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The Georgia Bulletin
December 20,1979
The Sounds Of Christmas
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The sounds of Christmas should
never be so loud, the decorations of
the season should never be so
attractive, the thoughts of the day
never so distracted as to drown out
the voices of the angels or obscure the
sight of the manger. The child there is
Christ, our Redeemer. His Mother is
the Blessed Virgin Mary. His Father is
God with Whom He is co-equal and
co-eternal. Saint Joseph is the foster
parent of Him Who is the Messiah
promised through the centuries.
Each of us is called to reflect on
the message of the angel - “I have
come to proclaim good news to you —
tidings of great joy to be shared by all
the people. This day in David's city a
Saviour has been born to you, the
Messiah and Lord.” From our
reflection can come a deepening of
faith, a resurgence of hope, a
rekindling of love that will give us a
share in the life of Christ. For this is
the reason for His coming — "that you
may have life and have it more
abundantly."
Arckbiskop’s Office
754 Wert Peachtree Street, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Sharing in this life then we must be
joyous, and our joy must be shared.
Here indeed is the meaning and
message of Christmas. So tremendous
a joy must find expression. We do so
in the greetings of friendship, in the
giving of gifts, in the adornment of
homes, in our air of festivity. In all
that we do let this joy flow, give color
and meaning and warmth and love.
From our full hearts, our joyous
hearts, let us give praise before God
and man.
To each of you, and ali your loved
ones, I extend the greeting of Saint
Paul:
May the peace of Christ
reign in your hearts
and
the fullness of His message
live within you.
(f.
Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan
Archbishop of Atlnata
Special Blessings
Teresa Gernazian
Bill and Toni Nursey will celebrate
Christmas this year with extremely grateful
hearts. As Bill relates the Christ Child’s birth
for Pam, Brad and Heather, 11, 5 and 3,
three-month old Derrick Lee will be
snuggled cozily in his mother’s arms. Toni
will recall many special blessings during
1979 ...
In January she asked her doctor to check
a lump on her throat which had grown from
the size of a pea to the size of a golfball.
From the preliminary test he told her she
was pregnant but that she would need
further testing to see if the lump was
cancerous. From the way it had grown and
from her family history, the doctor was
inclined to believe that it was. Further
testing that would be necessary, however,
could harm an unborn baby. The lump was
on her thyroid gland and any testing would
affect the baby’s thyroid, which in tum
would affect the baby’s growth. After
consultation with several doctors, it was
determined the only safe test-would be a
sonogram. This was given, revealing the lump
was not a cyst but a solid mass, which in the
doctor’s opinion, was almost certain to be
cancer.
During this time a friend suggested an
abortion. But for the Nursey’s, well-known
around Immaculate Heart of Mary parish for
their pro-life involvement, that suggestion
fell on deaf ears. Toni followed doctor’s
orders and went into the hospital to have
surgery. The first evening, she couldn’t get
to sleep. The nurse tried to give a sleeping
pill prescribed by the doctor, but Toni
questioned whether or not it could harm the
baby. The doctor was called, checked it out
and told Toni it was a good thing she didn’t
take it. It could have harmed her baby,
which had not completed the three month’s
gestation period. A little later, another nurse
came in and tried to give her a shot; she
questioned that, and it turned out the nurse
had mistaken her for another patient.
When it was time for surgery the next
morning, the anesthetist was preparing to
give her a shot. “Please don’t give me
anything that can hurt the baby,” she
pleaded. But the anesthetist insisted she had
to go ahead even though there was a chance
it could have some effect on the baby.
Strong chance or little chance, Toni
asked ... what are the exact risks? She was
told she couldn’t be guaranteed anything.
That probably there would be no problems,
but yet there could be ... there would be no
way of knowing ’til the baby arrived.
When the surgery was over, she learned
the lump was a mass - not cancer - but that
they had to remove one thyroid gland. The
doctor then told her she had created so
much confusion that the anesthetist was
afraid to give too much anesthesia. He said
this would greatly improve the baby’s
chances.
