By Debbie Parsons

The parish of St. Bernadette’s is located North of Atlanta in Cedartown, Georgia. It is a small Catholic community of about 60 families from three neighboring towns: Cedartown, Rockmart and Cave Spring.

St. Bernadette’s can best be described as subdued. It is a community with little conflict or division.

St. Bernadette’s profile is shaped by several things. One is the presence of the state school for the deaf in Cave Spring. The diocese has no official connection with the deaf school but children and adults from the school are welcome at St. Bernadette’s and regularly visit the parish for Mass. As Fr. Jim Maciejewski (St. Bernadette’s pastor for the past year and a half) preaches, someone from the school “translates” in the back through the language of their hands.

Although the presence of the deaf men and women at St. Bernadette’s helps make for some interesting liturgies, St. Bernadette’s has celebrated several other innovative liturgies also. A folk group was begun last year and provides the music for one Mass each month.

Each year for the past two years parishioners have gathered atop Santa Claus Mountain, just outside of Cedartown, to celebrate their Palm Sunday liturgy. (The people from the deaf school have been the first at the mountain each year.)

Along with the Palm Sunday Masses Pentecost has become another day for a special liturgy.

For the most part the people of the parish are unpredictable in their response toward these innovations. For example there was some disagreement as to whether the Palm Sunday Mass would be accepted. As it turned out, the attendance was double the expectancy.

The youth of the parish are involved in the midst of all this. They form the folk group and are energetic in their church participation. The religious education program for both the adults and children, once poorly attended, is improving. There have been new teacher preparation workshops this year, and although the program is small, enthusiasm has prevailed.

Within the town itself, St. Bernadette’s is highly respected. This attitude is due to the reputation of former pastors, members of the parish who are involved in Cedartown industry, and the fact that St. Bernadette’s has run the food booth at the Polk County fair for the past several years. For big-city folks this may seem trivial, but the county fair is an important yearly function bringing together the entire community at one time for an experience enjoyable to everyone. The food is expected to be something special and so far St. Bernadette’s has disappointed no one. After the fair is over and clean-up has been completed, Mass is celebrated for the parishioners at the church about 1:00 a.m.

Another plus factor in the parish’s reputation is that it is the only church in Cedartown to set up any sort of Christmas decoration. St. Bernadette’s always sets a much-appreciated nativity scene on the front lawn.

Because of the size of the town there is already a sort informal ecumenism present in Cedartown. The pastor of the First Baptist Church regularly drops in to visit with Fr. Maciejewski.

Other Protestant ministers have come for Sunday Mass and the visits have been returned by members of the parish. An example of this good ecumenical spirit was demonstrated last Summer when St. Bernadette’s initiated a catechetical program for children of the parish. Because St. Bernadette’s had no suitable facilities for the program the Episcopal church in Cedartown offered to help out by allowing the program to take place on their grounds.

Perhaps the profile of Cedartown can be ended with a profile of someone whom I believe to be a key person in the parish Annie Davis. Annie is and has been the rectory’s devoted housekeeper. She was hired by Msgr. John Stapleton 11 years ago and has been there ever since. She knows the history of the parish and remembers little things that others long ago forgot. She is 78 years young.

Just over a year ago, Fr. Maciejewski baptized and received Annie Davis into the Church. He says it was one of the happiest moments of his priesthood.