By Rita McInerney

The growing population in Barrow County is reflected in the membership of St. Matthew Mission near Winder. Subdivisions are sprucing up near the Gwinnett County line and new homes on generous acreage dot the countryside.

The growth prompted Father Tom Carroll, MS, pastor of St. Oliver Plunkett, Snellville, and the mission, to turn to some of his friends last spring for help. He saw that the interior of the mission church could use some sprucing up, and he needed more space for the growing number of children enrolled in religious education.

For the refurbishing he turned to Carol and John Braun, friends from his former parish, St. Ann in Marietta. For his space needs he asked donations from about six parishes in the Atlanta area.

With the help of willing parishioners, the Brauns gave the interior a bright facelift, using ingenuity and materials left over from other projects undertaken by their building firm. J.M. Braun Builder, Inc., to augment a limited amount of money.

Contributions from the parishes he contacted enabled Father Carroll to buy a trailer from St. John Vianney parish in Lithia Springs. Now in place behind the church, it has relieved the overcrowding in four small classrooms in the church building. According to Mrs. Peggy Graham, director of religious education, there are more than 70 children being instructed in their faith by 12 teachers in the CCD program at St. Matthew.

The mission was established in 1965 in an old schoolhouse built in the 1930s and named after Dr. Matthews, a well known local man. It was called St. Matthew and dedicated by Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin in July, 1966, as a mission of St. Joseph’s parish in Athens.

An interior designer, Carol Braun saw that the plain interior of the church had possibilities. And “we had a lot of trim in our basement” left over from other building jobs. So the Brauns accepted the challenge of their former pastor. John Braun built a new altar, installed Greek pillars and crown molding behind the altar, and recessed two areas for the new Blessed Mother and St. Joseph statues purchased with funds contributed by the parishioners. Pedestals for these figures were improvised by Carol Braun.

Two big colonial chandeliers donated by Georgia Lighting Co. were hung over the center aisle. Sconces on the side walls carried out the Williamsburg theme.

Work began right after Easter in 1992 and had to be finished for First Communion just two weeks later. Parishioners came in the Friday night before and painted the walls while Carol Braun finished painting the trim.

The Young at Heart group at the mission held regular bake sales and with funds raised were able to purchase the corpus for the altar, new blinds for the social hall and a refrigerator for the kitchen.

Bob Mack, president of the parish council and a member for six years, says Father Carroll and Father Michael Flanagan, MS, parochial vicar, “really got us together.” He says Sunday collections are bigger because the parishioners “see the money going into the church.”

Mrs. Graham, a member for about 16 years, agrees. She feels the two LaSalettes have given the people “a new sense of direction.”

There are about 110 families registered at St. Matthew Mission.