St Andrews Seminary - Mapav Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 83 text:

1 9 3 9 Omnia Christo The Saint Joseph Catholic Worker Society was organized at Saint Andrew's Seminary in the Fall of 1935 with the help of Fathers Lyons, Vogt and Ehmann, under the patronage of Saint joseph. The work of the Society consists in teachf ing the Negro children in the Ford Street section of Rochester, in the distribution of the Catholic Worker paper, and in the study of various social questions. Inspiration for this movement came when Dorothy Day, the militant editor of the Catholic Worker spoke in Rochester in 1937. Soon afterward, a social program was held at Blessed Sacrament Hall where Father Vogt and Father Ehmann spoke, as did several students, who attempted to stir up the enthusiasm of the student body in studying the social questions. At that time plans were laid for the formation of the society, they were outlined and submitted to Father Lyons who gave his permission for the organization of the group under the title, Cathof lic Workers. In December, 1937, Father Vogt put at the disposal of the society about fifty books treating of history and social problems, and suggested that a study be made of pagan man as found in the classics and his advance to Christianity. A study of the papal encyclicals on modern social problems was also begun. At the first meeting, john Hurley, prime mover of the society, was elected president. He was succeeded in the years following by Eugene MacFarland and John Widf man, both of whom are now at Saint Bernard's Seminary, and Edward Foy. In the meantime, a negro center was instif tuted in a home on Ford Street where religious class was held each Sunday afternoon. Through the work of the seminarians, a number of chil' dren have since received their first holy Com' munion and have been connrmedg likewise two adults have been confirmed. Since 1936, the Catholic Workers have held a summer school for four weeks during July and August. At these sessions in rented houses on Clarissa and Ford Streets the colored children Qusually about thirty in number, were taught catechism, handicraft EDWARD FoY, '39 and the like. Small libraries were also formed of religious and secular books. One of the most interesting features of the society has always been the conferences given by Father Vogt during the school year. In these conferences he has discussed such subjects as Communism, Modern Europe, Quadragesimo Anno and the Liturgical Movement. He has likef wise considered the Church's social action and reform as effected by the Catholic Workers in Nova Scotia, Georgia and New York City, where local Hback to the farm movements have been started to lighten the burden of workers op' pressed by present conditions of society. Another important aspect which might be considered dry and unattractive is the Sunday afternoon classes. There is an interesting side to it, however, for by this contact with the colored people we have learned much. For example, there is an aged colored woman, who, although now nearly eighty, earns her own living and that of six dependents by scrubbing floors in downtown offices. She can tell with little urging some interf esting stores of her life during the Reconstrucf tion Period and of her parents who were slaves. And she also relates some pitiable details about how she lives in a ramshackle house with her children, subsisting on a very modest wage. Now what is to be said of the Negro Quesf tion which has occupied so much space in the public press lately? Social workers seem to think that the problem can be settled through extensive investigations and hearings. So far, all that has been uncovered is the fact that living conditions among the negroes are most wretched and that the colored workers are being exploited by our local industrialists. Monsigiior Freking said in a talk to the seminarians recently, that there is a wide field for action among the negroes in Roch' ester. But the first step is obviously the applicaf tion of Christian principles, and then such Hnanf cial and social assistance as we may be enabled to provide. For we must remember that what you do unto the least of them My brethren, you do unto Me. seventyfthree

Page 82 text:

