Organization of the Archdiocesan Expansion Program moved ahead rapidly this week in two areas. Seventeen laymen joined the Special Gifts Committee which now totals twenty-five priests and laymen. At the same time, in preparation for the eventual visitation of every Catholic household, Archbishop Hallinan disclosed that the parishes of the archdiocese will be divided into six regions for administrative purposes. Appointment of priest regional moderators and lay regional chairmen will be announced next week, the archbishop said.

The seventeen new men were welcomed at the first organizational meeting of the Special Gifts Committee by G. Albert Lawton, General Campaign Chairman. Archbishop Hallinan was the principal speaker of the evening and reviewed the four projects included in the Archdiocesan Expansion Program.

The new members include: Edward G. Rice, Jr.; Robert Troutman, Sr.; P. Joseph Doran, Leonard Long, Judge Sam Phillips McKenzie, James Haynes, Leon Kaniecki, Dr. Bruce Jagor, J. Wallace Winborne, Jr., Dr. Reese Coleman, Jr., Dr. William Hopkins, Richard L. deGolian, Dr. Spalding Schroder, Patrick McGinn, Hal Cook, Frank McGaughey, Chess Lagomarsino and Russell Bellman.

Already serving as chairmen of the committee are: Msgr. Joseph A. Cassidy, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Milledgeville; Father John F. McDonough, pastor of Christ the King Cathedral; Hughes Spalding, Jr.; Furman Smith; Alex W. Smith, Jr.; Rawson Haverty.

In speaking to the new committee men, Archbishop Hallinan expressed his gratification of support and encouragement which have come from Catholics in all parts of the archdiocese who learned of the four projects of the expansion program through an announcement in the Georgia Bulletin and in the daily and weekly papers and on radio and television.

The projects include a new home for dependent boys and girls, the Village of St. Joseph, in southwestern Atlanta; a Catholic Center for Lay Action on Ivy Street in downtown Atlanta, a student chapel and Newman Center at the University of Georgia in Athens and the beginning of a High School Development Fund.

Archbishop Hallinan stressed that the total needs for all four projects were in excess of $2,000,000 and expressed the hope that the Special Gifts Committee could account for a substantial portion of the $1,750,000 minimum goal which has been established for the Campaign.

Committee Chairmen indicated that additional members, both priests and laymen, will be added to the group and that the Special Gifts Committee’s activity would begin immediately. A report meeting has been scheduled for Thursday evening January 28th in Cathedral Center.

Very Rev. Harold J. Rainey, chancellor, announced that a central campaign headquarters has been opened in Cathedral Center on East Wesley Road adjacent to the Chancery offices.