A celebration to honor the efforts of parish ministry professionals serving in leadership roles in the archdiocese will be held on Tuesday, May 18, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. This event is open to those presently working in parishes and other ministry arenas.

This annual event will begin at 7 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and concelebrated by IHM pastor Father Jim Schillinger, Father Diosmar Natad, parochial vicar at St. Brigid Church, Johns Creek, and Father Juan Anzora, parochial vicar at IHM. Priests of the archdiocese are invited to attend and concelebrate and deacons to vest for the Mass.

Invited to this celebration are all children’s ministers, middle school ministers, campus ministers, young adult ministers, adult faith formation coordinators, coordinators of religious education, directors of religious education, RCIA coordinators, marriage preparation and pastoral care leaders, and those involved in any way, shape, or form in helping others to deepen their faith journey.

At the event lay ecclesial ministers who have been in service for 10 or more years will be honored. Thus far 43 lay ecclesial ministers (in areas of youth ministry, adult ministry, bereavement ministry, catechetical ministry), with 10 to 36 years’ service, have been nominated from various parishes.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is located at 2855 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta.