Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan blazed the trail for the fullest possible implementation of Vatican II in the lives of the Sisters of his archdiocese on Sunday, May 1. In addressing the sisters at the official opening of the Congress at 2 p.m., at St. Joseph High School, he called for “unity, diversity and creativity” from the Congress body and encouraged the sister participants to “set a pace for the entire archdiocese” in the preparation for the Synod in the fall.

After His Excellency’s speech, Sister Ann Richard, S.L., head of the Theological Department of Webster College in St. Louis, addressed the group on the topic of “The Role of the Sister in the Archdiocese in Light of Vatican II.” She developed the two basic elements that the Council called for in the renewal of religious life; namely, a continuos return to the sources of Christian life and an adjustment of each community to the changing conditions of the times.

Sister’s address was followed by a lively discussion period in which she shared with the group much of the knowledge accrued from her rich experience in the Vatican Council as an observer, and since the Council in her travels through the United States speaking to various communities.

A Bible service, reelecting the theme of apostleship, fittingly closed the first day of the Sisters’ Congress.

On Monday, May 2, the first general voting session commenced at 9 a.m. During this session the schema of each of the five preparatory committees was presented to the group for adoption, amendment, or rejection. Following is a general summary of each committee.

Development

This committee proposed the formation of a Council of Sisters which would deal with the continuing development of the sister as a person, spiritually, intellectually, culturally, physically, socially. It strongly recommended activities planned for the sharing of ideas among clergy, religious and laity, so as to insure growth and development within the archdiocese of all God’s people. Further recommendations spelled out how the Archdiocese could exert its influence to aid growth and development of the sisters through provision of workshops, lectures, etc.

Liturgy

Since the sisters feel strongly that as women of the Church, striving to serve it in the best way possible, they should assume an active role in the worship of the parish community, they recommended that a Liturgical Committee be formed within each parish, composed of clergy, sisters, and laity, to insure meaningful parish worship. To this Liturgical Committee the sisters would offer their services to instruct the parish community, if necessary; to experiment with music, art, and settings so as to guarantee meaningful worship; and in general to be at the service of the parish to accomplish the goal of reforming and promoting the liturgy.

Education

This committee, due to the depth and scope of the material involved, delayed the final voting on recommendations. Pertinent topics involved were a proposed educational structure for the archdiocese, spelling out the roles of all in education and showing the relation, each to the other; practical suggestions concerning the qualification of personnel to meet the demands of the state of Georgia; guarantee to lay personnel, involved in the archdiocesan educational system, increase of salary and benefits, such as insurance and pension plans, that would reflect those of the public school system. Other recommendations included topics under the headings of special, adult, and religious education.

Social Services

Recommendations from this group called for a social service organization collaborating with other agencies, local and state. This program would include the training of a good corps of social workers for the archdiocese to meet the demands not being met by existing agencies. The possibility of each or several communities releasing a sister to aid in this work was suggested.

Health Services

This committee first recommended that a commission be set up to explore the needs of the archdiocese and then to serve in an advisory capacity to the archdiocese to see how these needs should be met. It suggested utilizing competent lay personnel in vital positions in archdiocesan health institutes, and guaranteeing benefits to personnel involved in archdiocesan health agencies.

The first general voting session recessed at 12:30. A concelebrated Mass, offered by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, Father Daniel J. O’Connor, and Father Jerry Hardy, followed the morning session. Fully participated in the Mass was a meaningful expression of the Congress body, brought together for the purpose of making the Church a living reality here and now in the archdiocese.

A buffet dinner was served in the cafeteria of St. Joseph High School, and then the group reconvened for the completion of the first general voting session.

This was followed by committee meetings, whose purpose was to take care of those proposals recommitted for further study.

At the second and last general voting session all proposals, with the exception of the delayed educational recommendations, were either adopted or rejected.

His Excellency received the book of proposals from Sr. Mary Virginia, G.N.S.H., chairman of the Sisters’ Congress in the closing ceremonies and officially imparted his episcopal blessing on the group. Thus ended an epic making “first” in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

The archbishop said of the event: “The Sisters Congress has set the pace for the entire archdiocese. Steady witnesses of the Catholic faith to men and women of these times, our 200 sisters have applied the modern technique of the “open-end” to some vital problems.

“They have raised necessary questions with an open mind, and will continue their voluntary service with an open heart. This was the approach used by the ‘Second Vatican Council.” They have shown all of us that the church in its new vigor can live and flourish in Atlanta and North Georgia.”

“The Lay Congress and the Synod will be Acts II and III to this real, Catholic drama of 1966.”

“By January 1, 1967, the church should, under the movement of the Holy Spirit, be ready for the complex critical issues ahead. We are grateful to the sisters. They have proved to be good planners.”

Those attending: Rev. Mother Jane Frances, G.N.S.H., mother general, The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Philadelphia, Penn.; Sister Mary Raphael, G.N.S.H., assistant general, The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Philadelphia, Penn.; Reverend Mother Mary Daniel, S.N.D., provincial general, Illchester, Maryland; Sister M. Sylvia, S.N.D., provincial secretary, Illchester, Maryland; Mother M. Stella Maris, R.S.M., assistant general, Sisters of Mercy of the Union, Washington, D.C.; Sister M. Kateri, R.S.M., provincial councilor, Sisters of Mercy, Baltimore Province, Baltimore, Maryland; Mother M. Charles, O.L.M., superior general, Charleston, S.C.; Sister Miriam, O.L.M., Charleston, S.C.; Sister M. Peter, C.S.J., delegate sent by: Most Reverend Robert E. Tracy, Baton Rouge, La.; Sister Ann Richard, S.L., associate professor and Chairman of the Theology Department, Webster College, St. Louis, Mo.; Sister Donnard, S.S.N.D., delegate sent by: Most Rev. Robert E. Tracy, Baton Rouge, La.; Mother Mary of Lourdes, H.H.M., mother general, Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, Villa Maria, Pa. (Pittsburgh Diocese); Sr. Sabastian, H.H.M., general councilor, Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, Villa Maria, Pa.; Sister Marie Bernard, H.H.M., general councilor, Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, Villa Maria, Pa.; Sister St. Anne, H.H.M., general councilor, Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, Villa Maria, Pa.; Sister Mary Gemma, H.H.M., general councilor, Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary, Villa Maria, Pa.; Sister Lila, M.J., Better World Movement, Washington, D.C.; Sister Victoria, V.C.S., City of Saint Jude, Montgomery, Alabama; Sister Rose Marie, V.C.S., City of Saint Jude, Montgomery, Alabama; Mr. James Callison, executive chairman - president Lay Congress; Mr. Sam McQuaid, chairman - Education Committee, Lay Congress; Mr. Henry deGive, chairman - Future Expansion and Development, Lay Congress; Mr. Paul Aauerberger, treasure, Lay Congress; Mr. Herbert Farnsworth, general chairman, “Ad Hoc” Committee, Lay Congress; Rev. Conald Faust, advisor, Lay Congress; Mrs. W. W. Greene, secretary, Lay Congress; Mrs. George Funning, secretary, Lay Congress; and Mrs. George Mallon, secretary of education, Lay Congress.