Following are the news highlights of 1966 in the Archdiocese of Atlanta as reported in the pages of the Georgia Bulletin:

January

The major work of the archdiocese for 1966 was announced by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan when he convoked congresses for nuns and laymen and announced that a Synod, the first since 1939, would be held during the year. Father Michael Manning was named Synod chairman; Sister M. Virginia, religious chairman; and Herbert Farnsworth, lay chairman. Fathers R. Donald Kiernan and Donald Foust were named priest-advisers to the Lay Congress.

Ecumenism was also major news during the month when Christians of major faiths in Atlanta took part in a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Interdenominational, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterians took part in the services. In a unity week speech in Washington, Archbishop Hallinan said Catholic ecumenists must offer more encouragement and guidance to their fellow Catholics in working for religious unity.

February

February was a month for bidding, as a $1,122,000 contract to build the Village of St. Joseph in southwest Atlanta was announced. The lowest bidder was T.C. Brittain Co. Construction of the village was the top item for the expansion campaign of 1965. Dates for the Lay Congress were moved to May 20-22 and “Mass on the Mall” was scheduled at Lenox Square on Wednesdays during Lent.

Archbishop Hallinan said in a talk to the Hungry Club that Julian Bond, publicity director of SNCC, should have been seated by the Georgia Legislature because he was duly elected. The archbishop said he did not agree with Bond’s statements on U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

James Callison was elected president of the Lay Congress; Felmer Cummings, vice president; Mrs. H.P. Faust, secretary; Paul Sauerburger, treasurer.

March

Another milestone in the archdiocesan expansion program was announced and groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a new Newman Center and Spalding Chapel at the University of Georgia. The chapel will seat 350 persons and the center will have a large auditorium, three classrooms, a library, lounge, two chaplains’ offices and a study. Father Christian Malone O.F.M. is resident chaplain.

The biggest news of the month was that Msgr. Joseph L. Bernardin, chancellor of the diocese of Charleston, was named auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. He served as chancellor to Bishop Hallinan.

Three veteran priest---Msgrs. Patrick J. O’Connor, Joseph Moylan and Michael Cassidy—were named episcopal vicars for vocations, clergy and sisters respectively. Gerard E. Sherry resigned as managing editor of the Bulletin to become editor of the Dominion News in Morgantown, W. Va.

The Rev. Daniel Brand, a United Presbyterian minister, presented a library of reform theology, part of an ecumenical library for the proposed Center for Lay Activity. Parish delegates to the lay Congress conducted meetings over the archdiocese. A group of priests met with the archbishop to give reports on the Synod.

April

Msgr. Joseph L. Bernardin was consecrated auxiliary bishop and greeted at a large reception welcoming him to archdiocese.

May

In his first speech in Georgia, Bishop Bernardin said, “Bishops should dedicate themselves to their apostolic office as witnesses of Christ before all men.” Matthew Robbins was ordained a priest at the cathedral.

Dean William R. Cannon of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University was announced as keynote speaker of the Lay Congress. He was an observer at the Second Vatican Council, four priests—Fathers John McDonough, John O’Shea, Vincent P. Brennan, S.M., and Thomas Gilroy, S.M.,—celebrated their silver jubilees. Bishop Bernardin became pastor of the cathedral and Father McDonough was named pastor of Holy Spirit parish. Father Richard Morrow was named pastor of a new parish in Smyrna; Father Daniel McCormick became pastor at Cedartown; and Father M. Jariath Burke, pastor at Carrollton. Chris Eckl was named managing editor of the Bulletin.

Sisters of the archdiocese held their congress and recommended the formation of a council of sisters. Dean Cannon told the Lay Congress that laymen were no longer in the Church, rather they were the Church.

June

Archbishop Hallinan spoke at the Clergy Conference of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. The archbishop also attended the White House Conference on Civil Rights.

Laity and clergy of the archdiocese heard Dr. Albert C. Outler, a prominent Methodist theologian and official observer at Vatican II. He urged laymen to work for religious unity. It was announced that Fathers Michael Woods and J.P. Paden, both Irish priests, would come to the archdiocese.

Two hospitals—Holy Family and St. Joseph’s Infirmary---were denied Medicare funds temporarily but were later approved by the federal government to participate in the program. Father Jariath Burke was named director of vocations for Ireland; Father Jerry Hardy director of vocations in the United States.

