By Marie Mulvenna

A trio of resolutions centering on continuing education of priests was approved by priests of the archdiocese at last week’s Priests’ Senate meeting. Following the Senate vote, the responsibility of continuing education will be transferred from a committee of the Priests’ Senate to the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, thus providing better coordination and administration of the program.

Priests also approved that the theme for their continuing education for 1975 be “Reconciliation,” understood as conciliating differences and conciliarizing ministry. This would involve a joint study of priestly documents, renewed study of the documents of Vatican II, concentration on sacramental reconciliation, and the fostering of ecumenical causes.

The third resolution approved by the clergy termed it advisable that the Senate recognize that the continuing education of the priests is part of the continuing education of all in ministry in the archdiocese. Considerable discussion centered on the term ministry and the feeling that learning opportunities be available to all in ministry. One priest stated: “Sisters and lay people are part of the ministry of the Church. The question is not so much let the others use our facilities but let us grow together.” Another priest said he felt the concept of team ministry was actually being expanded, adding that there was “no way in the future of the archdiocese that we can staff the needs of North Georgia without involving women in some form of ministry. It is impossible to handle the work.”

Father Richard A. Kieran, president of the Senate, said the 1972 goals of the group were being achieved. Those specific goals were: to unite in concern for more effective ministry together, and, to be a more effective voice of the presbyterate. Father Kieran said the new organization of the Senate called for revitalizing and reorganizing the deanery structure and he encouraged priests on the local level to share their ministry and concerns together. To ensure the success of the Senate, Father Kieran called for priests’ commitment to make the deanery system work and their full participation in the Senate’s two general meetings per year. “We must take these two meetings a year seriously and deal with substantive issues of our ministry and the Church in North Georgia,” he said.

In presenting a detailed report on priestly continuing education, Father Robert Kinast, director of religious education, said considerable efforts had been made in the area since January. These included, on the topic preaching, self-evaluation study, theology chats with priests and a planned retreat in the fall of 1974. In the area of marriage counseling, Father Kinast reported the availability of four videotaped workshops on the subject. He announced that the Georgia Mental Health Institute had agreed to work with the priests on seminars relating to marriage counseling.

Father Kinast reported additional efforts would be expended in advising clergy of seminars, workshops and other programs available to them as well as possible future programs set up through the University of Georgia Center for Continuing education, the Department of Human Resources, and the clergy liaison committee of the National Office for the Continuing Education of the Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC)

Broad goals for the coming year in continuing education include: the establishment of an advisory board as recommended by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCBB), the continuance of communications related to available courses etc., maintaining national contacts, seeking suggestions and evaluations, and the fostering of personal growth of the learner in all programs.

Father Kieran stated that the nation’s bishops in various meetings had voiced their concern for such continuing education programs.

Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan spoke to the members of the Senate, urging their efforts in trying to obtain more vocations to the priesthood and stating “if we are to meet the need of the Church, we must rely on vocations.”

The archbishop strongly supported the role of the Pastoral Council in the archdiocese, asking that priests attend the meeting, giving their insight to the work of the group. He said that the “work of the Church must recognize the priority of consultation among all in the Church” and urged that all parishes establish parish councils and be involved and participating in the work of the Pastoral Council. He referred to the Council as an overall, umbrella organization that must have input from all people in the archdiocese.

The archbishop gave his backing to the “Project Rehab” of the Office of Urban Affairs, saying that the idea was to bring decent homes for the elderly. He added that it was important to aid the poor, particularly older poor. “This is a realistic way of making impact on the community and a way of sanctification for the entire Church of Atlanta.”