By Paula Day

Family names such as Allen and Juarez and O'Brien and Zaworski illustrate the ethnic diversity found in St. Philip Benizi, the only Catholic parish in Clayton County. This diversity was reflected in the dedication liturgy of the parish's new church August 28.

The combined talents of the youth, folk, men's, Spanish and children's choirs highlighted the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ. Members of the original 35 parish families were part of the congregation that filled the new church to capacity.

The original "church" was a vacant corner drug store donated by Lee and Ward Hutcheson who spearheaded in 1965 the drive to establish a Jonesboro Catholic mission.

Mildred Green was a member of that "drug store" mission who remembers being "so grateful that we were going to get a church close by." She had moved to Forest Park in 1945 with her husband, a Delta Airline employee, and began making almost an hour's drive to go to Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the closest Catholic church. When St. John the Evangelist parish was established in Hapeville in 1954, her trip was shortened somewhat.

Now Mrs. Green goes to daily Mass as often as possible. "It starts my day off," she said. But of those early days, she recalls that it meant much to the Catholic women to have a relationship with women in other churches. They belonged to Church Women United, an interdenominational group.

"We were all Christians. That united us. I respected their beliefs and I felt they respected my beliefs."

She remembers with emotion an outdoor Mass at her home while the mission still used the drug store for Sunday liturgy.

"I'll never forget it. Having Mass in your own yard -- how do you put into words how that felt? I can still hear the whippoorwills. The Ursuline sisters in full white habit were part of the group, and the young people brought guitars. I remember folk music was just starting to be used at Mass."

Still involved in parish activities, Mrs. Green helps with mailings and altar care and visits the sick with the Legion of Mary. Twice a month she assists Father John O'Brien as he celebrates Mass at one of the nursing homes in the parish.

The new church was completed in March, the third structure used by the parish for worship. After two years in the drug store, the parish moved to a building that has now been remodeled into a fellowship hall.

In his homily, the archbishop remarked on the symbolism in the new building's design with its walls of clear glass that "allow us to see out in to the world and see the beauty of nature."

The archbishop said he was reminded of St. Augustine, whose feast is celebrated on August 28, because in his conversion struggle Augustine acknowledged that the beauty of creation can bring one to the Creator.

Music for the liturgy drew from classical, folk and ethnic traditions. The Spanish choir led the response to the first reading. "Quedate Señor," translated, "Stay with us, O Lord, stay in our hearts."

A Celtic Alleluia was used as the Gospel acclamation. While the archbishop anointed the walls of the new church, the children's choir sang "God is Building a House." Marguerite Fortino, cantor and parish music director, sang Gounod's "Ave Maria" during the blessing of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe donated by the Knights of Columbus.

The design of the new church is intentionally simple to reflect the attitudes of the parish patron, St. Philip Benizi. Clear glass windows rise to the vaulted ceiling above the church entrance and behind the main altar allowing light to flow through the hexagonal structure from front to back. A 20-foot cross with a nine-foot corpus hangs behind the main altar in front of the window. Trees, seen through the window, frame the massive crucifix which was carved by Italian artist Giuseppe Viada.

Side walls of clear glass surround the stained-glass Stations of the cross, designed by Father Methodius Telnack, OCSO, and made at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. The stained glass is in notable contrast to the earth colors that otherwise dominate the church's interior.

Father Frank Giusta is pastor of the 1300-family parish; Father Robert Sevigny and Father John O'Brien are associate pastors. The parish is also served by five deacons: Thomas Zaworski, Joseph C. Anzalone, Matias Casal, Walker King and Richard Tolcher.

Former priests who served in the parish and concelebrated with the archbishop were Father Daniel O'Connor, Father Alan Dillmann, Father John Kieran, Father Richard Wise, Father Donald Kenny, Father John Druding and Father Jorge Christancho.

Architects for the church were Marvin Kilgo and David Heerde of Bull and Kenny Architects.