Toni recovered and was put on a daily
thyroid pill. She coasted along but carried a
lot of understandable fears. One day her
sister in Florida called. Toni was threatened
to be disowned if she didn’t begin
immediately begging St. Gerard’s
intercession. Toni phoned me and in a few
hours, I made a “house call” with St. Gerard
medal, leaflets, etc. We chatted a while and I
assured her of my prayers and those of my
friends. A few months later she was given
the good news that she could stop taking the
thyroid pill, since her other gland was
operating on its own.
Midnight August 29, Toni was in the
hospital. Baby’s heartbeat was extremely
high. Hours later, the doctor indicated a
Caesarean, fearing the baby couldn’t stand
the stress of a long labor. She was given a
spinal and prepared for the section. “Just
give me a little more time,” she pleaded. The
doctor, irritated, said: “Unless you think
you can have this baby within 15 minutes,
we’ll go on with the Caesarian.” It was 7
a.m.
“St. Gerard, come to my aid; St. Gerard,
help me.” Toni prayed her heart out.
Suddenly she felt pains and begged to be
checked. The baby was on the way . .. She
looked at the clock, and breathed a sigh of
relief ... and faith ... It was 7:15!
Not long after, Derrick Lee came into the
world at seven and a half pounds. Bill
jumped over to check him out from head to
toe. THANK GOD! Perfectly normal! “I’ve
never seen a baby so alert,” the doctor said.
“That’s going to be a smart baby.”
The Nursey’s story is what Christmas is
all about - special blessings to the simple
and humble of heart... to those who
believe.
(USPS) 574 »«0)
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan - Publisher
Rev. Monsignor Noel C. Burtenshaw - Editor
Michael Motes - Associate Editor
Member of the Catholic Press Association
Telephone 881-9732
Business Office
756 West Peachtree. N.w.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
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He Come From Glory
Dave McGill
The little five-year-old boy came in from
playing, and was surprised to see his mom
putting on her Sunday-best clothes in the
middle of the week. “Where you goin’,
Momma?” he asked.
She sat him down on the edge of the bed,
and put her hands on his head. Brushing the
hair at his temples, she looked her son in the
eyes for a long moment. With tears in her
eyes, she then spoke. “Alberta has passed
away, and I’m going to her church to pay
my respects . .. Clara will stay with you
while I’m gone. Be a good boy.”
Clara and Alberta were two black ladies
who worked as domestics at the little boy’s
house; usually Clara came, but whenever she
couldn’t, Alberta took her place. It was hard
for the youngster even to understand, let
alone believe, that Alberta had died. She was
a jolly, large woman who loved life and was
the epitome of people one would expect to
live forever. And so, after his mother left,
the boy walked up to Clara and asked,
“Clara, where is Alberta?”
“Why chile,” she replied, “Alberta done
gone to Glory. Didn’t yo momma tell you
that?”
“Yes, but I just didn’t want to believe
her, Clara,” he sobbed.
“Well, now, ain’t no need for you to be
cryin’, honey, because Alberta, she GLAD to
be where she is now. You see, she ain’t
hurtin’ no more.”
“Where is ‘Glory,’ Clara?”
She sat down on the sofa to answer that
one; the look in her eyes was far, far away,
as if she was trying to see all the way to
Glory. She didn’t succeed, though, because
she shook her head slowly and answered,
“Glory is father from this here world than
anyone can ever know or even imagine.
Glory is the place where Jesus came from,
way back on the first Christmas. He come
from the Glory to a stable in Bethlehem. He
stayed for a while: He grew up, showed us
how to live with love for one another, then
He showed us how very much He loved us
by dying for our sins on a cross made of
wood. Then Jesus, He went back to Glory
where He came from in the first place. And
that’s where Alberta went yesterday.”
The little boy’s eyes were wide open with
excitement. “Alberta went to Glory where
Jesus is?”
“She sho did, and so you see there ain’t
no more need for crying.”
I never get tired of hearing the word
“glory,” especially at Christmas time: The
glory of the Lord shone around the
shepherds, and the angels sang, “Glory to
God in the highest, and peace to men of
good will.” But the old spiritual-carol
entitled “The Virgin Mary” contains my
favorite use of the word:
“The Virgin Mary had a baby boy ... and
they gave him the name of Jesus;
“He come from the Glory ... He come
from the Glorious Kingdom.”
