(Archbishop-Designate Eugene A. Marino sent the following letter to the archdiocese on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, to be published in the Georgia Bulletin)

Feast Of The Annunciation Of The Lord

Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, Be it done unto me according to your word.

My Brothers and Sisters of the Archdiocese of Atlanta:

In spite of spirit of Mary who responded to the Lords call with wonder, joy, and humility, I come to the historical city of Atlanta to serve and not to be served. I come with a simple hope that the prayers of all the faithful in North Georgia will sustain me as I strive to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I send special greetings to the Priests of the Church of Atlanta. We are brothers in Christ in a unique way, and I shall primarily depend upon you to assist me in leading the people of God in the way of truth and the path of holiness. It is my urgent wish that I will be able to get to know each one of you in a personal way.

I greet the Deacons, the Religious Men and Women in the many communities throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Your dedication is a rich treasure and I look forward to your collaboration in the apostolate. I value your spirituality and I pledge to you my prayers and support for the development of your religious families.

At this time, I would like to extend my best wishes and prayers to my brothers and sisters of other Christian traditions and of other religious faiths. It is my hope that we shall be able to proceed together along the path of ecumenical and interfaith activity in keeping with the wishes of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.

Finally and most especially, I send greetings to the faithful and to all the people of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Black and White, Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic. I pledge to all of Gods children that I shall work with you and for you to the greater honor and glory of God to continue to build His Kingdom in our part of Georgia so that we may live in harmony with one another in the bonds of the love of God, our Father.

I am grateful to my predecessor, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan who served and led the Church of Atlanta so well for so many years. Let us continue to pray for the happy repose of his great soul. I am also especially grateful to Monsignor John F. McDonough who has been the Administrator of the Archdiocese most recently. Together let us build on their foundations. I know that I will rely heavily on the priests as my chief collaborators and on all the faithful to help me carry out my mandate.

Please know that I love each and every one of you as a child of God and that I am determined to be your good and faithful servant in Jesus Christ as I strive to govern the Church with gentle strength and compassion.

Begging the intercession of Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God and our Mother, and with cordial best wishes, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Eugene A. Marino, S.S.J.

Archbishop-Designate of Atlanta