Newspaper Page Text
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PAGE 2—The Georgia Bulletin, August 21,1980
Black Catholics Convene
CHICAGO (NC) - More
than 2,500 black Catholics
from across the United
States resolved to
emphasize and address
concerns involving
parishes, families, labor
issues, politics, youth
activities, vocations,
e d u cation and lay
leadership during the first
National Office of Black
Catholics (NOBC)
convention Aug. 6-9 in
Chicago.
They also heard a
surprise message from
Pope John Paul II, an
admonition not to forget
NOBC’s role in fighting
racism, and a homily citing
the progress blacks have
made in the last 35 years.
With the theme, “Black
Catholics: An Action
Agenda for the 80s,” the
convention marked
NOBC’s 10 years of
activity.
NOBC delegates urged
that pastors share
responsibility for running
the parish with lay people
and called for workshops
on national, regional and
local levels to train lay
leaders. They also
endorsed the parish
council form of leadership
and requested that
diocesan offices dealing
with- blacks include funds
for black leadership
programs.
Black’s spiritual lives
should be respected and
developed, the delegates
stated. They added that
one way to do this is
through better preaching
and stated that the
spiritual and intellectual
quality of sermons could
be enhanced by allowing
more lay persons and
deacons to give the
homily. They called on
each diocese to have a
chan eery-level office of
black ministry.
The group also
resolved:
- That parishes should
be encouraged to deposit
money in minority-owned
banks and that the mission
of each parish should
include the goal of ending
racism.
-- That black men who
were discouraged from the
priesthood because of
their race and who have
since married should be
considered for the
priesthood.
- That an affirmative
action program for
Catholic schools should be
created to include more
minorities, and that the
U.S. bishops’ pastoral
statement on racism,
“Brothers and Sisters To
Us,” should be publicized,
promoted and encouraged.
-- That the church, with
the pro-life movement,
should consider prison
reform; that living
premarital instruction
program for black couples
which would use black
couples who have
successful marriages as
counselors; that Marriage
Encounter and Engaged
Encounter be made more
One Delegate Reflects
Among the delegates to the NOBC convention held in
Chicago this month were members of St. Anthony’s and
Our Lady of Lourdes ’ Churches here in the Archdiocese of
Atlanta. The following reflections are those of Ms. Karen
M. Clemons, a parishioner of St. Anthony's Church.
At the NOBC convention, I witnessed for the
first time of my Catholic life, a conglomerate of lay
Black Catholics with black nuns, priests, deacons
and the exhilirating privilege of meeting face to
face, BLACK BISHOPS.
I stared with amazement and reverence as the
choir piped its music to greater strength, while the
procession of clergy chimed along with the spiritual
beat of black soul! Aiding the voices of the choir
and congregation, I heard music - an organ, a piano,
drums and tambourines! Foot tapping, hands
clapping, verbal praises to the Lord and there was
then no question in mind that we all were going to
Heaven that very same night! The readings from the
gospel were dynamic - the preaching by Father
Giles Conwill was like the roar of thunder,
awakening the spirit of the Lord within the hearts
of the congregation members! Christian fellowship
and love was expressed with sincerity and oneness as
black and white of young and old offered real,
wholesome signs of peace. All power and glory was
given to the Lord as hands gathered together, were
raised up near the ending of the Lord’s prayer -
sung-with so much fervor from all present! A
three-hour Mass was TRULY CELEBRATED.
Imagine, hundreds and hundreds of black Lay
Catholics, black Clergy, and a host of our white
brothers and sisters called together in the unity of
one to put together “AN AGENDA FOR THE 80’s”
(theme to this first NOBC Conference) to teach
ourselves as blacks, what it really means to be a
BLACK CATHOLIC and be so very proud of it, as
well as to enhance our spiritual growth through lay
leadership, family, youth, labor-politics, vocation,
education, crime and criminal justice.
These well-outlined workshops were the
guidelines established to begin our venture as black
Catholics in expressing our special gifts to the entire
Catholic community. Our cultural specialties and
our innate gifts of “talented” worship with a unique
emotional response, should be released without any
inhibitions and shared with Christian love to all of
our white brothers and sisters in Christ. This special
call to worship from our God is not to convey to
the Catholic religion that we are better spiritually
inclined Catholics, but surely to emphasize our
individual freedom of expression of the acceptance
of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy
Spirit!