Working Women
Sheila Mallon
This is the time of year when we hear a
lot of complaints about shoddy
commercialism and the exploitation of
Christmas. While it’s true that the retail
business community seems to begin
Christmas earlier each year, that’s not all
bad.
There is something to be said for the
tinsel and wreaths, the crowds of shoppers,
the canned carols and plastic Santas. At least
for a long season we are thinking of what we
can give to others. There is a kind of happy
excitement this time of year that culminates
in front of the altar on Christmas Day.
If we are not getting the same thrill out
of Christmas that we used to we shouldn’t
blame commercialism. Instead we need to
look at how we prepared for the season.
Over the years I have accumulated a lot
of happy Christmas memories. One of my
earliest is of helping my grandparents set up
the nativity scene. We arranged the stable
with the figures of Joseph and Mary and the
wise men and shepherds. The only one
missing was the Christ Child. Christmas
morning when I arose the Infant was always
miraculously in His crib. It was the high
point in a very happy day.
We all remember what it was like to wake
Christmas morning all atingle with
excitement. The tree was always lit and the
presents heaped under it (by Santa of
course) in gift-wrapped profusion.
The Christmas I received a Shirley
Temple doll as large as I was has to be a
standout. I can still remember clearly how I
felt when I touched her (real hair) curls,
watched her china blue eyes open and close
and kissed the dimples at the corners of her
mouth. Now I can watch my grandaughter’s
reacting the same way to “Baby Alive.”
The corner Santas ringing their bells and
the Salvation Army bands playing carols, the
big tree at Rockefeller Plaza, the Fifth
Avenue stores with windows so beautiful
they gathered crowds. The Christmas show
at Radio City Music Hall - these were all part
of the Christmas “hype” of my childhood
and I loved it all.
There is a special happiness to the season
that we shouldn’t let the commercialism
destroy. The memories we make during this
season will winnow out the chaff and we
should end up with the happy ones.
Children’s faces as they open presents and
find some desired toy. The family together
at Mass and the visit to the manger
afterwards so that the smallest one can leave
a little toy for Baby Jesus. Sitting around
the table for a Christmas supper. The house
redolent with the aroma of roast turkey and
plum pudding, the laughter and exchange of
banter, the joy at having loved ones home
from afar and friends coming to visit - is
worth all the previous hassle.
This year let’s remember all those families
whose homes will be missing a loved one.
Especially the families of those held hostage
in Iran and let’s pray for their swift return.
If all the commercialism at this time of
year serves to remind us that there are others
less fortunate and we respond to that then at
least it has served some purpose. If we
remember the lonely, the visitor, the hungry,
the orphan, the refugee - then it was not all
crass.
The vision of what Christmas SHOULD
be - not the tawdry images of aluminum
Christmas trees and plastic poinsettias is
what we should receive from the season -
and perhaps we could promise ourselves that
somehow we will really try and keep the
spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts all
through 1980.
How Successful Is A Priest?
Father Richard Lopez
(Archdiocesan Vocations Director) \
My Spanish grandmother was not the
typical pious grandmother so many priests
seem to have had. When I announced at a
large family gathering many years ago, that I
was considering the priesthood she slammed
her hand on the table and said, “You’ll never
have any money!” I imagine in retrospect
her concern was not unlike many families
today if their sons or daughters think of the
priesthood or religious life. A religious
vocation is definitely not the place for the
financially ambitious, and as many of us
today equate money to success, there will be
this concern on the part of many.
I wonder, after all, how could you
measure the success of a priest or a sister,
how could you ascertain if we were
successful? Would you tally the number of
prayers, Masses, baptisms, etc., the number
of converts made, confessions heard, classes
taught and divide it by some other number?
Of course not, such statistics vary by
assignment and opportunity.
Could you take an opinion poll and find
out how popular a particular priest or sister
was? That would be fickle as well as
impossible. Is it not possible for us at some
moment or time to annoy or disappoint
someone? Would success then be measured
by the compliments for a homily, the thanks
for a Liturgy beautifully and reverently
celebrated? As gracious as these
compliments are our success would be
shallow if it were based on compliments.
