Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan announced this week the receipt of two major gifts to the Archdiocesan Expansion Program.

Mr. and Mrs. Hughes Spalding, Sr., of Atlanta have contributed $50,000 to the proposed new student chapel at the University of Georgia in Athens.

In addition, the archbishop announced a second gift of $30,000 has been contributed by the Franciscan Order for the Newman Center at the University of Georgia in Athens. The Franciscans of the Province direct Newman Federation activities at Athens as well as University Newman activity in Atlanta area.

Meanwhile, preparations for the inauguration of the parish phase of the Archdiocesan Campaign proceeded this week as parish chairmen and their associates met in six regional centers for organization meetings. The immediate work of these parish leaders includes plans to assist their pastors in the enlistment of other parish men as memorial committee members. It is expected that memorial committee will begin their activity in all the parishes of the archdiocese during the week of February 7th. More than 700 men are expected to serve in this phase of the campaign.

During the week, the Special Gifts Committee continued its activity and made a check in report on Thursday, January 28th. The group, which comprises six priests and twenty-one laymen, will render its first formal report to Archbishop Hallinan this coming week.

Typical of the regional meetings was that of Region 5 which met in St. Anthony’s Hall, West End, Monday evening January 25. Thirty-seven men representing the six parishes of the Region heard Rev. Noel C. Burtenshaw, assistant coordinator, review the details of the Expansion program. Rev. R. Donald Kiernan, regional moderator, presided and outlined organizational plans for the member parishes. Mr. James W. Callison, regional chairman, discussed the procedure for enlisting additional men to serve on each of the parishes’ Memorial Gifts Committee. Mr. Callison explained that in Region 5 all meetings will be held on Monday night in St. Anthony’s Hall in order that laymen might conveniently plan their schedules for the coming weeks.

At the same time that the parish chairmen and associates were meeting in St. Anthony’s Hall, volunteer women secretaries gathered in an adjacent meeting room to review plans for administrative and secretarial duties. In each parish a number of the women have volunteered to prepare campaign materials, control records, and assist in all preparations for the work of the volunteer parish men who will visit the Catholic households within their parish area.

Very Rev. Harold J. Rainey, archdiocesan coordinator, explained that the procedure used in Region 5 will be similar to that followed in all regions of the diocese. The same night and meeting place will be reserved each week for regional meetings.

In Region 1, Atlanta, the meeting night is Sunday and the meeting place is Christ the King Cathedral Center. Region 2 Rome, will meet on Tuesday evenings in St. Mary’s School Hall. Region 3, Atlanta, will meet on Friday evenings in Sacred Heart assembly room. Region 4, Athens, will meet on Thursday evenings in St. Joseph’s School cafeteria, Athens. Region 6, Griffin, will meet on Wednesday evenings in Sacred Heart School Hall, Griffin.

A complete schedule of organization and report meetings extending through the memorial phase has been distributed to all chairmen and their associates.