The weekend of Dec. 12-13 was a busy one for Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan as he visited two north Georgia parishes, Saint Gerard’s in Fort Oglethorpe and Our Lady of the Mount in Lookout Mountain, Ga.

The occasion for the visits was the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation.

In both parishes, approximately 35 children and adults received the sacrament. After the Mass, receptions were held at which the archbishop was able to spend a leisurely time meeting and talking with parishioners.

The archbishop is making it a regular practice, on his visits to parishes for confirmation or other occasions, to make himself available to any parishioners who would like to have a chance to speak personally with him.

In Fort Oglethorpe, the archbishop had an hour and half session with a delegation of young people from the parish. Afterwards, he indicated his satisfaction with having had the opportunity to discuss things with them.

Both parishes in the North Georgia mountains are staffed by the Redemptorist Fathers who serve the people of the archdiocese in several areas of the state.