S A T O R Catholic Literature Society One of the leading forces in shaping the policies of a nation, particularly if that nation is ruled by 'a democratic form of government, is public opinion. But the public is really quite an ignorant group, everything being taken into conf sideration, since it follows whatever line of thought it considers fashionable fe. g. technocf racy completely absorbed the oneftrack mind of the nation just a few years agoj. Government, law, and, in general, most of the important things in this country are left to Congressmen, whose activities are guided to a great extent by the publicity given them in the newspapers and magazines, an inadequate but effective indicator of their grasp on the public sentiment. lt seems inconceivable that a nation even as great as our own United States could be conf trollcd by such a factor, but that is actually the case. Whcii we turn to the consideration of religf ious declining position in the eyes of the state, it is with only a mild surprise that we note that the majority of newspapers ni this country, if not violently antifCatholic, are nonpartisan and owned and operated, as many of them are, by gentlemen whose political credos are a deep pink. These publications present viotal current facts through rosefcolored glasses-to make the facts match their editor's distorted political and social ideals. It is to rectify this situation then, that Cathof lic Literature Societies have been established in most Catholic Schools and Universities. These organizations hold the key to the dissemination of Catholic thought in America: it is their re' JoH'N MCCAFFERTY, '39 sponsibility to blow the dust off Catholic truth and place it before the public gaze in the form of books, pamphlets, and papers to be made available for a nominal sum, it is their responsif bility to read Catholic literature and themselves become informed on the modern problems of the Church and thus be prepared to meet intelli' gently any criticism to which their faith may be subjected. And yet, this is still not enough,--for if the Catholic Press is to be really effective, it must contrive to present its case to the opposif tion in a manner forceful enough to jolt them into thinking, and convincing enough to arouse in them at least a mild curiosity which, if inf telligently and intelligibly satisfied, may easily lead to a better understanding between the Church and her enemies and thus further the kingdom of Christ upon the earth. lt was our privilege in the middle of the current school year to see the beginning of a Catholic Literature Society in Saint Andrews which at present boasts ot about thirty members. As the first meeting Mr. James Collins was elected vicefpresidentg Mr. James Callan, treasf urerg and Mr. Vincent Porter, secretary. The president of this society, the author of this acf count, had been selected previously to organize the society. The chief activity of the year has been the inauguration of a plan whereby two pamphlets a month are placed in both the High School and College Libraries. We sincerely hope and justly expect that this is the beginning and the begin' ning only of an organization destined to become a vital part of Saint Andrew's Seminary. Ceremonies of the Church fContinued from Page 711 stitution. Underlying the performance of each function is the beautiful symbolism, which brings home forcefully to the Catholic mind the fact that his Church is the real representative of Christ on earth. The Church, following her Founder's example, encourages exterior as well as interior worship, As priests, we hope some day to perform many of the sacred functions of the Church-f offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, conf ferring the Sacraments, and many other ceref .SC'UCTlfy'flUO monies which attend the performance of the priestly office. As seminarians, we can prepare for this in two ways. First, we can gain a true appreciation of the meaning of the ceremonies by research. This may be accomplished with very little effort, because our Catholic libraries furnish us easy access to such information. Secondly, we can perform the ceremonies required of us in the seminary, accurately and reverently. There can be no excuse for any carelessness in the perform' ance of ceremonies, since ceremonies form an important part of the priest's duties for which we should prepare.

Page 84 text:

S A T O R At the end ot tl1e St. A11Lll'k5XK'.S Bowling Leagues season the ahove 111t'I11lWCI'S were tl1e te11 leading men: Seated, left to right: Thomas liorrelli, 151.951 Vsfilliam Conrad, 1511661 Donald lvlulrhay, 166331 lfdwartl Zimmer, 151-1.741 Frank lvluellner, 156.-48. 1 Stttmlnig, left to right' Father U'l5onne11, 149,883 Robert St5l1lCl-CII, 148.51 Frank Dinolfo, 157.111 .lohn lV1o1'pl1y, 153.1121 Father lvlarks, 158.7-1. blohn Hotlniaii. who is not in the picture, ranked eighth highest with an average ot' 151166. Bowling Soon alter our return to school in Septeniher. the Saint Andrew's Bowling League was formed for the second season. Forty men, coming from all six years, eon1prised the eight teams, which howled two 11igl1ts every two weeks. Although many ol' these were taking up t11e sport lor the tirst time, o11 the whole, the ahility ot' t11e com petQturs was 11otewortl1y. Team competition was especially keen. Des' pite tl1e liaet that two teams were really out ot' the running from the first week, tl1e other teams made up lor this hy staging a close light lor the c11an1pio11sl1ip. Tl1e Bees, Clartlinals, and Indians, were inches l'5I'l1I11 the title, hut they tailed to 1ICL'S1llfJ l1lltY jo11N MoRPH1', '40 reckon with the Cuhs, composed of Muellner Murley, Schiefen, Conrad, and Kelly, who clif maxed a steady advance from last place hy taking the championsliip on the final week of play. The winners were the only tea111 to average better lllllll 71111, and added tl1e l1igl1 team score for three games, 24-18, to their laurels. The Yankee had the high single game total, SSI. Individual honors were divided among twm men, lvluleahy and Scliielen. Mulcahy had not only linished the league season with a 166 aver age, w11icl1 led all others, hut also had high three' game total of of-1. Schiefenhs 2511 was the highest single game rolled,