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For 23 years, Catholics in the area in and surrounding Newnan have
been served by the Mission of Saint George which is staffed by the Redemptorist
Fathers from Sacred Heart Parish in Griffin. Within the past six years the
Catholic population has grown to the point of being able to support the
construction of an attractive church and assembly hall in Newnan. The number of
families has gradually increased with annually larger numbers of children
enrolling in the parish school of religion. Future growth and development seem
assured…both in the City of Newnan and in the surrounding area.
In view of all these facts, it was judged to be in the best
spiritual and temporal interests of the Catholic community that the Mission of
Saint George in Newnan be formally established as the Parish of Saint George.
On June 12, 1973, this course of action was discussed with the Archdiocesan
Board of Consultors who formally recommended the procedure.
Consultation regarding parish boundaries was then pursued with
Reverend D. Sullivan, C.SS.R., pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Griffin and
Reverend Edward A.J. Danmneker, pastor of the Catholic Church of Peachtree
City. With the assignment of Reverend John P. Lerhinan, C.SS.R to the Mission
in December 1973, all arrangements were completed and a date set for the formal
ceremony.
Therefore, having had the benefit of these deliberations and
recommendations, I hereby decree that the Mission of Saint George in Newnan is,
by virtue of this document, formally established as a separate parish,
retaining its present name, with Reverend John P. Lerhinan, C.SS.R. as its
first pastor. The effect date of this decree is March 31, 1974.
The boundaries of Saint George Parish, Newnan, will include:
Everything West of the following roads:
Starting at the Fulton/Coweta line… Southeast on Georgia 154
to Georgia 54…South on Georgia 54 to Georgia 16…South on Georgia 16
to County line.
The establishment of this parish is another indication of the
growing vitality of the church in this archdiocese. Those members of the
faithful living within the confines of the above described area are to consider
themselves members of the new Parish of Saint George. They face the challenge
of increasing the already active presence of the Church in this large area. To
them and to their pastor, who I formally install as the first pastor of Saint
George’s Catholic Church, I extend best wishes and prayers that the Lord
of the harvest may bless their work together with His fruitfulness.
Given in Atlanta this 31st day of March 1974.
Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan Archbishop of Atlanta
Rev. Vincent M. Mulvin Notary |
