Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PAGE 8 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1964 CATHOLIC PRESS - U Lay BY HERBERT G. FARNSWORTH This is the 11th in the GEORGIA BULLETIN'S series on the Catholic Press. Mr. Farnsworth is vice-president of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic men and is a leading member of the Cathedral parish. When it comes to commenting on a portion of the Catholic press, I am a layman in two differ ent contexts. First, I am a layman in the sense that mine is not a religious vcation. Also, in the professional sense, I am not directly invol ved in the work of gathering and disseminat ing news through the press, nor in the editing of any news medium. Much is heard these days about the emerging of the Catholic layman in the church. This aware ness by the laity of their obligation to function in a more active way in the work of the church is an encouraging sign. To me the mystery of it all has been that this has taken so long in coming. The answer has not been, in my experience, attributable to any real discouragement by the clergy. On the contrary, I have found pastors and priests only too willing to accept lay coopera tion, once they assured themselves of the sin cerity and capabilities of the laymen Involved. Certainly thre have been exceptions to this situ ation, and undoubtedly these will continue, so long as pastors and laymen continue as human beings. BUT 1 MAINTAIN that the overwhelming cause of lay inactivity has been an apathy on the part of the average Catholic layman towards any in volvement in the work of Christ in His church. Since I cannot attribute lay apathy to a basic- lack of good will, the only other satisfactory answer to fit the majority of cases is an un- awarness of any need for such involvement as Christians in the life of the church and the com munity. Right at this point is where I look for the grea test contribution from the Catholic press in gene ral, and from our archdiocesan newspaper in particular. For here the power of the written word must pentrate our‘lives, must work with patience, with charity, with perseverance, to open our eyes to God's world beyond our own uncon sciously selfish circles of interest. We must expect a conscientious presentation of Christian principles in unflinching application to local, national, and world affairs. TRUE, THIS WILL not always provide "com fortable” reading. But if we are comfortable be cause we have been blind to the continuing needs of others who should be shown Christy by our example, then it is high time we had our boat of complacency rocked by the violence of truth. Indeed, if the truth seem violent, must not the real cause of disturbance lie in our not having opened our lay hearts to God’s creatures in accordance with His eternal values rather than in conformity to our material standards? Our Catholic press, then, will do us a disser vice if it does not make us aware of our privi leges, our responsibilities as Catholics, and con stantly focus our perspectives away from selfish attachments and toward a real fulfillment of our lives. Such fulfillment comes from loving service as workers, as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, as citizens. Too long have we Catholics failed to participate in community affairs. Let our own Catholic press point out to us the Christian responsibility we have in this area. Let us engage in real efforts towards Christian unity, and let our Georgia Bulletin take the lead inso far as the press is able. (In this regard I might suggest an extension of "Operation Understand ing” wherein a program of sending the Georgia Bulletin to local pastors of other faiths be in augurated.) THE LAYMAN'S ROLE in the church, however, must not be solely involved with fund raising, bazaars, card parties, and the like. These are necessary at times, and serve good purposes HERBERT G. FARNSWORTH in most cases. We must, of course, be wit nesses to Christ in the world. This implies first of all the example of a good life. It also implies being able to express your beliefs and to apply Christian principles and social teaching to current situations— or at least being able to explore these situations from the standpoint of Christian charity and justice. Here we look to the Catholic press for educa tion and illumination. Here is the ground of social philosophy wherein lay editor and priest writer meet. And we laymen have a responsibility to broaden our base of understanding by becoming Intellectually involved, through reading what is offered in our Catholic press. Our own arch- diocesan paper, in addition to presenting local and other news and related insights, can be of great service in presenting divergent views by lead ing thinkers—Catholic, Jew, Protestant—on mat ters of