Newspaper Page Text
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Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 17 No. 21
Thursday, May 24, 1979
$5 Per Year
Head On — Baptist - Catholic Dialogue
REACHING GUT - Bishop Joseph H. Hodges, left,
of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., and Father Victor
Seidel tape an interview for Father Seidel’s “Time
Out” radio program which is broadcast in 18 states and
parts of Canada. Bishop Hodges recently appointed the
priest as director of communications for the
24,000-square- mile diocese. Sunday, May 27, is World
Communications Day and Catholic Communications
Campaign Day.
Three To Be Ordained Saturday
The Brownlow
And Joe Show
Joe O’Donnell looks like a
leprechaun. He acts like one too. His
impish, quick steps darting hither and
yon matches the elf-like ruddy
complexion of his constantly sparkling
features. His melodious turn of
unsuspecting wit leads you to believe
that the rainbow’s crock of gold really
and truly exists. And furthermore, Joe
knows where it is.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. Membership
of some mythical
Irish folklore
family fails to
describe brother
Joe. A native of
the Windy City, his
adventurous feet
led him to join the
Glenmary Fathers.
There, over 20
years ago, the
priesthood began
for Father Joe.
The first decade found him anchored
to classroom duties enforcing the rigors
and the rule of seminary life. But the
call of the Appalachian hills and the
Glenmary-spattered missions was always
present. The second decade saw him
answer the call The wilds of West
Virginia and Kentucky welcomed the
warmth of his pastoring.
But there was more, and Father Joe
set out to find it. He did in the person
of C. Brownlow Hastings - one of the
high priests of the Georgia Baptist
Convention. Their meeting was
providential, their attraction
phenomenal, their show got on the
road.
Dr. Hastings was raised harboring all
the suspicions of Romanism that
self-respecting Baptists should. His
suspicions subtley became his dire
downfall. He studied the Vatican
Council reports and even visited the
Eternal City. It became surprisingly
obvious that the enormous gap between
these towering Churches of Christianity
should somehow be narrowed.
Brownlow looked for the key to that
unbudgable buffer. One morning Joe
showed up.
Their fast friendship led to vast
changes. It was immediately decided
that others could be changed too. And
not just little pockets of pining curious
groups. The grandiose plan of the
Brownlow and Joe Show reached out,
rocking the stolid enclaves of
unsuspecting Baptist assemblies and
Catholic parishes. No one was safe.
Their plan is precise and infallible. A
Baptist pastor along with his Bible
carrying flock is enticed to the Saturday
evening Mass at the neighboring
Catholic parish. Finding themselves
surviving the experience and even living
through the night, they feel
uncontrollably compelled to return the
invitation the following night in the
stately expanse of their Baptist Church.
Brownlow and Joe are on stage each
night stirring the Christian mix, giving
precise definitions of their faith,
smoothing the way for charming chatter
and unleashing torrents of tremendous
understanding. The Spirit moves with an
unquenchable fire of love through the
perfect orchestration of their work.
The Brownlow and Joe Show needs
no promotion agent. It is booked solid.
If you would like to see these pied
pipers of Christian unity at work in
your community, you can. But their
packed full datebooks say you will have
to wait.
The Show is a smashing success.
The Reverends Jose Femandez-Solis,
Edward J. Thein and Anthony R. Green
will be ordained to the priesthood for
the Archdiocese of Atlanta by
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan on
Saturday, June 2, at the Cathedral of
Christ the King at 10 a.m.
The Reverend Femandez-Solis will be
the first native of Cuba ordained for the
archdiocese. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Faustino Jose Femandez-Solis of
Miami, where he attended Miami-Dade
Jose Femandez-Solis
NC -- The violence marking
independence struggles in various
African states is drawing concern from
religious leaders inside and outside the
continent.
Key issues involve political violence,
orderly transfer of power from minority
white governments to majority black
governments, the strict racial
segregation policy of apartheid, safety
for refugees fleeing the fighting and the
killing of missionaries.
Pope John Paul II has pleaded for
Junior College. He also attended
Georgia Tech and St. Vincent’s
Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fla. Father
Femandez-Solis will celebrate his first
Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary on
Sunday, June 3.
The Reverend Thein is a native of
Pittsburg. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence J. Thein and studied at St.
Meinrad’s College in Indiana and St.
Mary’s Seminary and University in
Baltimore. His first Mass will be
celebrated at St. John Vianney in Lithia
Edward J. Thein
peace in Uganda where fighting
continues after a bloody overthrow of
dictator Idi Amin. In the United States
and Britain church leaders are urging
pressures against Rhodesia and South
Africa, saying these governments are not
sincere in their plans to establish black
majority rule. In Namibia, many
Christian leaders are asking for
internationally supervised elections as
the way to achieve independence for the
South African-administrated territory.
The common thread of these
situations is the increased use of
Springs, where he has served as a
deacon, on Sunday, June 3.
The Reverend Green is also a native
of Pittsburg and is the son of A. R.
