The Mission of Our Lady of LaSalette was begun in 1969 as a mission of the newly established parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cartersville. Saint Francis Parish itself had been opened by the Redemptorist Fathers and had been for many years attached to Saint Joseph Parish in Dalton. Now in 1969 the new parish and Saint Clement Mission in Calhoun were entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette, a religious order of men new to the archdiocese. Father Joseph Loftus, M.S. was named as first pastor with Father Peter McKeown, M.S. as assistant pastor.

The new Mission of Our Lady of LaSalette at Canton served the counties of Cherokee and Pickens. Mrs. Victoria Cox, who was and remains a dedicated Catholic, used her good offices to obtain permission from the Georgia Power Company to use its premises for the celebration of Mass. The Mission consisted of twelve families when the first Mass was celebrated in the display kitchen of the Georgia Power Company in Canton.

By 1976 the fledgling community had grown to 45 families, land was purchased and in April 1977 a new church was dedicated on Sam Nelson Road, then known as Shoal Creek Road. The Catholic Community by God’s grace continued to grow and in 1979 Father Joseph Nolan, M.S. was sent from Cartersville to become administrator of the Canton Mission and to establish his residence there. At first he rented quarters in Holly Springs. Then in 1980 a house was purchased close by the church to become the parish rectory. The number of the faithful has increased to 140 families.

Now, after the consultation with the presbyteral council according to the prescription of canon 515.2, the pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville and the dean of the area, it seems in the best interest of the faithful and the Church at large to accord this Mission full parish status.

Therefore, the canonical consultation having been made, I now decree the establishment of Our Lady of LaSalette Parish in Canton, Georgia.

The boundaries of this parish shall coincide with the boundaries of the counties of Cherokee and Pickens in the State of Georgia.

The first pastor shall be Reverend James P. McGlone, M.S.

It is further decreed that a new Mission shall be established in Pickens County, centered at Jasper, Georgia with Rev. Joseph J. Nolan, M.S. as administrator and attached to the Parish of Our Lady of LaSalette. Given at Atlanta, Georgia this 16^th day of September, 1984.

Most Reverend

Thomas A. Donnellan

Archbishop of Atlanta