We as a Catholic community-black or white -
must learn to discipline ourselves and regain the
RESPECT for one another’s demand to worship as
an individual. With this concept in mind, we will
then collectively share in God’s wondrous ministry,
according to His Divine plan.
conditions, food and other
aspects of prison life
should be studied and
improved; and that the
church should work to end
capital punishment.
-- That family
cohesiveness be improved
through a strong
relevant to black couples;
and that divorced and
separated people be
included in the parish.
- That young people be
included in church
planning and decision
making at all levels; that
parishes have more
CHARLES J.
RUFF
COMMISSIONER
COBB COUNTY DISTRICT
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PAULIST SOUTHERN
PREACHING APOSTOLATE
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277 South 4th St.
Memphis, TN 38126
activities to keep youths
interested; and that adults
and clergymen working
with young people should
be trained and have a clear
direction in their work.
Delegates voted to
support a task group
working to include black
culture in diocesan
formation programs. “We
need to work to eliminate
racism in seminaries and
resolve the marriage
restrictions connected
with the permanent
diaconate,” the resolution
read.
NOBC convention
participants likewise
endorsed tax credits for
people who send their
children to Catholic
schools and a stronger link
between Haitians and
Afro-Americans. “The
NOBC supports
unequivocally permanent
refugee status for the
Haitians. The discrimina
tion against the Haitians is
blatant white racism,” the
latter measure stated.
Delegates also said the
church should affirm that
it is not in favor of
balanced government
budgets requiring
decreases in human
services and increases in
defense spending. They
also called on parishes,
priests and the pope to
promote full voting rights
for the District of
Columbia.
The pope had a message
for NOBC and America’s
1.5 million black
Catholics, too. John Paul
II said he gave thanks for
the fidelity of black
Catholics and for their
contributions to the body
of Christ. “Go forth, as St.
Paul says, with eyes fixed
on Jesus Christ and
renewed confidence,”
stated the message, read
by Cardinal John Cody of
Chicago.
At a Mass at which
Auxiliary Bishop James
Lyke of Cleveland, a
black, wearing a miter
with the black-red-and-
-green black liberation
colors, was principal
celebrant, Father Giles
Conwill, presently residing
at St. Anthony’s Church in
Atlanta, cited the
organization’s success in
its 10-year-existence. He
also noted the progress
blacks have made.
“Thirty-five years ago
black people had to pick
cotton in the South. Now
they’re picking
presidents,” he said.
“Thirty five years ago
there were no black
bishops. Now there are
five.”
BONUS ‘BLESSING’ ~ Waiting in
90-degree weather for the annual
Blessing of the Fleet at Providence,
R.I., participants were delighted
when the fishing vessel Jen-Walt
reversed its salvage pump and
sprayed cool water on some of the
nearby boats. The early “blessing”
was followed later by the blessing
from Bishop Louis Gelineau of
Providence.
Comite Propone Metas 1980-81
El Comite Arquidiocesano para el
Apostolado Hispano en su reunion mensual
de agosto afirmo ciertas metas para la
proxima temporada. En las semanas que
siguen estaremos informando sobre estas
metas. Toda la comunidad debe estar al dia
en las actividades de este comite, ya que es
la manera mas efectiva de comunicarse con
todas las personas envueltas en el
apostolado activo en Atlanta.
En este aiib el Comite ha propuesto
trabajar en tres areas: ministerio pastoral,
educacion y evangelizacion, y servicios
sociales. Enfocaremos cada uno se estos en
semanas siguientes. Por esta semana vamos
a mirar las metas del sub-comite de
Servicios Sociales. Este sub-comite tiene
como miembros a la Hermana Barbara
Harrington, quien trabaja por la oficina de
Servicios Sociales de la Arquidiocese de
Atlanta. Ademas, pertenece al sub-comite
el Padre Mauro Mourlot, los senores
Abelardo Guzman y Reinaldo Garcia, y la
senorita Vivian Seoane.
