushed audience Sunday. “We are
deeply aware of the awesome re
sponsibility of the President of the
United States and all political lead
ers, that during these darkest of
hours, they will lead us with re
solve to seek accountability from
those who perpetrated these horrif
ic crimes.”
He added, “We pray that whatev
er may happen in the days ahead, it
will be carried out in such fashion
that it will personify justice and
help to bring peace to the world.”
But his central message was that
revenge should not consume Ame-
(Continued on page 6)
Savannah diocesan family affected by attacks
By Father Douglas K. Clark
lthough Georgia is geographi
cally remote from New York
and Washington, members of the
Savannah diocesan family were
personally affected by the attacks
on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon. Many had relatives or
friends in the buildings. Their fates
were unknown for some time.
Bishop in Washington
Bishop J. Kevin Boland was in
Washington, DC, attending a U.S.
Bishops’ meeting, when the attacks
took place September 11. The bish
ops were kept informed of the at
tacks and concelebrated a special
noon Mass with Washington Car
dinal Theodore McCarrick at the
National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception. “The Shrine was
packed,” the bishop recounted. “I
was struck by the large number of
Catholic University students in
tears during the celebration.”
Because of the suspension of
commercial flights, Bishop Boland
rented a car and drove back to
Savannah in order to preside at the
Mass in Time of War or Civil
Disturbance at the Cathedral of
Saint John the Baptist on Sunday.
Firefighting relatives
Monsignor William O. O’Neill,
rector of the Cathedral, was con
cerned for three relatives serving in
the New York City Fire
Department. His first cousin,
Captain Tommy O’Neill, was trans
ferred from his company to super
visory duties the morning of the
attack. All members of the compa
ny were killed. Tommy’s nephews,
Sean Hayes and Chris Pisano, were
also on duty at Ground Zero. Sean
was heading into the World Trade
Center when he was sent back to
the fire truck to bring equipment as
the body of the Fire Department
chaplain, Father Mychal F. Judge,
OFM, was being carried out.
Before he could return from the
truck, the building collapsed and he
was trapped under the fire truck for
24 hours before being rescued.
on NY, DC
Monsignor O’Neill also learned
that Martin Coughlin, a classmate
of his from grade school in Ireland
had been working as a carpenter on
the 102nd floor of one of the WTC
towers when the building was hit.
He is presumed dead.
(Continued on page 7)
Official Appointments
B ishop J. Kevin Boland has announced the following
appointments:
Reverend Robert E. Chaney, Director of African-American
Ministry for the Diocese of Savannah, effective July 1, 2001.
Reverend Monsignor William O. O’Neill, Dean of the
Savannah Deanery, effective September 1, 2001, for a term of one year (com
pleting the term of Father John A. Kenneally).
Reverend Lawrence B. Goulding, GHM, Dean of the Statesboro Deanery,
effective September 1, 2001, for a term of two years (completing the term of
Father Michael H. Smith).
Reverend Fred Nijem, reapponted Dean of the Macon Deanery, effective
September 1, 2001, for a term of three years.
Doctors Reid, Broderick,
remembered
—page 3
Mass in Time of War or
Civil Disturbance
—page 6
Hamilton parish to build
new church
—page 12