Newspaper Page Text
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 28 No. 31
Thursday, September 13, 1990
$15.00 Per Year
A BOUQUET OF YEARS - Entering St. Thomas More Church, Sister
Rose Lally, SND, and Sister Margaret Thomasine Grady, SND, celebrate
60 and 50 years respectively as Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur. The
parish feted them Sept. 8 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop James Lyke,
OFM. (Photo by Linda Schaefer)
Catechetical Year Begins
Mammoth African Cathedral
Consecrated On Papal Trip
BY JOHN THAVIS
YAMOUSSOUKRO,
Ivory Coast (CNS) — In a
ceremony that spared no
pomp and made no apolo
gies for splendor, Pope
John Paul II consecrated
the biggest, most costly
and most controversial
church in Africa.
Despite the public
debate prompted by the
Basilica of Our Lady of
Peace, there was no hint of
protest at the inauguration
Mass Sept. 10 in Yamous
soukro. Army troops
surrounded the entire
complex and checked
every person who entered.
In a sermon, the pope
described the basilica -
estimated to cost at least
$150 million - as a
"visible sign" of God’s
presence on earth. But he
reserved his strongest
praise for the social
centers that will be built
next to the church — at the
pope’s own suggestion.
He thanked President
Felix Houphouet-Boigny
for his "generosity" in
financing the Our Lady of
Peace International Foun
dation, which will even
tually help run a nearby
hospital, a youth formation
center and possibly a
Catholic radio station.
The pope said the presi
dent had built the church
to honor Mary and Christ.
Houphouet-Boigny, the
octogenarian ruler who has
come under sharp criticism
for the basilica project and
his running of the country
in general, sat near the
main altar, beneath a
mammoth crystal chande
lier and a baroque canopy.
"In every epoch and on
every continent, the chil
dren of the church have
consecrated the best of
their arts to the building of
these visible signs that
help to understand that
God lives among his
people," the pope said.
He added that for the
church, the true sanctuary
lies in the hearts of Chris
tians who raise families,
help their people achieve
justice, cure disease and
"help the poor."
A more direct defense
of the building was offered
by a Vatican official,
Nigerian Cardinal Francis
Arinze, who spoke on
behalf of African bishops.
He said the basilica was a
(Continued on page 15)
Conyers Parish
Will Be Audited
BY GRETCHEN REISER
A third parish in the archdiocese will be included in a
special audit of finances following the pastor’s voluntary
disclosure that Victoria Long had been assisted from the
parish charitable fund.
Father John Walsh, pastor of St. Pius X Church,
Conyers, provided the information to Bishop James P.
Lyke, OFM, after the bishop appointed a special commis
sion of lay Catholics to oversee an independent audit of
archdiocesan funds and those of two parishes.
The priest provided the bishop with information that the
parish “Good Samaritan” fund to help people in need of
charity had been used to assist Ms. Long several times
over a two-year period. The total amount of aid was
between $1,000 and $2,000.
Father Walsh met Ms. Long at a parish celebration at
St. John the Evangelist parish in Hapeville in the summer
of 1987.
Father Peter Dora, communications director of the
archdiocese, said the pastor told him he assisted Ms. Long
“without realizing that she was getting help from anybody
else.” Father Walsh stopped assisting her about a year
ago, Father Dora said.
(Continued on page 2)
Scripture, Elders' Spirituality Are Themes
BY PAULA DAY
A workshop exploring the educational needs of older
adults will lead off 1990-91 offerings of the archdiocesan
Office of Religious Education this fall.
The October 13 workshoo, “Remaining Fresh and
Green: Spirituality and the Later Years,” is being jointly
sponsored by the Department of Education and Catholic
Social Services.
Other ORE offerings will include Scripture study
workshops and a day-long program on spirituality for the
1990’s conducted by Father Richard Rohr of the Center
for Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On Catechetical Sunday, Sept 16, catechists throughout
the archdiocese will be commissioned for their work with
young people in parishes. Carol Hamill, consultant for
adult education for the archdiocese, describes the task of
these catechists as communicating the faith in a way that
“makes Jesus real” in today’s world.
(Continued on page 6)
INSIDE
Father Woods
Resignation accepted
as pastor page 2
St. Anthony's Outreach
Ministry tied to
neighborhood page 12,13