On April 8 at 1:30 p.m., the parish community of St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna gathered to celebrate the Rite of Groundbreaking for their new worship area. After the land was blessed by St. Thomas’ pastor, Father Robert E. Dyer, M.S., the groundbreaking prayer was recited by Monsignor John F. McDonough, V.G., representing Archbishop Thomas Donnellan for the ceremony.

The ground was then broken in four locations by the following participants:

At the main entrance by Father Richard B. Morrow, the first pastor of St. Thomas, and Mrs. Ret Goettee, chairperson of the Building Committee.

At the lectern, by Sister Mary Ann Warner, H.M., pastoral assistant at St. Thomas; Thomas Klein, president of the St. Thomas Parish Council; and Rev. Hoyt Purcell, pastor of Faith United Methodist Church, which is the geographical neighbor of St. Thomas.

At the altar, by Monsignor McDonough, Father Dyer, and Rev. Dr. Robert Abstein, pastor of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, St. Thomas’ sister parish. (St. Jude’s also provided physical facilities for the St. Thomas community in its early days.)

At the tabernacle, by Father Thomas J. Carroll, M.S., dean of the North Metro Deanery; Father Paul H. Reynolds, former pastor of St. Thomas; Father Victor W. Chaupetta, M.S., assistant pastor of St. Thomas; Mr. William Lyday, deacon at St. Thomas; followed by other clergy and dignitaries present, including the Honorable George “Buddy” Darden, Congressman from the Fifth District, and Smyrna City Councilman Hugh Ragan. Colorful banners made especially for the occasion marked the approximate placement of these locations.

To signify the work of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette and the Sisters of the Humility of Mary who provide religious personnel for the pastoral staff, Father Dyer, Father Vic and Sister Mary Ann placed symbols of their communities in the earth. The symbols included a stone taken from the Holy Mountain at LaSalette, France, where the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette were founded; a LaSalette cross and a medal of the Humility of Mary.

During the ceremony the choir, led by Sherwin Bachman, music minister, and the folk group, provided musical leadership for hymns of praise and thanksgiving. Following the Rite a reception was held in the parish Center.

In addition to a new church, the construction will include an administrative wing, a new nursery, and renovation of the present building. A commons area will connect the worship area to the present structure. The community of St. Thomas has steadily expanded since its beginnings in 1966 and has outgrown the present structure, built in 1968.

C. Crawford Murphy, of Architectural Design Group, is the architect for the project. Grading of the property is scheduled to begin during April and the parish of St. Thomas joyfully looks forward to celebrating Easter 1985 in their new church.