Despues de varias revisiones, el
sub-comite de Servicios Sociales ha
decidido en proponer las sigiuentes metas
para 1980-81:
1. Mantener cooperacion y
cornunicacion con la agencia Servicio
Social Catolico, ensenandoles las
necesidades de la comunidad para asi
aumentar los servicios relacionados con la
consejeria bilingue, la seccion de empleos,
la seccion de vivienda, la informacion sobre
programas del gobierno, y la consejeria
sobre la inmigracion.
2. Crear un cuerpo de voluntaries laicos
para ayudar con las muchas necesidades de
ciertos sectores de la poblacion de habla
hispana y coordinar las actividades de
dicho cuerpo de voluntaries.
3. Ampliar el numero de miembros
contribuyentes de la conferencia de la
Virgen de la Caridad de San Vicente de
Paul y ademas aumentar los recursos
humanos y materiales con que se cuentan
para ayudar a los hermanos necesitados.
4. Pedirle al clero que en sus homilias y
en la coordinacion de los programas de
educacion religiosa en sus parroquias que se
transmiten el mensaje de servicio al
projimo como parte integral de la vivencia
del Evangelio: “Que todo lo que hacen por
uno de estos mis hermanos, por humildes
que sean, por mi mismo lo hacen.: (Mateo
25:40.)
Jadot Challenges Laity—
(Continued from page 1)
the world. This is
especially true in regard to
our brothers and sisters in
South America. They
expect their neighbors of
the United States to hear
their desperate pleas . . .
Do everything so that at
least gradually the abyss
that divides the few
‘excessively rich from the
great multitude of poor,
those who live in want,
may disappear.”
The prelate also took
the occasion to praise the
Knights for their
involvement in Church and
community service
activities.
“Church and society
are genuinely grateful for
the many activities of the
Knights of Columbus,” he
said. “Through them,
remarkable service has
been rendered. From the
local council to the
universal Church, the
Knights have participated
in projects which tangibly
affect our lives for the
better.”
Archbishop Jadot had
particular praise for the
youth and family
programs of the local
councils, as well as warm
words for the Knights’
funding of satellite
telecasts of papal
ceremonies several times
yearly. He also hailed what
he termed “enlightened”
academic programs that
the Knights have funded,
such as a sociological
study of the attitudes of
Y oung Catholics in the
United States and Canada
by the National Opinion
Research Center, and a
conference on critical
medical-ethical questions
conducted by the Pope
John XXIII Institute of St.
Louis, Mo.
Oblates
Invited
The Benedictine Sisters
of Sacred Heart Convent,
Cullman, Ala., are
initiating an oblate
program, under the
direction of Sister Maurus
Allen this fall.
What are Oblates? They
are men and women who
associate themselves
spiritually with a
monastery or convent in
order to share in the
prayers and good works of
the monks or nuns. These
persons see that in many
ways they can live
according to the Rule of
Saint Benedict, and so
they promise to live
according to the
Benedictine Rule as far as
their lifestyle allows. They
do not leave their homes,
their families, their place
of work or their
occupations. They adapt
the teachings of St.
Benedict to their
particular lifestyle.
Today there are
thousands of Oblates in all
parts of the world, praying
and working in spiritual
union with the community
with which they are
affiliated, and receiving
spiritual strength and
inspiration from the
Benedictine way of life.
Those who are able
associate themselves with
their community by
praying morning and
evening the Liturgy of the
Hours (formerly called the
Divine Office). This is
powerful in bringing
blessings to the
community and to the
Oblates.
It has been suggested
that one of the most
significant results of the
celebration of the 15th
centenary of the birth of
St. Benedict and St.
Scholastica would be to
spread Benedictine
tradition, spiritual values,
and culture by inviting
people to become Oblates.
Interested persons may
contact Sister Maurus
Allen, at Sacred Heart
Convent, Cullman, Ala.
35055.
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ARCHBISHOP INSTALLED - After receiving
his crosier from Archbishop Jean Jadot (right),
apostolic delegate in the United States,
Archbishop James A. Hickey of Washington
acknowledges the applause of the bishops, priests
and lay people who came to witness his
installation. Among those attending were two
former Washington archbishops, retired Cardinal
Patrick O’Boyle and Cardinal William Baum, now
prefect of the Vatican Congregation for
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