A DECREE OF ESTABLISHMENT

The Catholic Church has been blessed with enormous growth in the area of Lamar and Upson Counties. The Missions of St. John the Baptist in Thomaston and St. Ann in Barnesville have now grown to the point where they merit establishment as parishes. It has been decided that these Missions will be combined to become one single parish. This Parish shall be called St. Peter the Rock and will be located between the sites of the two existing Missions in The Rock, Georgia.

Therefore, having heard the Council of Priests of the Archdiocese, in order to better serve the spiritual needs of the people, I decree that the Missions of St. Ann and St. John the Baptist be and are hereby canonically established as a Parish.

The boundaries for the Parish of St. Peter the Rock are as follows:

In Pike County south of Flat Shoals Road from Meriwether County line to Georgia Highway 18E, south of 18E to Zebulon/Milner Road at Lamar County line to Milner. In Milner, south of Liberty Hill Road to Georgia Highway 36E to Butts County line. St. Peter the Rock will comprise parts of Pike and Lamar Counties, all of Upson and Monroe Counties.

The effective date of this Decree of Establishment is April 20, 2005.

Given in Atlanta, Georgia, this 25th day of April 2005.

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory

Archbishop of Atlanta