By Msgr. Noel Burtenshaw

It was billed as a day of recollection. And so it was. From across the archdiocese the priests of Atlanta came to Conyers and joined the chief shepherd in a daylong reflection on Advent and priestly service. Over 100 priests from the parishes, departments and schools were present for those few hours’ retreat.

The final chapter of the evening also had the flavor of Advent. The season calls us to consider new beginnings and priorities. Those were the themes of the after dinner gathering in the guesthouse at Conyers.

Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan chaired that final meeting, but Msgr. Jerry Hardy, chancellor of the archdiocese, made the proposal to his brother priests. What was the proposal? It was this. Consider the priorities of our Catholic community in North Georgia.

“It is a new beginning for the Church,” said the chancellor as he explained his approach to this priestly sharing. “We are 25 years a diocese, we are growing faster than any other area--over the last 12 years we have doubled in Catholic population--so it is time to pause and ask ‘where are we going?’”

“Ask” is the vital word. Msgr. Hardy was asking the priests. But that is only the beginning. “We are asking the sisters at the same time, then we are going to the parishes, the deaneries. We want to know, what is the consensus on the priorities of the Church in North Georgia over the next five years.”

It began with Archbishop Donnellan putting the same question to his consultors. “We had spoken to the archbishop about certain needs we had to consider--for example, the expansion of St. Pius and the rebuilding of some of our Newman Centers. He brought the question of priorities to the Board of Consultors. The process grew out of that decision, Msgr. Hardy said.

However, before the question and proposals were committed to paper and brought to the priests and sisters, lots of back room work had already been accomplished. “We knew we needed to revitalize the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council,” said Msgr. Hardy. “The archbishop would want their feedback. So a meeting of our six deans took place and we agreed on the role they would play in this search for priorities.”

The question of the kind of priorities sought also came up. Were we talking about our programs or buildings “We want to know about both,” said the chancellor. “We are initiating this process so that pastoral responses can be made to the needs. We are going in with an open mind and asking for input. We may be surprised. A good beginning was made in the monastery. Let’s get going.”

The priests and sisters will return their priority suggestions. These will go to the parishes for parish council consideration and input. These will then be sent to the new Pastoral Council which will be formed on a deanery level. These considerations will then go the archbishop as final recommendations.

The young, vital Archdiocese of Atlanta is ready for all kinds of new life and new ideas. “We are considering new schools that may be built, senior citizens programs, communications techniques, new parishes, social concerns, evangelization and, of course, the wherewithal to fund all these needs. And others too that will surface in the process. Lots and lots of others. Take liturgy for example. So much can be accomplished as we involve our people in the deacon program. It is young, more can be done as we use this ministry in our growing area.”

Along with Msgr. Hardy, the man most responsible for the initial presentation was Father Jim Kelly, director of religious education. “Father Kelly put the grid together for the priests and he will tabulate the final response. We are anxious to see the first declaration of priorities.”

Atlanta is not the first diocese to proceed in this manner. Rockville Centre, N.Y. has made a search among its people for priorities. So have San Antonio and Savannah.

“Look at it this way,” says Msgr. Hardy, who is the chief administrator of the archdiocese. “We are all limited in personnel, resources and finances. There is only so much we can do. Responding as pastorally as possible to the needs as they are recognized and proposed by our Catholic people, is the goal of our priority search.”

This is a journey to uncover needs. The journey will be taken most carefully so that nothing will be missed. The Church of Atlanta is going into a period of study and the conclusion of that study will be placed on the desk of Archbishop Donnellan for his consideration.

“It is a good time,” says Msgr. Jerry Hardy. “It is a good process and the end result, pastorally speaking, has got be good too.”

The 26th year of the Diocese of Atlanta is starting with a busy bang.