Atlanta seminarians have formed a new organization for the men studying to served the Church in Atlanta.

More than half the twenty archdiocesan seminarians resided in Atlanta this summer. They met to discuss mutual areas of concern.

The idea for an organizing effort of the seminarians grew from these weekly meetings. They hope their organizational effort will enable them to maintain better communications with one another.

The 20 men are spread out at seven different houses of study during the year. A seminarian newsletter will be revived and other efforts will be initiated in order to keep in contact with one another and with the vocation director, Father Jerry Hardy.

Besides inter-seminary communication, the new organization should become a vehicle for more active seminarian involvement in the life of the Church in Atlanta.

During recent years seminarians have spent part of their summer working in various parishes throughout the archdiocese. This summer saw eight men filling various capacities in five parishes.

Through the new organization, the seminarians hope to continue an active role in archdiocesan life through a better awareness of things taking place in Atlanta during the academic year and a more responsible contribution to Atlanta activities. John S. Adamski, who completed his third year of theology at St. Meinrad last May, and who will be studying at Emory University this year, was elected chairman of the new organization.

Adamski expressed the hope that the seminarian will be able to contribute more effectively to the needs and problems of the archdiocese. “In the past, the seminarians have all too often been interested only in what the archdiocese could provide for them through such things as education and financial assistance,” he said. “Now we hope to change this perspective and determine whether or not there are areas in which we can positively contribute to the Church of Atlanta even during our formative years.”

The many talents and capabilities of the seminarians can be put to use for Atlanta now, rather than their being assigned to some future ordination date, he added. “The new organizational effort should also help us to be more aware of one another and gain some experience of working together as a group.

“This common effort should serve us well as a beginning of the cooperation which we must maintain and develop as priests working together in the archdiocese.