A collection for the Georgia Mission Fund will be taken up in all the churches and chapels of the archdiocese on Sunday (May 10). Latest progress report of the funds allocated for the growing Catholic Church in Northern Georgia include the following:

In October 1959, Bishop Francis E. Hyland, designated Covington as the Mission of Saint Augustine in the Diocese of Atlanta and appointed a “Priest-in-charge.”

Sunday Mass was offered in the American Legion Hall for almost a year. A second story storage room in downtown Covington was rented as the second location for the infant struggling Mission.

In September 1960, Saint Augustine Mission Parish became a mission attached to the Parish of SS. Peter and Paul, Decatur; Father Eusebius J. Beltran was then appointed “priest-in-charge.” During this time the sisters were re-appointed to teach Sunday School at SS. Peter and Paul Parish. Father Dulles personally undertook this extra task of instructing the children in the Mission.

Another “priest-in-charge” was appointed in January 1962. Father Joseph J. Beltran is presently serving the Mission. At this time the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Saint Anthony’s School graciously assumed the religious instructions for the children.

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Order were appointed to staff the new elementary school of SS. Peter and Paul in September of 1962.

Immediately the good sisters joined in the parish mission work taking charge of the religious instruction at Saint Augustine’s.

The little parish saw a few new families move into Newton County during these years. The storage room had to be enlarged to accommodate the most welcomed additions.

On August 25, 1962, Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan visited the Mission Parish and baptized four converts. At this time the archbishop announced his Georgia Mission Program. Inspired by the Archbishop’s interest and enthusiasm for our Georgia missions, the little congregation began to work feverishly to plan for a mission church of their own.

The first big setback came to Saint Augustine’s Mission when the building housing their church on Clark Street was sold in March 1963. This meant another move, more hard work and higher rent. In April the Church was moved to 119 Floyd Street. The enthusiasm of most of the parishioners was not dampened. On the contrary, the dream of a permanent mission church grew more urgent.

During this time the parishioners sent appeals to friends all over the country; undertook parish projects, socials and drives to help raise money for a church. On April 3, 1964 the property at 1117 Floyd Street was purchased in the name of the archdiocese for $10,500.00 which the parishioners raised and saved during the past year and a half. The Archdiocese, through the Georgia Mission Fund, gave the Mission a generous gift to help remodel and convert this old house to a serviceable chapel.

The entire project of remodeling and decorating this ‘old house’ is presently being done by the parishioners. Again the good of Saint Augustine Mission face an overwhelming task of hard work, planning and time consuming efforts. The actual chapel will occupy four rooms. The church will have light mahogany paneling - indirect lighting and carpeting on the floors. Three other rooms will be cleaned and used as class or meeting rooms. The large foyer will be appropriately decorated to blend in with the simple but elegant chapel area. The second floor rooms will be converted into office and store rooms and a parish library at a future date.

The exterior of the building is being repaired and will receive a few coats of fresh white paint. The large impressive grounds are being cleaned and landscaped. This entire project is being accomplished by just a handful of hard working parishioners who wish to have a church of their own. The people of the archdiocese should be proud of this little mission (less than 80 members - men, women and children), whose people are making such great personal sacrifices and laboring so industriously to help build the Kingdom of God in our archdiocese.

Georgia Mission Sunday is your opportunity to acknowledge the monumental work that is being done by the very few Catholics in our mission areas of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Let our prayers, sacrifices and generous contributions on Georgia Mission Sunday be an assurance of our continued interest in and support of the Georgia Missions.