In the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By the ordinary authority of the Archbishop of Atlanta, I hereby convoke the First Archdiocesan Synod to be held November 20-22, 1966. It is called in the Spirit of the Sacred Scriptures recalling the early Church as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles. Under the direct influence of the program of “awareness, reform, unity with other Christians and sensitivity especially to our entire human society” (enumerated in Pope Paul VI’s opening address in 1963), let us meet during these sacred days to renew the Church in Northern Georgia. May it by God’s power and our human efforts “reveal to the world, faithfully though darkly, the mystery of the Lord until, in the end, it will be manifested in full light.” (Constitution On the Church, #8).

The holy lives and practical human efforts of priests, sisters and laymen and laywomen for more than a century have been the foundation stones of the Church as we know it today in Northern Georgia. The architects were ten zealous and tireless bishops -- Gartland, Berry, Verot, Persico, Gross, Becker, Keiley, Keyes, O’Hara, and Hyland. Catholics were always few in numbers, but they were strong in faith. We are standing on the shoulders of them all as we hear this new call from the Holy See to enter another chapter in the history of the Church.

In confidence born of the program of church renewal personified in Paul VI and the Council fathers, I hereby convoke this Archdiocesan Synod as the authentic voice of the People of God -- archbishop, priests, religious and laity. To this end I entreat your prayers and your efforts, mindful of those great popes from Leo XIII to John XXIII, and asking the intercession and help of Our Blessed Lady, Mary Queen of Wisdom.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta