ATLANTA--Parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (IHM) gathered on June 7 for a Mass of Thanksgiving which marked the parish's 40th anniversary.

IHM was founded in 1958 as Msgr. Cornelius Maloney, the parish's original pastor, celebrated the first Mass on July 1. The parish, located on 2855 Briarcliff Road, was established to accommodate the increasing size of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, and St. Thomas More Church, Decatur.

Father Fred Wendel, pastor of IHM, was the principal celebrant of the Mass and the homilist was former pastor Father Richard Kieran, currently pastor of St. Anna's Church in Monroe. Concelebrating the Mass were Father James Sexstone and Father Duvan Gonzalez, parochial vicars at IHM, Msgr. Michael Regan, former pastor, Father Hugh Marren, pastor of St. Anthony's Church on the West End, and Father Sergio Calle-Perez, parochial vicar at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church in Lawrenceville. They were assisted by IHM Deacons Tom McGrane and Jimmy Stewart.

In his homily, Father Kieran called the anniversary of the parish a "milestone on the ongoing journey."

"Your anniversary year should be rooted in the full, active, conscious participation of the parish family in the Sunday Eucharist," he said.

Lectors for the Mass were Irene Kelly and Max Munoz, while Rebecca Duvall and Martha Caicedo read the prayers of the faithful. Gift bearers were long-time parishioners, George and Mary Wearing. Music was provided by the 5 p.m. Liturgy Music Group under the direction of Bob Karaffa and Joe Camoosa.

Following the Mass of Thanksgiving, a pig roast was held on the back lawn, where T-shirts and hats commemorating the 40th anniversary were sold.