I want to thank you, once again, for the wonderful week of worship. Truly it was a fine teaching experiment involving thousands. It was a great demonstration, by voice and mind and heart, of how our people feel about God and about worship to Him. It awakened many local persons of different faiths who know we take seriously our part in the work of unity.

But most of all it was an overwhelming prayer in which we all joined, a common banquet to which we all sat down and ate. One felt the Church of 1964 coming alive in us. The liturgy is the source and the summit of our lives. Now we begin to live out - at home and school and work and neighborhood - these measures of grace. The seed is planted. The harvest means work. The lamp is kindled. The full light will take time. But it is a great thing to have taken this first step. Let us walk with our Brother Christ toward the full worship of a full day.

In And Out

Apparently my stopping in at St. Joseph’s Hospital was a surprise to everyone except the doctors and me. Actually, hepatitis is not only a long word; it has long effects. My schedule had called for me to go in, as prescribed, for tests, a checkup and a rest. And contrary to everyone’s opinion, I did not overwork during the Conference On Worship - our fine priests, sisters and laymen did all the planning and work.

It just happened that some virus made it necessary for me to be hospitalized the day after the conference. I surely appreciate your prayers, but want to warn against panic every time you hear, “the archbishop’s in the hospital!” I expect it may happen again. Meanwhile, I still hope to get to Rome for some of the Council, and there’s plenty of work on my desk each morning.

Ahead -- Big Plans

By the end of the year, all of our 45,000 laymen, sisters and priests will be viewing the growing archdiocese with a new perspective. Our members are few, but our future needs are many. We have to plan so that we do not duplicate.

The three new parishes are going so well, four new convents are under way, and we have a growing program for a growing archdiocese being lined up.

Underneath it all is the growth of the mind (raising our educational standards) and the heart (touching our areas of compassion).

The new spirit of worship is our best insurance that we will not be just engaged in an external show. It is the bond between God and us that really lives.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta