Archbishop Hallinan announced the opening of a new parish this week. The parish will be situated in the North Cobb County area. Included in the new parish will be the southern section of Cobb County and all of Douglas County. A great asset to the new parish will be the vibrant mission of St. John Vianney in Austell.

This section of the archdiocese has long been served by the Marist Fathers from St. Joseph’s Parish in Marietta. However the massive growth in population over recent years now demands the full attention of a new parish in this area. A number of plots of land are now being viewed for the site of the parish plant.

A simple but significant thing, but it might start a healthy trend.

When the people of Smyrna and South Cobb County meet with their new pastor, Fr. Richard B. Morrow, he will invite them to help choose the name of their new parish.

The name of a parish is that of a mystery of faith or the name of a particular saint. In the past the Bishop and the pastor have usually given the name.

But the laity deserve as share in the selection of their parish name, Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan believes. So in Smyrna, he and Father Morrow will propose a list of six names. Then the parishioners will vote and choose the definite name.

“In a parish of say 200 families, the laity use the name at least 200 times more than the clergy,” Archbishop Hallinan said. “They should have their proportionate share in naming their church. They usually will be more interested in this man or woman of God or that mystery if they select it. The main reason of the bishop and pastor is to provide a list that will avoid repetition.”

It’s goodbye, Saint Tarsisius; it’s welcome St. Robert, William, Charles and Catherine. They could be Bob, Bill, Charlie, and Kit, names everyone knows and loves.

The archbishop was pleased to name the Rev. Richard B. Morrow as the new pastor. Father Morrow is at present pastor of the parish of Our Lady in Carrollton, Georgia. Father Morrow was ordained in 1955 and has served as an assistant pastor in Our Lady of the Assumption parish for five years. In Sept. 1960 he was named pastor of St. Bernadettes Church in Cedartown by Bishop Hyland. This was a difficult assignment for it meant the care of the growing mission in Carrollton, forty miles away. Fr. Morrow’s pastoral efforts were richly blessed, for out of this mission arose the present parish with its beautiful church and rectory. When this mission became a parish in May 1965, Fr. Morrow was named the first pastor.

“The pastoral qualities and valuable experience that Father Morrow brings to the new daughter parish of St. Joseph,” said Archbishop Hallinan, “will be a real blessing in the building of a vital Christian community in this section of our archdiocese.”

Other Pastoral Appointments

Two other pastoral appointments were also announced by the archbishop. Father Jariath Burke, presently pastor of St. Bernadette’s in Cedartown becomes pastor of Our Lady in Carrollton. Fr. Burke was appointed to Cedartown in 1965. Taking his place in Cedartown will be Father Daniel J. McCormick. Father McCormick moves from the Cathedral of Christ the King where he is assistant pastor. Ordained in 1957, Fr. McCormick has served as an assistant pastor in many of Atlanta’s parishes and has also taught religion in St. Joseph’s High School.