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7 PAGE 2 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1964 FRESH AIR’ IN CHURCH New Spirit In Women’s Orders Resulting From Aggiornamento (The author of the following article is the secretary of the' Conference of Major Super iors of Women, , Washington, D. C., an association formed in 1956 to advance the spirit ual welfare and professional efficiency of Sisters. She is a past president of St. Xavier College, Chicago, and a major figure in the movement to strengthen the formation of women Religious.) BY SISTER MARY JOSETTA (N. C. W. C. NEWS SERVICE Although no nomination for woman of the year has come her way, the Sister in the Unit ed States has lately received a large share of news coverage. I Readers of the American press recognize that it has sud denly become a best selling item to know what Sister thinks, Ollcuttan, MOTOR HOTEL • FREE PARKING • TV I AIR CONDITIONING • FAMOUS MIAMI BUFFET • ICE * BEVERAGE STATIONS • COFFEE MAKER. EACH ROOM Many Oonohua, Managar American Eipreee Credit Card* Accepted I luckie at CONE ST. A Good Addresa In Atlanta has thought, will think; does, has done, will do. And no one reads more avidly on the sub ject than Sister herself. JUST AS the Church is look ing at herself and asking, “who am I?’*, so, too, is the Sister studying her identity. She has seriously examined her life lest she build on sand, and examin ed her conscience concerning the sins of the just. This has made for the Sister a most grace-ful time. In the truth of the Book of Ecclesiastes, she has come to know that there is a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to rear down and a time to build; a time to keep and a time to cast away. Religious communities have taken very seriously what the grace of the moment has re vealed to them. It remains now to decide what shall be uproot ed, what shall be pruned. They have given attention to the hierarchy of values to de cide on the pruning of time tables; they have asked them selves about the deadwood in their apostolates. And having discovered the deadwood, they are asking themselves just how fast the prudent woodchopper may chop. The mood of the age is one of great hope. The vocation of the Sister has taken on added dimensions. Much is beginning, but it would be a mistake to evaluate the apostolate of the Sister in terms of beginnings. THE GREAT danger of "ag giornamento’’ lies in the pos- FLAMENCO DECOR A new collection of fine, hand-forged wrought iron and handcrafted, wood article* with the romantic touch of Spanish designs to please the American taste. Mad* is Mcnca Cclaiivrly tor PanAmerican Imports 3099 Peachtree (in Buckheadj 233-9795 taa/1) RYBEHT/ wtfib 'f COMPANY • MINTING I/ Ttinity 550 FORREST ROAD. N, 1. • UTHOGRAFHING 5-9727 ATLANTA. GEORGIA Sttvinf Atlanta Start 1912 BSE®* DRUGS.. ROSWELL ROflP.N.W Office Equipment Business Machines Sales-Service-Supplies PHONE 525-6417 PHONE 525-6417 172 WHITEHALL STREET, S.W. ATLANTA 3, GEORGIA ESTES SURGICAL SUPPLY CO. Free Cestomer Parking 4.10 W. PEACHTREE, N.W. JA 1-1700 ATLANTA, GEORGIA AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR SON'S FUTURE sibility of underestimating the accomplishments of the past, or even of the present. The Sis ters have ever been, first and foremost, daughters of the Church. A glance at the scope of their apostolate shows that they have long accepted the challenge of Cardinal Suhard to “think, plan, and love on the scale of the world." There are some 178,000 Sis ters in the United States. Of these, 17,000 are engaged in hospital work; 102,000 are em ployed in teaching. One out of eight young people in the Unit ed States attends one of the 10,600 Catholic grade schools, or of the 2,500 Catholic high schools. Catholic education cares for 5.5 million of the nation's elementary and sec ondary school children, or 14% of the total school population. Catholic colleges stretch all across the land. The surge of the times has swept this apostolate onto new horizons because better than five million of today's Catholic youngsters are not enrolled in Catholic schools and the num ber will grow each year. THIS FACT is offering a great challenge to Sisters to day, in terms of the cateche tical apostolate. Sister cate chists must be well prepared, competent to instruct lay cate chists, as they are being asked to do with increasing frequency. Some major superiors are thinking of dividing their for ces in a given parochial school in the following manner; some of the Sisters will be in admin istration or in teaching in the parochial school; two or three who have been given special training in catechetics will de vote themselves to the instruc tion of adults who will teach the growing number of children in the public school within the par ish. Both the nursing Sister and the teaching Sister must rethink the whole gamut of inter-per sonal relationships within her present apostolate. Many communities have long operated on the principle set forth by Thomas A’Kempis that “as often as I have gone out among men I have returned less a man." Sisters have been admonished to “keep them selves away from the world, and keep the world away from the cloister." jtoc'y m cross IN NEW ORLEANS, LA. A Leading Preparatory School for Boys, conducted by the Holy Cross Brothers. Grades 7 • 12, both Boarding and Day. ► Character Training and Christian Doctrine ► College Preparatory Courses ► Supervised Study Periods ► Training in the Fine Arts ► Complete Athletic Facilities For information write: Dir. of Admissions, HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Box 44, 4950 Dauphin* St.