Father Peter Rau had been named as the new pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church, succeeding Father Frank McNamee, who will become the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King. Both appointments will be effective Jan. 1, 2009.

Father Rau has been the pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Cumming since 1996 and previously served as pastor of St. Mark Church, Clarkesville, and administrator of St. Helena Mission, Clayton, and as pastor of Prince of Peace Church, then located in Buford.

Born in New York City, Father Rau, who is 51, grew up in Decatur, where he attended elementary and high school. He also studied at Georgia State University.

After seminary study at St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Fla., he was ordained in June 1985 by Atlanta Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan.

Father Rau currently serves on the priest personnel board and has been previously the chaplain of the Serra Club of North Metro Atlanta and an assistant vocations director of the archdiocese.