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Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah http://www.diosav.org Vol. 81, No. 35 Thursday, October 11, 2001 $.75 per issue * News of air strikes prompts prayers at Vatican By John Thavis Vatican City (CNS) ews of U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan prompted prayers for peace at the Vatican, with some church leaders voicing qualified sup port for the retaliation and others apprehensive about civilian casualties. Pope John Paul II and nearly 250 bishops meeting in a month-long synod began their October 8 session with a special Latin-language prayer by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, one of the synod’s president-delegates. “The news that arrived yesterday evening about the operations in Afghanistan prompts our prayer for peace and justice. From our hearts we repeat: Lord, grant peace. May God enlighten those responsible for decisions,” Cardinal Re said. The pope added, “I hope for peace.” The pope made no specific comment on the first night of U.S. air strikes, which included the firing of 50 cruise missiles and bombing runs by 40 planes against military targets in a number of Afghan cities. U.S. officials said the aim was to destroy suspected terror camps run by Osama bin Laden and weaken the ruling Taliban regime that harbors him. A few hours before the bombing began, the pope repeated his invitation to make the rosary a daily prayer for peace and against terrorism in the month of October. Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, said that on the basis of the first wave of bombings, the U.S. retalia tion seemed “appropriate and measured.” That’s something church leaders will have to keep eval uating as events unfold, he said in Rome October 8. Bishop Fiorenza said the United States “need ed to take this military action” for two reasons: to get humanitarian aid into the suffering Afghan people and to end bin Laden’s operations. “Hopefully, there were no civilian casualties. As long as they’re attacking military installa tions, I think the response is appropriate and measured,” he said. Bishop Fiorenza said he hoped Muslim leaders around the world would understand that the retaliation was an act of self-defense by the United States. President Bush pauses as he speaks October 8 about the initial U.S. attacks on Taliban military posts and terrorist training camps in Afghan istan. “We’re going to be ongoing and relentless as we tighten the net of justice. This will be a long war," Bush said at the swearing in of former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge as Director of Homeland Security, a newly created position. Remember.the Southern Cross Subscription Drive: October 13-14! Academy blessed By Sister Rose Mary Collins, SSJ ishop J. Kevin Boland dedicat ed the recently restored Notre Dame Academy at Bull and 34th Streets, Savannah, on October 5. In his remarks Bishop Boland gave a thumbnail sketch of the his tory of the building and its ties to the Diocese of Savannah and the Bishop J. Kevin Boland blesses the restored building now housing Notre Dame Academy. neighborhood. Built as Benedictine Military School shortly after 1900, the Bull Street edifice later served as Sacred Heart School before the merger of Sacred Heart and Cathedral Day Schools into Notre Dame Academy in 1990. Bill Broker, representing the NDA advisory council and the Sacred Heart parish community (Continued on page 6) Restored Notre Dame Sister Mary Patricia Doyle, Deacon Frank Mathis Franciscan Handmaids RSM, remembered —page 3 I—- recalled -page 7 mark 85 years —page 11 A. ip : 4* 1 **