By Rita McInerney

A ritual long awaited by its members was celebrated Dec. 13 with the dedication of Christ Redeemer Mission in Dawsonville. It is the first church of its own for the congregation.

Father Edward Danneker, pastor of St. Luke’s in Dahlonega and Christ Redeemer, celebrated the first Mass in the new church at 8:30 that morning and the dedication ceremony at 3 that afternoon.

The dedication was attended by about by about 125 people, including the Rev. Edward Swehla and his wife, Dawn. He is the pastor of Dawsonville United Methodist Church where the small congregation had worshiped for more than 10 years.

Readings at the dedication were given by Father George Wiltz, SJ, director of Ignatius House, Atlanta, Father Richard Kieran, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, Atlanta, and Jenny Alldred, a parishioner. Father James Babb, SJ, of Ignatius House, also attended.

Father John Henley, first pastor for the mission established in 1982, was unable to attend the dedication because of a scheduled Spanish Mass at his own parish, St. Anna’s, Monroe, but came to the reception which followed the dedication.

The new church in Dawsonville was converted from a four-bedroom ranch house into a house of worship for its members. The sanctuary seats 100.

The house, on a large corner lot on Main Street, Route 9, was purchased for $91,000 early in 1991. The future church was inspected March 15 by Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, after saying Mass for the congregation and confirming members of St. Luke’s. It was also the day the congregation took possession of the building. Under the supervision of Jim Lowe, member gutted the house and remodeled it into an inviting house of worship.