Green and Dolores M. (Mrs. William P.)
Genzier. He was educated at St. Meinrad
College and The Toronto School of
Theology (St. Augustine’s). He has been
serving as a deacon at St. John the
Evangelist in Hapeville, where he will
celebrate his first Mass on Saturday,
June 2.
Anthony R. Green
violence by governments and their
opponents which often spreads into
neighboring countries.
- UGANDA: At least four Catholic
missionaries have been killed by troops
loyal to the deposed Amin. Anti-Amin
forces, aided by troops from
neighboring Tanzania, control most of
the country and established a
provisional government. However, Amin
supporters still control sections in the
northeastern and eastern parts of the
country which at the time of the
(Continued on page 3)
BY MONSIGNOR
NOEL C. BURTENSHAW
Baptists are everywhere in the State
of Georgia. Catholics meet them in
every walk of daily life. They are
together at work, in school, in clubs, in
every activity your imagination can
dream up.
Baptists are hard to miss. Across the
length and breadth of the State 3,000
Baptists Community Churches are
dotted. So Catholics meet them on a
regular basis.
However, the rare event occurs when
the leadership of both Churches come
together for planned days of dialogue. It
occurred last week in full flourish with
top brass of both Churches present.
Surrounded by the beautiful quiet of
the Georgia mountains, on the shore of
Lake Louise, nestles the comfortable
retreat houses of the Georgia Baptist
Assembly. There for two days, wrapped
in positive productive dialogue, was the
leadership of both Churches.
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan of
Atlanta led a group of priests, religious
and laity into the North Georgia hills,
while from Savannah, Bishop Raymond
W. Lessard led a similar group. Ready to
meet and greet them warmly was Dr.
James N. Griffith, President, Georgia
Baptist Convention and Dr. Searcy S.
Garrison, Executive Secretary-Treasurer.
Approximately 60 Catholics and
Baptists made up the dialogue
community for the two days.
The historic meeting became a reality
through the vision of Father Joe
O’Donnell, who represents the Bishops
of the U.S. in Baptist dialogue and Dr.
C. Brownlow Hastings, Baptist
representative on Catholic relations.
Both men, firm friends, devoted to
bringing both communities in closer
relationships steered the Toccoa
meeting into useful and successful
dialogue.
The meeting began on Thursday, May
17, and ended the following afternoon.
The hours were filled with shared
prayer, group dialogue and the always
fruitful social gatherings.
Thursday afternoon was given over to
the Catholic Bishops as they stated the
goals of their fast-growing communities
in the State. The problems facing the
rapidly-growing Catholic parishes in the
New South were also stated.
Archbishop Donnellan saw the need
for greater involvement by the Church
in religious education of the family,
evangelization and attention to the
unchurched. Bishop Lessard saw a need
for greater social involvement to amend
the evils building around us. He listed
teenage pregnancy, racism, crime and
capital punishment as areas where the
conscience of the Church must turn.
It was in the trenches of small group
dialogue, however, that the real work
and thorough understanding was
accomplished. Baptists and Catholics,
pastors and laity, discussed programs
and problems, especially as they exist in
the local churches. Religious education
was a prime topic, Sunday School,
worship and liturgy - all were shared.
Successes were outlined and frustrations
were grieved over.
One session was completely devoted
to the “dangling myths” each held
about the other, such as: “Baptists are
fundamentalists. Catholics are strictly
ritualists. Baptists believe what they
like. Catholics believe what they are
told.” Truth was outlined, discussed and
better understood.
On Friday afternoon the rostrum was
given over to the Baptist leaders. Dr.
Griffith outlined the evils besieging
Christianity at every turn because of
secularism. Dr. Garrison showed the
expansion of Georgia Baptist Churches
everywhere in the State and in other
areas of the country and the world.
Each year greater goals are set.
But it was left to the warm comments
of Father Joe O’Donnell and Dr.
Brownlow Hastings to wrap up the
two-day meeting. Their vision was
clearly understood by all. “Let us get
our laity and pastors to build and cross
bridges of understanding. Let us never
worry or be concerned about uniting
Churches - that is the work of the Spirit
- let us work to bring people together.”
As the two groups gathered papers
and belongings and set off for home,
that goal became a renewed priority in
Baptist-Catholic relationships.
He’s On The Tube
Church Eyes African Violence
We may never get to see him in person, but through the miraculous power of the
Media, he is suddenly in your own living room.
Media makes our world smaller. It makes it easily accessible to the Gospel of Christ.
It is there, able and willing to carry the witnessing words of salvation to the whole
human family.
You can help make the dream a reality. The Catholic Communications Collection
will take place in every parish on Sunday next, May 27. Half the total amount
collected will remain in our Archdiocese for local programming. Half will help a
National Communications effort.
Put God’s Word on the tube. It is a bold step. In your parish, be a part of it.
Give To The Catholic Communications Campaign...
... Sunday, May 27