The new Lay Center which is part of the expansion program will house the headquarters of all organizations within the Archdiocese. Three of the major groups within the archdiocese are the Council of Catholic Men, the Council of Catholic Women, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. We therefore print below a summary of their aims and activities in order that they become better known.

Men

The National Council of Catholic Men is a federation of Catholic men’s organizations established by the hierarchy of the United States to promote and service the development of the lay apostolate.

Member organizations of NCCM are parish societies, inter-parochial groups, statewide organizations, diocesan federations and national organizations.

NCCM seeks to establish in every diocese a unifying federation of all the men’s organizations in that diocese. These diocesan federations are generally known as diocesan councils of Catholic men. The Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men is an example.

The Diocesan Councils of Catholic Men form subordinate counterparts called Deanery Councils to which the parish and inter-parochial organizations affiliate.

Approximately 10,000 men’s organizations with a total membership of nearly 9 million are affiliated with NCCM.

The National Council of Catholic Men is governed by a general assembly consisting of the presidents of diocesan councils and the national organizations who, in turn, elect an executive board of 16 members. Their direction is carried out through a staff of 35 trained professionals.

A diocesan council of Catholic Men is primarily concerned with implementing programs to meet the apostolic needs of the diocese. These needs are of two types:

- Local needs or issues affecting the people of the diocese that are created by the peculiar religious, economic, social, geographical and political characteristics of the community.

- Common national needs or issues which, in some way, affect the majority of the people in the country or the world.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Men identifies these needs through study and discussion with the bishop and his advisers, and with laymen competent in all aspects of temporal affairs. The programs are then developed through consultation with the ordinary.

The National Council of Catholic Men is concerned with developing programs to meet the apostolic needs that are the common concern of most dioceses. Those needs may be categorized in four broad areas:

- Apostolic formation of the laity.

- Lay collaboration in the renewal movements of the Church.

- The work of the laymen in the temporal order.

- Lay organization development.

Much of NCCM’s lay apostolate activities are carried out by the national, diocesan, deanery and parish levels in these major areas:

Religious activities: Spiritual and apostolic formation, pastoral assistance, liturgy and retreats.

Communications: Parish libraries, promotion of NCCM’s own radio and television programs, and cooperation with the Legion of Decency, and the National Office for Decent Literature.

Civic and Social Action: Race relations, migratory labor, employment and problems of the “dropout,” urban redevelopment, rural life, cooperation in community affairs and educational programs on the Church’s social encyclicals.

Legislation: Family retreats, Cana conferences, family life institutes, and religious practices and instructions in the home.

Youth: Cooperation with diocesan and parish youth directors, provide volunteers for existing youth programs, sponsor of “youth leadership training courses,” and promotion of recreational and educational facilities.

Public Relations: Internal newsletters, bulletins, press, radio and television releases on organizational programs.

International Affairs: Foreign students and visitors, educational programs on the United Nations, study clubs and meetings on foreign affairs, missions, underdeveloped countries, peace.

Organization and Development: Leadership training through NCCM’s “Leaders’ Courses in the Lay Apostolate” in affiliated organizations, speakers bureau and membership drives.

NCCM is also responsible for the production of all regularly scheduled national Catholic network radio and television programs. Perhaps NCCM is best known for the “Catholic Hour” NBC radio program which it instituted in 1930. However, NCCM actually produces on the major networks each year 121 half-hour radio programs and 56 half-hour television programs. It also produces original films for syndicated use by local television stations. The programs are intended for the inspiration and information of Catholics and non-Catholics. These programs reach a weekly audience of 10 million.

NCCM has received from religious and secular organizations many international and national awards for its radio and television programming. As a supplement to its television work and as a service to organizations and schools and parishes, NCCM operates the largest library of Catholic films in the United States containing over 150 subjects.

The national office is located at 1312 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C.

