This week’s article on the Lay Congress proposals is concerned with recommendations for future expansion of the archdiocese and its development. At the Congress convention an attempt was made to incorporate the recommendations of the majority of parishes proposed by their delegates.

“Any course of action adopted by the Lay Congress, the Religious Congress, and the Synod should be regarded as an attempt by the Church in this archdiocese to renew and reform itself. The Church (the whole people of God) must at all times remain open to change.”

“The archbishop, as the prime teacher, shepherd and leader, must be regarded as having complete authority to accept, reject or modify any recommendations made. As his people, it is our obligation to express through the means he has set up, the methods we think best fitted to fulfill our desire to help all people of God to become personally involved in a full Christian life, thus promoting the true growth of the Church.” (From the Draft of the Lay Congress Proposals.)

Parish Community

Small community groups within each parish should be the working base for each parishioner to involve himself in the spiritual, social, civic and apostolic activities and life of the whole community.

It was pointed out in the Congress that this concept is suggestive, not proposed to be mandatory.

Parish Boundaries

This Congress recommends that administration set up the framework for future planning and building, but as the actual plant of the Church embraces more than just the parish church and parish buildings, we suggest consideration of the following:

1. Parish boundaries should be established on a geographic basis, after consulting each parish involved.

2. Realistic consideration should be given to transportation problems.

3. The Eastern Rite churches should be exempted.

4. Consideration of Immaculate Conception as an archdiocesan shrine; the expense to be borne by the archdiocese.

Spiritual, Material

1. It is recommended that tithing be seriously considered for all parishes. Tithing is a spiritual commitment.

2. In view of the financial condition of some parishes, a common fund of mutual assistance should be developed to help parishes most in need.

3. The intrinsic nature of the priesthood should be stressed. All priests should be relieved of the burden of administrative details as much as possible.

4. When laymen are employed they should be paid a living wage at a level compatible to similar positions in the community.

Liturgy Movement

1. It is essential that the meaning behind the liturgy be made to pervade the entire life of the community.

2. Changes in the liturgy will of necessity continue. It is therefore, essential to keep the community abreast of them.

3. This committee endorses the objectives of the Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy. It is proposed that each parish established a group responsible for the implementation of the recommendations of the Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy. This group would be composed of representatives from the parish communities, interested priests and religious, and especially lectors, choir members and director, ushers, CCD teachers, etc. This group would work under the guidance of the Commission on the Liturgy and would plan the worship of the parish.

4. A program should be set up in each parish which would teach the people reasons for and the meanings behind the changes in the liturgy.

5. This Congress recommends that all parishes accept and use the book entitled, “The Book of Catholic Worship.”

6. This Congress makes the following recommendations:

(a) That as a voice for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Post Conciliar Committee on Implementation of the Liturgy be made aware of the wish that the Canon of the Mass be said in the vernacular.

(b) That the Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy: (1) make available background and explanation of the Epistles to make them more meaningful. (2) place special emphasis on sacred music, sacred art, and sacred furnishings, and that they be brought up to date when appropriate. (3) that interest in and programs for altar boys be promoted in each parish.

(c) That pastors be encouraged: (1) to stress the reception of communion as a family affair, (2) to install book racks in the pews, (3) to install signboards for hymn numbers in the churches, (4) to assure that homilies be prepared and relevant.

Training Program

1. This committee recommends that work shops be set up for the clergy, religious and laity at which the documents of Vatican Council II, and other relevant encyclicals will be carefully studied. The curriculum should include especially the Constitution on the Church, the Liturgy, the Church in the Modern World, and the Decrees and Declarations on Ecumenism, Priestly Life, Priestly Training, the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, the Administration of Bishops, Christian Education and the Apostolate of the Laity. Special attention should be given to the areas in which the clergy, religious and laity can work together in loving cooperation.

2. Open discussion should be held during these work shops in which clergy, religious and laity may share their views, and discuss openly all new developments and needs within the whole community.

3. In order that the Christian influence might be felt in the market place, and in order that the Christian laity might be equipped to be effective apostles in their roles in the modern world, it is recommended that the Archdiocese of Atlanta inaugurate a program of group discussion among adults, these groups to be composed of laity of related areas of secular interest, with each group examining in depth:

(a) the influence its area of life has on the whole community;

(b) whether such influence is or is not promoting the advancement of Christian principles in the community in its manner of operating;

(c) how the laity may effectively insure that such influence be Christian and continue to be so under changing circumstances.

These group discussions shall use, among other pertinent documents, the social encyclicals of the Church, and particularly the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

Lay, Clergy Dialogue

1. This Congress recommends that a dialogue be established between the Archbishop and his people by some form of regular meetings in each parish where the people could converse with him, listen to his views and in general establish communication. Priests, religious and laity should participate.

