If the Church is to be an instrument of peace it must be a vital, vibrant, living servant Church, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women has been told at its 10th convention by Msgr. William J. Croghan of Columbia, S.C.

“It is the local church that must live, breathe and speak Vatican II,” the priest said at Saturday night’s banquet. “It is the local church that must be the instrument of reconciliation.” The topic of his talk was “Lord Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.” Msgr. Croghan asked how can Catholics and the Church in 1966 be instruments of peace.

Should they be vastly different from five to ten years ago? He said the first step is a true reconciliation between pastors and their assistants. “Our own concept of pastor-assistant relationships may have worked well in the past, but today in the Church of the Vatican Council it does not work. The whole concept has to be reconstructed so peace, harmony and goodwill may flow. Whether the parish is dead or pulsating can be traced to how priests work together.” Msgr. Croghan said next the parish must reconcile its people. He said the liturgy is most important in doing this because it is the cause and effect of community. “If it has the power it can create and be the effect of this community so that we want to make each Mass the best we can,” he said. “It means being aware that a Mass can be alive or without life.” The speaker said the vote and the voice are vital in a living parish. “Why shouldn’t we vote on important issues? The time has come when people need to have a voice, a sharing in the works of the Church. Perhaps the day will come when people will have a chance to choose their priests and someday choose their bishops.”

Another important factor in a living Church, Msgr. Croghan said, is to free the priests so they can do priestly duties. He said the Church will see a business manager, a director of education and perhaps lay principals for Catholic schools.

“If we are a servant Church, we must give service to the community, he said. “How much of our parish income is used for work outside of the parish? How much of the diocesan development fund is used for other than strictly Catholic buildings?”

“We must expand ourselves we must be involved with all people and any people...alcoholics, prisoners, the mentally ill, the Negro and the whole area of poverty.”

Msgr. Croghan said after these things are reconciled, the Church has to extend to embrace all other Churches. “The Church has to carry out sincere ecumenical activity. It’s inconceivable that a parish would put up walls,” he said.

The speaker pointed out that it will take adequate support to do all of these things. “If priests and people gave 10 percent we would have all the money needed and still some.” Msgr. Croghan was introduced by Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin and Mrs. Harry B. Horsey, Jr., new AACW president, introduced guests. Msgr. Croghan’s talk highlighted the daylong meetings.