The Franciscan Friars, who have staffed the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta since 1958, have announced that they will be giving the parish back over to the archdiocese for staffing in June.

The decision was announced in a statement from Father Alban A. Maguire, minister provincial of the Holy Name Province of the Franciscans. It was made public to Shrine parishioners at Sunday Mass on March 1. The statement cited the small number of parishioners at the Shrine and the need for the order to "discern where they can best serve the People of God."

The Shrine, which is an historic structure and a part of the legacy of the city of Atlanta, is also the mother Church of the archdiocese. Nearly destroyed by fire in August, 1982, the Shrine was rebuilt and dedicated anew in May 1984.

The statement from Father Maguire said, "after much discussion and soul searching, the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province have asked Archbishop Thomas Donnellan if they may withdraw from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta. Reluctantly the Archbishop has agreed and the ministry at the Shrine will be given over to the priests of the Archdiocese in June."

The statement noted a recent Atlanta magazine article on the Shrine which said that the church despite "past accomplishments and present physical glory ... is noticeably lacking a crucial element -- parishioners."

"The other side of the coin is that the Catholic population of the South continues to grow," the statement said. "The Friars have to face the question about where they may live and serve according to their Franciscan vocation. They believe they must examine what they are doing to discern where they can best serve the People of God."

The exact date for handing over the parish it its new pastor has not been determined, but it will be shortly after the middle of June, the statement said. The current pastor Father Warren Louth, OFM, and staff will serve until then.

"The Franciscans are grateful to Archbishop Donnellan and the other officials of the Archdiocese of Atlanta for their support over the years," the statement concluded. "Moreover, the Friars stand in awe before the deep loyalty of the parishioners to their beloved Shrine. The friars who have served there have been inspired by the people and will always look back in gratitude for the support and faith of those they served."