By Erika Anderson

ATLANTA—Named as chaplains at the two new archdiocesan high schools by Archbishop John F. Donoghue, Father Tim Hepburn and Father Paul Burke hope to make a difference in the lives of young people by leading them to a deeper relationship with God.

Father Hepburn, currently the pastor of the Church of St. Gabriel in Fayetteville, will take on the role of chaplain at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, and will also serve as an assistant vocations director for the archdiocese effective June 1.

Father Paul Burke, who is currently a parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Kennesaw, will serve as chaplain and teach religion at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fairburn effective June 24.

	Father Tim Hepburn

Parishioners at St. Gabriel’s, where Father Hepburn has served as pastor for the past two years, have been good to him, he said.

“I have the good fortune of being excited about where I’m going, but I love the people here at this parish,” he said. “I have the privilege of loving the people I’m leaving, so it’s not easy.”

At the same time, though, Father Hepburn said that working in the schools with young people and in vocations is what he’s always wanted to do. “On lots of different levels between the school and vocations, the work is going to involve evangelization.”

Gifted in music and speech, Father Hepburn thrives in evangelization, often leading “Life in the Spirit” seminars throughout the archdiocese and speaking at various youth functions. He hopes to encourage students at Blessed Trinity to deepen their faith and to continue on the path that many youth movements already provide for teenagers.

Many of the feeder parishes to Blessed Trinity, such as the largest, the Church of St. Ann in Marietta, have strong youth programs that are drawing teens to Mass in droves.

“I hope to create a context in a Catholic school in which the dynamism (that) has already been generated in the youth ministry movement in the decade would draw teens to celebrate the Eucharist,” Father Hepburn said.

However, Father Hepburn’s main goal for the students is simple.

“I want no child to leave Blessed Trinity Catholic High School without knowing the Gospel,” he said. “What I mean is that I want each child to know and be able to articulate how to get to heaven.”

Frank Moore, who was named principal of Blessed Trinity earlier this year, is excited to work with Father Hepburn.

“He is the person, more than anyone else, who will bring our Catholic identity into reality. He is totally dedicated to the young people of the archdiocese,” Moore said. “He is giving up a pastorate to work with adolescents. What more can you say? That speaks so highly of his commitment to young people.”

Having always possessed a desire to teach, Father Burke said he was excited to learn of his new role as chaplain and religion teacher at Our Lady of Mercy High School.

	Father Paul Burke

A native of Ireland, Father Burke was ordained in 1996 and has served as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s Church in Marietta, in addition to his present assignment at St. Catherine’s.

“I see this as a wonderful challenge,” he said. “I have always wanted to teach and I love working with the youth. I was a product of Catholic education myself and I’ve realized in my own life what a great gift that is. I hope to give back some of what I’ve gotten in my own life and to be part of the archbishop’s vision for Catholic education.”

Father Burke will spend the summer earning his teaching certification at Kennesaw State University. He looks at his responsibilities as a chaplain and as a teacher as roles that complement each other. The priest, who will be 30 in July, also believes that his age is an advantage in working with the high school students.

“I think being fairly young is on my side because I can relate to them,” he said. “With the chaplaincy, there is a need to help strengthen the life of the school community, but in teaching, what you’re giving them spiritually you can build on in the classroom. They really go hand in hand.”

Father Burke said that he would be learning the ropes along with the students. Working in a parish offers many tasks for a priest, whereas the high school experience will give Father Burke the chance to concentrate mostly on the students.

“The parish experience has given me four good years, but now I will have a whole new perspective where I will be very focused on one thing. It’s very exciting,” he said. “The key with a brand new school is that it really is the beginning and it’s the first high school experience for them and also for me.”

Hoping to encourage the students on their spiritual journeys, Father Burke looks forward to getting to know all the students individually.

“Before you can teach them anything, a relationship with God has to come first. That’s why I’m delighted that I’m a chaplain and a teacher. One reinforces the other,” he said. “My goal is to help them to have a sense of God in their lives and to recognize that they are becoming mature in their lives—to teach them the basic values and then to be there to support them in living the values in their lives.”