Newspaper Page Text
i
PAGE 6—The Georgia Bulletin, October 2,1980
Message—
(Continued from page 1)
and had made some
contacts on their own and
I wanted to do a
coordinated effort that we
could monitor to see just
how successful this kind of
professionally assisted
effort could be,”
Monsignor Hardy said.
The Martin J. Moran
Co., which has extensive
experience working with
parishes, expects offertory
contributions to increase
30 percent overall as a
result of their program,
and includes a two-year
follow-up to maintain that
rate of increase.
The parishes involved
use a variety of offertory
programs, and where a
“commitment approach”
is already used, this plan
will try to improve it; in
other parishes where such
an approach is not used, it
will be implemented.
While part of the
impetus was a sense on the
part of the Archdiocese
that pastors wanted
assistance in fund-raising,
the sheer growth of the
Catholic community has
also created a need for
increased support.
In the last five years,
seven parishes have opened
in the Atlanta
Archdiocese. In addition,
while state statistics
anticipate that three to
five percent of the
population in a given area
will be Catholic, recent
parish openings, in
Gwinnett, Cobb and North
Fulton counties, have been
in areas where between 20
and 35 percent of the
population is Catholic.
This puts additional
pressure on a new parish,
and the Archdiocese, to
move quickly to build
churches and parish
facilities.
The Archdiocese has a
ceiling on the amount of
m ortgage money it can
borrow and has more than
that amount ready to
place with banks to
finance new construction.
As a result, Monsignor
Hardy said, parishes
already paying off
long-term mortgages will
have to be challenged to
pay off this debt more
quickly, and allow other
parishes to enter the
long-term mortgage
market. In addition, each
new parish added to the
Archdiocese places new
demands upon the services
supplied by the central
offices in Atlanta.
Monsignor Hardy said
that the history of
generosity on the part of
the Archdiocese’s people
“is exceptionally high.” In
1979-80 the Archdiocese’s
10 0,000 Catholics
contributed $10.57
million. “That is an
enormous amount of
money per capita,”
Monsignor Hardy said,
“and ample evidence that
our people understand the
importance of giving.
“While those figures
have grown up,” he said,
“expenses have also gone
up and what those dollars
will actually pay for has
changed radically too.”
While everyone has a
built-in resistance to
appeals, he said, “one of
the real tangible ways we
have of expressing our
gratitude for the things we
have received is by sharing
them in an increasingly
generous manner.”
tvOVUER UJO^
wt send flowers worldwide
ATLANTA 230-9404
Peodvree Oorte Shopping Center
Flowers for all occasions
arranged to your individual
taste & decor
CHILDREN at the Hunt Street pre-school
program in Atlanta play under the eye of
director, Mrs. Caesar Ree Hubbard, below, and
her staff.
Vincent de Paul
BY GRETCHEN REISER
Each of the 30 children at the preschool on Hunt
Street in Atlanta wants to be photographed for the
newspaper. But only some of them can be pictured here,
unfortunately. These are some of the children who have
their lunch each day, play games, hear stories and are
taught under the direction of Mrs. Caesar Ree Hubbard.
This is one of the places supported by the central office of
the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Another is the day care center on North Avenue in
Atlanta; some of the children cared for there are also
pictured, rocking in a wooden boat and mugging for the
camera. This center is headed by Valerie Earvin. The St.
Vincent de Paul Society also runs three thrift stores in
Atlanta, and, through its office, formerly on Parkway
Drive, provides food, clothing, and money for rent,
medicine and utilities to people too numerous to show.
Throughout the last year, the office served 10,100 people;
of that number, more than 6,000 were families in need,
the rest individuals.
“There are a lot of poor people in this city. There are
areas of overwhelming need,” said Betty Knott, executive
secretary of the Society. “While we don’t try to set out to
eliminate the need or think we have an answer to solve the
problems of poverty or injustice, we’re trying to do what
the Gospel tells us we’re supposed to do - feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the
imprisoned - the corporal acts of mercy.
“It’s our way of living out the Gospel and we can’t do
it without other people’s help.”
