PEACHTREE CITY--Founded in 1973 with 55 families, Holy Trinity Church today numbers more than 1,800 families. To meet the needs of the growing population the parish has embarked on a project to expand their facilities.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue presided at the ceremonial groundbreaking for the expansion of Holy Trinity Church Dec. 22.

"We have so many reasons to give thanks to God," said Father John Walsh, who was named pastor of the parish in November. "For years people have been making these expansion plans, and it is going to be wonderful to see them take shape. I know there will be some inconveniences, but I am very confident that together we can handle them."

The expansion will nearly double seating in the sanctuary from 400 to 700. The $2 million project also includes new offices for church administration and education, which will allow existing offices in the adjacent parish hall to be converted to much needed classrooms. More than 1,000 children in kindergarten through middle school currently attend religious education classes at the parish. At present, to accommodate these numbers, classes are scheduled nearly every weekday afternoon and two evenings.

Other facilities that will be added or modified include a practice room for the church's youth, adult and folk choirs; a covered portico that will be used as a drop-off site during inclement weather and accommodations for parishioners with physical disabilities. A pipe organ is scheduled to be installed at a later date.

The project also calls for a new sound system, HVAC system and pews. Aesthetically the church will feature a bell tower, stained glass windows and an open courtyard.

The architect for the project is CDH Partners, Inc. of Marietta and JTV Construction Co. is the contractor. The project is being financed through a $1.5 million pledge drive, with the remainder guaranteed by a loan from the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Construction is expected to take nine months. During that time, regular Sunday Masses are being held in the parish's Loretto Hall. For Easter, additional Masses will be celebrated at neighboring McIntosh High School, which already shares overflow parking space with Holy Trinity. Weekday Masses are celebrated in the chapel in the basement of the rectory. Arrangements have also been made to insure the weekly continuation of parish eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation.