BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

NEWNAN--The membership at St. George Parish has doubled in the last five years to approximately 850 to 900 families and the pastor, Father Leo Herbert, estimates that number will rise to 2,000 in five more years.

To accommodate this growth, the parish is constructing a one-story, 8430-square-foot activities building featuring 10 classrooms, a day chapel and an administrative wing with parish offices. Plans include the possibility of additional parking and a covered walkway to the church if funding permits.

"This building will complement whatever we do here and it is so needed," said Father Herbert at 11 a.m. Mass on Good Shepherd Sunday, July 20, prior to a blessing ceremony for the new building site.

"Growth is a welcome thing," Father Herbert added, gesturing around the crowded church sanctuary. "We must prepare for tomorrow. We must not pretend that our future is not happening."

"The work we are beginning today should enliven our faith and make us grateful. Whenever we look to the interests of our neighbor or the community and serve them, we are, in a sense, God's own co-workers," said Archbishop John Donoghue who presided at the Mass.

"Grant that the work we begin may serve to better our lives and through your goodness contribute to the spread of the kingdom of Christ," the archbishop prayed.

Father Herbert thanked his building committee, parish council and finance board for their work in planning the structure and raising needed funds. A groundbreaking breakfast was served that morning to 150 people who had particularly supported the project.

Following the Mass, Father Herbert, Archbishop Donoghue, altar servers and parish deacons led a procession to an open field beside the church to bless the site. Hedley Construction Co. officials Jim Rogers, president, and Mitch Hedley, vice president, also turned over shovels of dirt. The same company built the original fellowship hall and Rogers, who took part in that building project, found the ceremonial shovel from that occasion and brought it.

Building sketches were proposed to the parish council and finance board, a town hall meeting was held and planning began in December 1995. The finance committee of 10 led by Steve Beers has met monthly and began in early 1996 implementing a pledge drive. To finance the building, the church expects to collect $425,000 in parishioner pledges.

"People are always looking for places to do things. It wasn't very difficult to make people aware of the need we have. With God's help I think we'll have a successful program," said Beers.

"We have needed this (new facility) for years," said Joan Vinnacomb, associate director of religious education, who joined the parish in 1972. Even in those days, she said, classes were held in every nook and cranny of the rectory.

Currently two sessions of religious education are held to try to accommodate the children in the available space, according to Sister Bridget Ann Henderson, BVM, who is director of religious education. Father Herbert said that parish offices are currently located in converted classrooms. Parish staff say several new families join the congregation weekly.

Dr. Thomas Isaac of the finance committee commented that the biggest challenge has been prioritizing parish needs for the facility rather than collecting funds.

The planning committee and the parish council gave final approval for the project. Project architectural firm is Robin Millard, Inc.

Building construction will begin this summer and the estimated completion date is Easter 1998.