By Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan

McDONOUGH, GA-Feb. 25—It used to take hours for pioneer priests like Monsignor James King and Father George Daly to travel from Athens to the Griffin missions. No wonder their names are held in esteem by the older residents of our southern zone. In these days of fast transit, Father Harold Rainey and I left Atlanta (in rush-hour traffic, too), and arrived in McDonough in time for supper. It was fortunate we did, because all the fine Catholic families were waiting in church for us! It is quite a church. You climb about forty steps, in the Masonic Building, right on the square, and enter a long room. It is tastefully decorated, with a Catholic altar at one end, but it is obviously too small for the growing congregation. It was also cold, and forty steps up.

All this was part of the angelic strategy of Father Clement Tackney, C.SS.R, and his people. The best way to convince a bishop that a new church is needed is to put him with a congregation of about 100 in a room built for 50, cold and forty steps up from a the sidewalk. From this point I was whisked to see an attractive piece of land where they hope to build. Then, a fine fish dinner, lots of good coffee, and a chance to read a newspaper account of my weekend visit. This was especially interesting because I learned that we were planning not only a new church, but a new school! This is like asking the boss to treble your salary when you really only want to double it. The McDonough Catholics are proud of Father Tackney; they told me of his talks to Protestant groups in the nearby towns. If he is as convincing with them as he is with me, the Vatican Council may soon become necessary!

The people seemed pleased with the new archdiocesan “10-10-10” plan. As soon as a mission group has $10,000 the archdiocese gives an outright gift of $10,000 so that a church can be started immediately. That will be a happy day for Jesse Casses’ family. Through their goodness, Mass was offered in their home for many years. When the new building starts, Father Tackney, the Casses, the McDonoughites, and all those who have given to the Georgia Missions, will have a part of the new building.

A BASEMENT CHAPEL, AND THE NUT BUSINESS*

JACKSON, Ga. –Feb. 26—Saturday noon, in company with another Redemtorist, Father Richard Wagner, we had a look at the beautiful church at Jackson. Here at St. Mary’s is a remainder of the apostolic concern of Bishop Francis E. Hyland for the building of our missions. Father Wagner told us how Mass was first celebrated by Father John Walsh in the home of the Deraney’s, first Charles, then David. A regular chapel, named for St. Alphonsus, was set up in the basement of the David Deraney home.

Toward the end of 1958, land was purchased in an attractive part of town, construction was begun the next fall, and the new church was dedicated by Bishop Hyland April 20, 1960. To one side is a fine little pecan grove, and during a good year the parish is in the nut business.

WE HAD a tasty lunch at the Glidewell restaurant, where the Glidewell family, and most of the other Catholics of Jackson joined us. The life of the party was Mrs. Freeman Land, who knows every bit of local and parish history. But while her memory of the pioneer past is very keen, her mind and heart are very much in the present, especially in the present administration in Washington. “My mother was a Kennedy, you know. I suppose Jack and Bobby and Teddy are cousins.”

DEEPEST SOUTH, AND THE BOYS FROM BENNING

THOMASTON, Ga. –Feb. 24—This is our southernmost mission. Not many Catholics, but what a lively, hearty group they are! We gathered at the American Legion post where delicious refreshments were enjoyed, and a real ecumenical discussion ensured. The active Catholic band was joined by a tall, witty and admirable Baptist. The Vatican council was thoroughly reviewed, and everyone joined in. We all agreed that it was fitting that the church was named in honor of St. John the Baptist.

The chapel in Thomaston is attractive, another of Bishop Hyland’s farsighted moves. It was given to the mission by a generous Philadelphia priest, Father John Mickum, who is commemorated by a bronze plaque. The first Mass here was offered in June, 1958, by Father Wenceslas Blavac, another Redemptorist pioneer. The interior has a light cheerful tone; so do the furnishings.

Among the renowned Thomaston families in whose homes Mass was celebrated in the older days are the Clems, the Greens, the Osbolts, and the Mallorys. Memories of the loyal chaplains and soldiers from Fort Benning are still fresh in the parishioners’ minds. They were always generous and faithful.

BANDAGES, BALDACHINOS, AND SOMETHING NEW FOR SUPPER

NEWNAN, GA-Feb. 26—This is the largest of the Griffin missions. Partly this is due to its proximity to Atlanta, and its location on the well-traveled Route 29. But the parishioners are convinced that it is due to Father Tackney, the three-man building committee, and Newman’s place in Divine Providence. Inside of an hour, we looked at a half-dozen possible sites for a church, and when our social evening was over, we were still huddling over plans for the future.

There are about 245 Catholics in Newnan. Some are the craftsmen who have built a proper altar and baldachino for St. George’s Church. Some are the ladies who meet, not just to compare notes, but to prepare 8,000 bandages last year for the Cancer Home in Atlanta. It is a truly active parish. One idea struck me as the most missionary--the contribution by the Catholic mission of $1,000 to the new county hospital for a “family room” to remind everyone (as the door plaque reads) that “Prayer is Strength.”

The circulation of a schedule among some thirty families to provide Father Tackney’s meals is a novel scheme. I was very alarmed when I first overheard a question that made me think we were in some far-off cannibal country: “Who’s having Father Tackney for supper tonight?” But it turned out they were serving Father with supper, not for supper!

THE CENTER OF IT ALL

GRIFFIN, GA. Feb. 27—Sacred Heart parish, which is under the energetic and benign direction of Father Raymond Gevern, C.SS.R., used to be a mission, but is now the thriving Catholic center of a whole region of nine counties. In fact, the four missions form a cross with Griffin as the center. We visited the keen and lively School Sisters of Notre Dame in the fine new school which is a tribute to the builder, Father Gilbert McCormack, and the continued sacrifices of the whole parish.

After a Pontifical Mass at 10, where the laity joined in the Latin responses in the excellent “Griffin manner” there was good breakfast served in the parish hall. Parish leaders spoke for the lay organizations, I received a spiritual bouquet from the children, and then had another welcome opportunity to thank the Redemptorist priests, past and present, for their apostolic labors in our archdiocese. I have now seen, at first hand, all the parishes and missions manned by them. Last month we were up North where Fathers Simone Glass, Lawrence Murphy, Wencelslas Blavac, Robert McNiel, and Roland Haber are in charge of the churches at Dalton, Calhoun, Catersville, Fort Oglethorpe and Lookout Mountain. Having now seen the southern Redemptorists in action, I can repeat what so many of our senior priests have said of their zeal, their example and their vision.

Father Rainey and I returned to Atlanta Sunday with good recollections and lots of material for future Georgia Mission Sundays:

The little girl who courageously asked in public school if she could review the Catholic sermon as a variation from the customary Monday morning review of the Sunday Protestant service. (She did, and it was appreciated.)

Mrs. White of McDonough, a pioneer who managed to see that the church property was in good shape so that the archbishop could see how completely ready this mission was for building.

Father Wagner who covers three sides of a triangle every Sunday--Griffin to Jackson to Thomason, nearly 100 miles.

Mrs. Mansour of Newnan who has seen the church grow from a tiny seed, and keeps a special pot of coffee on the stove for Father Tackney.

One of the phrases you hear down Griffin way is a “churchless mission”. But it is a term that is heard less and less. And if the plans at McDonough bear fruit, there will be no “churchless mission” in the Griffin region.