importance. An added hope would be that a taste for such reading would result in in creased intensity by the laity in other perio dicals which have the room to treat some of the complex problems at more length. WHAT A SPLENDID contribution our Georgia Bulletin can make when it inspires a more balanced use of leisure time, so that television (which for all practical purposes is a constant sales program interrupted occasionally by worth while entertainment) is relegated to its proper place—subordinate to religion, the arts, education, and recreation. We are living in a wonderful but contradic tory time, a time that is ripe with opportunity and that is also underlined with evidences of human shortcomings. Science is producing large numbers of people close to desperation in their inability to cope with re-education at an age too young for retirement yet "too old” for re employment in new industries, Transportation is reducing the size of the world so that all in deed may be looked upon as neighbors; at the same time the Godless philosophy of com munism builds * a wall in Berlin to isolate for mer neighbors. And China continues the insi dious subversion of all southeast Asia. WHO SHALL INTERPRET the complexities of science, industry, and politics in our world? If not the Catholic press, then how shall the voice of Christ cry out against the callousness of big business and big labor. Who shall present the case for the morality of Christianity against the neutrality and amorality of Madison Avenue? Who shall argue the inevitable failure of expe diency as the sole principle of political motiva tion? The Catholic press must be the voice of the Church as Christ in society. It will be read by the laity, who in their spheres of activity will carry the mesaage of justice and chairty to the community, to the business world, and to the political scene. The obligation of the Catholic press to be the voice 0 f Christian conscience in the community carries to the reader the obli gation to consider its message conscientiously and to act accordingly. 4 THE PROBLEM OF THE Christian layman is i to be in the world but not to be "of the world.” This does not mean that the world is evil, but that we must not give in to the tendencies of our fallen nature to revert to the purely mater ial aspects of life. We must, in other words, transform the world to the purpose intended by Christ, so that the arena in which we do combat for our eternal salvation is not run by a promo ter who changes the ground rules to insure an unfair fight! Christ said to His Father, "I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil.” As the People of God in Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, we attempt to cooperate in avoiding evil by 1 the positive means of working actively wherein a situation demands conscientious participation. (Someone has said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do noth ing.”) The Catholic press serves to point out these situations and the principles involved. I consider Georgians fortunate in the conduct of the Georgia Bulletin. As a father, I hope that my children will grow up in a laity more fully aware p of its purpose and with a quiet sense of urgency to be committed to the full implications of be ing Christian. In this regard, our archdiocesan [ paper is leading the way, and although we may not be fully award of our Christian role, I sense : that at least the layman is not sleeping, but has his feet on the floor and is about to get out of bed completely! ON INSPECTION TOUR Citizens Of Gainesville Cheer Visiting President BY REV, R. DONALD KIERNAN SEE PICTURE, PAGE 1 Twenty five year* ago last month the City of Gainesville, was visited by the President of the United States. This scene was repeated last Friday with a visit by another Chief Exe cutive of our land. a frequent visitor to Georgia, stopped in Gainesville to view how a city was going about the task of rebuilding Itself af ter a terrible act of nature, a tornado, had taken hundreds of lives and done millions of dollars in damage on the morn ing of Monday, April 6, 1936. Some of the early parishion ers remember well that day. The Courtenays, Clnciolos, Crisps and Lawlors were among the first parishioners who can recall the visit of President Ro osevelt and the inspiration and impetus he gave to a sorrow ing people. The quarter-century - ago visit was by President Frank lin D. Roosevelt. The President, for Information Writoi 104 Bely Crete Sekeel *950 Dauphiu* Street New OrUeea, Le. 7011? THE VIS ITlatt week by Pre sident Lyndon Johnson was al so in the nature of an inspec tion. The President came to Gainesville to lay emphasis upon his War on Poverty pro gram, a program which affects 20 counties in this ninth con gressional district. First hand, the Chief