By Frank X. Ellis

A smile moved across the face of Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan. The young child quite unabashedly had moved across the entire front row area several minutes after the Mass had begun. It was then she decided to let the surrounding worshippers know just how well she could use bubble gum.

A quick glance altar-ward and one could see a broad smile on the bishop’s countenance. That reaction best summarizes the spirit of joy, gratitude and even expectation which prevailed at the 25^th anniversary celebration at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church August 6-7.

Smiles were everywhere both days. Not even a frightening, if much needed, thunderstorm diluted the spirit of joy at Saturday afternoon’s festivities. Hundreds and hundreds of pieces of chicken were devoured, cooling drinks were consumed, cakes enjoyed, fellowship imbibed as the crowd overflowed the massive green and yellow tent erected between the church and the rectory.

Games, volleyball, dunking machines, Christian conviviality were the order of the day Saturday afternoon and evening. Highlight of the after-dinner festivities was the parish talent show in the church sanctuary. No mere “amateur night,” this three-hour production; one came away enthralled by the professional presentations of almost two dozen acts.

Exquisitely-performed dance numbers, extremely professional magic acts, beautifully choreographed Mexican dances, solos and duets, all enhanced with concluding numbers by the 25^th Anniversary Singers under direction of Ale Hays, a group representing a number of churches in the Carroll/Douglas County area.

Fireworks on the front lawn adjacent to Skyview Drive concluded Saturday’s activities.

On Sunday, a bright, humid sun greeted the thousand or more Mass-goers as the Archbishop and his ministers approached the tent-covered altar right around 10:30 a.m. All seats were occupied and a hundred or more observed from seats next to the church building. Dick Dufano led the parish choir just was well as he had coordinated the previous evening’s talent show.

Former pastors and priests who had served the parish in years gone by accompanied the celebrant to the altar. Msgr. Charles E. Duke, now chancellor of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the church’s first pastor in 1957-58 joined current pastor Rev. William Calhoun as co-celebrants of the Mass. Looking on were former pastors Rev. Richard Morrow, Rev. William Hoffman along with asst. pastors, Rev. Steve Yander, Rev. Pat Connell, Rev. Cletus Dawson, and Rev. Larry Schmuhl.

The Archbishop capitalized on the scriptural reading of the day for part of his message, noting Hebrews 11 told of Abraham’s “dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.” He quipped to wonder how “far we’ve come since here we are again under a tent.” He congratulated all present as well as the early parish members on their hard work, culminating in this glorious day. He closed by emphasizing, however, that unless we attain that ultimate goal of eternal life with God all has gone for naught.”

A special feature of the Mass was presentation of 25 gifts to represent 25 years as a parish. This offertory procession utilized men, women and children from various parish organizations and ministries as well as highlighting several charter members of the parish.

Pauline Kovacik, the oldest member regularly attending the church, elatedly moved up the aisle accompanied by daughter, Helen Gibson. They presented salt, symbolic of the flavor of life. Charter members George and Jackie Mossberg brought forth the cruets of water and wine soon to become Christ’s Body and Blood.

A continental breakfast on the grounds followed the closing benediction and hymn.

One man, watching both days’ events, expressed what might best summarize the atmosphere of the occasion as well as the past 25 years.

Seeing parish sacristan Olga Caubo performing a well-executed Spanish dance, attired in a multi-colored long dress, he mused, “What a most beautiful dress, worn by a beautiful lady, but most beautiful of all, she was sharing her talents with others.”

These past 25 years, from the private homes in the early 1950s to the Coats & Clark Community House in Clarkdale to the eight acres of land on Old Alabama Road in South Cobb to Bishop Francis Hyland’s decision to begin a new chapel to Archbishop Donnellan’s wise choice of a move to Lithia Springs, members of St. John Vianney’s parish have been sharing their talents with each other and with their neighbors of all faiths, all for that ultimate purpose to which the Archbishop alluded in his anniversary sermon. Who knows what the next 25 years may bring.