The continued growth in the number of Catholics in Cobb County makes is necessary to consider two additional parish centers from which to minister to the needs of the faithful. Already existing parishes have grown beyond the point at which those needs can be adequately met. For this reason, it seems appropriate at this time to establish one new parish and to realign the boundaries of another relatively new one. After consultation with the pastors of the area and the Archdiocesan Consultors, I hereby establish a new parish in the area of Bishop Lake Road in northeastern Cobb County. This parish will be comprised of territory formerly contained within the boundaries of Holy Family Parish.

The boundaries of this new parish are as follows:

On the South: starting at Holly Springs Road and moving Eastward, the line formed by Post Oak Tritt to Murdock Road, South to Sewell Mill Road, East to Johnson Ferry Road, Southeasterly to Lower Roswell Road to the Fulton County line.

On the East: The Fulton County line.

On the West and North: the line formed by Holly Springs Road and Sandy Plains Road to Old Alabama Road.

The pastor of this new parish will be Father Thomas J. Carroll, MS, presently pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cartersville.

The other recently opened parish receiving additional territory is The Transfiguration Parish, which was opened in 1977 to serve the Kennesaw - Acworth area. Increased growth to the East of this area has made it advisable to enlarge the present boundaries to the East to include the Blackwell Road area. The boundaries to the South and East will be a line beginning at the intersection of Bells Ferry Road and Roberts Road, South to Kurtz Road, East to Canton Road, South to Sandy Plains Road, North on Sandy Plains Road to Old Alabama Road.

Father Raymond F. Horan will continue as the pastor of Transfiguration Parish with these enlarged boundaries. A new site for the celebration of Sunday Mass will be designated in the near future, while Father Horan will continue to live in the Acworth area.

These changes are effective August 6, 1978.

In all such new parish openings and realignments we can read the sign of God's continued blessings on His people as we grow in number to make His Church more present in this, our area, of His creation. It is for us to grow not only in numbers but also in His image and likeness, so that the quality of our presence be a blessing on His land and on all our brothers and sisters. To that end, I assure all those affected by this change my continued prayers and best wishes.

Given this 3rd day of July, 1978.

Thomas A. Donnellan

Archbishop of Atlanta