Women

The Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women is a federation of the organizations of Catholic women within the Archdiocese of Atlanta: Altar and Rosary Societies, guilds, bookshop, auxiliaries, and so forth.

We know that an organization is people banded together to work together for a common goal. The common goal of the Atlanta ACCW is the promotion of the work of the Church in the Archdiocese according to the plan of the archbishop. The ACCW unites the affiliated organizations in purpose, voice, and action in matters which concern the life of the Church in the archdiocese. It does not in any way change the purpose or interfere with the authority of the affiliate. Rather, it offers to the local unit and to the women who are its members an opportunity to participate in the program of Catholic Action given to the women of the archdiocese by the archbishop.

The scope of the program is national, because, within the nationwide federation, NCCW provides unity of purpose, voice, and action, as well as program suggestions and assistance, for Catholic women throughout the United States.

The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women receives its authority from the Archbishop. It is he who selects the areas upon which the archdiocesan program is based.

The ACCW administers the program by means of a board of directors’ consisting of a president, recording secretary, and treasurer, elected by the Board from among their number, and three vice presidents who are the three presidents of the three deaneries, and who are elected by their respective deaneries, a parliamentarian, corresponding secretary, and chairmen of all standing committees, appointed by the president.

ACCW business is transacted at board meetings held three times a year, and at the annual meeting. Each affiliated unit is entitled to be represented at the annual business meeting by three delegates, and each delegate has one vote.

Each of the three deaneries meets in open session quarterly at which time a program is presented, and deanery business is transacted.

The affiliated organization puts the program into operation. The pastor selects the areas of work in which his parish organization will participate. Committees are set up in these areas, and the affiliate chairmen are members of their respective deanery committees. They put the program into operation in their own organizations. They keep accurate records of effort expended during the year and submit a report of work accomplished at the end of the year.

Charity

While the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is generally known, many conceive it to be merely a dispenser of material relief.

The distribution of material relief is one of its important functions, but this is merely one of the means toward a more important object, the sanctification of souls, including those of its members.

After providing urgent relief, they make regular weekly visits to homes of the poor; endeavor if possible, to make them self-sustaining by securing employment, etc. Thus having gained their confidence and good will, many opportunities present themselves for frequently needed spiritual services.

They make regular visits to hospitals and other institutions to distribute wholesome literature; to offer consolation and possible personal services. During such visits, frequent opportunity present themselves to cause the return of one sinner.

Annual conference reports reveal that many children are brought to the parochial schools, improperly executed marriages rectified, a great number of persons induced to return to long-neglected practice of their religion. Baptisms and funerals are arranged, etc.

The excellent rules of the Society, prepared by its founder, Frederick Ozanam, and associates over one hundred years ago are so elastic as to permit any form of charity based upon spiritual motives.

A parish conference usually consists of about six to twelve members. They meet weekly and regularly make visits to the homes of the poor and to hospitals and institutions. In addition to such services, these members contribute of their own means at the secret collection held at each meeting.

The pastor usually refers applicants for aid to this committee and thus is relieved of a heavy burden and of imposition on part of professional beggars.

A Conference of St. Vincent de Paul can prove only beneficial to any parish. Those with few or no poor can assist at hospitals and other institutions as well as to lighten the burden of parishes with many poor and few contributors.

On final Judgment Day, none of us will be absolved from the obligation of having rendered such or similar services to our Lord’s poor.

Parishioners can obtain many of the rich Indulgences granted the Society, by merely enrolling as an honorary member of benefactor and making a small annual donation.

The Society is organized all over the Christian world and has been liberally enriched with indulgences by the Holy Fathers.

Among many others a liberal indulgence has been granted upon merely attending a weekly meeting, or making a visit to the homes of the poor and institutions, and a Plenary Indulgence has been granted upon attendance of at least three weekly meetings monthly.

To enroll as a member or benefactor, or for additional literature, apply to your local council or conference, or to Superior Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 326 Ivy St., N.E.