Executive wanted to see how this city was attacking the Urban Renewal, Education, Road Building and Poverty pro jects. The contrasts, twenty five years span, saw at one time a city literally devastated and now, like the Phoenix of anci ent Greek mythology, a vigor- tousi city rising up upon its own ruins. TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Saint Michael's Church was new. Miraculously it had escap ed the tornado. Located in it path, the tornado changed its direction just a few yards from the newly-constructed building. termites Devotions In Honor Of St. Anthony AT ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH EACH TUESDAY MORNING AT 11^30 Attend Mass or Mail Petitions To Moruignor J.E. King 928 Gordon St. S.W. Atlanta 30310. Office Equipment Business Machines Sales-Service-Supplies PHONE 325-6417 172 WHITEHALL STREET, S.W. ATLANTA 3, OEOROIA THESE PEOPLE remember too the bleak day of the Pre sident’s visit. It was as if the day were made to fit the sorr- owful occasion. May 1964, however, was a different story. The weather was literally made to order. Preparations had been well made and as one radio announc er termed the President's visit "it was accurately successful”. ROOSEVELT came here on a train; Johnson flew in by heli copter. The Presidential party came by way of Atlanta, and touched down on the Gaines ville airport. Transistor radios kept the people along the way informed about every action, from the time the President lan ded until he departed. A motorcade, led by Chief of Police Hoyt Henry, drove a route through the center of the area now under the Urban Re newal program. DIGNITARIES included Gov ernor Carl Sanders; Senator Herman Talmadge; Congress- Passionists Elect Head ROME (NC)~An American priest — Father Theodore Foley, C.P., of Springfield, Mass,—has been elected su perior general of the Pass- ionist Fathers for a 12-year term. He succeeds another Ameri, can, Father Malcolm La Velle, C.P, Father Sebastiano Camera of the congregation's Milan, Italy, province was elected vicar general and first con- suitor, Priests from the Neth erlands, Spain, Belgium and Ireland were also elected as consul tors. St. Thomas More Sunday, at 3 pm., the Home and School Association of St. Thomas More, Decatur, will in stall its new officers. This will be followed by the annual May Procession on the Rectory lawn. With Sunday’s 6 p.m. Mass there will begin the annual Novena of Masses for the moth ers of the parish. men Carl Vincent and Phil Landrum; Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz; Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Anthony Cellebrezi; Secre tary of Agriculture Orville Freeman; and Undersecretary of Commerce Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. Mayor Henry O. Ward acted as master of ceremonies and on a platform erected in front of the City Hall he presented to a cheering crowd of forty tho usand the President of the Uni ted States, Lyndon Johnson and his daughter, Lucl. THE PRESIDENT made fre quent references to the visit of his predecessor twenty-five years ago. Citing the phrase of president Roosevelt, "lend me your hands and hearts”, he pleaded with the people to stamp out the poverty of the area and to guarantee to all our people the freedoms demanded by jus tice. It was not President John son’s first visit to Gainesville. Back in i960 when he was run ning for the office of Vice Pre sident, he made a campaign speech here from" the back of a railroad car. The Senator was well received by a crowd of enthusiastic well wishers. But it was nothing compared to the crowd of thousands who crow ded into Gainesville’s Roose velt Square on Friday morning the 8th, day of May. 1964. ONE LITTLE boy of the par ish, Larry Merrit, rushed up to tell me that he had shaken the hand of the President. I asked, "what did you say to him, Larry?” he replied, "Hi”. Then I asked what the President had said to him. Just as proud he told me that the President had said,"Hi” too. Gainesville is a city on the move. A bond issue this week decided! the future of a pro posed Junior College-Voca tional School complex to be built here. The county hospital is in the process of enlarging its bed capacity with a build ing program now in progress. A nursing school has been es tablish in connection with Brenau College located here. Lake Lanier, according to stat istics, had more tourists last year than any other govern ment recreation facility. Ur ban Renewal is under way and a road study to facilitate the flow of traffic has Just been com pleted. THE VISIT of President John son will serve as a further im petus to the people of the area to get the job done. Just as the visit of the late President Ro osevelt served to stimulate the imagination and progress of a devastated city, last week's visit* by President Johnson will Insure the continued growth of a community dedicated to pro gress. SACRA CONGREGATIO DE PROPAGANDA FIDE Riot N. .l.?.5.?