A Catholic community, with Father Conald Foust as administrator, has been established in the Archdiocese of Atlanta on a one-year experimental basis.

In approving the new community, Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan said, “This is a time of experimentation in the Church, and the people of God are to be encouraged to come forth with proposals and plans to be tried and tested.

“The new Catholic community is such a proposal. I would rank its possibilities and opportunities very high, second only to the congress and Synod which have given our archdiocese a new structure where the exercise of authority is shared. The request for approval was made by a group of laymen and Father Foust. It has been granted on an experimental basis for a year, and merits the prayers and good wishes of all of our Catholic parishes.”

Father Foust said the community celebrates the Eucharist on Sundays at 6:30 p.m. in the Bethlehem Center of Gammon Theological Seminary. Prayer, study and work sessions will be held on Thursdays at 8 p.m. at the center.

The administrator said the characteristics of the community will be 1) a relatively small number of families to facilitate maximum participation of everyone and to increase personal relationships within the community; 2) an effort to be open to the world, especially to those who cry in human need, material or otherwise; 3) a readiness to experiment and change for the benefit of the people.

“Because of its experimental nature,” Father Foust said, “the community will limit its membership to about 75 families, at least of the first year. It will be open for membership to Catholics of entire metropolitan areas, regardless of residence.”

In approving the community, Archbishop Hallinan told its members: “Since the community is composed of Catholics, all efforts to explore a true ecumenism with those of other faiths should be used. Frequent liturgical services of an ecumenical nature should be developed in keeping with present ecumenical requirements. Social action projects with others, whether community-oriented or of special application, should be encouraged.”

The archbishop also called for an intensive study course, employing priests, laymen and some non-Catholics, on the liturgy, revelation, the Church, the Church in the modern world, ecumenism and the missions.

Members of the community were told that in addition to their financial responsibility for the community’s needs, they will be responsible for archdiocesan assessments. When the facilities of another parish are used (parochial school etc.), a tax must be worked out to insure equity.

Three names for the community are to be submitted to the archbishop for final choice.

Father Foust said the Gammon Seminary is off the University Avenue exit on the South Expressway. Information may be obtained from the administrator at 523-3431.

The newly established community grew out of a group of families who began meeting in February and now includes about 30 families.