By Michael Motes

Proclaiming Cathedral choir director H. Hamilton Smith Man of the Year for 1978, the first issue of the Georgia Bulletin of 1979 reported that the past year had been one of unparalleled growth in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Catholic editors from throughout the country had agreed that the top national news of the year was the papal transition, from the death of Pope Paul VI through the 34-day reign of John Paul I and the surprise election of a Polish cardinal to the Chair of St. Peter.

On the home front, ground had been broken for a $217,000 addition to Saint George’s Church in Newnan; Atlanta was preparing to commemorate the 50^th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Archbishop Donnellan’s first liturgy for divorced and separated Catholics had been held at Holy Spirit Church, and small Saint Helen’s parish in Clayton reported an increase in membership of 100 per cent as the New Year got underway.

Plans for the annual Archdiocesan Charities Drive were announced, with an expanded goal of $450,000; Senator Edward Kennedy pledged support of the ERA during a visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church; Archbishop Donnellan joined with Bishop Raymond Lessard of Savannah in issuing a pastoral letter denouncing “Death With Dignity” or “Living Will” legislation, and over 400 representatives of all faiths gathered at the Hyland Center for a “Family Night in Support of Life” keynoted by Representative Henry J. Hyde. Well-known Atlanta nurse Sister Mary Brian Anderson, RSM, was elected a member of the governing Provincial Team, Sisters of Mercy, of the Province of Baltimore.

Here are some of the highlights of the past year in chronological order.

February

The boundary of the Archdiocese of Atlanta was changed when Archbishop Donnellan signed a decree transferring Jones and Columbia Counties to the Diocese of Savannah. Governor George Busbee also took pen in hand to sign an official proclamation marking Catholic Schools Week through the state.

A group of lay persons interested in working to promote religious vocations formed the Society to Encourage Religious Vocations (SERV); the 20^th anniversary of Saint Pius X High School was observed, and religious education workers breathed a sign of relief that, after five years, the National Catechetical Directory was finally on the press.

Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin returned “home” – he had served as Auxiliary Bishop and Administrator of the Diocese from 1966 to 1968 – to address the annual Community Breakfast sponsored by the Christian Council to mark their centennial. A sophisticated computer system brought “Space Age Technology” to Saint Joseph’s Hospital. And Catholics of the area joined with their Baptist brethren for an interfaith retreat at Mercer University.

March

Father Jeremy Miller, OP, made Lent more meaningful through a series of inspirational articles and reflections; the Charities Drive tallied a whopping success, and another parish joined the archdiocese with the establishment of Saint James in McDonough.

The “Homecoming” program for strayed Catholics launched by Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Roswell received national recognition and Father Dominic Young entered the priesthood at an impressive ordination at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Monsignor Burtenshaw’s TV Mass went nation-wide thanks to the satellite of Turner Communications; the eleventh anniversary of the death of Archbishop Hallinan was observed, and the Latin American community was observed in full force with a Magazine salute to “Hispanic Harmony.”

April

The visit of liturgical expert Father Richard Vosko to Saint Patrick’s in Norcross resulted in some controversy among his audience; Monsignor Donald Kiernan took part in an ecumenical service at the Temple to mark the signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, and Archbishop Donnellan confirmed a crowd of 100 at All Saints.

Saint Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro underwent a face-lift and was rededicated; mammoth plans for the archdiocesan “Year of Outreach” were announced, and, after a quarter of a century of service, Monsignor Kiernan resigned as Chaplain of the City of Atlanta Police Department.

The Village of Saint Joseph received a generous donation of $2,500 from Delta Air Lines; Father John Catoir, Director of The Christophers, shared his thoughts in an in-depth interview, and Pro-Life leaders met with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities in Atlanta.

May

Senior Citizens were honored at a special Mass; Glenmary Brothers Terry O’Rourke and Paul Willhelm were saluted for their work in Dahlonega, and Monsignor Michael Regan played the role of Saint Francis of Assisi when he blessed animals at the Atlanta Humane Society.

Maryknoll Sister Maureen Gunning returned to town and shared her adventures as a missionary in China, and Archbishop Donnellan left town to take part in the centennial anniversary of Saint Patrick’s in New York.

The new parish center at Holy Family Church in East Marietta opened its doors; the Georgia Inter-Church Association sponsored a day-long seminar on the needs for welfare reform, and the death of Atlanta Braves General Manager Bill Lucas was mourned.

The priesthood gained three newcomers with the ordination of Fathers Jose Fernandez-Solis, Edward J. Thein and Anthony R. Green; support of the Catholic Communications Campaign was urged, and Sister Kathryn Volker of Saint Anthony’s marked her silver jubilee.

In his role as Chaplain of the Georgia State patrol, Monsignor Kiernan led patrolmen in escorting the body of Georgia’s beloved Ben Fortson, Jr. into the State Capital.

June

Archbishop Donnellan recalled his priestly career of 40 years; Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu, Kenya, included Holy Cross parish in his cross-country mission to seek donations for the Church in Africa, and Father Mauro Mourlo was saluted on his 30^th ordination anniversary.