2. A board of liaison is recommended to include one lay member from each parish which shall meet with the archbishop periodically.

3. A dialogue between priests, religious and laity should also be set up. This committee recommends that the religious be permitted and encouraged to take part in the activities of each parish community, and whenever possible should be assigned to a teaching, counseling and home visiting role in or more subdivisions.

4. General meetings between the priests, religious and people of the parish, with informal discussions should be held at regular intervals.

5. The religious superiors should be requested to remove all restrictions on members of religious orders which prevent their full participation as mature Christian individuals in the life of the community.

6. Since THE GEORGIA BULLETIN is the official organ of the archdiocese, it is strongly recommended that local lay talent be utilized as columnists, etc.

Ecumenical Action

In order to form a truly Christian community, the cooperation of people of all faiths is essential.

1. Community representatives should keep abreast of all recommendations of the Archdiocesan Commission on Ecumenism and be able to explain them at gatherings within their parish communities and encourage their implementation.

2. Joint meetings, programs and activities in all areas should be actively promoted with members of the community of all faiths.

3. Open-house programs in every church, such as were held two years ago, should be a part of the yearly parish schedule.

4. Any person may be buried from the Catholic Church at the request of a proper representative if he or she has not designated another choice of church.

Role In Community

1. This Congress recognizes the concern of the Church for all persons who are deprived spiritually and economically and culturally, and urges all the faithful to involve themselves person to person, according to their ability and circumstances, in performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, especially in their particular parish communities, in their parish, in the whole community, the nation and the world.

2. The social apostolate of the laity should never be restricted to the parish level but should seek out new fields without regard to location, race, religion or country.

3. This Congress recommends that each parish community should appoint one or more persons, who by desire, qualifications or experience would foster the social apostolate. This person would acquaint himself with all agencies, both religious and secular, engaged in the work of assisting all such deprived persons, and would make this information available to the members of his parish community. Each parish could establish a “talent pool” to provide assistance where needed.

4. This committee recommends an archdiocesan system to effectively assure visits to the sick in all hospitals.

5. This Congress recommends that all priests and faithful be mindful of the words of the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: “All pastors should remember too that by their daily conduct and concern they are revealing the Church to the world and men will judge the power and truth of the Christian message thereby.” 6. It is the duty and obligation of all priests, religious and laity to speak out against any form of injustice. Therefore, this Congress recommends that the social teachings of the Church has expounded in the documents of Vatican Council II and in previous Encyclicals, be included and emphasized in all programs of adult education.

7. This Congress recommends that Christian homes of hospitality be developed where needed for the following: (a) transients, (b) indigents, (c) neglected children, (d) those temporarily in need. The applicants and homes should be screened by competent social workers.

8. This Congress recommends that catholic school children and public school children when receiving the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation doe as with no distinguishing marks or attitudes.

9. This Congress recommends the establishment of a Commission on Marriage. This group would be composed of laymen, interested priests, and religious. This purpose of the Commission will be to explore the role of family, life and married life in the total Christian community.

10. This Congress recommends an archdiocesan system to effectively assure visits by priests and laity alike to the aged and those incarcerated.

Youth Convention

This Congress authorizes and directs the president to appoint a committee of no less than 5 nor more than 10 members of this Congress, which committee shall concern itself with the position of young adults; that the concern shall include the following:

1. That it request the archbishop to convene the young adults of the entire archdiocese for a day at some feasible date in the next three months.

2. That the committee attend this convention to hear the proposals of our young adult population.

3. That as a result of this hearing the committee make recommendations to the Synod for the good of young adults, and expressing their concern that their function, talents and charisma be recognized and utilized within the Christian community.

Future Appraisal

There shall be a committee termed “The Appraisal Committee” which shall consist of one member from each parish elected by the existing delegates and alternates to the 1966 Lay Congress from each parish , or in the case of new parishes by other appropriate means, plus the chairman of each of the committees on administration, education, future planning and development, and steering of the 1966 Lay Congress. The Appraisal Committee shall be a continuing group whose function shall be:

1. to review and criticize the results of the Lay Congress;

2. to confer with the archbishop or his delegate periodically on the progress resulting from the 1966 Lay Congress and Synod;

3. with the permission of the archbishop and the Synod to act as auditors at the meetings of the Synod;

4. to reconvene the Lay Congress if in their judgment, and with the concurrence of the archbishop, such is desirable;

5. with the concurrence of the archbishop to provide for the election, organization and convening of a new Lay Congress if in their opinion and the opinion of the archbishop such new Lay Congress is desirable;

6. to prepare a history, and a summary of the actions of, the 1966 Lay Congress.