*New Orleans, La.70117 Translated, this meant the Sisters should teach the child ren from eight to three, or work the hospital shift and then re turn promptly to the safety of the convent. Now, of course, the fallacy in this sort of thinking has be come obvious to most Sisters. They have come to know that this mentality is completely contrary to the whole spirit of Christ who went about every where doing good. The possibi lities of the apostolate among the parents of the Sister's stu dents, among the relatives and friends of her patients, among the lay members of her facul ty, her hospital staff, the work ers in her convent, are wide open. WHILE MANY Sisters have long had the practice of visit ing homes, still many are only now beginning to participate in this most valuable experience. It becomes increasingly evident that this practice is of inesti mable value not only to the fam ilies and groups the Sister vis its, but to Sister herself. Her vision expands beyond the nar row confines of the convent; she begins to understand the sacri fice and the selflessness de manded in a family; her some times super-sensitive reac tions are tempered by the give- and-take she observes in every normal family relationship; she begins to understand the “why" behind the attitudes and behav ior of a student, a patient; she becomes a bit slower to make demands on youngsters con cerning items involving ex pense; in short, she learns something of the compassion of Christ. It must be said, however, that some communities hesitate to “raise the drawbridge" in view of the risks involved. Again, ir refutable logic answers this objection: “to isolate the yeast from the dough for fear of con- tagion is to miss the whole point." Most Sisters agree that risks must be faced with pru dence, but they must be faced. Sisters are becoming more and more involved in adult edu cation, especially in their col leges, conducting evening clas ses, and in some of their high schools. Some sisters are presently teaching on the facul ties of secular universities. COUNSELING has grown in importance in the apostolate of the Sister. Some are engaged in Newman Club work in state uni versities; others are in youth counseling. Sodality work, YCS groups, CFM, have been a part of the work of many Sisters over the years. Social work ers among Sisters are increas ing yearly. Establishment of the Nation al Sister Formation Conference in 1953 has brought to the Sis ters a long and careful spirit ual formation, intellectual training, and precise profes sional preparation to equip them for their role in the Church. Most religious com munities in the United States have heeded the directives of the Sacred Congregation of Re ligious to establish a “Junio- rate" to insure their Sisters of this careful preparation. In recent years the Junior Sisters have engaged in the direct apos tolate while in training. Many of them are active in the cate chetical work among young children in areas where there is no parish school. SISTERS OF the United States have “thought and planned and loved on the scale of the world" in^ another area, that of the Overseas Education Program. This program has grown since 1959 to now include students from Burma, India, Thailand, Uganda, Brazil, Chile, Colom bia, Peru, Venezuela. In 1963 almost $2 million in scholar ships were given involving some 145 foreign students in 45 American colleges. American communities have likewise responded to the plea of the popes that they send Sis ters to South America. More than 2,000 Sisters from the United States are presently working in Latin America. Different types of activities are springing up in these mis sions. Some of these may serve as pilot studies for further work in the United States. For example, one communi ty operates an apostolic center in a Latin American city. Three Sisters are presently assigned to this mission. One of them, trained in theology, is working for the Archdiocesan Cateche tical Office, conducting work shops for lay catechists, study days, and the like. A second Sister assists her in this work, devoting herself particularly to the social activities of the ca techists in the training groups. The third