By Michael Motes

The Rev. Paul J. Frank, OMI, of the community of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate was at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta Dec. 5 through 10 to conduct a five-day mission.

During the week, Father Frank celebrated the 12:10 p.m. Mass each day at the Church, but his primary reason for coming to Atlanta was to visit those who, due to illness or advanced age, are unable to receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist at Church.

The work of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests dates back to the early 1930s in Atlanta, according to Father Frank.

"We are no strangers to the archdiocese," he said. "Years ago there were very few priests in Atlanta and the Oblate Fathers worked here as missionaries, traveling as far as LaGrange, which was at that time a mission of the Cathedral of Christ the King."

Over the years, the image of a mission has changed. In the past, missions were held at different times for separate groups of men and groups of women. Today the picture is that of a "family mission" during which those attending are encouraged to come as a family.

"The concept now is to use the word mission interchangeably with the word renewal -- in this case, a parish renewal," the missionary commented.

"In order to better understand the work of the Oblate missionaries, it is first important to realize that oblate means 'consecrated,' or 'dedicated to God.'"

"There is probably no more diverse work in the priesthood than that of mission priests," said Father Frank.

"We work in all kinds of parishes with all kinds of people -- the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner and the old and the young. One week we might be in a cathedral and the next week in a cotton field."

Father Frank said that his week in Atlanta was typical of a successful mission chiefly aimed at shut-ins. During the week, he visited approximately 35 people, primarily the aged, who are shut-ins.

"My main purpose in coming to Sacred Heart was to visit the sick. These have included both the elderly parishioners and the younger ones, who are perhaps only temporarily confined to their homes due to brief illness or accidents.

"Too often our liturgy is aimed at those in good health," he said. "My thoughts are that missions of this type are very important because of the work we do with those who are not in good health. I feel that a person flat on his back has only one way to look and that is up. Only a person who has been sick can realize this."

During his missions, Father Frank has found that home Masses are very important and comforting to shut-ins. But in Atlanta, the frequency of the home Mass has not been the same as elsewhere due to homes being further apart.

"Here there are very few apartment buildings housing several shut-ins," he commented. "Normally a home Mass is celebrated for groups of five or more."

Father Frank, whose home base is in West Palm Beach, Fla., has been engaged in mission work for almost 16 years. His work takes him from Richmond to Mobile to Miami.

In addition to missions such as the one at Sacred Heart last week, he and other Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate travel to military bases and also conduct retreats for nurses, high school students, Newman Club members and other groups.