By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

Monsignor Jerry E. Hardy, chancellor of the archdiocese, has brought all the parts together. He has done it patently and persistently. They are now almost in place.

"The parts" in question are the planned and approved priorities of the archdiocese for the eighties, side by side with a new Pastoral Board to guide those priorities into practical every day guidelines for all who live in the growing Church of North Georgia.

"The archbishop has now approved the priorities," said Monsignor Hardy from his office in the Chancery. "The people in the parishes and in the deaneries voted on them. The Consultors studied them and made their recommendations. And now Archbishop Donnellan, after listening to this process, has approved them."

The top five priorities will now go back to the newly formed Pastoral Board when it meets on September 11. "The board will now work on these top five," says Monsignor Hardy, "and along with the different departments of the archdiocese see to it that they get implemented."

The five in question will become fact with people and planning. The first one addresses the needs of the poor, the second, adult education. Third comes planning the needs of the church in future years. Regional group care homes for senior citizens come next and, finally, development of leadership and outreach to Black and Hispanic communities.

"Many of our departments in the archdiocese are presently working in these areas," says the chancellor. "The Pastoral Board will now work along side them demonstrating that they are, in fact, our priorities."

"For example," continues the much-enthused priest, "much is being done in the area of poverty outreach. St. Vincent de Paul is cooperating with Central Presbyterian and St. Francis Table. St. Luke's Kitchen is another daily outreach. Hopefully the Pastoral Board, representing the top priority of the archdiocese, will sit in on these activities."

Obviously, these priorities have moved from the areas of consideration and into areas of action. "We have never had consultation as broad as this take place," says Monsignor Hardy, who watched the process pass from phase to phase. "We had priests, sisters, parish council and deanery groups address the possibilities. Now we are seeing the results. "Ministry and outreach to the poor was first on everyone's mind as the new search for priorities took place. As the pastoral Board sits down with Monsignor Hardy on September 11, a new chapter in growth and depth of service will begin.

"We must all feel very satisfied with the work thus far," says Monsignor Jerry Hardy. "Now we go on to make it all work. Only then will it be worthwhile."