By Michael Motes

Atlanta experienced an overall growth of nearly 4,000 Catholics during 1972.

There was, however, a drop in the number of seminarians studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, a sharp decline in the number of students attending Catholic schools, fewer baptisms and a decrease in Catholic weddings.

Figures recently released by the firm of P.J. Kennedy & Sons, publishers of The Official Catholic Directory for 1973, indicate several interesting statistical changes in the archdiocese. The statistics represent the period January 1, 1972 to January 1, 1973.

The 1972 directory listed the total Catholic population of the Archdiocese of Atlanta at 59,452. The latest figure shows that the population has risen to 63,250.

In 1972 there were 27 men from Atlanta studying for the priesthood. A drop to 20 seminarians has occurred since that time.

While there has been a slight decline in the total number of Catholic students in the archdiocese from 5,095 in 1972 to 4,885 in 1973, more Catholics are now attending public schools. In 1972 there were 2,627 Catholic students in public high schools. That figure has leaped by over 1,000 students to the 1972 figure of 3,652.

The number of Catholic students enrolled in public elementary schools has risen even higher, from 7,617 in 1971 to 9,708 cited in the latest tally.

More lay persons are teaching in Catholic schools today than a year ago. The statistics show an increase from 202 to 225. The number of priests teaching full-time has remained the same (19) while the number of teaching sisters has risen from 105 to 107.

In 1971 there were a total of 1,947 baptisms in the archdiocese. Of these 1,622 were infant baptisms and 325 were converts. The comparable 1972 figures are: 1,634 infants and 244 converts for a total of 1,878.

Although several recent ordinations have already dated the official statistics of the directory, the number of diocesan priests listed shows a drop from 69 in 1971 to 67 today. But the number of religious priests has risen from 86 to 90. The comparable figures show an increase in the number of sisters, from 159 to 198.

Catholic marriages dropped from 820 in the 1971 figures to 680 in 1972.

Two new parishes were established during the 1972 period, the number rising from 36 to 38.