BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

STONE MOUNTAIN--Archbishop John F. Donoghue asked parishioners at Corpus Christi Church to use their new perpetual adoration chapel to pray for the grace of conversion for those who have no faith.

"This is but the beginning--the beginning of a witness that I have no doubt will suffuse this parish with grace, and which will also help transform this local community," the archbishop said Jan. 13 at a Mass inaugurating perpetual adoration of the Eucharist at the parish.

"We all hope and pray for this wide conversion, where our own personal faith shines brighter, and where people who may now be living with no belief and with nothing to guide them, will see our faith, will be drawn by its light and its warmth, and will be brought over to this side--the right side--to the side of the Lamb of God and the Prince of Peace."

Approximately 650 people from various parishes came to the Mass at which Corpus Christi became the third parish community in the archdiocese to establish daily, around the clock prayer before the Eucharist. The Cathedral of Christ the King was the first to begin perpetual adoration at the request of Archbishop Donoghue and the devotion has since been established at Transfiguration Church in Marietta.

The archbishop told the congregation that as Catholics, they, like Christ's disciples, have the opportunity to experience the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

"Christ spoke and said, ?Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day.' This is, my dear friends, the ultimate consolation that God has given to human beings--that if we are faithful in receiving the Body and Blood of His Son, then we shall live forever," the archbishop said.

Archbishop Donoghue recalled that when Jesus first taught that his flesh would be food for eternal life, many of his followers were shocked and walked away. Peter responded, "And to whom should we go, Lord? It is you who have the words of eternal life."

The archbishop said the parish was acting upon the statement of St. Peter through the initiation of perpetual adoration. "Where else should we go?" the archbishop asked. "Our hearts are drawn to the presence of Jesus Christ, to the Body and Blood which is our food for eternal life--and we now pledge ourselves to the public adoration of His presence. Our work is to foster the ministry of guardianship--of assuring that at every moment, some one of us will be before the Lord in His Holy Eucharist, praying on behalf of the Church..."

The archbishop said this was a landmark occasion in the history of the archdiocese and particularly during the Eucharistic Renewal called for 1996-97.

"This is a great event...when the faith of so many of our Catholics, perhaps grown lukewarm in recent years, is being reawakened and reinvigorated by the witness and devotion of people like you," he said. "It is because from out of your hearts, the power of the Holy Spirit has surged and is flooding across the landscape--the landscape of this church itself, with its beautiful renovations and additions, a sign of the increased faith of the parishioners, and their desire to honor God and to adorn his house with beauty."

"But more importantly, the power of the Holy Spirit is flooding across the landscape of souls and producing miracles of the heart, miracles of the soul, miracles whereby many who now walk in the ways of evil, will be brought onto the path of goodness, the path marked out by the Lord and followed by many throughout the ages."

While the choir led the congregation in the singing of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" the gifts were brought to the altar by Gini Egan, director of pastoral services and coordinator of adult education, Virginia Brisbay, coordinator of religious education, and Molly Titus, the evening receptionist.

The Mass was concelebrated by Corpus Christi pastor Father Greg Kenny, CMF, and parochial vicars Father Ron Stua, CMF, and Father Severino Lopez, CMF. Deacon Will MacDonald proclaimed the Gospel and Deacon Whitney Robichaux was the master of ceremonies. Parishioners Pat Horvath and Margaret Madgett announced the readings.

After Communion Beth Wright, a 19-year-old parishioner who is developmentally disabled, a paraplegic and legally blind, sang "One Bread, One Body" from her wheelchair. Many in the parish were moved to tears as they witnessed her inspirational effort. Wright, who is known throughout the parish for her love of music, sang the national anthem at the Paralympic Torch Ceremony and performed during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Paralympics.

During Wright's Communion meditation, the archbishop placed the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Cantor Stacey Stickle led the congregation as the choir chanted "Ubi Caritas" while the archbishop processed through the church to the new perpetual adoration chapel. He placed the monstrance on the altar and knelt briefly in prayer before he processed out of the church during the singing of the concluding rite.

"It was a very holy event," Father Kenny said. "There was much nostalgia in it for older Catholics because of the added ritual and pomp."

Chris Paciorek, coordinator of perpetual adoration at Corpus Christi, was the first to enter the chapel. By twos and threes, children and grown-ups joined Paciorek, many with rosaries in hand, kneeling briefly in silent prayer.

