By Susan Sullivan

Forty years of parish living were celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Church Oct. 3 with a meal, an afternoon of light-hearted fellowship and a Mass.

A deacon dunking booth and a variety show which included all ages were among the most popular events. The celebration was well-attended even by baseball fans, who were updated with details of the Braves' division championship clinching game during the festivities.

The first census taken after the 1951 establishment of the parish listed 65 families. There are now more than 1,000 families on the parish rolls.

The anniversary carnival provided a portrait of how the parish has changed in four decades, according to parish secretary Mary A. Coffey.

"We have been thinking of ourselves as a graying parish of retired people," she said. "Seeing all the young families at the carnival pointed out that we have an equal population of young families with children."

"It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and visit with people without pressure. Newcomers could see all the facilities and meet the staff."

Visitors could see the parish school which has 479 students enrolled from several area counties. The school was opened in 1952 and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The school-chapel building and a convent were the first structures completed on parish property.

The original church building was completed in 1957. Eight years later the Society of Mary (Marists) was assigned the pastoral care of the parish.

Major renovations and additions to parish buildings were completed in 1981 and 1989. The convent building now contains administrative offices, a parish library, conference and work rooms and a chapel.

Major changes in parish life include an expansion of ministries sponsored by the parish. These include: Peace and Justice, ministry to those with AIDS, Social Outreach, ministry to those who are homebound, ministry to the grieving, and a food preparation ministry which assists the hungry.

The final event of the anniversary thanksgiving celebration will be an adult square dance held Nov. 13.

Among those especially remembered during the anniversary were founding families, honored at a Thanksgiving Day Mass in 1992, and priests, deacons, Religious and laity who have served the parish and school throughout the years.