CARTERSVILLE – Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated Mass for the 25th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi Parish Oct. 15.

The pastor, Father Joseph Aquino, MS, other LaSalette priests, Father Peter McKeown and Father Tom Carroll concelebrated the 6:30 p.m. liturgy. Brother Bob Russell, MS, pastoral associate at St. Francis, served as deacon.

In his homily at the Mass, the archbishop spoke of the jealousy of Christ’s followers who were bent on securing their own special favor in the eyes of God.

The archbishop reminded the congregation of Christ’s words to his apostles: “If you want to become someone in the eyes of God, then it must be by serving other people, not by making yourself more important than other people. I am here not to be more important than everyone, but to serve and to save everyone. You must do the same.”

The archbishop challenged the congregation to follow Christ’s teaching. “We are not Christian unless at the bottom of everything we do is the notion of service.”

“This is not only a benevolent wish of Our Lord, it is the command that urges us to care for one another, and more importantly, it is the command which keeps us in perspective, which reminds us that we are all one before God,” the archbishop said.

Archbishop Donoghue told the congregation that St. Francis of Assisi Parish has remained “healthy and happy” because of the goodwill of her priests and parishioners.

“We know better than to say, ‘Look what we have done. Look how great our parish is after 25 years,’” the archbishop said. “Instead we say, ‘Thank you God for letting us be here for one another … and thank you Lord for the privilege of serving the Father just as you did when you were alive.’”

Members of LaSalette clergy began serving the Archdiocese of Atlanta at the community of St. Francis in 1969. Father Joe Loftus, MS, and Father McKeown, MS, arrived in July 1969 beginning at St. Francis. Missions in Canton and Calhoun later became the parishes of Our Lady of LaSalette and St. Clement.

The former pastors recalled how the church and community has changed throughout the years.

Father McKeown, the first LaSalette pastor assigned to St. Francis, remembered that the parish had 31 families when he arrived in 1969. Today the parish serves over 200 households.

Father Carroll, pastor of St. Francis from 1974-1978, remembered when the offertory collection was barely $400. “My, how you have grown,” he said.

Father Aquino reflected on the current spirit that makes the parish unique. “I knew there was always a spirit at St. Francis but it was only living here for the past three years that its depth and meaningfulness is truly understood.”

On March 30, 1993 parishioners broker ground for a new church facility on a 10-acre site on Pine Grove Road. In addition to the sanctuary, which seats 300, the parish center also provides eight classrooms, a conference room, day chapel, cry room, reconciliation room and offices. Archbishop Donoghue blessed the new sanctuary in January of this year.

Two new banners, one of St. Francis and the other of Our Lady of LaSalette, were blessed by Archbishop Donoghue during the 25th anniversary celebration. The banners were made by Carmelite Sisters of Danvers, Mass. A table of memorabilia was erected with photos illustrating the history of the parish, which was first served by Redemptorists.

St. Francis of Assisi is the only Catholic church in Bartow County.