Print Issue: November 7, 1996

Archivist Recalls Formation of Diocese

BY ANTHONY R. DEES

ATLANTA--On Nov. 8, 1956, an event of great importance in the annals of the Catholic Church in north Georgia occurred. The Most Reverend Francis E. Hyland was installed as first bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta.

The sacred and colorful ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Not only did Atlanta's Catholics consider this a momentous occasion, but so did its civic leaders and citizens. It was a special honor for the city to be named a See city of the Catholic Church.

The ceremony was the lead article, complete with a cover color photograph, in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine Dec. 9, 1956. Television cameras recorded the event, which is believed to be the first time the installation of a bishop and the creation of a new diocese were viewed by a television audience.

Attending the ceremony were a large number of the Catholic hierarchy, priests, Religious and representatives from the lay, civic and military communities. The installation was conducted by the Most Reverend Amleto G. Cicognani, apostolic delegate to the United States from the Vatican. The homily was delivered by the Most Reverend Gerald P. O'Hara, apostolic delegate to Great Britain and bishop of Savannah. Bishop O'Hara bid farewell to the Catholics of north Georgia who had been under his care for the past 20 years.

The new diocese encompassed the 71 counties of north Georgia. In 1979 two of these counties (Columbia and Jones) were ceded to the Diocese of Savannah. In 1956 there were 23 parishes and 12 missions, 23,600 Catholics, 25 diocesan priests, 72 religious order priests and 146 sisters in the diocese.

(In 1996 there are 67 parishes and 23 missions, 212,850 Catholics, 117 diocesan priests, 93 religious order priests and 112 sisters in the archdiocese.)

The first bishop of Atlanta was no stranger to the area. Since 1949, Bishop Hyland had been auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. The Philadelphia native spent several years as secretary to the apostolic delegation in Washington, D.C.

For reasons of health Bishop Hyland retired in October 1961. Following his death on Jan. 31, 1968, his successor Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan stated:

"As a bishop he capably handled the administration of the new diocese, establishing a number of our most important parishes and opening up avenues of faith and grace in towns and villages. Atlanta will always be in his debt...Those of us who follow him...can honor him by tirelessly carrying out what he began with vision."

Dees is archivist for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.