"There were a number of people in the movement to establish perpetual adoration, but Chris, by faith, devotion and perseverance, was the driving force and inspiration who made sure it happened," Father Kenny said.

He explained the desire to have perpetual adoration at the parish originated with the laity. "Perpetual adoration at Corpus Christi was a lay initiative," Father Kenny said. "A number of our parishioners were making their hour of adoration at Christ the King, but felt that they would be able to do better if the devotion were available on this side of town."

For the past two years Paciorek, a Corpus Christi parishioner for 20 years, attended perpetual adoration daily at the Cathedral. "It was during this time that I felt like God was calling me to start perpetual adoration at Corpus Christi," she said. "It was really a responsibility that I didn't want. I already felt like I was doing my part. Finally after the feelings wouldn't go away, I told Father Kenny that I believed God was asking me to begin this devotion at our parish. A few months later Father Kenny called me and told me that he was going to meet with the archbishop regarding this matter. I remember saying to God, ?I guess you really want this.'"

Father Kenny said it was imperative to him that people not misunderstand the purpose of this devotion. "It was important that this private devotion be used as a base for strengthening devotion to the Eucharist rather than something that caused people to substitute this private devotion for the presence of God in word, sacrament and assembly," he said. "Efforts must be made to keep the various eucharistic symbols in balance. All of us feel that many blessings will result from this devotion including new membership, vocations, healing."

Parishioners believe that the opportunity to serve as a guardian will help them remain focused on what is really important in life. "This will allow me to take one hour a week and give it to the Lord," said Jeannine Peterson, who is the coordinator for the 1-2 p.m. time slot. "The main goal in my life is to get closer to the Lord, and I believe this will help me."

"I feel a great deal of joy as our parish begins this devotion," said Pat Horvath, a Corpus Christi parishioner for 17 years. "It is truly going to be an anchor for this changing community. I am very blessed to be a member of a parish that has this devotion and am delighted that so many people were able to attend the Mass. The parish is going to grow spiritually because of this and I believe we will see some vocations develop."

The chapel for perpetual adoration was constructed in conjunction with the renovation of the church interior and was completed as the parish celebrated its 25th anniversary. On the opposite side of the sanctuary the chapel is complemented with a leaded glass window containing the holy oils.

Archbishop Donoghue will return to the parish in the near future to rededicate the renovated church. Other renovations include a mosaic placed behind the figure of the risen Christ, a newly extended tile altar platform, a new altar, organ, ambo, pews, carpet, fresh paint and specially commissioned leaded glass panels featuring scenes from the life of the founder of the Claretian order, St. Anthony Mary Claret.

The pulpit, altar, cantor's lectern, and baptistry were hand-crafted by Jerry DiCaro, a Corpus Christi parishioner. "The shape of the altar was inspired by the altar in St. Peter's, Rome, and decided upon in discussion with the artisan, Ralph Nottoli and myself," said Father Kenny. "After our consensus we put a mock-up on display to get reactions from the parishioners."

The mosaic of the risen Christ designed by Eugene Potente of Kenosha, Wis., and executed by Franz Schroeder of New Jersey fills the back wall of the sanctuary. "The design of the mosaic can be interpreted in any way one desires," Father Kenny said. "Our main purpose was to highlight the beautiful image we already had of the risen Christ with a sort of sunburst effect, as well as to add color to an otherwise blank looking sanctuary." The mosaic was funded by John Hunsinger in memory of the late Brig. Gen. Aldo Garoni.

Exterior renovations were also extensive and involved repaving the parking lots, replacing the main roof over the church and office and purchasing a new air conditioning system.

All of the renovations were funded by a $750,000 capital campaign entitled "This Is My Church, This Is My House, This is My Family." The parish has other renovation projects designated for the near future including sidewalk repair.

"Because the parish was changing in membership we felt this was a one-time possibility," Father Kenny said. "We divided the work into three stages of things that we foresaw as needed over a five-year period and established a building committee of parishioners to put the work in order of priority and possibility."

Approximately 300 people have volunteered to serve as guardians before the Blessed Sacrament at Corpus Christi Church, 600 Mountain View Drive, Stone Mountain. Volunteers and substitutes are still needed. To volunteer call Paciorek at (770) 469-6535.