Newspaper Page Text
The
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 25 No. 39
Thursday, November 5, 1987
$12.00 Per Year
FIRST PARISHIONER — Miss Christine
Bullock, 88, with her dog, Sheba, was the first
person confirmed at Our lady of Lourdes parish
in 1913. Her 75 years of memories include talk
ing frequently with Venerable Mother
Katherine Drexel, who is being considered for
canonization. Miss Christine also worked at the
parish for 52 years. Her story begins on page 13.
Our Lady Of Lourdes—75 Years
Parish Reflects Black Catholic History
Winter And Homeless
Central Shelter
Appeals For Help
BY GRETCHEN REISER
The largest church-run night shelter in downtown Atlan
ta, Central Presbyterian Church, is opening its doors for the
eighth year Nov. 15, but is desperately in need of
volunteers.
“We are desperate for volunteers this year,” said Katie
Bashor, who is coordinating the volunteers with the aid of
her husband, Mark. “We still have 10 nights in December to
fill and two nights in November. Last year at this time we
had them all filled.”
The story of Central Presbyterian night shelter is a story
St. Anthony’s Shelter, Page 7
of great commitment on the part of a relatively few people
who have poured themselves into sustaining the shelter for
the homeless throughout winter months. And they, in turn,
have been enriched for the effort by the friendships they’ve
made.
“I have never been treated better than when I’m down
there” at the shelter, said Mrs. Bashor, who is the mother
of two small children. She began to help out at the shelter
while dating her future husband, a toxicologist who works
at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. One of the
stalwarts of the Central Presbyterian night shelter, Mark
Bashor*was working there at least every other night. “If
you can’t beat ’em, you better join ’em,” Katie Bashor said
as a joking explanation of how she began bringing pots of
soup to the shelter from the restaurant she managed.
She and Mark are now both part of the small group of
(Continued on page 6)
BY RITA McINERNEY
A “tiny little parish that has had a relatively large im
pact” on its neighborhood is the way Father Joseph
Cavallo, pastor, describes Our Lady of Lourdes at 25
Boulevard, across the street from the King Center.
You could say it has been that way since its beginning 75
years ago, an event being celebrated this month. Father Ig
natius Lissner, of the Society of African Missions, saw the
need for a black Catholic mission on a visit to segregated
Atlanta in 1911. After one effort to purchase property was
thwarted by outraged whites, he succeeded in purchasing
land on Boulevard with the help of J.J. Spalding, a promi
nent Catholic from Sacred Heart parish. Some time after
the purchase in March 1912, he received $16,000 needed to
Mass For Archbishop
An anniversary Mass in memory of Archbishop
Thomas A. Donnellan will be celebrated at the
Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta on Sun., Nov.
15 at noon.
Monsignor John F. McDonough, diocesan ad
ministrator, will be the principal celebrant of the
Mass on the one month anniversary of the arch
bishop’s death.
construct a mission building from Mother Mary Katherine
Drexel, foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament,
an order she had established in 1891 to serve black and In
dian people.
Three events have been planned by the anniversary com
mittee to mark the 75th anniversary of a parish that re
mains the spiritual home for many blacks living in subur
ban Atlanta today. Former pastors, old grads from Lourdes
school, and former teachers will return for the services
which begin with an ecumenical one Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:30
p.m. Mayor Andrew Young will speak and ministers from
nearby churches and institutions will bring greetings. Also
scheduled to speak is Jack Spalding, retired editor of the
Atlanta Journal, and grandson of the mission’s first
benefactor.
An archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on Thursday,
Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. with Monsignor John F. McDonough,
diocesan administrator, as principal celebrant. Sister
Judith McGinley, of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament,
principal of the school from 1970 until 1973, will speak. She
is now assigned to St. Peter Claver School in Macon.
Readings will be given by Charles Bowen and Mrs.
Carlene Thomas, a longtime parishioner whose efforts for
the parish were recognized at the dedication of the new
church building Feb. 12, 1961. Mrs. Thomas and Homer
Bennett were presented with the papal honor, Pro Ecclesia
Et Pontifice, by Bishop Francis E. Hyland who presided at
the dedication.
Laity In Church, World
Synod Asks Pope
To Clarify Roles
BY AGOSTINO BONO
VATICAN CITY (NO — The world Synod of Bishops said
Catholic lay roles and ministries need to be clarified and
revised, but how that should be done is up to Pope John Paul
II.
The almost 230 synod delegates who met Oct. 1-30 in
Rome also told the pope not to let concern for lay ministries
overshadow the laity’s primary responsibility to Chris
tianize the secular world.
The synod’s final recommendations to the pope did not in
clude a proposal favored by some that all non-ordained
ministries be equally open to men and women. A
preliminary set of recommendations had included the pro
posal.
(Continued on page 12)
(Continued on page 14)
