A dozen African Catholic communities are working together with the new Pan African Catholic Organization of Atlanta.

The organization will mark its early milestones with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.  The parish of Corpus Christi Church, in Stone Mountain, will be the host.

In September, seven communities of African immigrants began to organize a group where they can discuss common concerns and successes. Since the initial meetings, the number of communities participating in the effort has grown.  The group is being organized by the Atlanta Archdiocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministry, led by its president and chaplain Father Henry Atem.

The organization’s purpose is to provide spiritual and social support for immigrant African Catholics within the archdiocese. Also, members will organize events to preserve the integrity and customs of the faith of the immigrants.

The founding communities are the African Catholic Community of St. Joseph Church, Marietta; the African Catholic Community of St. Theresa Church, Douglasville; the African Catholic Community of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna; the African Catholic Families of Corpus Christi; Ephphata; the Cameroonian Catholic Community; the Gambian Christian Community; the Ghanaian Catholic Community; the Francophone Catholic Movement of Atlanta; the Divine Grace Catholic Community; and the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community. The Congolese Catholic Community is in the process of being organized.

For more information, contact the Office for Black Catholic Ministry at www.archatl.com/ministries/obcm/about/contact.htm.