The Society’s central office depends upon an annual
collection to carry on its work. The collection is this
Sunday, Oct. 5. From it the Society needs to receive the
money to keep its centers operating, and to continue to
provide basic assistance to families without other
resources. Over the past few years, the collection has not
met its goal and the generosity of a few has kept the work
going. Yet, if one dollar was contributed to St. Vincent de
Paul for each of the 100,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese,
the Society would be able to carry on its work, and reach
out in greater ways to the poor, than it has been able to in
the past.
“Our country’s economic condition makes it
imperative that the collection be a success this October or
it will be a very harsh winter for the poor who are our
brothers and sisters,” said Archbishop Thomas Donnellan
in his letter on the drive. “I commend the Society for its
work and you for your sacrifice to support it. This year,
let us make the collection a truly family effort.”
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL’S regional
conference of volunteers throughout the
Archdiocese is headed by Betty Knott,
executive secretary. The cheering section
comes from the society’s North Avenue day
care center. (Photos by Gretchen Keiser)
Synod Scenes: “Find The Child”
VATICAN CITY (NC) - There was an audible gasp,
commotion, whispers and turned heads as the white-clad
figure walked quietly into the Sistine Chapel shortly
before the solemn Mass inaugurating the world Synod of
Bishops.
The white-clad diminutive woman was Mother Teresa
of Calcutta who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work
for the poor.
NC News went over to ask her a few questions, and she
smiled politely even though we interrupted the rosary she
began saying the moment she sat down.
What was her greatest hope for achievement by the
synod?
“To find the child and bring the child back home, and
through the child to find peace,” she said.
What is the most important thing for family life today?
“To pray. If the family prays together it will stay
together, and if they pray together they will love one
another.”
Somehow “the family that prays together stays
together” didn’t sound like a cliche when it came from
her mouth.
A United Press International reporter joined the
conversation and asked Mother Teresa what meaning a
synod on family life has for religious life.
“We all make one family. The future of religious life
depends on family life. For (religious) vocations it is
necessary to strengthen the family. This will not bring
vocations itself, but it is good for vocations.”
As the reporters retreated, Mother Teresa’s fingers
calmly began moving on her beads again as if she had
never been interrupted.
As the synod deliberates, at a hotel a few blocks away
charismatic Catholics will be praying daily for the success
of the meeting.
Cardinal Leo Suenens, former archbishop of
Malines-Brussels, Belgium, and leading church figure in the
Catholic charismatic renewal, announced the synod prayer
vigil at a press conference Sept. 27, the day after the
synod opened.
The cardinal called institutional reform and spiritual
renewal complementary aspects of the general church
renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council.
He estimated that there are about a million Catholic
charismatics in the world today.
The press conference started and ended with a hymn,
to the accompaniment of castanets.
***
Pope John Paul II and 216 synod members opened the
1980 world Synod of Bishops Sept. 26 with a solemn
concelebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel.
The pope in his homily cast the synod’s approach first
and foremost in the realm of the spiritual.
“The word of God, announced in today’s liturgy,” he
said, “describes the duties which it is fitting that we
propose to Christian families in the church and the
modern world:
- “Consciousness of one’s own mission, which comes
from the saving mission of Christ and is fulfilled as a
special service;
- “This consciousness is fed by the word of the living
God and by the power of Christ’s sacrifice. In this way the
testimony of life is developed, capable of forming the life
of others and of sanctifying others in truth;
- “From this consciousness flows the good which alone
‘preserves from the evil one.’”
The nearly two-hour Mass was completely in Latin as is
customary for international gatherings of cardinals and
bishops at the Vatican. The pope distributed Communion
to synod participants, including the auditors and experts
who were present.
One of the Prayers of the Faithful was “for all
Christian husbands and wives, that their love for each
other will always increase, that they will accept the
children God grants them and bring them up according to
the Gospel.”
Another was “for broken families and those facing the
danger of separation.” It asked that they “be renewed by
the grace of matrimony and together with their children
regain joy and one love for each other.”
***
The 1980 world Synod of Bishops could have as much
effect on the Catholic Church as the Second Vatican
Council, an adviser to the U.S. synod delegation
predicted.
Father Donald Conroy, appointed by the U.S. bishops
to assist the delegation, said the mood in the Catholic
Church today is similar to the attitude shortly before the
opening of the Second Vatican Council.
