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Ponder Changing Law on HolydOlYs Of Obligation
THE ANCHORThurs., July 24, 1969
Stays IExplu~ion Of Missioners
WASHINGTON (NC) The National Conference of Catholic Bishops is seeking to determine what changes, if any, should be made in current C h u r c h legislation requiring Catholics in the United States to attend Mass on five holydays of obligation. In the process, it is sampling the attitudes of bishops, priests, Religious and laity on the issue. Since the obligation to participate in Mass on these holydays touches the laity in a particular way, a special effort is being made .to determine their feelings in the matter. It is being suggested that while the samplings are being made some catechesis on the subject of holydays be given, possibly through one or two homilies by parish priests. This catechesis, it is felt, could serve as a preparation for the samplings and as a general instruction for the people regarding 'holydays of obligation. A survey of the NCCB in 1969 indicated that a majority of U. S. bishops favored some change in the observance of obligatory holydays, but provided no clear pattern. For this reason an ad hoc committee of the NCCB was appointed last November, under the chairmanship of Bishop Aloysius J. Wyeislo of Green Bay, Wis., to explore the question. Two Choices There are two fundamental choices: either retain the holydays of obligation as they are, or modify existing legislation. If one opts for a change in the law, a decision must be made with regard to each holyday. This choice will mean either to make no change regarding that particular hoi day, or to eliminate the obligation requiring participation in Mass on that particular day, or to transfer the celebration of the feast to a near and appropriate Sunday. Christmas will remain as a holyday of Obligation, in any event. The question of change involves five other holydays of obligation - Jan. I, which now becomes the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God; Ascension Thursday; the Feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15; All Saints Day, Nov. I, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8. The NCCB committee is leaving it to the individual Ordinary to determnie how he will make samplings in his See, through the' Iiturg1cal commission or some similar group, through parishes, or through some lay organization. A questionnaire is provided by the committee, but the Ordinary may use his own. The results of the samplings are to be tabulated by local personnel and only a general report submitted to the committee.
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BISHOPS AND RABBI: Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin of Los Angeles' Wilshire Boulevard Temple prays in St. Basil's Church during its dedication by James Francis Cardinal Mcintyre. Rabbi Magnin had a place of honor in the sanctuary be'side, from left, Coadjutor Archbish~p Timothy Manning. Bishop Joseph P. Dougherty and Bishop John Ward, concelebrants of the dedication Mass. The new St. Basil's is a neighbor to the synagogue. Both edifices, said Cardinal Mcintyre, "offer testimony of the presence of God with His people throughout the centuries." NC Photo.
1,500 Acclaim Retiring Archbishop Lycey [Lov®~u S)®[fV®~ SAN ANTONIO (NC)-"J didn't realize what a good person J have been until I retired," Archbishop Robert E. Lucey quipped before some 1,500 persons who honored him at a testimonial dinner at San Antonio's Convention Center. The gathering marked the retirement o.f Archbishop Lucey who served as spiritual head of the San Antonio archdiocese for the last 28 years. In addition to Catholic bishops, priests, Religious and laity, there was an outpouring of Protestant, Jewish and Orthodox clergymen and laity. Tributes came from several speakers, including former Texas Gov. John Connally and Auxiliary Bishop Steven A. Leven of San Antonio in a number of special messages. Among the messages was one from Archbishop-designate Francis J. Furey (bishop of San Diego), who on Aug. 6 will succeed Archbishop Lucey as head of the archdiocese, and from former President Lyndon Johnson, a longtime friend.
Weekly Newspaper Receives Award
Woman Consultant F~IJ' MtenQs Program
ROCKVILLE CENTRE (NC)The Long Island Catholic, Rockville Centre diocesan newspaper, received an honorable mention in the newspaper promotion category in the National Better Newspaper. Contest, sponsored by the National Newspaper Association. The diocesan paper was among 179 weekly and daily newspapers to receive an award in the NNA contest, in which more than 2,800 entries were submitted in 41 categories.
WASHINGTON (NC) - Mrs. Mary Helen Hellmuth, a Springfield, Ohio, mother of seven, is the first woman appointed a member of the national lay consultants' program of the National Council of Catholic Men. Mrs. Hellmuth, a widow, is president of the Cincinnati Archdiocesan Council of the Laity. Her husband, Andrew L. Hellmuth, died a month ago and she was invited to succeed him as a consultant in the NCCM program.
