Liberian President Visits Grandchildren, St. Anne-Pacelli School, Columbus
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http://bit.ly/SAPLiberia The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Savannah Vol. 97, No. 21 Thursday, October 12, 2017 Put Faith in Your Opinions southerncross.diosav.org $.75 Liberian president visits grandchildren, St. Anne-Pacelli BY MICHELLESchool, CHARDOS AND JESSICA MARSALA Columbusin conflicts like the 15-year civil war COLUMBUS Liberia experienced from 1989 to 2003 peaking to a crowd of more than 150 rather than given an education. “The Smiddle and high school students at pursuit of an education is the best thing a St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School Sept. young person can do, that prepares you 27, Liberian President Ellen Johnson- for professional life, that prepares you to Sirleaf emphasized the importance of pursue your dreams.” education for all children, whether in the With her two grandchildren in the Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf speaks to students at St. Anne- small African republic of Liberia or in audience, 12-year-old Samira and Pacelli School after receiving an honorary diploma from Father Jeremiah Georgia’s second-largest city. 10-year-old Ebreem, both students at McCarthy, pastor of St. Anne Church. Photograph by Jessica L. Marsala. “Today our first generation of kids, the school, President Sirleaf later fielded in public administration from Harvard electricity—but the most important thing those kids that are now 15, 16 years old, questions from students and local media University’s John F. Kennedy School of I want was to see our children smile do not know a gun. They’ve never had relating to the way she approached the Government—but also by the career she again,” she said paraphrasing from her to run, which is what happened with Ebola outbreak in 2014, women’s health would have chosen had she not become inaugural speech in 2006. other kids. Today, like you, they can pur- care, and how she will participate in pol- a politician. Though not in a classroom, President sue their dreams, they can pursue their itics once she leaves office January 28, Like her mother, she would have like- Sirleaf taught some other very import- education,” President Ellen Johnson- among others. ly become a teacher, President Sirleaf ant lessons to the gathered students and Sirleaf, the first democratically elected The high value President Sirleaf said in response to one of the students’ faculty, including the necessity of having female head of state in Africa and the places on education is further suggest- questions. respect for others and of recognizing 2011 winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, ed not only by her own educational “The thing I want most, yes I want “the strength of diversity,” lessons that said. Before her election, children in path—an economics degree from the roads, yes I want schools, yes I want Liberia were trained to be child soldiers University of Colorado and a master’s hospitals, yes I want water, yes I want See Liberia on page 2 BY TIM WILLIAMSStatesborosaved right here ultrasound in Statesboro.” buy machine machines at a discounted saves rate, local lives Knights of Columbus Council t Choices of the Heart, an inde- This machine was purchased with half of the money being donat- 14275, the Saint Matthew’s Parish Apendent pro-life medical crisis through the Knights of Columbus ed by the Supreme Council of the Council of Catholic Women, and pregnancy center in Statesboro, a Ultrasound Initiative, a program that Knights of Columbus, and in this Saint Mathew's Parish. recently donated ultrasound machine allows crisis pregnancy centers to case the other half was raised by According to Executive Director means ultrasounds can be offered to Waters all of the women they serve the women they serve even after tra- have grown up after Roe v. Wade ditional doctors’ offices have closed legalized abortion in America, for the night. “Women who see their and resources like this ultrasound babies on the ultrasound and hear machine combat a culture that often the heartbeat are much more likely tells women that abortion is the to choose life.” said Allison Waters, answer to an unplanned pregnancy. Executive Director of Choices of the “And so when we're able to say to Heart. them you do have a choice that just Carolyn Couch, a Choices of because you didn't mean to get preg- the Heart board member and St. nant does not mean that you have Matthew’s Parish Council of to have an abortion. And there are Catholic Women member spoke alternatives for you that can be life about the importance of being able giving and good for you and good to perform ultrasounds quickly for your baby. It is really a beautiful and without having to wait for an thing to be able to offer those women appointment “This way we've got the those choices,” Waters said. ultrasound machine