On Monday, June 22, the Oblate Fathers will take charge of Saint Joseph’s Parish in Washington, GA.

This parish has been in the care of the Verona Fathers for almost 20 years. The Verona Fathers are returning to their missionary work in Africa.

The Oblate Fathers have agreed to accept the parish and have assigned Father Edward Randall, O.M.I., to the archdiocese as pastor.

Father Randall, a native of Lowell, Mass., was ordained on May 29, 1950 in Washington, D.C. He has served in Oblate parishes in Grand Rapids, Mich., Lowell, Mass., Sumter, S.C., Indianapolis, Ind., and Petersburg, Va. He will arrive for his new assignment on Monday, June 22.

For almost 20 years the Verona Fathers have given outstanding service in the missionary parishes of North Georgia. For many years, they staffed the parish and missions in Toccoa and Hartwell areas. Their work in the eight county mission parish in Washington has been excellent over the years.

Saint Joseph’s Parish has three missions, Queen of Angels in Thomson, Purification of Our Lady in Sharon, and St. Mary’s in Elberton.

The priests stationed in Saint Joseph’s Parish presently are Rev. Augustine T. Cometto, pastor, and Rev. Samuel Baiani, assistant.