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In 1957 the spiritual needs of the people of Douglasville and
surrounding areas were served by the Marist priests of Saint Joseph’s
Church, Marietta. About that time the pastor, Father Charles Duke, S.M.,
purchased eight acres of land in Austell and soon afterwards plans were made to
build a mission chapel. In 1958, Bishop Francis E. Hyland dedicated the new
mission chapel and it was named in honor of St. John Vianney.
In June 1966, a new parish, Saint Thomas the Apostle, was
established in Smyrna, Father Richard B. Morrow being appointed pastor by
Archbishop Paul J. Hallihan. Care of Saint John Vianney Mission was given over
to Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish. In 1968, the mission was given full parish
status. All of Douglas County was included within the boundary lines. In 1973,
Saint John Vianney Church was relocated in Lithia Springs in Douglas County.
During this time and in the following years the numbers of the
Faithful in Douglasville continued to grow to the point where in 1984 close to
three hundred Catholic families resided in the area. In that year, a
representative group of twelve families requested consideration of establishing
a new parish in Douglasville.
Now, after consultation with the Presbyteral Council, according to
the prescription of Canon 515.2, the Pastor of Saint John Vianney Church,
Lithia Springs and the Dean of the area, it appears in the best interest of the
Faithful and the Church at large to establish a parish in the Douglasville
area.
Therefore, the canonical consultation having been made, I now
decree the establishment of a parish in Douglas County, Georgia with the
following boundaries:
North: The Paulding County Line east to Burnt Hickory Road.
East: Burnt Hickory Road to Fairburn Road (Highway 92) to the
Chattahoochee River.
South: The Fulton County Line.
West: The Carroll County Line.
The date of establishment shall be August 8, 1985 and the first
pastor shall be Father Edward O’Connor.
Given in Atlanta, Georgia this first day of August, 1985.
Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan
Archbishop of Atlanta
Reverend Edward J. Dillon
Ecclesiastical Notary |
