Musicians from St. Bernadette Parish in Cedartown traveled 70 miles to help their pastor, Father Dan Stack, concelebrate a Mass for the Hispanic residents of the Frazier Street apartments in Alpharetta.

Father Al Jowdy, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in Alpharetta, was on hand to concelebrate the Mass on April 29. This was the second Mass reaching out to a large Hispanic population in the parish, most of whom have arrived from Mexico fairly recently.

The Mass was attended by approximately 50 residents, according to Father Stack.

With the help of Gonzolo Saldana, director of the Hispanic Apostolate, Father Joseph Fahy, CP, and Father Stack, Father Jowdy and the parish staff are studying how to best minister to these new residents of the parish. So far, Mass is being offered at the apartments twice a month.

“This is a high priority in the parish,” Father Jowdy said. “But it is still in the development stage. We are listening to what their needs are before deciding what needs to be done. We are in this for the long haul.”

Barbara Lovatt, a St. Thomas parishioner who volunteers full time for North Fulton Community Charities, and Sora McFarlane, who is multicultural community coordinator for the Fulton-Atlanta Community Action Authority, have been working in the apartment complex. They said people were asking for help with spiritual needs as well as with food, clothing, rent and utilities.

“There are 150 units in the complex,” Ms. McFarlane said. “The manager estimates that 69 percent of the residents are Hispanic, but who knows how many there are. In this culture people are welcomed to stay. There can be three families living in a two-bedroom apartment.”

She said the Hispanic population is still growing rapidly due to the grocery and restaurant opportunities within walking distance of the complex. The location, in an area perceived as fairly wealthy, may make assistance harder to get.