By Paula Day

Ministry to the Hispanic community at Centro Catolico in Chamblee is now the responsibility of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.

In line with a developing philosophy that Catholic Hispanic communities should be parish-based, priests and staff of IHM began serving Centro Catolico April 1.

Begun as an outreach to Hispanics on the part of the archdiocese, Centro Catolico has developed into a vibrant community through the efforts of Father Jorge Christancho. Geographically located in Holy Cross parish, the center draws from four or five parishes in the area including Our Lady of the Assumption, All Saints and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Father Richard Kieran, IHM pastor, credits Father Christancho with bringing the community to its present strength and vitality. Father Kieran, who is bilingual, will be assisted by IHM parochial vicar, Father Carlos Riofros, and Manuel Benavides, a seminarian for the archdiocese who has completed his studies for the priesthood.

Benavides will be available at the center as the "hands-on person" under Father Kieran's direction. The center, located at 5726 New Peachtree Road, will be open every day but Monday. Franciscan Sister Amalfis will be on hand four days a week.

In addition to a 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, ministry at the center includes sacramental preparation catechesis for children on Saturday mornings. On the first Friday of the month members of the community gather for nocturnal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Father Kieran hopes to initiate a number of base ecclesial communities to nurture in a neighborhood setting the spiritual life of those taking part.

Centro Catolico also offers classes in English, provides a job placement service and gives emergency assistance. In conjunction with Catholic Social Services it provides counseling regarding immigration. For those who drive or plan to learn to drive, there are classes to prepare them to take the written test to get a license. A person can even learn to play the guitar at the center. "Anything to build a community," Father Kieran said.

The priest expects to form a pastoral council. At the present time a group of volunteers meets every Saturday to plan and coordinate activities.

A major challenge facing the Centro Catolico community is finding a suitable location in which to continue to offer these services and to celebrate Mass. The New Peachtree Road site is near Peachtree DeKalb airport and civic authorities say the area is unsuitable for large assemblies of people. The community must move by the end of May. Since Christmas, when weather permitted, Mass has been celebrated outside and attendance has dropped from 400 to half that number, according to Father Kieran.

"We are hurting until we find a fixed place and we are looking intensely for one," he said.

Centro Catolico is not considered a mission of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Father Kieran pointed out. Since its members come from several parishes in the area, the priest says proposals will be made to include other parishes in support of the center's ministry.