By Georgia Bulletin Staff

Celebrating 40 years of outreach in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Catholic Social Service staff and volunteers gathered for a special liturgy Nov. 21 at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

The diversity of its services, personnel and clients, as well as pride in the agency's compassionate work, characterized the celebration.

"Over the years no part of the Church's life has witnessed more effectively to the ability of Christ's love in us to heal those who are in need and who reach out to us for the help they cannot give themselves," Archbishop John F. Donoghue said in praise of the agency.

Congratulating all who are connected with CSS, that archbishop added, "You have chosen a beautiful way to live up to the words spoken to us by Jesus Christ, 'Come. You have my Father's blessing. I assure you as often as you did (good) for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.'"

Banners representing the eight CSS programs, together with ethnic costumes and Scripture reading and petitions in several languages spotlighted the agency's diversity.

The inspired singing of "In This Very Room" by Janis Griffin "helped rekindle that sense of specialness that the Lord is with us in our everyday efforts" to help others, commented Pam Buckmaster, executive director of CSS.

At the close of the liturgy, Archbishop Donoghue called the CSS staff forward and invoked a blessing on "these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others."

Fathers Tom Kenny, Terry Kane, Louis Naughton and John Adamski concelebrated the Mass.

Gustavo Suarez, Nick Russo, Kevin McClusky, Mark Allen and Michael Braton from St. Pius X High School were altar servers. Alan Brown coordinated the music.

Steve Brazen, former director of CSS, and Sister Teresa Termini, CSJ, one-time head of its Aging Services program, returned for the celebration.

Food for the reception that followed the Mass was prepared by CSS staff. Reflective of the agency's individual programs, its menu ranged from ribs and potato salad representing Rural Social Services in Forsyth County to spring rolls from the Refugee and Migration program that helps to resettle thousands from Southeast Asia.

"I was surprised at how it turned out," commented Mrs. Buckmaster.

"The whole experience added a dimension of team building. We had the dual challenge of putting together a celebration that had meaning for everyone, staff as well as volunteers and board members, and was truly reflective of who we are."

Catholic Social Services, which began in 1947 as a volunteer organization with two social workers, incorporated itself in 1953 and on Sept. 1 of that year became a full-time office.

The first board of 27 represented each of the Catholic parishes then in existence in metropolitan Atlanta.

From an initial focus on families in financial need or personal crisis, CSS expanded. In the 1960s a program to aid Cuban refugees was added, the forerunner of three of today's programs: Migration and Refugee Services, Hispanic Services and Immigration Services.

In 1993 CSS has a professional staff of 50 and over 300 volunteers. In addition to services already noted, CSS has a counseling program, crisis pregnancy and adoption services, services for the elderly, and an Athens office.

Earlier in November, at a reception at the archbishop's residence, Atlantan Henry deGive, who has been a CSS board member since its inception, was honored.

The first annual Henry deGive Award was given Nov. 10 to the attorney in recognition of decades of service by deGive and his wife, Elena, to the poor and disenfranchised in the city.

DeGive, who was profiled in The Georgia Bulletin in May, was a champion of racial desegregation and an advocate of medical care for blacks when hospitals in the city were segregated. The award, a framed piece of art with Scripture citation and plaque, was given in appreciation "for (deGive's) vision and spirited generosity."

Another highlight of the reception was the presence of Father Fred Kammer, SJ, now president of Catholic Charities USA, who served as CSS board member from 1977 to 1983.

As part of the national Catholic Charities, CSS belongs to "the largest voluntary social service network in the nation," Father Kammer said, serving over 12 million people last year.

"You have a wonderful agency that has done marvelous and courageous work in this community."