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Official Newspaper of the
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Vol. 81, No. 43 Thursday, December 6, 2001
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A LETTER FROM BlSHOP BOLAND
Pray, fast, give alms for peace, against terror
My dear friends in Christ,
In response to the growing threat of global ter
rorism and other conflicts, Pope John Paul II has
called for a church-wide day of fasting on Friday,
December 14. The Holy Father has asked that this
day of fasting for Catholics be marked by prayers
for peace. The pope has suggested that, in addi
tion to limiting their food and drink on that day,
Catholics should find ways to transform their sac
rifice into a contribution to the victims of terror
ism and war. “In a situation rendered dramatic by
the ever-impending threat of terrorism, we feel
the need to raise our cry to God.”
We are all conscious of the fact that the bed
rock of any spiritual journey consists of prayer,
fasting and almsgiving. Our Holy Father is ask
ing us to look anew at these practices within our
own personal lives. And so I make the following
suggestions for praying, fasting and almsgiving
in the parishes and institutions of our Diocese:
Prayer: During this Advent season, I encour
age families and individuals to pray the rosary
on a regular and consistent basis for peace in the
world.
Where feasible, I ask our parishes to celebrate
a Mass for Peace and Reconciliation on Friday,
December 14, at a time when it would be pas-
torally appropriate for the parishioners. This is
the day designated by our Holy Father to also be
a day of fasting and abstinence.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks
September 11, Moscelyne Maggioni prays at
the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist on
September 17.
January 1, 2002 is a Holy Day of Obligation.
The liturgy of the Church allows for various
liturgical options on that day. Parishes are
requested to offer the Mass for Peace, which is
one of the options. There should be an emphasis
on the intercession of Mary carried through in
the homily and Prayers of the Faithful.
Fasting: I am officially declaring Friday, De
cember 14, 2001, a day of fast and abstinence
similar in character to that of Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday. The day of prayer and discern
ment should remind us of our dependence upon
God. No one should be overly concerned with
the exact regulations that pertain to a day of fast
and abstinence. It is also a time for people to
consider selecting a day in the week when they
would voluntarily abstain from excessive food
and drink as part of their spiritual practices.
Almsgiving: The people of our diocese have
already been requested to share their treasure for
the benefit of the victims of terrorism of Sep
tember 11. There was a magnificent response!
We will be forwarding the total to National
Catholic Charities before Christmas with an
additional $25,000 from the Diocese.
I wish you all a blessed Advent season.
Your friend in Christ,
-f-
Bishop of Savannah
Religious Retirement collection set for December 8-9
By Allison Kennedy
ardening. Volunteering at the
Saint Vincent de Paul Society,
the Saint Anne Church outreach,
and at Saint Francis Hospital.
Reading. Keeping up with the
news. Serving as Eucharistic minis
ters to the homebound.
Four nuns in Columbus aren’t let
ting the grass grow under their feet
in their retirement, despite the fact
they deserve a rest. You’d think
that nearly 250 collective years in
the Sisters of Mercy, as teachers,
principals, hospital and inner-city
workers would warrant putting up
one’s feet. Yet these religious man
age to keep an active life going in
their retirement years.
“It’s such a joyful life,” said
Sister Aurelia Benedetto, surround
ed recently by her three friends in
their east Columbus convent:
Sisters Jeanette Edwards, Gratia
Thomas and Patricia Thomas.
(Sister Gratia and Sister Patricia
are siblings.) i
Days now begin and end much
the same as when they worked:
with prayers and meditation each
morning, daily Mass at Saint Anne
Church, and Evening Prayer before
dinner. The Sisters take turns gro
cery shopping and occasionally
cooking.
“I like to microwave everything,”
said Sister Gratia who, of the four,
likes cooking the least. She even
prefers instant coffee.
Sister Aurelia said the women
have the flexibility to travel and
visit family more often, now that
they’re retired.
“Our retirement years allow us
more freedom to travel,” she said.
The oldest of the foursome is
Sister Patricia, who took her vows
more than 70 years ago. Now 90,
she was the first principal of Pacelli
High School in 1960. Sister Gratia
taught at the school for 20 years.
Sister Aurelia and Sister Jeanette
also taught school', and have also
worked in hospitals and the inner
city in Baltimore and Savannah.
The religious took retirement in
different years.
Sister Jeanette, the self-described
pack rat of the group, collects pho-
(Continued on page 7)
Area kids help N.Y.
victims and Afghan
orphans
-page 7
A nurse
and a president
-page 3
Gartland Awards
conferred
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