By Marie Mulvenna

For dozens of priests and parishioners in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Bill Cassels, better known as “Mister Bill,” is an old familiar face.

Mister Bill is presently in residence at St. Anthony’s rectory, having moved there from Holy Cross in Chamblee with Father Eusebius (“Zeb”) Beltran, his pastor and friend of six years.

To Bill Cassels there is no one finer than Father Beltran, and he’ll tell you that right off the bat. “He’s terrific, both as a priest and as a man. I’d do anything in the world for him.” And he means it.

“We couldn’t be any closer,” adds Bill Cassels, as he recalls memorable times he has shared with Father Beltran. The two are avid fisherman and have spent some happy hours with the rod and reel.

Mister Bill might officially be called the “sacristan” at St. Anthony’s, but whatever his title, he’s always around for every parish activity, and parishioners have come to know his familiar and helpful presence as part of the parish scene.

Mister Bill first met Father Zeb when he used to “haunt” the Chamblee building site for Holy Cross during its construction. “I guess I’m sort of a building inspector at heart,” he explains with a laugh, recalling that once in New York he was presented with an honorary building inspector’s license after he daily observed the erection of a skyscraper. “I think it was sort of a joke but it meant a lot to me anyway.”

While on his “inspecting” rounds at Holy Cross, Mister Bill met a parishioner who told him the parish was looking for a custodian. “I was really looking for something too,” Mister Bill says, explaining he had been staying with his daughter in Chamblee and found quite a bit of extra time on his hands.

A few days later at the same construction site he met Father Beltran. “I didn’t know him from Adam but that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with him.”

Mister Bill went to work for Holy Cross and has been Father Zeb’s constant companion, part-time cook and greatest fan ever since. When Father Beltran was named pastor of St. Anthony’s in June 1972, Mister Bill went right along and he loves it downtown. “I don’t drive or even own a car so this is great and so convenient for me.”

Weekends generally find Mister Bill visiting his daughter, Mrs. Regina Mona, and her three children. He has a son Gerald who lives in Connecticut, a sister in California and another in Providence, R.I., where he was born and raised.

He first arrived in Atlanta after his retirement from the railroad in Providence and adds with a broad grin, “I love it – a far cry from those cold northeastern winters.” Although a devotee of southern weather conditions, he admits he’s looking forward to a visit north in August for a “clan” reunion.

For almost six years now, Mister Bill has been Father Zeb’s faithful right hand and in his role he has greeted, chatted with and joked with most of Atlanta’s priests. He grins again and says with a delightful New England accent: “They’re all pretty good scouts you know.”

One parishioner described Mister Bill’s presence at St. Anthony’s as a “a delightful asset to the parish family.”