By Kathi Stearns

Ulster Project-Atlanta, an ecumenical peace project to promote tolerance and friendship between Protestant and Catholic youth from Northern Ireland, is in need of host families and financial assistance.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church has joined St. Bartholomew's and St. Bede's Episcopal churches in sponsoring the first Ulster project in Georgia.

Five host family applications, three Protestant and two Catholic, have been received from those interested in housing Northern Irish youth next July. American teenage hosts are matched with their Irish counterparts by age, sex, religious denomination and when possible hobbies and interest. The Host Family Committee is in need of 12 to 15 families, who have teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16, and will be free for the month of July.

Trips to Six Flags, the King Center, the High Museum of Art, Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier and numerous service activities have been tentatively scheduled by Ulster Project-Atlanta Activities Coordinator Kathy Wolf, the youth minister at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"We want to provide activities that will allow the youth from Northern Ireland to get to know each other through different cultural, social and religious experiences," Ms. Wolf commented.

Project expenses, including airfare, group insurance and activities, are estimated at $19,000. This money must be raised by donations and fund-raising projects. Under the direction of Ed Tierney, corporate and church appeals to the three charter parishes have begun. All expenses will be borne by the project budget, except for host family contributions such as room, board, in-town transportation and family outings.

On Nov. 7, Terry McClean spoke to Ulster Project-Atlanta providing members with an overview of the problems in Northern Ireland. McClean, a member of St. Bede's was born in Glengormley, a town 15 miles from Belfast. After completing high school he studied geology in Queens University in Belfast. In 1987 he moved to Atlanta and lives with his wife and two children in Tucker.

McClean explained the most important thing Ulster Project-Atlanta can do is to bring those who are destined to become the future leaders of Northern Ireland together in a strife-free atmosphere that emphasizes acceptance of all people, regardless of creed. "The effects will not be immediate, but one hopes when they return to Ireland, the seeds of peace will have been planted," McClean said.

Donations may be sent to Ulster Project-Atlanta, 2855 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329. Ulster Project-Atlanta is an incorporated tax-exempt project. For further information call Ed Tierney at 404-524-3612.