Leaving Catholic Schools Costing State Miilmons
.L4ncient Custom of SQlemn Engagement May Become Newest Thing in Diocese
ALBANY (NC)-A staff memol'landum prepared by the New York State Council of Catholic School Superin-
Planning to get married? Why not have a solemn engagement ceremony? Never heard of it? You have lots of company! Although such ceremonies .are far from new, being mentioned by Church writers as far back as the third century, they have for some reason fallen into disuse. It's a pity, because if there'" one thing young lovel's want to do, it'os to proclaim their love, and -here's a way to stand right up in church' and do it. Seriously, the engage-
·tendents said there has been a decrease of nearly 60,000 Catholic school students in this state during the past five years-more than 25,000 this year alone. H said the education of students !Who left Catholic schools and transferred to public schools this ~"ear is costing taxpayers some $29,550,000. This figure is based on the National Education Asociation's statistics that per pupil expenditure in the state's public schools is currently $1,140. "For when a claild leaves the Catholic school, public education is almost always his alterna.tive," the memorandum stated. "No minor part of public education's current financial crisis is due to the immigration of large numbers of Catholic school students." The memorandum w·as made public against a background of nonpublic school closings and dwindling enrollments throughout the country. The closings and curtailments have caused administrators of the f,inancially hard pressed private schools to look increasingly to state legislatures for help.
ment ceremony is a beautiful and meaningful way of marking the period preceding marriage. It's an experience few young couples in the Diocese have had up to now, but it took place last Sunday for William T. Murphy and Jane Landry of Fall River who plan marriage in May. The text of the ceremony follows, for the convenience of engaged couples or of priests who may wish to encourage the custom in thefr parishes. At Lady Altar The couple kneel at the Blessed Mother's altar and the priest, in surplice, stole and cope, stands 'before them. The couple recite the following prayer: In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 'before Almighty God and his heavenly court and in the presence of our witnesses, we promise to one another by this ecclesiastical engagement marriage in Christ. We further promise that by the frequent and devout reception Of the holy sacraments, 'by ,prayer and charDecrease ity, by mutual respect, we shall The enrollment dec-rease be- assist one another in preparing gan in Catholic schools as early worthily for the blessed day of as 1965-66, according to the re- our marriage in Christ. We have port, but the growth in other re- made this promise before the altar of our Mother Mary' and ligiously oriented and non-denominational schools was suffi- we ask her to carry our promise before the throne of God and to cient to allow an overall increase in the private sector until 1967. obtain for us his grace and "The taxpayer must be con- blessing. cerned 0 0 0 with what seems to Blesses Ring The priest then blesses the enbe a consistency in the rate of decreasing Catholic school en- gagement ring, saying: Priest: Our help is in the name rollments," the memorandum stated. "If the decrease COntinues of the Lord People: Who made heaven and at what"appears to be a predictable trend, the anticipated rate earth Priest: The Lord is with you' of loss in '69-70 will approximate 5%, or from 35,000 to. . People. And with your spirit Let us pray: Bless, 0 Lord, 37,000 fClWer students. This this ring, which we bless in your transfer costs out at more than $40,000,000 in yet additional name, that she who will wear it, keeping full faith with her betaxes in the year 1969-70 alone." trothed, may abide in your peace and in your will and may live Observer Stresses always in mutual charity. Through Christ our Lord. PeoBrotherly Dialogue ple: Amen. NEW YORK (NC)-The PerHoly Water manent Observer of the Holy The priest then sprinkles the See at the United Nations told a ring with holy water and the Jewish congregation here that man takes it and puts it on the "brotherly dialogue" depended woman's ring finger, with the on personal relationships and words: "In the name· of 1he the spiritual dignity of the indi- Father and of the Son and of vidual. the Holy Spirit." Msgr. Alberto Giovannetti deLove of God livered the keynote address The hymn of the Love of God during a Service of Worship at may then be sung or recited. Mount Neboh Congregation This is taken from the ceremony here, at which Ed Sullivan, tele- of washing feet in the Holy vision personality and news- Thursday liturgy. Refrain: Where paper columnist, received the 1969 brotherhood award of the Advance Bill to Tax Na'tional Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. Ch.arity Bequests Msgr. Giovannetti emphasized TRENTON (NC) -A bill to that his U.N. position fostered tax bequests to churches and "discretion," and sometimes charitable institutions was curtailed "our action." He added, adopted by the State Assembly however, that the brotherhood here by a vote of 50 to 4 and movement does not and must sent to the· Senate for action. not be confined or have limitaSponsored by Assemblyman tions." James Cafiero of Cape May County, the bill would levy a per cent tax on bequests of Discontinue Rating five $5,000 or more. Cafiero claims NEW YORK (NC)-The Na- the revenues would come to tional Catholic Office for Motion about $4 million a year. Pictures (NCOMP) 'has disconNew Jersey did levy taxes on tinued its weekly classifications charitable bequests up to 1962, of motion pictures, engulfing the but abandoned the practice that service in its bi-weekly publica- year when the inheritance tax tion Catholic Filun Newsletter. system was overhauled.
