By Paula Day

One hundred and two degree temperatures did not keep Fayette County Catholics from celebrating their first liturgy as a mission community on August 1.

Father Frank Giusta, pastor of St. Philip Benizi, the Jonesboro parish which will serve the mission, offered Mass in what seemed an appropriate structure to many -- the log-cabin style American Legion Hall located a block from the historic 162-year-old Fayette County courthouse. Two hundred and twenty-five adults with 75 children of all ages crowded into standing-room-only space to participate. Many expressed those feelings of hope and excitement that often go with being a pioneer.

"It's a challenge," remarked Elinor Zeller, 73, in a later interview. "Because of our faith we like challenges. We know we can depend on the Lord to get us through."

"I'm very excited," exclaimed Sandi Slasinski as she arranged refreshments for after-Mass socializing. "It's the realization of a dream -- just so delighted to get this far." Sandi's husband, David, helped with a demographic survey in 1984 to determine the feasibility of establishing a parish in the area. At the present time, according to Slasinski, Fayette County Catholics are scattered in five parishes: St. John the Evangelist, Hapeville; St. Matthew's, Fairburn; St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro; Sacred Heart, Griffin; and Holy Trinity, Peachtree City. It is not unusual for some to travel 15 to 20 miles to attend Mass, observed Theresa Caldwell who has been involved since early 1984 in the grassroots efforts to establish a parish in the Fayetteville area. Such a parish would be the second in Fayette County. Holy Trinity in Peachtree City was established 10 years ago.

The much-predicted "population explosion" in the southern metro-Atlanta counties appears to be happening. According to Catholic Chancery figures, compiled in February of this year, 211 Catholic families live in the Fayetteville area. With the influx of personnel from Delta Airlines recent acquisition of Western Airlines, this number is expected to grow. Theresa Caldwell recalls, "Last September, 11 people came to the first home Mass (begun to encourage a faith community in the area). In May, there were 50. We had to scrounge for information about the Catholic population.

"There's almost 300 Catholic families within a five-mile radius here," she estimates.

According to Connie Davis, as the home Masses got larger, "different people from different areas of the county appreciated the chance to get together for Mass in their homes. Even after Saturday (Aug. 1) and in spite of the heat, they were enthusiastic and said they will be back." Elinor Zeller overheard one unidentified woman say, "I'm not from any parish - not been going for a year. Think I'll try it."

Working toward a new parish will need this enthusiasm as well as hope and faith. Many of those participating in the Fayette mission Saturday Masses were already deeply involved in the faith communities where they have previously worshiped. They have been lectors, Eucharistic ministers, members of choirs, parish council and prayer groups. Their children attended well-established religion classes; their financial support helped build churches, classrooms and rectories. But according to David Slasinski, "We’ll do what needs to be done to move forward. It's much bigger than most thought. When a negative comes up, the Lord provides a positive. He opens us to His will -- what He's shown us just so far -- if a door closes, a window opens up. That's the way it's been. We could have been discouraged a lot, but in a day or so something always comes up and we move along."

Helen Rickman, in her efforts to find a temporary place where the mission community could worship, has encountered strong support from other Christian churches in the area. "They are very understanding -- think it's wonderful that the Catholic Church is expanding here, saying, 'It's never right 'till you have your own church.' "

The Atlanta archdiocese bought 7.7 acres of land in late 1979 at the intersection of Georgia Highway 92 South and Antioch Road. With the property, Slasinski and others involved in the grass-roots effort anticipate that a parish can be established as soon as 1988 and the building of a church can begin in 1989.

Father Peter Ludden, chancellor of the archdiocese, says there has been no determination as to when a parish will be established. Factors that influence such a decision, according to the chancellor, are the "growth of the faithful in the mission to the extent that it is recognizable as a distinct worshiping community, the financial ability of the mission to be self-supporting, the availability of priests to staff a parish and the impact the creation of a new parish would have on the mother parish." Father Ludden points out that this last factor applies less to the creation of a parish from an existing mission.

Father Ludden adds, "The desires and wishes of people in an area is a factor in the creation of a parish or mission. In the case of Fayetteville, over the past four of five years, there have been expressions of interest in becoming a separate community and this interest is usually a very important factor in diocesan considerations."

As a mission, the hands-on day-to-day services for the Fayette community are under the leadership of Deacon Tom Zaworski. In his homily at the Aug. 1 Mass, Deacon Zaworski likened the challenges confronting the community to those the Apostles faced in the Gospel of the day. "Armed with one small lunch, the Apostles were asked to feed 5,000. They had too much to do, too little to do it with. They were challenged but not overwhelmed."

At an Aug. 15 meeting, members of the community planned a mission picnic to be held Sat., Sept. 12, on the grounds of the Presbyterian Church, Georgia Highway 85, after the 5:30 Mass. It was also decided to begin religious education classes after Mass Sept. 19, using the Presbyterian facilities. Nan Hudson will coordinate the religious education program for young people.

Kate Calcaterra is information coordinator for the new mission and can be reached at 461-4516.

In the meantime, the Fayette mission has already outgrown its first worship site. Beginning Aug. 22, the 5:30 p.m. Mass will be at Fayetteville elementary school on Hood Avenue, an accommodation with air-conditioning that can handle a large crowd and soaring temperatures.