“The Third World people are coming here with a real
sense of urgency - they can’t wait,” said Father Conroy,
U.S. Catholic Conference representative for family life
who was recently appointed director of the National
Institute for the Family.
The U.S. participants said the synod would have a
pastoral emphasis. Father Conroy said this would stress
“compassionate ministry for families in a diversity of
needs.”
Father Paul Boyle, superior general of the Passionists
and one of 10 representatives of the Union of Superiors
General to the synod, hoped that the meeting would
“address the reality, complex as it is, of families” and
“speak in a hopeful way.”
“That may sound like a contradiction,” he said, “but
I’ve found that in Latin America, Asia and Africa, where
the problems seem most painful, the people are happy.”
Father Boyle said he expected the synod to provide
“not merely a vague encouragement, but something that
will have meaning in their daily lives.”
Messengers
DELAWARE CONVOCATION:
(Continued from page 1)
their successful efforts
throughout the nation,
believe first in parish
planning and then people
planning. “Just as we have
to budget for our monthly
expenses in the home we
should be prepared to
budget for our Church.
And furthermore the
Church should be in there
along with the heat, light
and mortgage. Plan what
we give is the only way.”
Another key point that
these enthusiastic men of
money want to make is
STEWARDSHIP. “Time
talent, and treasure,” says
Jack Keefe with pounding
emphasis. “Hammer it
home. God gives us these
gifts and talents to use and
return to him. From the
pulpit the pastor must say
it loud and clear. It is an
integral part of the
education process. Be a
good Steward.”
The generosity of
Catholic people
throughout the history of
the Church in the United
States is not forgotten by
these money experts. They
point out the glories of the
Catholic School system
and the social services
extended to our people
over the years. “But we
still have not gotten the
point across like our
Protestant brethren,” says
Barry. “They have
gloriously given the
education based on the
valid and productive
Biblical dogma of tithing.
We have not.”
One other point made
by our two financial
experts is MOTIVATION.
“We really have no history
of good motivation,” says
Jack Keefe. “In the old
country the government
took care of many
community needs. Here
very often the parish must
do it without any
governmental help. That
can be a good motivation
for parish giving.”
Barry and Jack have
had many happy moments
in lots of Catholic parishes
bringing the message of
their plan. They look
forward to a successful
mission in Atlanta. If
enthusiasm is the key
ingredient then the path
will be an easy one for
these money men. They
have it.
Transcend Literal
FOR A BETTER DEALCALL:
yglBUPCST control
\y ROACHES
One Application
1 Year Written Guarantee
Quarterly or Monthly Service
FREE ESTIMATES j* o
Serving Metro Atlanta " vO -i tJOw
TUCKER MATTRESS CO.
3926 I.AWRI NCEV1LL.K HWY., TUCKLR, GA.
938-1176
Top Quality Bedding Since 1917
FACTORY DIRECT QUALITY BEDDING
QUALITY FOR QUALITY, SAVE UP TO SOT,
WILMINGTON, Del.
(NC) - “Transcend the
idolatrous and literal
meaning of family that
some people in our culture
are shouting about today,”
Dominican Father
Matthew Fox urged at the
Religious Education
Convocation in
Wilmington.
There are people in
America who want to limit
the understanding of
family to the nuclear
family, Father Fox told
the group of 800 religious
educators.
“One of the greatest
contributions of
Catholicism to the modern
world is a widened
understanding of family,
11 ■
an understanding which
encompasses a wide
variety of lifestyles, such
as community living and
celibate vocation.”
Father Fox, director of
the Institute of
Creation-Centered
Spirituality in Chicago,
gave the keynote address
on the theme “Family in a
World of Change.”
He said society is
undergoing a profound
movement of contraction.
People are being asked “to
settle for less and not
more.”
“In other similar
periods of history,” said
Father Fox, “people were
faced with a choice: to
continue to expand
“VVe have taken care of St. John Evangelist Parish.
Pest C ontrol needs satisfactorily for many years.