/64 (M.aHon.m ficiu, quMto, hula. nam.rl I. (a. rwpoMloM) Rome - April 10, 1964 Your Excellency: a v.,?* haa r nS5? tly S om ® to m V attention that the Atlanta Archdiocesan Office of the Society for the Propagation of the T Snl~ f° rwarded t0 the National Office last year the turn of 2,790.19 dollars as its contribution to the 1963 General Fund. I would ask Your Excellency to accept these few words as an expression of my gratitude and that of the Sacred Congregation de Propagagda Fide” for all that you and Father Harold J.Rainey, the Archdiocesan Director, have done to make this contribution possible and to acquaint your people with the needs and necessities of the Missions. It is no secret that the Catholic people of the United States make available a large part of the funds which the Holy See distributes each year to more than 800 missionary jurisdictions throughout the world. It has pleased me to learn that the good people of Atlanta have shared in this generous helping of others My earnest hope is that Your Excellency and Father Rainey will continue your efforts to foster an ever greater love for the Missions among your people by bringing to their attention the work of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. With renewed sentiments of personal esteem and everv best wish, I remain Sincerely yours in Christ, Cod*. r4+*’}*****’+4f YV His Excellency Thv Most Rev.PAUL HALLINAN.D.D. Archbishop of BYBEHT • PUNTING • UTHOOIAPHINO' Tllnlly 5-4727 Sirrini A limit Slntt 19H COMPANY ! 550 FORREST ROAD. N. I. ATLANTA, GEORGIA India: Afhaid To Enteo The Chobci Th$ Holy Fstbrr’i Minion Aid for ibt Orimtsl Cbttrcb Eighty Catholic families In the village of VAIKOM in Kerala State, India, are having a difficult time preserving their faith They live surrounded by high caste Hindus. Eihavns and Vales, rich and having beautiful temples. The poor | Catholics two years ago built makeshift chapel mostly of leaves C & Today it cannot hold the parlshlon ” <*«■»• nesldes It la in danger of col lapse. The people are afraid to enter and stay outside during scrv Ices. VAIKOM Is also a*'strong Marxist center, even called tne Mos cow of Kerala . . . Under the dlreo lion of their pastor, Father Francis Thachil, the people wish to build a .tfc' chapel. They will give their labor, what little money and building material they can but they need $4,000 for the work Will you help them with a donation? Maybe you’d like to build a MEMORIAL CHAPEL here for some friend or loved one. Please do what you can for these poor people. A STRANGE AND AWESOME STORY This comes out of the Jesuit annals. In the years between 1610 and 1730, some 760 letters were received In Rome trum Jesuits, begging their superiors to send them to the missions Many said they were uwakened ut night with dreams of savages in far-off lands, dying without priests. Some signed their request In blood . . Perhaps today n hidden inspiration draws some missionaries on to work for God. We do know' the tre mendous zeal and sacrifices of those in the Near and Middle East countries entrusted to our eare. You can help by; 1. Giving a STRINGLESS GIFT for an urgent mission need. 2. Sending a DOLLAR each month to one of our MISSION CLUBS. They serve the aged, the sick, orphans and help to build schools and chspels, 3. Rv taking out a membership in our association. Only 'SI a year for single persons; $5 for a family. 4. By buying a needed CHAPEL ITEM. The cost runs from $5 to $100. Gifts such as Altar linens, Stations of the Cross, etc. MASS STIPENDS ARE A CONSTANT NEED. OFTEN THEY ARE A PRIESTS SOLE DAILY SUPPORT. ADOPTING A PARISH Consider the good which would come If each of the 15,000 American Catholic parishes adopted a poor parish in the Near or Middle East. Some parishes might, for instance, help pay the expenses for the education of a seminarian which cost $100 a year for six years or help a Sister-to-be like SISTER MARY LISEUS or SISTER MARY ANGELUS whose training costs S150 a year for two years. FIRST COMMUNION Maureen F. writes: "I sm going to receive my First Holy Communion this year and I want a little girl to have a dress and veil like me.” Dear Maureen: Your kindness will bring the poor child a great joy and yoq great graces ... $10 will buy a child such an outfit. Remember us in your will. Our legal title: The Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Dear Monslgnor Ryan: Enclosed please find for Name Street City .. Zone State l&92ear£i$t(ni$$ion$jtt) FRANCIS CARDINAL SPILLMAN, President Miff. Joseph T. lyes, Net’l fee’y Seed ell eeauaesisetieas ret CATHOLIC NIAR IAST WILPARE ASSOCIATION III Mediae* Ave. et 4*ed Sr. New Yert, N. Y. 10017