By Rita McInerney

Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, dedicated the new church and parish facilities for St. Peter's Church, LaGrange, on Wednesday evening, July 6.

The new $2.3 million complex, on land once dominated by the sprawling red brick Calumet Mill operated by Milliken and Company, gives the Catholic community high visibility from Lafayette Parkway, main road into the city from I-85.

The new church is contemporary Gothic in octagon shape. Two wings house a parish hall, educational and office space: A rectory was built a short distance from the main structure.

The five-acre tract, valued at $1.5 million, was donated to the archdiocese of Atlanta by Milliken. John H. Parkins, a Milliken executive whose efforts brought about the land gift, was expansion committee chairman for the parish.

The Fuller Callaway Foundation contributed $1,013,756 in matching funds to construction costs. About $413,000 was raised in the parish fund drive. This was added to about $400,000 amassed over the years for the building fund, according to Father Joseph F. Ware, pastor since 1978.

The congregation, which totals 320 families, since 1936 had worshipped in a small church at Battle and Church streets. The parish sold the property to the Trust Company of Troup County for $253,000, according to Bob Kerr, publicity chairman for the expansion committee.

People were standing along the side aisle of the 500-seat church half an hour before the Dedication Mass began at 7 p.m. The 200-car parking lot was filled to capacity.

In his homily, Archbishop Marino showed no sign of jet lag despite his return to Atlanta just the night before from Rome. He spoke of his joy at being able to dedicate the church and parish facilities. He thanked the parishioners for "making this magnificent structure what it is" and mentioned that Nasor Mansour Jr., during the symbolic presentations as Mass began, had whispered that the facility was debt free while handing the archbishop the church keys.

It was, the archbishop told the overflow congregation, the first time he had ever presided at the dedication of a new church. "It was not my privilege as auxiliary bishop of Washington to do so." He also mentioned that he had never heard of a church, parish hall, educational facilities and rectory all brought to completion and dedicated at the same time.

As men and women of faith come together to celebrate the mysteries of the Eucharist, the archbishop said, the orientation must always be to God. Every action and word should embellish and intensify that orientation.

God's holy work, he continued, gives direction and meaning to each life. All are nourished from the altar by the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This sacrifice "gives us energy to live out that faith."

Living out the faith, he said, is accomplished by going out and bearing witness to the truth, through "teaching and living out the faith in the home, workplace and in the company of all we meet."

Catholics are loving witnesses to the reality of Jesus Christ when they show concern and compassion in serving the poor and in striving to end injustice, neglect, bigotry. In this way people help bring about a world of peace, love and service. "What we celebrate here gives us the strength to act for others," he said. "Let us be reminded of the transformation which must take place in us."

"God is calling us to Himself. Our orientation must always be to Him." In the new church of St. Peter's, he said, the symbols of faith, worship, education and service "will serve as a stimulus to our lives of faithful witness."

Most Reverend Andrew J. McDonald, bishop of Little Rock, Ark., concelebrated the Mass. A longtime friend of Father Ware, he was a classmate at St. Charles College in Catonsville, MD, and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. They were ordained in Savannah together.

Father Joseph Beltran, Msgr. Donald Kiernan and Father Edward O'Connor, former pastors, also concelebrated, along with other priests of the archdiocese. Father Peter Rau was master of ceremonies for Archbishop Marino.

Music for the dedication Mass was directed by Mrs. Kathy Kelly, a parishioner who succeeded in pulling together a 30-voice choir in "about seven weeks," according to Father Ware. Previously, he said, the closest thing the parish could claim as a choir were parishioners who responded to the call for Christmas and Easter singers.

Now, according to Church Weisenberger, a choir member as well as bookkeeper and secretary-treasurer at St. Peter's, it is the ambition of the choir to sing at the 9 o'clock Mass each Sunday. Members wore robes borrowed from the Methodist church for the dedication celebration.

Presenting the gifts at the Eucharist were representatives of parish life: Mrs. Stella Miller, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Nelson Shell, St. Vincent de Paul Society; Jim Kelly, Knights of Columbus; Mrs. Susan Kalich, parish Council of Catholic Women; Ms. Nannie Valeri, charter member; and Michael Mansour parish youth.

Mrs. Judith Solomon presented the dedication brochure at the symbolic presentation of the church to the archbishop as the Liturgy began. Parkins presented the church plans and Nasor Mansour, Jr., the keys.

Among invited guests at the dedication were J. Philip Cleaveland, of the Callaway Foundation, and Mark Callaway, grandson of Fuller Callaway.

A long line of people waited to meet Archbishop Marino at the crowded reception which followed the Liturgy.

Architect Jim Barker of the Atlanta firm of Barker and Cunningham, said the octagon shape of the church works well both acoustically and visually. Such eight-sided structures date back centuries to England where churches copied the design of the theaters of Shakespeare's era, he said.

The two wings were designed to move people quickly and easily to a vestibule which is separated from the sanctuary by walls with large windows, he said.

A covered porch extends around the church which is surfaced on the lower level in antique white brick and on the upper level in stucco. The main entrance faces south, away from the street. Barker said his research indicates a greater inclination for priests and parishioners to socialize outdoors after liturgies when they are sheltered from north winds. He believes the design blocks out both the wind and noises from the busy Lafayette Parkway and Morgan Street.

The rose window above the main altar faces Morgan Street. Tall windows around the sanctuary are clear and flood the interior of the handsome church with light.

Walls are painted in a cream shade and contrast with the rich mahogany of the altar furnishings and backdrop. The round central design in the high arched ceiling, "where all the strength of the building comes together," Barker said, is in four shades of sky blue.