By Lynne Anderson

The church rests on a hill facing I-285, and many nomads staying at motels near the interstate attend Mass there. Yet the church is more than just a home away from home for the weary traveler. St. Paul of the Cross is home for more than 600 families in the Atlanta area.

Founded 25 years ago as a special apostolate to the black community, St. Paul of the Cross was founded by Passionist priests as the daughter church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

“Our Lady of Lourdes was beginning to see the need for expansion,” says Father Coleman Haggerty, pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, “and the Passionists were looking for an opportunity to pay tribute to the black community.”

Father Haggerty and his associate, Father Alphonsus Coen, are Passionists priests, both from the Eastern Province. Father Haggerty has been at St. Paul of the Cross for five years, and “loves every minute of it.”

“Look at this,” he says giving a tour of the rectory. The walls of the room he’s just entered are painted a soft green, and the woodwork is a rich forest green.

“A lady in our parish did all this by herself,” he says. “And look, she wallpapered this in here, too, to match,” he adds enthusiastically.

The rooms in the rectory are spotlessly clean. There are other brightly painted rooms, one in blue, another in yellow. The same parishioner has painted and wallpapered them, too, Father Coleman points out.

Father Coleman proceeds towards the church, which is located between the rectory and the school. Upon entering the church, he looks towards the choir loft, adding, “We have the finest choir in the whole metropolitan area. We are very, very pleased.”

In addition to devoted parishioners and an active choir, St. Paul of the Cross has a St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troop, an altar society, Legion of Mary, a prayer group, and convert classes.

The convert classes meet twice a week, and converts are urged to attend classes for 9 or 10 months, says Father Coleman. Church doctrine and morals are discussed, and the liturgy itself is studied in great depth.

“I find that the liturgy itself occupies the quandaries of most people,” Father Coleman says.

Education and instruction at St. Paul of the Cross are carried out for kindergartners through seventh graders at St. Paul of the Cross School, but the school is more than a place of education. St. Paul of the Cross is a special apostolate; while enrollment is currently 219 students, only 27% are Catholic.

All 219 students attend religion classes every day, Sister Paula Dross, principal of St. Paul of the Cross, says. There is a school liturgy once a month, Sister says, and all students attend this as well.

Although many different denominations are represented, Sister says she believes the values clarification and development of personal responsibility that the students learn at St. Paul of the Cross make the entire educational experience a worthwhile one.

The school is run by Sisters of Saint Joseph of Baden, Pennsylvania. Sister Paula is in her second year as principal, and she seems just as enthusiastic about St. Paul of the Cross as Father Coleman is.

“One of my first goals when I arrived here,” Sister Paula says with a smile, “was to get to know all the students by name.”

Although Sister wasn’t asked if she accomplished that goal, it is obvious she did. As she walks through the halls, the students greet her warmly. She pauses and speaks to a couple who ask to see her.

This warm atmosphere exists among the parents of St. Paul of the Cross students as well, Sister says.

“Our PTA is fantastic,” she says. “We have several active families.”

“In addition to daily regular studies, each grade at St. Paul of the Cross School is responsible for the program at the monthly school assembly, Sister says.

When school is out in June, ministry for young people doesn’t come to a standstill at St. Paul of the Cross. As a matter of fact, one of the most active programs gears up the Monday after classes are over for the summer when a day camp goes into session for eight weeks.

Education, inspiration, arts and crafts, and recreation are stressed, says Father Coleman.

“The day begins with some religious camp songs, and that’s followed by a message, usually by me, of God in their lives,” Father says.

There are enrichment programs for advanced students and remedial reading and arithmetic programs, too.

The children participate in plays, dances, games, and swimming. Lunch is served daily.

An average of 125 children attend the school each week, Father says. During the eight-week session, as many as 1,000 kids attend, and 100 of these have their camp fee paid for by the archdiocese as well as a fund for the camp at St. Paul of the Cross.

“We have a great staff,” Father says. The staff usually includes four sisters from Pennsylvania, two seminarians, high school aides, school teachers, and a governmental worker.

In addition to the regularly scheduled daily activities, the kids are treated to four trips during the course of the summer. A day trip to Lake Lanier or Stone Mountain might highlight their summer, or a field trip to a major Atlanta corporation.

Education, evangelization, liturgy, and community involvement are all a part of St. Paul of the Cross. But most importantly, the love with which these things are done is nurtured on a daily basis at St. Paul of the Cross, a growing, thriving parish family.