By Fr. Noel Burtenshaw

Two Atlanta pastors will be leaving pastoral ministry in the archdiocese in June to begin new forms of priestly life and ministry. The priests are Fr. William Hoffman, pastor of Saint John Vianney Parish in Austell, and Fr. Daniel McCormick, pastor of Saint Patrick’s Parish in Norcross. They are leaving Atlanta to take up vastly different apostolates.

Fr. Hoffman has asked for and received permission to join the Missionary Society of Saint James for five years. This society is dedicated to the service of the Church in Latin America. Fr. Hoffman will go first to Lima, Peru to attend a language school for four months. He will then be assigned to one of the areas served by the society.

Fr. McCormick has received a release from the archdiocese to enter the Trappist Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. Fr.McCormick will be leaving the active parish ministry for the primarily contemplative life of the monks. He will enter the monastery as an aspirant in late June.

In commenting on the decisions of the two men, Archbishop Donnellan said: “Both of these men bring honor to the Church of North Georgia. It is not often that you find two men of mature years willing to leave the support of their accustomed surroundings for service where there are so many new and unfamiliar factors. Theirs is truly a journey of faith and, although they will leave their present areas of service, they will take with them the prayerful support of the people of the archdiocese. Their decisions are for me a cause of genuine rejoicing, for while I regret losing their services here, I am happy over the strength of their dedication.”

Fr. Hoffman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hoffman who are parishioners of St. Michael’s Church in Gainesville, Georgia. Fr. McCormick’s family resides in California.