By Paula Day

A little elbow room can go a long way toward building community.

That’s one reason parishioners of St. Matthew’s Church in Fairburn are happy to have their new LaSalette Center. Archbishop James P. Lyke blessed the multi-purpose building Feb. 23 during a 10 a.m. Liturgy.

The south Fulton County parish of 360 households has been living out of a renovated funeral home that was sanctuary, rectory, office building and educational facility, all in one.

Drawing from surrounding Clayton, Fayette and Coweta counties, the parish has witnessed “substantial growth” since it was founded in 1979, according to the pastor, Father James Caffery, MS. The priest, who is a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette, admitted the parish facility was “bursting at the seams,” with some parishioners having to participate in Sunday Masses by watching closed circuit television.

The new LaSalette Center has six portable and two permanent classrooms, a food service room, and a gathering area where the two Sunday Masses are now celebrated.

“A lot of love went into it,” parishioner Linda Harrison observed. “It’s…a very beautiful thing to be here. I feel His presence and when I look around, I see Him in the faces of my brothers and sisters.”

The building was dedicated to the memory of Thomas J. McHugh, who died suddenly of a heart attack last April. As chairman of the parish building committee, McHugh was a “driving force” behind the building’s construction, according to Hugh Weaver, the present chairman.

“We remember today the loving dedication of Tom McHugh,” the archbishop told the gathered community, “a man who lived his Christian commitment to the fullest, being husband, father, son and brother, not only to his own family, but to the family which makes up this parish.”

Scott Williamson likes the fact that the new building can accommodate the entire parish. “Everyone can meet together now,” he pointed out. “There was no way we could have gotten everyone in that small chapel. This was well worth the money and time put into it.” Julie Digby, director of religious education, looks forward to returning the celebration of reception of First Communion to a Sunday morning Mass. Because children and family members as well as other parishioners could not fit into the 150-seat chapel, the First Holy Communion celebration had been moved to a Saturday morning Mass. The LaSalette Center seats 525.

“Today we dedicate a new facility for the people of St. Matthew’s parish,” Archbishop Lyke said in his homily. “In doing so, we offer God a physical sign of our faith. But we also offer one another a gift, a gift which will be enjoyed by all, the old, the young, those seeking education and counseling, and those who wish to enjoy the hospitality of this Christian family. This project is a real manifestation of Jesus’ promise that ‘the measure you measure with will be measured back to you.’”

Fairburn’s Mayor Betty Hannah, its city manager and member of the City Council attended the dedication Mass.

Along with a growth in numbers, parish ministries have also expanded. In addition to its pastoral council, the parish has an active adult education program, an AIDS ministry, Over-50 group, and SMART Team. This latter was formed to deal with substance abuse after the alcohol-related death of a 22-year-old parishioner. Approximately 200 young people take part in religious education and youth programs.

“We’re so much like a family,” explained Marijo Mummert, director of the RCIA. “And the whole family is involved. It’s a faith-filled community.”