NORCROSS—The Archdiocese of Atlanta has elevated Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Church in Norcross from a mission church to the status of a parish, effective Oct. 16, 2013. The text of the decree from Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory follows:

This 2012 photograph shows a statue of Our Lady of La Vang prominently displayed at the entrance of the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Church. Dedicated in June 2006, the Norcross church was recently elevated from a mission to a parish. Photo By Cindy Connell Palmer

“Whereas the People of God of Norcross and its environs have been served by the Mission of Holy Vietnamese Martyrs and whereas the Catholic population of the area has increased, shown its ability to sustain a Parish with its own ministries and activities in support of liturgy and spiritual formation, education and sacramental preparation, apostolic outreach and community service, and

“Having heard the advice of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Atlanta on the 16th day of the month of October in the Year of Our Lord 2013 in this matter, and

“In order to provide effective ministry and service to the community of Norcross and its environs,

“I do hereby decree that the Mission of Holy Vietnamese Martyrs be raised to the status of a Parish, effective Midnight on the 16th day of the month of October in the Year of Our Lord 2013. The new parish shall retain the name of Holy Vietnamese Martyrs and shall celebrate its feast day on the 24th day of November each year.

“All persons heretofore members of the Mission of Holy Vietnamese Martyrs, whether by domicile or by the custom of registration, shall be members of the new Parish. All Catholics who reside within the territory of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and are of Vietnamese descent are hereby permitted to ascribe themselves and their immediate families as members of Holy Vietnamese Martyrs.

“The voluntary offerings of the faithful and all other grants and bequests that have been made or will be made to the Mission shall constitute the revenue of the new Parish as the legal successor in interest to the Mission, as shall the financial assets and liabilities of the Mission. The pastor or administrator is to constitute a Parish Finance Council to advise him in matters of temporal administration. The pastor or administrator shall see that a new seal is made for the parish, and shall forward the seal of the former Mission to the Archdiocesan Archives. Other actions and details to implement this decree, such as notification of title change to financial and other institutions, shall be attended to with diligence by the pastor or administrator, with the assistance of appropriate Archdiocesan staff.

“The appointment of a pastor or administrator and other such clergy as the diocesan ordinary may judge appropriate for the pastoral care and governance of the parish shall be made separately prior to the effective date of this decree.

“Given in Atlanta, Georgia, this 16th day of the month October in the Year of Our Lord 2013.”

+Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta