BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ELLIJAY--Fourteen years of celebrating Mass in local churches of other denominations, storefronts and funeral homes are now over for the 54 families of Good Samaritan Mission.

A former Methodist church was reborn as Good Samaritan Catholic Church for the North Georgia community of Ellijay and surrounding Gilmer County when Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated a Mass of dedication there Feb 27.

The Mass was concelebrated by Father Brendan Doyle, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Blue Ridge and Good Samaritan Mission, and by seven priests of the archdiocese, including Msgr. Edward Dillon, vicar general.

"This truly is the home that we have been searching for since our early mission days," said Father Doyle.

The celebration began outside as Father Doyle presented the archbishop with the keys to the church while the bells were rung signifying the beginning of the dedication Mass.

The parishioners who filled the church beyond capacity rejoiced that they now have a place they can call home.

"After our travels, much like the lost tribes of Israel, from storefront to funeral home to storefront for so many years, it seemed impossible that we would now have our own church in which to worship," said Michael Kirkpatrick, head of the finance committee, in a prepared statement.

"The service today in our new home is the culmination of many years of hard work, prayers and financial sacrifice by every member of our small congregation and our pastors. We look forward to continued growth in our new home and believe that the existence of Good Samaritan Catholic Church will ensure not only a place of worship, but will represent the presence of a growing Catholic community in Ellijay and North Georgia."

After the archbishop greeted the congregation, he blessed water symbolic of baptism and processed through the church, sprinkling the congregation and then the altar praying that the "Word of God" always be heard in this place of prayer.

Parishioners Cindy and Mike Zager presented the archbishop with the lectionary. The Gospel was proclaimed by Deacon John Stanley of St. Anthony's Church.

The archbishop in his homily paid special tribute to the Methodists and other Christian denominations who have been dedicated to carrying out the good works and words of Christ in Gilmer County.

"I do not view our assumption of this building as an act of triumph or any kind of takeover, but rather as an act of sharing with our Christian brothers and sisters in this community," he said. "And like the Good Samaritan of the Gospel, after whose spirit this church is to be dedicated, we have come along with a helping hand---and with more. We have come with the desire, the need and the enthusiasm to take this historic structure, to give it new life, and through the sacramental and social activities which we will carry on here, to share our life in the Spirit with all the people who surround us."

He reminded the congregation that while Jesus was ministering on earth he had no real home except the presence of God's Spirit which was always upon and around him.

"And if you think about it," he said, "in a grand and unstoppable way, Jesus still moves throughout the world stirring up his Holy Spirit for the good of God's people, inspiring them to do great things like building new churches: new churches to shelter his presence in the Eucharist; new churches in which to gather his people in one place, under one Spirit and before one sacrifice; new churches to stand as lights upon the hill, calling lost souls to the haven of salvation and welcoming the spiritual traveler home."

The archbishop then reflected upon the Gospel reading, which told the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. A small man, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree to see Jesus; he then invited him to his home.

"Zacchaeus was wealthy, but he was not happy," the archbishop said. "Loathed by almost everyone because of his profession Zacchaeus undoubtedly longed in his heart, as lonely men will, for one true friend. When Jesus announced that he would stay at his house, Zacchaeus realized that he had found that new and true friend. He then made an immediate and inspired decision. He decided to give half of his goods to the poor; the other half he would use to make restitution for the many frauds he had perpetrated on the taxpayers. Zacchaeus' home and wealth became the Lord's house and wealth. The Lord became master where he had come as a visitor, and Zacchaeus became forever the servant of the Lord's work."

The archbishop told the congregation that the light of Christ's love dwells and shines in both their church building and in the parish family. "Let us bathe in the light as we were bathed in the waters of baptism and let us go forth refreshed, cleansed and prepared to live holy and just lives from this moment forward. For today, as Jesus told Zacchaeus, 'Today salvation has come to this house.'"

Archbishop Donoghue then anointed the mahogany altar, the symbol of Christ, the anointed one, with chrism. The words "In Remembrance of Me," are carved in the wood of the altar.

Incense, which signifies that the death of Christ remains the perfect offering for sin, was then wafted about the church and sanctuary. The table of the altar was wiped, then covered with cloth and decorated with flowers as it was prepared for the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.

Archbishop Donoghue then gave a burning candle to Father Doyle, who in turn lighted candles surrounding the altar and throughout the church as a reminder that Christ is "a light to the nations."

A red-robed choir of 11 helped set the joyful tone for the dedication Mass as hymns such as "The Church's One Foundation," "On Eagles' Wings" and "To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King" echoed throughout the church.

Before the final blessing parishioner Michael Kirkpatrick spoke to the congregation, thanking the priests of the archdiocese who have served the Ellijay mission in the past. He credited Father Jorge Christancho, Father Steven Yander, Father Walter Foley and Father Doyle for making the hopes and dreams of the parishioners become a reality.

Kirkpatrick then shared a brief history of the mission with the congregation.

In 1982 Father Christancho, currently priest-in-charge of San Felipe de Jesus Mission in Atlanta's Grant Park, celebrated Mass monthly in Ellijay. Within two years Mass was held on a weekly basis.

"It was Father Christancho who came up with the name Good Samaritan for this new mission because of an experience he had on his way to Ellijay," Kirkpatrick said. "As he traveled over Fort Mountain to hold services, his car broke down and he had to stop a stranger to ask for help. This stranger proved indeed to be a 'Good Samaritan' and went out of his way to help...Thusour name became Good Samaritan."

According to Kirkpatrick, the acquisition of a permanent place of worship has always been a dream. "For many years we had worked to accumulate a small nest egg toward this goal," he said. "However, after reviewing the anticipated cost of building a new church, its operational expenses and support requirements, it was felt that this was far beyond the financial capability of our parish."

The church building, originally constructed in 1926, was purchased from the First Methodist Church for $202,000 in early 1995. A renovation and repair program has provided parishioners with a new heating system and insulation.

"As you walk around the building and grounds you can see what we have accomplished in a few short months," Kirkpatrick said. "It is our goal to be able to continue the repairs and renovations we have started until we have been able to complete all the repairs needed from past years of hard use."

To offset the cost of repairs and the operating expenses of their new home Good Samaritan parishioners will share their facility with the Hope Lutheran Church. Mass will be celebrated Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m.

"In February of this year the Lutheran congregation began worshipping in our church, much like what we did with the Methodists," Kirkpatrick said. "This arrangement helps us meet some of the operating expenses of our new home. Once the renovations are completed in the adjacent education building, we hope to rent it out for a period of time to help support our ongoing repair and renovation program and to repay the debt to the archdiocese for the purchase of the church."