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"It is greatly to be regretted that bishops are not permitted to retire three or four times after they pass 75 years of age in order to receive a flood of fine letters telling them how good they are," Archbishop Lucey said. Texas 'Section of Heaven' "But on the other hand," he continued, "if a bishop could retire every five years in the sunset of his life, he might be so thoroughly revived and restored that he would stop retiring, and of course, .that would be bad for those who might have d~signs on the office. Consequently, one resignation, no matter how enjoyable, is all that we get." Archbishop Lucey said he "looked forward with anticipation to Aug. 6 when I shall transfer responsibility for the administration of this diocese to Most Rev. Francis Furey, my distinguished successor."
.3 5 y e(lHr~ The archbishop said it has been "my privilege to live and serve in Texas for 35 years," and added, «I, therefore choose to spend the sunset of my life in that section which is known as the great state of Texas." Special Messages Earlier during the evening, Msgr. J. L. Manning, ch~ncellor, who served as master of ceremonies, read the special messages to Archbishop Lucey from Archbishop-elect Furey and Mr. Johnson.
NEW DELHI (NC)-The Indian government has granted a sixweek extension to the residential permit of 15 foreign missionaries awaiting expulsion from Assam state. Following a joint representation by Valerian Cardinal Gracias of Bombay, Archbishop Angelo Fernandes of Delhi and Bishop Hubert D'Rosario of Dibrugarh, the Indian home ministry permitted the priests and Sisters to stay in the state till the end of July. They were ordered originally to quit by the middle of June -·in pursuance of a decision by the Assam state government to clear the state's "sensitive border areas" of all foreign missionaries. The home ministry also took up for consideration an application for Indian citizenship presented by nine of the' missionaries. Cardinal Gracias and the other prelates had pleaded with V.C. Shukla, minister of state for home affairs, for a favorable respo'nse to the applications. It is understood that the extension of stay was permitted with a view to facilitate processing and approval of the applications.
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Pass Bill to Aid Dental School LANSING (NC)-A bill to pay the University of Detroit $2,400 for each Michigan resident who graduates from its dental school cleared its final legislative hurdle. The Michigan Senate, by a 291 vote, concurred in minor amendments made by the House of Representatives and sent the bill to Gov. William G. Milliken for his signature. The House had approved the bill by a 62-43 vote a week earlier foll6wing two days of debate. It had passed the Senate by a 28-5 vote. The bill provides that "each accredited non-public school of dentistry in the State" shall receive a $2,40Q grant for each graduate doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine. Since the University of Detroit has the only non-public dental school in Michigan, it would be the sole beneficiary of the bill.
"Our Holy Father, Pope Paul VI, has. done me a - great honor in appointing me to succeed you as Archbishop of San Antonio," wrote the Archbishop-designat~. "While I am to succeed you in this exalted office, I have no illusions that I will really take your place. Nobody could do that. You will always be enshrined deep in the hearts of all Texas." And the former President said Hopes for Unity of Archbishop Lucey: "No servant of God has worked With Coptic Sect VATICAN CITY (NC)-Because with greater devotion for the of their "close kinship," we hope peace and progress of God's peo365 NOR1I'H FRONT STREET the day may come when the· ple. He is a man of love and wisNEW BEDFORD Catholic and dissident Coptic dom. All of us who have known churches in Ethiopia will be "in him will proudly carry the badge 992-5534 full communion" with each other, of that friendship throughout our lives." Pope Paul VI declared. The Pope made the comment in accepting the credentials of Kidane Miriam Haile, Ethiopia's new ambassador to the Holy See. "Ethiopia is at home in the Mi~k!" Vatican," the Pope said. "It has lived side by side with the life Your Gulf H;/8 Route Man is of the Church." He said the Holy See is "parAlways at Your Service! ticularly disposed" to have good FOR HOME DELiVERY CALL 998-5691 relations with Ethiopia "because of the close kinship of Catholics of the Ethiopian rite with the Ethiopian Coptic church, which we hope may one day be in full SO. DARTMOU1I'H, MASS. communion with us."
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