July

It was announced that Leo Cardinal Suenens of Belgium would speak in the archdiocese in January, 1967. A new mission at Whistleville, Ga., was dedicated by Bishop Bernardin.

The Congress of Young Adults, which was recommended by the Lay Congress, was announced for Sept. 24-25. Father John McDonough was named secretary for religious. Jan Berber, international president of Serra Club, spoke in Atlanta. Father Eusebius J. Beltran was named secretary of priests.

August

Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin said two priest who supported a Hiroshima Day rally which also protested U.S. involvement in Vietnam acted as individuals. He said he did not agree with their actions, but upheld their rights of opinion.

James Altwies was elected president of the Young Adults Congress; Linda Schladenhaufen, vice president; Faith Mitchell, secretary; Jim Wallace, treasurer. Eight thousand three hundred pupils, the most ever, enrolled in archdiocesan schools. The Jesuit fathers at Ignatius House continued their “Operation Understanding” program which included masses in the homes and study of the documents of Vatican II.

September

Edward Fechtel was named administrator of St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. He is the first laymen to hold the post. Mrs. Harry B. Horsey, Jr. was elected president of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. At its annual meeting, the ACCW was told by Msgr. William J. Croghan of Columbia, S.C., that the Church must be a vibrant, living servant church. Joseph B. Flanagan of Lake Charles, La. Moved to Atlanta and became executive secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

October

Archbishop Hallinan and Bishop Bernardin issued a pastoral letter on war and peace. They said American Catholics can put faith in the United States’ aims in Vietnam, but said they must make sure the government pursues every opening for peace.

In a signed editorial, Archbishop Hallinan said an honest Catholic could not support segregation. His remarks were directed toward the gubernatorial election.

Father James F. Scherer was named secretary of the Department of Social Service and Father William Calhoun was appointed chaplain of the Christian Family Movement. Priests in the archdiocese took part in presynodal sessions to prepare for the Synod in November

Father Eusebius J. Beltran was named pastor of Holy Cross parish, replacing Father Leonard F.X. Mayhew, who took an extended leave of absence. Father Joseph Beltran became pastor at LaGrange. Four ministers and a rabbi agreed to write columns for the Bulletin. Bishop Bernardin said the archdiocese would begin a study of religion textbooks for possible anti-Semitism. It was announced that an elected Senate of Priests would be established in the archdiocese. Msgr. O’Connor served as chairman of the ad hoc committee.

Father Barnabas Ahern, C.P., a biblical scholar, said in a speech that the state of the Church was good, despite “growth pains.”

The Synod set a 1972 deadline for accrediting parochial schools and discussed the future of the Church in North Georgia. Priests also heard belief remarks from Episcopal Bishop Randolph Caliborne, and elected members of the Senate. In Washington, Archbishop Hallinan, at the meeting of U.S. bishops, spearheaded the requests for changes in the liturgy.

December

Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, apostolic delegate to the United States, and bishops of the province took part in ceremonies closing the Synod. The archbishop said he thought the Holy See would grant most of the change in liturgy requested by the American bishops. In an interview in Kansas City earlier, Archbishop Hallinan, chairmen of the U.S. Bishops Liturgical Commission, said bishops should keep asking Rome for liturgical changes even if the first request is rejected.

Father Walter J. Donovan was elected president of the Senate; Father R. Donald Kiernan, vice-president; and Father Dale Freeman, secretary-treasurer. Other members of the Senate are Fathers John Stapelton, Thomas Roshetko, Michael Manning, Paul Kelley, Frank Ruff, Eusebius J. Beltran and Michael Anthony Morris. St. Anthony’s became the first parish in the archdiocese to hold a parish congress. Dr. James Wesberry, pastor of the Morningside Baptist Church, and the archbishop addressed the delegates.

Father Michael Manning, chairman of the Synod, was elevated to the rank of monsignor and pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medals were presented to James Callison, president of the Lay Congress, and Sister M. Virginia, president of the Sisters’ Congress.

Archbishop Hallinan announced elections would be held Jan. 29 to select laymen to serve on two councils recommended by the Synod.

Father Laurence Endrizzi, a Verona priest stationed at Washington, Ga., died of injuries suffered in a traffic accident. Michael Hogan was ordained a priest of the archdiocese in Dublin, Ireland. Eamon de Valera, president of Ireland, attended the ceremony and received Father Hogan’s blessings.