sister, with a mas ter’s degree in socilogy, gives instruction in sociology and ca techetics to the teachers in a Rural Life Institute organized to educate the poor in rural areas. PERHAPS nowhere is the spirit of “aggiornamento" so alive as in the area of relig ious life itself. Meetings of groups on all levels have brought a greater dialogue, among the Sisters. It is a time to speak. The Sisters are unit ed to find the truth for the sake of the common good. The vow of obedience is a gift from God that Sisters may know His will for them. The idea of stoic silence and blind submis sion is slowly being replaced by the attitude of the superior that she must be the “master listener." Organizations such as the Conference of Major Su periors have brought the re sponsible leaders together where they can learn from the wisdom and experiences of each other. With all their hearts they echo the inspiring words of Pope Paul VI when he was Car dinal-Archbishop of Milan: EVB4 IF YOU 00 HAVE AUJA1CH DMt ArTHERlVlgRA RESTAURANT,W€ R20WN ON W0CK WATCHING DRESSED AS BRIDES—About to receive the habit and veil of a novice are these eager postulants in a convent chapel, at the end of an eight-day retreat. In most communities the novice receives a new name at the beginning. Her novitiate usually lasts a year. The apostolate of the sister has taken on added dimensions in recent years. Among the 178,000 religious sisters in the United States, there are 102,000 teaching and 17,000 engaged in hospital work. Others are in social work, catechetical and counselling activities. Many labor in the home and foreign missions. SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME History Of Congregation Covers 400 Active Years SINVI CHRIST 40 ► HOLY CROSS BROTHER > TIACHIMO • SOYS’ HOMslr > RANCHI NO • OFFICE WORK * TRAMS « FOREIGN MISSIONS For Information Write: BiatirtiiaHMaRixlirtf 104 Holy CroM School 4950 Dauphin* Scroet' New OrleanB. La. BY SISTER MIRIAM JOSEPH S. S. N. D. Saint Peter Fourier, an Au- gustinian Canon, founded the original Congregation of Notre Dame, near the close of the six teenth century. The foundation was begun in the French Pro vince of Lorraine, with the training and education of youth as its primary purpose. The first Mother Superior was the saintly Alix le Clerc, under whose guidance the Congrega tion quickly spread through France, Germany, and Savoy. Sorrow descended upon the Congregation, however, when, along with the other religious orders and foundations in France, it was suppressed. As French influence and. power spread through Europe, the houses in Germany and Savoy were closed also. The last con vent and school of the Congre gation to close its doors was the one in Stadtamhof, Baua- ria. This was in the year 1809. ONE OF THE pupils attend ing the school in Stadtamhof, was little CarolineGerharding- er, who later would work with Bishop Michael Wittman in re organizing the Congregation of Notre Dame. This reorganiza tion and refounding of the Com munity took place in Bavaria in 1833. Caroline Gerhardinger became Mother Mary Teresa of Jesus, the first Mother Gen eral of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The new Congre gation framed its spirit and rules according to those of the great Father of the Church, Saint Augustine, and it con tinued the work of Saint Peter Fourier and the original Can- onesses of Notre Dame in fur thering the interests of edu cation. That Mother Mary Teresa and her successors accom plished what they set out to do is evidenced by the continual growth and expansion of the wmmmmmmmmmmmHmmmm Congregation during the past one hundred thirty-one years. IN THE YEAR 1847, on the feast of Saint Ignatius, the first small band of School Sisters, led by Mother M. Teresa herself, came, to the shores of America. Sister Caroline Friess, one of this original group, became the first Mother Superior of the School Sisters in this country. The first Motherhouse in Amer ica was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and from there Mo ther M. Caroline saw the Con gregation expand to the North, the East, the South, and the West. Today there are 12,000 School Sisters of Notre Dame, 6,000 of whom are from the American Provinces. The members of the Order are doing the work of God in nineteen countries, nine of which are staffed by Sisters from the American Mother- houses. These include the Unit ed States of America, Canada, Puerto Rico, England, Japan, Guam, Central America, Okina wa, and Bolivia. In these Ameri can-staffed schools alone, more than 296,000 children of all ages are being educated according to the spirit and ideals of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, always in collaboration with Diocesan or Archdiocesan au thority. THE WORK OF the Congre gation has remained strictly educational through the years but the army of “behind the scene" workers necessary to keep the educational