The modern Spalding Chapel and Newman Center at the University of Georgia were called symbols of a renewed Church which goes to the students and does not wait for them to come to it.

This was the theme established by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan at the dedication of the new chapel and center Sunday. The dedication was witnessed by a large crowd of students, priests, nuns and laymen.

The archbishop compared the chapel and center with the university after remarks by Dr. O.C. Aderhold, president of the university.

“For more than 25 years, the Catholic Center has shared ideas with the university, the archbishop said. “The history of the university has been an honorable one in which all have merged a love for knowledge.

“A university striving for truth will always bear scars from encounters with those who are not interested in the truth,” the archbishop said. “The university has fought public officials who have priority to roads over scholars, and it will become the finest place of higher learning when people and the legislature are ready.”

In brief comments, Dr. Aderhold said, “I want to state once again that we at the University of Georgia are concerned with the moral and ethical values of our students.

“All of us hope that this facility will always stand in the university community as a strong force for good,” he said. The president also said Father Christian Malone, O.F.M., chaplain, “is one of the most tenacious fellows I’ve met. “We’re delighted that he has been a fine citizen of the university community.” Dr. Aderhold and Archbishop Hallinan made their remarks after Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin blessed the center which contains offices, classrooms, a library, an auditorium and living quarters for the chaplain.

Archbishop Hallinan also expressed his gratitude for contributions made by the Franciscan fathers and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes Spalding of Atlanta. The Spaldings are members of the same family as Bishop John Lancaster Spalding for whom the chapel is named. Bishop Spalding was the first bishop of Peoria, Ill., and was a pioneer in education. The archbishop said, “The center will be a laboratory of truth and the chapel a wellspring of love for all men.”

Following the dedication of the center, the chapel was blessed by the archbishop. Bishop Bernardin, Father Malone, Father John Mulroy, Father Walter Donovan, Father Cronan Kelly O.F.M., a former chaplain, and father Finian F. Kerwin O.F.M., provincial of the Franciscan Fathers of New York, concelebrated mass.

In the homily, Father Finian said, “This dedication is but another evidence of the Church’s concern for the People of God. It is a stepping stone toward unity of mankind.”

He said Bishop Spalding understood American pluralism and was one of the few bishops of the past with a message for this generation: the law of man’s life is growth. “Man must continue to grow or he will lose his vital force. Cardinal Ritter has said Bishop Spalding would have been a force at Vatican II.”

“Vatican II has asked all of us to learn more about God so we can bring God to more people, so He will be loved by more people,,” Father Finian said.

Following the Mass, a buffet supper was served in the center.

Albert Ordway, A.I.A., was architect for the project and Mathis Construction Co. of Athens was the contractor. The chapel windows were done by the Trappist Monks at Conyers.