By Kathi Stearns

Mary Peek came without a ticket and quietly watched the assembly of priests, bishops and cardinals gathered for the Installation Mass of Archbishop John Donoghue.

As the participants filed into the church, Mrs. Peek said, "The man stands for the teachings of the Catholic Church. I hope he will also bring healing to our diocese."

Her feeling that Atlanta's fifth archbishop would bring healing and stability to the church was echoed by those who attended the Vespers and Installation Mass Aug. 18 and 19.

Donald T. Sasso, principal of St. Pius X High School, said of the Vatican, "Pope John Paul recognized the healing that needed to occur here. The pope felt that Archbishop Donoghue was the best choice to lead us through that process."

"We are all excited about this new leader," he said. "From all that I have read about Archbishop Donoghue I believe that we have been blessed and are recipients of a generous gift in his appointment to Atlanta."

Anicia Biglow of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Atlanta said, "I envision his role as more than that of a healer. The past several years we as a diocese have suffered tremendous losses in leadership. In addition, there has been some fragmentation among our parish communities and church hierarchy because of the scandals, illness and other obstacles which the diocese has endured. I hope that Archbishop Donoghue's vision will be one that will pull everyone together and provide us with a sense of stability."

Rita O'Brien, also of Our Lady of Assumption, added, "When a diocese does not have a bishop a painful void exists. The last few months have been very difficult for us all. I am confident that as people get to know (Archbishop Donoghue) they will respond to his personal vision and the challenge of his direction."

Aloha Linhares, Archbishop Donoghue's secretary from Charlotte, said, "He's been wonderful for the Church. This is a happy day for Atlanta, but he will truly be missed in Charlotte. I think that if anyone is able to lead this diocese through a healing period, he is the one to accomplish it. He has the strength and compassion to do what is necessary."

Others expressed the view that the diocese had already emerged from the healing process and was simply in need of some stability.

"We have completed the healing stage," Julie Pou, a parishioner of Christ the King said. "It is time for us to begin to move ahead and go forward. As a community we share the Catholic faith, revere the Eucharist and honor the Blessed Mother. We need a leader to remind us of Christ's call to holiness and evangelization as we follow the basic teachings of the Catholic faith."

Seminarian Larry Niese added, "The most important thing Archbishop Donoghue spoke of tonight was our call to personal holiness. If we strive for that, in communities as well as the ones closer to us then we are truly witnessing our faith come alive."

Susan Brown, who joined the Catholic Church at Easter, called the experience unique. "I am being allowed to watch the newly installed archbishop learn to lead his Church and flock as I begin my own growth within the Church."

Several representatives from parishes outside the Atlanta area expressed hope that the new archbishop is a leader who will visit and care for their needs from his Atlanta home.

"The archbishop seems to be a man to draw in" all parishes and missions, Deacon Jim Easterwood observed. In places like his parish of Our Lady of LaSalette in Canton, physical separation from the archdiocesan offices can make it harder for people to feel connected with downtown. "It's a matter of distance, not so much a matter of heart," he said. Actually Canton, like other areas, has diversity and mirrors urban ministry challenges, he said. "Like (the archbishop said) there are so many hurts, so many needs."

Jim and Rita Lowe, representing the 25 families in Christ Redeemer Mission in Dawsonville, said, "We're hoping he'll make a visit to us." The community remembers prior visits from Archbishop Thomas Donnellan at confirmation time and Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, who approved the site for a church, but later was unable to return because of his failing health. "We refer to our mission as the parish family, but actually we're part of a larger family" of the archdiocese, Jim Lowe said.

For the youth of the diocese it was a new experience. Alison Pruett, 14, a member of Christ the King who played the bells at the Vespers Service, was really impressed with the evening.

"The entire service was one which I will never forget. I've never seen anything like this before. I hope (Archbishop Donoghue) becomes involved in the issues which are important to the youth in the schools of the diocese."

Sheryl Mitchell, the new principal at Our Lady of Lourdes, echoed Miss Pruett's concerns for today's youth.

"I'd like the archbishop to be more visible to the students so they can experience the reality of their new archbishop. His presence is important to the youths because the archbishop is their leader. Students need to know where the decisions of the Church are coming from and have a positive role model to follow and identify with."

"I feel like there are a lot of people who are very interested and committed to the parishes and schools of the diocese and are excited about this pastor of pastors who will be there as shepherd of a very large and hungry flock," commented Barbara Poole, principal of St. Jude the Apostle elementary school.

Some interest in Archbishop Donoghue seemed much more pragmatic. Marcial Benoit, representing Morehouse college, said, "I came today hoping to hear that (Archbishop Donoghue) will continue the work of Archbishop Lyke and (Archbishop Eugene) Marino. For many of us these church leaders paved the road for the black community, and we hope Archbishop Donoghue will continue to walk on the road beside us."

"The most important thing we can do is give the archbishop the time and space he needs to become his own person," said Bryan Small, a St. Pius graduate and now resident of Indiana. "It is not fair to compare him to those who held his position before for he is an individual who makes his own mark as a leader.

"We as Catholics will follow him because we believe in the validity of our faith and church and trust that in Archbishop Donoghue, God has blessed us with a leader with integrity and spirit," Small conlcluded.