By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

After a lengthy illness, Father John J. Mulroy, pastor of Holy Family parish in Marietta, died on Monday, Sept 20 at West Paces Ferry Hospital. He was 53.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Father Mulroy was born March 10, 1929. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 1955 after completing his studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.

After ordination, he was appointed to the Cathedral of Christ the King as assistant pastor. He served in that assignment with Monsignor Joseph G. Cassidy (who died two weeks ago on Sept. 9) until 1961. While at the Cathedral, Father Mulroy founded "The Cathedral Club" a singles organization for young Catholics.

In 1961, he was appointed pastor of St. Peter's Church in LaGrange. In 1962, he went to St. Joseph's in Athens as pastor. The Athens years were most turbulent as the university city came to grips with the civil rights movement. Father Mulroy, both in the pulpit and in the community, was most active in that movement. Life magazine at the time covering the story of civil disobedience and violence mentioned the "courageous young Catholic pastor, Father John Mulroy," as being at the forefront of this movement for justice.

In 1967, he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in downtown Atlanta. For the following six years, he served the downtown area and became well-known to the many different non-Catholic pastors and other people in the area.

A piece of land was purchased by the archdiocese in 1970 for a new parish in the growing East Cobb County area. In 1973, Father Mulroy was given that piece of land on Lower Roswell Road and assigned the task of building a new parish. The final nine years of his life were spent leading that thriving community of young families in East Cobb.

Carrie Elfner, parish secretary at Holy Family since the very beginning, remembers her boss as a man always on the move. "His wheels were always turning," said Carrie. "He always had something going and people seeking him out constantly. I certainly enjoyed working for him."

Two of Father Mulroy's classmates are priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Father Richard Morrow, pastor of St. Jude's Church in Sandy Springs, remembered Father John as "an individual with a great deal of foresight as regards the future of the Church. He was warm and enthusiastic about the ecumenical movement and was especially generous with his time and his funds to many who came to him in need." Father Joseph Beltran of All Saints in Dunwoody, said, "He served the archdiocese well and gave his best to the people in the parishes where he ministered. He ended his life with the words, 'I want to go home to my Father.' His priesthood will be remembered."

The Office of the Dead was recited at Holy Family for the deceased priest on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 23, a Mass of Christian Burial was offered in Holy Family at 10:00 a.m. by the priests of the Archdiocese.