By Thea Jarvis

On the second Sunday of August, Father Thomas Giblin and Father Alvin Matthews greeted anxious parishioners outside Central Presbyterian Church with warm hugs and words of encouragement.

The sanctuary of Central, Immaculate Conception's next door neighbor on Courtland Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, had been graciously offered to the Franciscan friars as a temporary Mass setting when the historic Shrine Church was gutted by an early-morning fire August 6.

"I was so thankful to God when I saw you on television," a pretty young parishioner told Father Giblin as she arrived for Mass Sunday morning.

The fire, which caused extensive property but no personal damage, hurtled 69-year-old pastor into the local spotlight as television and radio news crews hurried to the church site to cover the story.

Before Mass began, Immaculate Conception parishioners were informally addressed by Central Presbyterian minister Jack Graham, who expressed both sympathy and welcome: "You are welcome to our building, our space, our warmth," he said kindly, adding that his congregation shared in their neighbor's tragic loss.

The crowd was easily accommodated in Central's spacious sanctuary. The heavy, wood-appointed interior seemed to lend solid support to the grieving Shrine community.

"Man proposes but God disposes," Father Giblin reminded the gathering as he began his homily. He offered his gratitude to the people of Central Presbyterian and the Atlanta Fire Department, noting that an "outpouring of love came from all sides; from people we know, people we do not know, from people we may never see again."

The Shrine pastor, who concelebrated Mass with Father Alvin Matthews, reassured parishioners that "people make a community," and that the loss of their beloved and historic church might indeed make the community stronger.

A letter from Archbishop Thomas Donnellan and a resolution passed by the Georgia Legislature were cited by Father Giblin as examples of the overwhelming expression of sympathy the fire evoked.

After Mass, parishioners were slow to disperse, seizing the moment to share concerns and treasure the presence of those who best understood their loss.

Flora Graham, a Shrine member for 40 years who has been the unofficial chairperson of Immaculate Conception's fundraising efforts, said she was trying to "think positive -- there's no other way."

Mrs. Graham was awakened at 6:30 the morning of the fire when a friend called to report the sad news. She was able to view the Shrine's devastated interior before barricades were erected that blocked public access.

"It's just been a part of my life for so long," said Mrs. Graham, whose daughters attended the parish school and were married at the Shrine altar.

Her 10-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Athens and was a regular visitor at the Shrine's holiday homecomings, cried when she heard of the fire.

"She loved to come to the breakfasts," Flora Graham said with the emotion of one who is deeply attached to a church community. "Everyone who comes to the Shrine comes by choice."