'tHE ANCHOR-
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Thurs., March 6, 1969
TeUs Astronauts Of Keen Interest WASHINGTON (NC) -Pope Paul VI expressed to the three Apollo 9 astronauts his "keen interest in their courageous undertaking," and assured them of "his personal good wishes and carnest prayers to the Almighty for the complete success" of their mission. The message was sent to the three astronauts-Col. James A. McDivitt and Col. David Rl. Scott of the Air Force and Russell L. Schweikart, a civilianby Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, Apostolic Delegate in the United States, through Dr. Thomas O. Paine, acting adIilinistrttor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was learned tnat the three astronautSl themselves had invited the Holy Father to be present at the blast-off. The Pope expressed his keen interest in their earth-orbital flight when thanking them for the invitation.
Plan to Recrganize Pill'tsburglh Schools
SOIl.IEMN IENGAGIEMIEINI1T: William T. Murphy places engagement ring on finger of Jane landry as couple participate in ancient rite of solemn engagement. They will be married in May. there is charity and loving friendship, there God ever dwells. 1. We are gathered here together in love of Christ, Let us rejoice and be glad in him, in Christ our Lord, . And with holy fear let us love the living God . And let us love one another with hearts true and sincere Refrain 2. When therefore we are gathered here together in unity Let the oneness of mind that is among us be not destroyed And let no quarrels or harsh bitterness stay among us, For in our very midst,among us, dwells Christ our God. Refrain 3. And some day with the saints in heaven we may behold In all splendor and in glory the face of Christ Unending joy will then be ours in God's presence Where we shall live for all ages in praise of God. Amen. Final Blessing The engaged couple then recei ve a blessing from the priest, who places his stole over their clasped hands and says: May God bless your bodies and your souls. May he send his blessing upon you as he blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May our Blessed Mother keep you in her care. May your guardian angels protect you from all harm
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and lead you on the path of ho~i ness. Go in' peace, in the name of Christ. Amen. Peopne P;u'Ucipate William and Jane's engagement ceremony took place after the last Mass in their parish church, and the congregation was invited to remain for it. An overflow crowd filled Our Lady's chapel, including several young couples who had "We'd like that too" expressions on their faces as they left. So.maybe an ancient custom is about to become the newest thing in the Fall River Diocese.
PITTSBURGH (NC)-A major reorganization of the Pittsburgh diocesan school system to offset rising costs and a shortage of religious personnel has been proposed for September by Auxiliary Bishop John B. McDowell, school superintendent. The goal is improved education and more efficient use of personnel '8nd facilities, he said. The bishop declined to discuss specific schools or details of the plan until informati'on is provided to the parishes. This will be done shortly. Bishop McDowell said, however, that some consoHdations and mergers are involved, not only of schools, but of facilities for Religious. For example, the plan calls for nuns of different communities to live in one convent in certain areas where convents abound and are only partially filled. '
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