The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-15

The anticipated increase in at tendance at the weekly classes al the School of Adult Education 1T Religion was realized last evening at the Waterbury Catholic Higt school. The number of persons ir attendance for the various free lec- lures at and o'clock was consid- erably larger than that of the open- ing night a week ago. Citywide in. terest is gradually developing anc capacity crowds will be matter oi course shortly, non-Catholics as well as Catholics are attending.
 The course on the mass was con- tinued by Rev. James Woods with a talk on the altar and its furnish ings. He traced the history of the altar from the early days in the catacombs to the present. He re- minded his hearers that the altar and its furnishings were for use in the worship of Almighty God, and for that reason no material was toe good to use. There was a detailed description of the altar stone, the linen cloths, the candles, and other articles that are used.
 The work in Parent Education was this week devoted to an eX- planation of the Parent Educator groups. Each club consists usually of from eight to twelve parents fathers and mothers, who meet to discuss ways and means of teaching religion to their children i'll the home. They attempt in this way to form their characters on Cath olic principles. This work of teach ing children, and of forming groups of parents to do this work, is one of the main objectives of the Con- graternity of Christian Doctrine. Rev. George Reilly pointed out the great importance of the work, and urged parents to realiez their re- responsibilities. The Fourth Con- mandment, he asserted, does indeed impose on children the obligation of honoring and obeying their par ents, but it also obliges parents to care for the complete education of their children, including their re- ligious training. Since this is true of all parents, whether their chil- dren are in high school, elementary school, or have not yet gone to school, then all parents may belong to these Parent Educator groups.
 Rev. Francis Barrett, in Mar riage." explained that marriage irl its natural state is 8 lawful con- tract between a man and woman between male and female, since marriage was ordained by God for the generation and unbringing of children. When the marriage con- tract is entered into by two bap- tized Christians, it becomes Sac- ransent. Thus new elemtn is defi- ritely added because there, is new relationship between the human and divine. Marriage as sacra- nient depends on the principle that a. married person enters into a new relationship with Jesus Christ through the exaltation of his mar ital relations withanother person through the dignity of this sacra- mel1t.
 "Is there g God?" was the ques- ton answered by Rev. Joseph Don- nelly last night in his series on Re ligion from reason and revelation. He reviewed first of all the success and failure of atheistic movements down through the years. Then he turned to the positive proofs, citing the testimony of all men of all races in all times, all of them admitting some form of divinity. He pointed out also that all men have an intu- itiye conception of morality, that all know that some things are right and other things are wrong. His last proof was based on the marve- lous order and design that is found savervwhere in the universe. this Or-