And what priest does not, as he hears those
kind thoughts remember his anger at the 5
a.m. caller who wants the Mass schedule, or
his impatience with a pesty or demanding
parishioner?
Where is our success then? Who measures
it? The true statistics and polls for our
success are written on the hearts of the
people we serve.
How do you tabulate things? For us to be
faithful and to be loving, that is how we are
successful. To be faithful to Christ and the
Church and to be loving to our people. I
imagine there is one place where all our
efforts, all our failures, all our reaching out
is recorded, treasured and tabulated and that
is in the heart of Christ.
My best friend who is a priest in Florida
sent me a quote from Michele Quoist. It’s a
dialogue between Christ and a priest
exhausted on a Sunday night, wondering
about his “success”. Christ speaks to him:
“Son, you are not alone. I am with you. For
I needed another human instrument to
continue My incarnation and My
redemption. Out of all eternity, I chose you,
I need you.
“I need your hands to continue to bless.
“I need your lips to continue to speak.
“I need your body to continue to suffer.
“I need your heart to continue to love.
“I need you to continue to save.
“Stay with Me, son.”
To have lived and died believing we have
stayed with Christ as his priest or sister is all
the “success” we need. It surely is the most
lasting of success. Could you imagine any
greater?
Resound...
Advent series . . .
ATLANTA - Thank you for printing the
Advent series by Monsignor Jerry Hardy.
The reflections help make Advent real, and
Christmas personal.
With gratitude for the gifts shared among
the Church in Atlanta.
MRS. ANITA WILLOUGHBY
RELIGION COORDINATOR
OLA PARISH
Amniocentesis . . .
DECATUR - I agree with the Sheila
Mallon column on the uncompromising
seminar “Whatever Happened To The
Human Race?”
To answer the question on abortion for
the Tay-Sachs child, Dr. Everett Koop
explained amniocentesis and the follow-up
late painful abortion. He said that society
and the mother “will not benefit from the
destruction of the baby for it is life
preordained of God.”
Dr. Mildred Jefferson then added, “The
Right-to-Life Movement recognizes
amniocentesis as a diagnostic tool when
rightly applied. The traditional position of
medicine has been to make a diagnosis for
the purpose of cure, correction, or
amelioration and improvement to the extent
possible of the condition diagnosed.
Since the 1973 decisions there has been a
move among human geneticists to make a
diagnosis with the specific purpose of
removing the disorder or the disease. And
because March of Dimes supports the work
of many such geneticists without coming to
grips with the ethical problem that it creates
in the Right-to-Life Movement, we will not
solicit for, or contribute to the March of
Dimes until they face this dilemma and
make some steps toward correction.
Once we take that line of wanting to
avoid the problem of the suffering later by
getting rid of the child, then we could go
back that next step. We can determine in the
population exactly who is carrying the genes
that are going to result in the kinds of
problems that are there. Why waste the
money and expense on amniocentesis? We
could sterilize them so that they wouldn’t
get pregnant.
But since we know who they are, why go
to the trouble of sterilizing them when
perhaps they could be just removed and then
we’re back where we were in nationalist,
socialist Germany. It becomes very easy
then, once you get back into the cycle of
thinking, but still do not manage to
eliminate the disease that occurs.”
This is the end of that Slippery Slope of
the misuse of amniocentesis and fetoscopy
(a dangerous study of the fetus including its
blood for defects) also used by March of
Dime geneticists.
Dr. Schaeffer warned us that our children
receive the humanist-relativist point of view
from teachers, texts, TV and peers. The
church schools teach them stories, games
and faith-experiences instead of the truths of
their faith needed to stand against the
monolithic consensus. Dr. Schaeffer says, “I
cry for the Church of Christ here, that they
stop playing games and realize it is warfare
not just to death in this life but eternal
death.” Let us be that uncompromising salt
and light reminding the world that sin is still
sin and we must never be comfortable or
complacent with it. MRS. MARY PEEK