Fathers Anthony Schneider, OFM, and Francis Ralph, OP, were welcomed to the Archdiocese; attorney Alex Smith was honored as Top Marist Alumnus, and rumors were rampant that John Paul II would visit the United States in the fall.

July

Father Robert Poandl became the new Glenmary pastor of Saint Luke’s in Dahlonega; Right to Lifers united to speak out at state hearings on abortion clinics, and construction at Saint John Neumann was progressing on schedule in Lilburn.

The second “Homecoming” at Saint Thomas Aquinas resulted in over 400 alienated Catholics being contacted; Atlanta Charismatics returned from a national gathering in Ohio, and 10 acres of land was purchased for the future home of Saint Patrick’s in Norcross.

August

Visiting Sisters of Mercy from Pennsylvania worked to spread the Good News in several North Georgia parishes; Marriage Encounter families gathered for a fourth annual meeting, and Sister Mary Michael Keyes marked 60 remarkable years in her religious vocation.

Parishioners of Saint Joseph’s in Marietta bid adieu to Father John Beckley, SM; Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan was enthusiastically received as a speaker at the Institute on Non-Violence sponsored by the King Center; Father Joseph Baxer was named Provincial Vicar for the LaSalette Fathers, and Sister Genevieve Sachse, OSB, was appointed sub-prioress of her order.

North Georgia Catholics made up one of the largest single delegations from any area to the First National Catholic Lay Celebration of Evangelization in Washington; Cathedral Parish’s Sister Celine Gorman was honored as an Outstanding Older Atlantan, and the ACCW ladies were hard at work on their forthcoming archdiocesan convention.

September

After 14 years with Catholic Social Services, Miss Mary Julia Hogan retired; Marietta Pompilio and Sheila Mallon became the new coordinators of the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, and the Georgia Bulletin added its voice to those protesting the senseless murder of Lord Mountbatten.

The new school year was off to a good start and inflation was blamed for a slight decrease in school enrollment; Catechetical Sunday was observed throughout the archdiocese, and the Village of Saint Joseph and good-bye to dear friend and secretary Mary Agnes Kelley.

Holy Family Parish’s week-long renewal program drew a whopping 750 persons a night to hear guest speaker Father Richard Kieran; Bruce Wilkinson; Jeff Martin and James Adams became candidates for ordination to the priesthood, and Father Kenneth Bayer, MSFS, turned over his duties at Saint Patrick’s to Father Chris Yarnold, also a member of the Fransalian order.

Father Vincent Brennan, long-time Marist teacher and pastor, returned to the archdiocese after duties in the Louisiana bayous; Archbishop Donnellan joined with other religious leaders in forming the Atlanta Religious Mobilization Against Crime; Sisters Lourdes Teresa Toro and Theresa Ahern arrived to serve the Spanish Apostolate, and the establishment of the Archdiocesan Board of Communications was announced, chaired by A.R. Van Cantfort.

October

Monsignor Patrick J. O’Connor was Washington-bound to meet Pope John Paul II as a former Director of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Saint Gerard’s new parish buildings were officially dedicated, and the annual collection for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul again demonstrated the generosity of all.

Archbishop Donnellan shared his experiences as a member of the official party accompanying Pope John Paul II during his U.S. visit; Saint Matthew’s mission was elevated to the rank of parish, and the Year of Outreach Rally drew 600 evangelizers at Saint Pius X.

Mike McDonald and Dr. Harold Harrison joined the Board of Directors at Saint Joseph’s Hospital; Father Robert Evancho arrived to minister to the Byzantine Rite community, and the annual Rosary Rally was held with the theme, “Mary, Queen of Peace.”

Joe Flanagan announced his decision to leave the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and return to parish work in his native Louisiana and the new church and educational building of Holy Spirit parish was dedicated.

November

Sister Miriam Troy turned the first shovel of earth at groundbreaking ceremonies for a new addition to Saint Mary’s School in Rome; Archbishop Donnellan was among the religious leaders of the city leading some 2,500 participants in a massive anti-crime march in downtown Atlanta, and a Crisis Pregnancy Service was launched by Mary Ellen Hughes.

Pickets were ignored by Pro-Life supporters attending a day-long gathering at Mount Vernon Christian Academy; an urgent plea for help was issued by Catholic Social Services for the increasing number of Boat People arriving locally, and Archbishop Donnellan joined the bishops of the United States in issuing a pastoral on racism at their semi-annual meeting in Washington.

The Magazine highlighted the 40 years of service Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home has rendered the dying of all denominations.

December

Her former students in Atlanta, Marietta and elsewhere throughout the state shared happy memories with Sister Bernardine Torley, CSJ, as she marked her 70^th anniversary of religious life.

Charles J. Kerscher, a grandfather and retired postal employee, was ordained to the priesthood with members of his family on hand for the historic event; the death of Mrs. Helen Beltran was lamented, and the Year of Outreach program took to the airwaves via 112 radio stations throughout the state.

A host of volunteers turned out to decorate numerous Christmas trees at the cancer home, the appointment of Kenneth A. Wheeler as Administrator of Saint Joseph’s Hospital was announced, and All Saints Church and parish center along with Saint John Neumann were dedicated.