work of the Order functioning at top level include nurses, techni cians, bookkeepers, house keepers, librarians, cooks, and others. When a girl enters the Com munity she remains a Postu lant for ten months, during which time she begins her re ligious and professional train ing. After the term ofPostulan— cy is completed she is received “Rejoice because your vo cation is great, your mission sublime, your call from God. Be glad in your hearts and re joice that your vocation is so highly esteemed and has be come so Instrumental, so func tionally necessary." into the Congregation and re ceives the habit and the white veil of a Novice. The Novitiate year is a time of concentrated religious training, although some professional studies are carried on during this time al so. At the end of the Novitiate year the Novice takes the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obe dience for the first time. At this time the vows are taken for a period of three years only, during which time the Sister continues the work of spiritua and professional for mation in the Juniorate. Sec ond temporary vows are then taken for a period of two years. At the end of those two years th e perpetual Vows of Relig ious Life are pronounced and the Sister becomes a fully pro fessed member of the Commu nity. HOW DOES Georgia figure in this large network of educa tional activity? In Georgia, the School Sisters of Notre Dame opened, in the years 1947 and 1948 respectively, grade schools in Griffin and Fort Oglethorpe. There are seven Sisters and two lay teachers staffing these schools. In both Griffin and Fort Oglethorpe, where the Catholic population is small and Protestant child ren make up a good percentage of the school enrollment, much is being done to further under standing of the Catholic faith among the Protestants. TERMITES SWARMING? GATEWAY • HOLIDAYS Ul EXPENSE • ESCORTED TOURS EUROPE Frice oho incloda* Tram-Atlantic Iromporfation 21 TO 57 OATS—11 COOMTIIM-FIt- ttUINT DEPARTURES VIA LUXURY LIBER* ALL FIRST CUSS IN EUROPE First class hotels-Private bath throughout-Practically all meals - de luxe motor coach - tips - taxes - extra features. Writ* or co* for *ro« ioMar to Van Lear Travel Gainesville, Ga. Sales Agents Wanted Day Night 536-1924 532-1358 _ i FRED A. YORK PEST CONTROL SERVICE O'Ur Slogan - Nearly Right Won’t Do Our Service - Always Guaranteed Our Products On Sale At Office CALL FOR FREE INSPECTION OR INFORMATION 766 State St., N.W. Phone TR 5-8378 Atlanta, Ga. Orders Of Nuns Under the leadership and inspiration of Archbishop Hallinan and Monsignor P. J. O’Connor, the Director of Vocations/.he Advi sory Committee for women’s vocations in the Archdiocese has established a program to interest the youth in the religious life, to enlighten and motivate them and help them decide what calling in life God has in store for them. This commission is the Archdiocesan Center of Vocations, co ordinated and unified pastoral effort for more effective recruit ing of divine vocations. These include the inauguration of a com plex of private and public prayers for youths and adults, a day of recollection, vocational talks in all the schools given by the Sis ters who are laboring in the Archdiocese, as well as talks to adult groups; Open House in convents for girls to be accompanied by their parents; encouraging the reading of vocational literature; the personal spiritual guidance of prospects by select priests call ed vocational directors, or through one’s regular confessor or parish priest; and finally, a vocational pageant and outing. This unified program of priests, Sisters and laymen will engender a common effort to obtain better response from youths, greater cooperation from parents, and a deeper understanding of the reli gious life in the laity. THE GEORGIA BULLETIN will assign a column for the next several weeks which will carry the stories of the Re ligious orders of women working in the Archdiocese. There will be information about.the Founder, her spirit, the specific work of the Congregation and the qualifications required to become a mem ber, This column should be of vital interest to all since the problem of vocations concerns everyone. All baptized Catholics have a serious duty of working for the vitality of the church to which they belong and share the responsibility for the vitality of the priesthood and the religious life. A year ago Archbishop Hal linan said, "Vocations should be of great significance to the laity, especially parents. Stressing the current shortage of voca tions, he placed his confidence in parents by saying, "parents know it is their responsibility, their privilege, to give to the cause of religion those young people who desire the life of a Religious". ECHOLS TRANSFER INC. Hauling 8i Moving Truck & Driver $3.50 Per Hour Tractor Trailor & Driver $4.50 Per Hour 370 Lee St., S.W. 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