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H 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 PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY THE CANDIDATE PASTORS, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATORS, PARISH COUNCILS, LITURGISTS PARISH PACKAGES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH {ft 5 Days - 5 Nights SUMMER FAMILY BIBLE PROGRAM RETREATS DAYS OF REFLECTION SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION MARRIAGE RENEWAL PARISH RENEWAL FAMILY YEAR SEND FOR DETAILED FOLDER ^eludes All This: Daily Mass Availability for Confession Visit Sick Daily Visit to School Children Program for C. C. D. Students For Further Information CALL COLLECT AC. 901/527 5115 (Daily Monday— Friday— 8 00 AM-Noon) PAULIST SOUTHERN PREACHING APOSTOLATE Fr. Jim Harrington, C.S.P. 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. fe’WEDQ More and more * '' people are tak- ' V ing the same : marriage vow ^ 1 today:Tohave * their reception at the Radisson^.v *' f '% Inn. Because we fill every moment J with memories " that last a lifetime. Our experienced, atten tive staff has no peer at * seeing that everything is handled perfectly. With no bother to you. , ’ The food is excellent, the atmosphere delightful. And the : price won't make ** ’ / ' the Father of the Bride cry. We'II make any ■ ' affair a very ... special one indeed. Whether you're having 600 people - or a lot less. Please call 394-5000 and ask for Susan Schuster or Jan Burnette at extension 508. They'll give you all the details. RADISSON INN ATLANTA 1-285 at Chamblee-Dunwoody Road & ; 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 Education. JUDGE ZL / Up To 50% of Your Energy May Be Wasted! ' ••-•••.:> y THINK SAVINGS! Substantially lower cooling costs in summer and heating costs in winter by reducing energy loss through doors, windows and ceilings. Enjoy a more comfortable, beautiful home and get a big tax credit in the bargain. Compare our prices on storm windows, insulation, attic ventilators, etc. We also do complete home repair, maintenance, renovations and decorating of every kind. All work guaranteed - Financing available Call Today for FREE ENERGY CONSERVATION SURVEY PARAGON CONSTRUCTION 289-5616 If no answer Call 491-6806 Ask for Bill or Jan Superior Court 9UDGE WHY JUDGE COOPER? •B. A. Degree, Clark College •Emory University Law Degree •MPA Degree, Harvard University •Eight Years, Assistant prosecutor, Fulton County; Five Years Municipal Judge Atlanta •14 Years of Legal and Judicial Experience. PUNCH-12