SERVING THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
LEONARD WALTERS MEMORIAL CHAPEL
FUNERAL SERVICE
3292 MOUNTAIN DRIVE
(At 1-285 and Memorial Drive)
DECATUR, GEORGIA 30032
(404) 294-5611
ALFORD’S-
Framing 0 Gallery
Creative Framing
Original Art Works and Reproductions
physically, that is, to grab
for a still larger peice of an
ever-diminishing pie, or to
expand spiritually, in
terms of consciousness and
creativity, in terms of
what it means to be both
human and divine, which
is what we are.”
Contraction, as well as
expansion may be fruitful
for people, he said.
“Human beings learn to
live with the tension of
contraction and
expansion,” he said. “It is
a rhythm of the universe
into which we must all
enter.”
A notion of family that
limits itself to the nuclear
family is a dangerous one,
said Father Fox, one
which stems from the
fragmentation of family
relationships caused by the
industrial revolution.
U.S. Bishops—
(Continued from page 1)
He also urged the Holy
See to “initiate a dialogue
with theologians” on the
problems that have
developed in the church in
the wake of “Humanae
Vitae” (Of Human Life),
the encyclical of Pope Paul
VI reaffirming the
church’s teaching against
artificial contraception.
The basis of this
dialogue should be an
acceptance of the church’s
doctrinal position on the
matter, he said, not a
dissent from it.
He also called on the
Holy See to “develop
through consultation with
theologians some clear
guidelines on the
possibilities and limits of
dissent within the
church.”
Archbishop Quinn said
the dissent would continue
in all likelihood and the
theological manuals of the
past are not equipped to
handle it.
He said the need is to
create a context for the
issue which goes beyond
the three present-day
responses of “silences,
repetition of past
formulations or, thirdly,
dissent.”
Archbishop Quinn was
one of two U.S. bishops to
speak Sept. 29.
Archbishop Joseph L.
Bernardin of Cincinnati
opened the general
interventions on the synod
theme, “The Role of the
Christian Family in the
World of Today.”
“A more positive
theology of sexuality is
needed,” said Archbishop
Bernardin.
He was the first of 16
bishops to make
eight-minute interventions
on topics ranging from
birth control to
preparation for marriage,
from changing social
customs and values to the
theology of marriage, from
attacks on secularism and
materialism to a call to
recognize the value for
conversion of mixed
marriages in predominan
tly non-Christian societies.
Archbishop Bernardin
suggested that the synod
should strengthen a
“positive theology of
sexuality” having these
insights:
- “Sexuality is a gift
from God, good in itself
and ennobling when used
as God intends.” This is
needed to counteract
attitudes that “denigrate
the body and sexuality,”
he said.
-- “Sexuality is a
relational power. It colors
the qualities of sensitivity,
warmth, openness and
mutual respect in
interpersonal relationships
of the married, the single
and celibate alike. It has a
significant social
dimension.”
-- “Sexuality is not
identical with genitality.”
He said that the physical
or genital expression of
sexuality requires marriage
for it “to serve human love
and life generously and
without the deceptions
and elements of
inauthenticity inherent in
premarital and
extramarital relations.”
-- “The natural law
tradition (of church
teaching on sexuality)
should not be abandoned,
but it should be deepened
and enriched” through
more positive and integral
explanations.
- With the development
of “a more positive
theology of sexuality,” the
church should be able to
do a better job of placing
within it “our traditional
teaching on premarital sex,
homosexuality,
contraception and other
questions.”
This approach would
help people to understand
the positive aspects of
church teachings, such as
those ‘‘against
contraception and divorce,
for example,” Archbishop
Bernardin said.
7513 Roswell Rd. 393-9758
Cedar Ridge Center
.... - ..
CS)} /?v«F7? r
Serving A tUinta Since 1VI2
*1) PRINTING
• PRINTING
• LITHOGRAPHING
794 Forrest Road, N.E., Atlanta,Georgia Telephone 522-9726
cliM
rWr r
LAMPS
LAMP REPAIRS
CUSTOM LAMP BUILDING
The Largest Selection of Lampshades In The South
Plenty of Parking Space
351-2414
2278 Peachtree Rd., N.W.
Atlanta, Ga. 30309
GEORGIA BULLETIN Ads Bring Results!