By Thea Jarvis

St. John Neumann Church in Lilburn will open a mission in November to accommodate the burgeoning Catholic population of Gwinnett County and its own overflowing parish ranks of some 3,700 families. Monsignor Edward Dillon, vicar general of the archdiocese, will celebrate the opening Mass at the new mission on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. The site is located in the Sunset Square shopping center at the corner of Huff Drive and Highway 29, in the Lilburn-Lawrenceville area.

"We're still under construction," said Father James Fennessy, pastor of St. John Neumann, who has overseen remodeling of a 9,000 square foot office space sub-leased from Trust Company Bank.

The space offers room for eight classrooms and a sanctuary area for 500 people. One vigil Mass and one Sunday Mass will be celebrated initially, with another Sunday Mass added in the near future.

"I sent out about 1,200 letters to people in the general area," Father Fennessy said. "We got about 400 replies. Of that number, 250 families said they'd be starting the new mission and supporting it financially. About 100 said they supported the idea of it," but couldn't presently affiliate with the mission because of commitments at St. John Neumann.

"By and large, we've had a very positive response," he said.

St. John Neumann currently holds nine weekend Masses. Father Fennessy and parochial vicar Father Don Caron are assisted by Georgia State University campus minister, Father David Dye, and a priest from the Marist community who help meet the demanding schedule.

"If we do nothing right now, in five years' time there will be 5,000 families at St. John Neumann," Father Fennessy explained. Alternate proposals included expansion of the present sanctuary, but that was rejected as impractical because of other additions that would have to be made to the parish plant.

Father Fennessy said forming a mission offshoot of St. John may not mean a less demanding weekend schedule, but "we're trying to at least not increase" the present load.

Plans are to remain in the Sunset Square space for three years, he said, after which, "we hope to purchase property and build (a new church) within St. John Neumann's parish boundaries." The mission is without a name as yet, but this will be discussed at upcoming meetings with the new community.

For now, the pastor is hard at work making sure renovation is completed by the November startup.

"We will be finished at midnight Oct. 31," Father Fennessy said, even if he has to put on the finishing touches himself.