Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Official Newspaper of the http://www.diosav.org Vol. 81, No. 43 Thursday, December 6, 2001 $.75 per issue 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 -page 6