right at our facil- ity and we can take her right into the Father Douglas K. Clark, pastor, Saint Matthew Church, Statesboro, blesses TIM WILLIAMS IS VIDEOGRAPHER/PRO- next room and show her a picture the newly acquired ultrasound installed at Choices of the Heart, an indepen- DUCTION ASSISTANT FOR THE DIOCESE OF of her baby and let her listen to her dent pro-life medical crisis pregnancy center in Statesboro. Photograph by SAVANNAH. baby's heartbeat. Lives are being Tim Williams/Southern Cross. Southern Cross, Page 2 NEWS Thursday, October 12, 2017 Liberia from page 1 woman—because I’m equal to everyone Samira recalls, “They don’t have desks During the assembly she explained else.” or anything. There are dirt floors. They that Liberia’s upcoming general elec- her granddaughter Samira has already President Sirleaf’s grandchildren smile sit on benches and long tables and use tion, which is scheduled for Oct. 10, taken to heart. when they think of the trips they’ve pencils that are so small I don’t know will “mark the first time in 73 years “I’m a girl, and when I go around see- taken to Liberia and the fun things they how they can write with them.” that political power will be handed over ing males do all these other sports and do at their grandmother’s farm. President Sirleaf’s visit to Georgia, peacefully, and democratically, from things, it helps me to say that I can do The siblings also have had a chance where she was declared an honorary cit- one elected leader to another,” as per her those things too,” Samira said of what to see some major improvements their izen of the same state as fellow dreamer speech. she’s learned from her grandmother, not- grandmother has made in the schools of and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin MICHELLE CHARDOS IS A FREELANCE WRITER LIVING ing that when she gets older she wants to the country, although still humble com- Luther King Jr.—an honor, in her opin- IN COLUMBUS AND A PARISHIONER OF ST. ANNE become a veterinarian in what she sees pared to American schools. For example, ion—came on the heels of her Sept. 19 CHURCH. JESSICA L. MARSALA IS ASSISTANT TO as a male-dominated profession. “I can she made education free and compulsory address to the United Nations General THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS. do them—and not just because I’m a for all school-aged children in Liberia. Assembly. http://bit.ly/StatesboroUltrasound Commemoration of the Reformation and Prayer for Unity Sunday October 22 Savannah Reverend Fleming Rutledge, n Sunday, October 22, Episcopalian priest, noted author O2017, at 5:00 p.m., Gregory and theologian. Her particular Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Bishop of expertise is the intersection of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, Biblical theology with contempo- and Reverend H. Julian Gordy, rary culture, current events and Bishop of the Southeastern Synod politics, literature, music, and art. of the Evangelical Lutheran She is also a teacher of preachers. Church in America, will co-pre- Her recent book The Crucifixion side at a prayer service commemo- was praised by Catholic Bishop rating the 500th anniversary of the Robert Barron who said it is, “… Reformation. The service at the one of the most stimulating and Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist thought-provoking books of theol- in Savannah will also include ogy that I have read in the past ten prayers for Christian unity. years.” Ebreem Sirleaf,10, and his sister Samira, 12, introduced their grand- The service is open to the pub- mother prior to her address to the St. Anne Pacelli student body Sept. 27. lic and all are invited to attend. Photograph by Michelle Chardos. Preaching at this event will be Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Savannah, is seeking a part-time Music Director and Organist, to lead the musical component of all parish Masses, including but not limited to weekend Masses and Masses for Holy Days of Obligation, in accordance with the liturgical calendar. In collaboration with the Pastor, the Music Director recruits and trains the musicians and cantors, coordinates music for special events (e.g., weddings and funerals), leads the adult and children's choirs of the parish, selects music for pastor approval, and enhances the parish's celebration of the Catholic faith. Ideal candidates are able to play piano and organ, conduct performances of musicians and singers, manage technical audio equipment, will have formal vocal training and/or significant music experience, including the ability to read music and sing at a performance level. Bachelor's degree in Music and choir experience in a leadership role preferred. Knowledge of Catholic liturgy required for the appropri- ate selection of music. Financial Compensation: Part-time, Hourly, Additional compensation received in the form of stipends from weddings and funerals.