Newspaper Page Text
The
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 28 No. 37
Thursday, October 25, 1990
$15.00 Per Year
SUNDAY VISITOR - Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, walks and talks
with his host, Father Richard Morrow, during a late summer visit to
Prince of Peace parish in Buford. Father Morrow, the pastor, is the
subject of a profile on page 7. Photo by Linda Schaefer
Senate Votes Cut
In El Salvador Aid
WASHINGTON (CNS)
— Catholic officials praised
a Senate vote that would
slash military aid to El
Salvador by 50 percent for
fiscal year 1991.
In a 74-25 vote, senators
approved an amendment to
a foreign aid bill Oct. 19
that would withhold $42.5
million out of the $85
million in military aid to El
Salvador for 1991.
One stipulation of the
amendment was that the
aid would not be cut in
half if President Bush
determines the rebels are
walking out of peace talks
that are underway or
mounting an offensive that
jeopardizes the Salvadoran
government.
Auxiliary Bishop Gre
gorio Rosa Chavez of San
Salvador told reporters in
El Salvador the Senate
action opens up possibili
ties of peace in the
war-tom country.
"The conditions imposed
by the Senate are clearly
aimed at making the nego
tiating process more via
ble," Bishop Rosa Chavez
said.
Robert T. Hennemeyer,
director for international
justice and peace for the
U.S. Catholic Conference,
said the U.S. bishops sup
port the Senate action
because it urges both the
U.S.-backed Salvadoran
military and the Farabundo
Marti National Liberation
November 6
Bishop James P.
Lyke, OFM, reminds
Catholics of their
responsibilities as
voters and offers
guidelines for
pastors and parish
ioners on page 5.
Front, the rebels who have
been at war with the mili
tary for more than a de
cade, to continue peace
negotiations.
"We supported the with
holding of aid in order to
send the Salvadoran mili
tary a message to proceed
with the peace process,"
Hennemeyer told Catholic
News Service Oct. 22. "We
believe it also gives incen
tive to the FMLN to pursue
the peace process."
Bush has threatened to
(Continued on page 6)
Bishop Names Three Priests
As Vicars To Fellow Clergy
BY RITA McINERNEY
Bishop James P. Lyke,
OFM, has selected Father
Henry Gracz, pastor of
Our Lady of Lourdes
Church in Atlanta, to serve
as Vicar for Clergy.
In an Oct. 16 letter to
the priests of the archdio
cese, Bishop Lyke ex
plained that Father Gracz
will fill the position as
vicar until an archbishop is
appointed.
His choice of Father
Gracz was made after
consultation with the
priests and the Personnel
Board, Bishop Lyke said.
He also appointed two
associate vicars who will
assist the vicar in his
ministry because he has
recognized that the respon
sibilities of the vicar are
“heavy and time-consum
ing.” All three priests will
relate to Bishop Lyke in a
manner permitted by canon
law.
The associate vicars
named by Bishop Lyke
after consultation with the
Personnel Board are Father
Richard B. Morrow, pastor
of Prince of Peace parish
in Buford, and Father
William M. Hickey, paro
chial vicar at Corpus
Christi Church in Stone
Mountain.
In thanking the three
priests for consenting to
accept this special ministry
in behalf of their brother
(Continued on page 6)
Assignments
Most Reverend James P. Lyke, OFM, apostolic
administrator of Atlanta, announces the following
priestly assignments:
REVEREND DANIEL J. O’CONNOR, presently
serving the Church of Atlanta as pastor of the parish
of Sacred Heart in Atlanta, to administrator of the
parish of Saint Jude, Atlanta, effective Friday,
October 26, 1990.
REVEREND HENRY C. GRACZ, pastor of the
parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Atlanta, and who
has been serving as chairman of the Clergy Person
nel Board, to serve in the role of Vicar for Clergy,
effective immediately.
REVEREND RICHARD B. MORROW, pastor of
the parish of Prince of Peace in Buford, to serve as
Associate Vicar for Clergy, effective immediately.
REVEREND WILLIAM M. HICKEY, parochial
vicar at the parish of Corpus Christi in Stone Moun
tain, to serve as Associate Vicar for Clergy, effec
tive immediately.
sic*****
Also, Bishop Lyke announces the appointment of
Sister Valentina Sheridan, RSM, presently serving as
pastoral assistant at the parish of Sacred Heart to
serve as parish administrator, effective Friday,
October 26, 1990, continuing until a new pastor or
administrator is appointed.
Sister Sheridan Appointed
First Parish Administrator
BY RITA McINERNEY
Sister Valentina Sheridan, a Religious
Sister of Mercy for 41 years, is the first
woman to be officially appointed adminis
trator of a parish in the archdiocese. She
will serve on an interim basis at Sacred
Heart Church in downtown Atlanta.
Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, an
nounced her appointment to the parish at
a Liturgy dedicating a new main altar
Sept. 9. At that time, Father Daniel
O’Connor, pastor since June, 1983, and a
staff chaplain with the U.S. Army Re
serves was on alert status with the Third
Army at Fort McPherson, expecting a call
to active duty in Saudi Arabia.
However, on Oct. 16, Bishop Lyke
asked him to be administrator at St.
Jude’s parish in Sandy Springs. As apos
tolic administrator, Bishop Lyke, by can
on law, can appoint administrators of
parishes, but not pastors.
In a letter to Sister Sheridan dated
Sept. 10, Bishop Lyke wrote: “While I
cannot grant you any of the faculties
reserved to a pastor or parochial vicar or
which require ordination, you may rely on
the priests assigned to Sacred Heart for
the celebration of the sacraments and
other necessary assistance. Your role will
primarily involve overseeing all parish
activities and insofar as possible you are
to act as pastor.”
Bishop Lyke goes on to say that the
“Personnel Board was unanimously in
favor of your appointment as administra-
(Continued on page 6)