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Father Paul H. Reynolds has been named by Archbishop Thomas A.
Donnellan to establish a new parish in the Lilburn area. Presently serving as
pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna, Father Reynolds will take charge of
an area presently served by the parishes of Corpus Christi (Stone Mountain),
St. Patrick’s (Norcross), and St. Lawrence (Lawrenceville).
At the same time, Archbishop Donnellan announced that Father
Robert E. Dyer, M.S., has been named to succeed Father Reynolds as pastor of
St. Thomas. This move is part of a transferal of the pastoral care of St.
Thomas to the LaSalette Fathers. Presently, Father Dyer is serving as assistant
pastor at St. Jude’s. He will be joined in the new assignment by Father
Joseph G. Aquino, M.S., presently assistant pastor at Corpus Christi.
St. Thomas the Apostle becomes the second metropolitan area parish
to be staffed by the LaSalette Fathers. Blessed Sacrament parish in southwest
Fulton County is also under their care. In addition, they staff the smaller but
growing parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Cartersville with its missions in
Canton and Calhoun.
Commenting on the new parish in Lilburn and the transfer of care
of St. Thomas, Archbishop Donnellan said: “It is very encouraging to see
such growth in the greater metropolitan area. I am exceedingly grateful that we
can establish a parish there under the leadership of Father Reynolds. The fact
that he will be succeeded at St. Thomas by the LaSalette Fathers reassures me
that the pastoral needs of our people will continue to be well met.”
The text of the archbishop’s formal Decree of Establishment,
reads as follows:
“The continued growth in the number of Catholics in areas
beyond our present parishes makes it pastorally advisable to establish a new
parish in the Lilburn area. Until now this area has been served by both
archdiocesan priests at Corpus Christi and the Fransalian Fathers at St.
Patrick’s (Norcross) and St. Lawrence (Lawrenceville). The number of
Catholics in the area has steadily increased in recent years. It now seems that
better pastoral care can be provided by the establishment of a separate parish.
“As in the case of all such decisions, considerable
discussion and consultation has preceded it. Property for this parish was
purchased in 1972 and is located on Tom Smith Road. Over the past year, the
question of establishing this parish has been before the Archdiocesan
Consultors, a committee of which met with the pastors of all adjacent parishes
to assess the pastoral needs and parish boundaries. The result was a
recommendation for the establishment of the new parish.
“Therefore, having had the benefit of these deliberations and
recommendations, I hereby decree that a new parish is, by this document,
canonically established in the Lilburn area. The effective date of this Decree,
and of the pastoral assignments connected with it is June 16, 1977.
“The boundaries of the new Lilburn parish are:
‘Beginning at Highway 29 and DeKalb County line, proceed
South to Highway 78 (Stone Mountain Highway); East to Hewett Road: Northeast to
Oak Road; North to Huff Road; Northeast to Highway 29; West to DeKalb County
Line.’
“Members of the faithful living within these boundaries
become members of the new parish. They have the challenging privilege of giving
the Church an increasingly viable and visible presence in this area. They and
their new pastor begin this work with my prayers that the Lord of the Harvest
bless their labors abundantly.
“Given at Atlanta, Georgia, this 19th day of May,
1977”
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan
Archbishop of Atlanta |
