By Lanie LeBlanc, Special To The Bulletin

ATLANTA—The feast of Pentecost at Holy Cross Church included the celebration of confirmation and the parish milestone of the full payment of the mortgage on the new church.

About 800 people gathered for the Vigil Mass on June 11. Father Paul Fogarty, pastor, was the principal celebrant, while Father Alvaro Avendaño and Father Peter Duc Vu, parochial vicars, were concelebrants. The church’s combined choirs sang under the direction of Susan Curran.

At the end of the liturgy, the pastor read a congratulatory letter from the archbishop and recognized founding parishioners of the original mission church and those who were parishioners when the new church was dedicated in August 1989.

After the final blessing, the community went to the courtyard for the second part of the celebration. Father Fogarty read the original blessing given at the beginning of the building fund phase. Former pastors Father Alberto Rodriguez, OP, Father Daniel Shanahan, OP, and Father Ed Everitt, OP, were given recognition, as were members of the original building committee under the chairman, Richard Cylc.

The burning of a proxy mortgage was the highlight of the evening. Afterward a buffet dinner was served in the parish hall, parish children released chains of multicolored balloons and parishioners picnicked until dusk.

On Pentecost Sunday evening, Father Fogarty celebrated the sacrament of confirmation during the 5:30 p.m. Life Teen liturgy. Archbishop John F. Donoghue granted the pastor this permission during the Jubilee Year. The parochial vicars concelebrated the trilingual Mass. Music was provided by Crossfire, the Life Teen band.

The 83 confirmandi and their sponsors processed in and filled the main pews of the two center sections. Readings were given in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Many chose to receive this sacrament and confirm their faith as young adults. Several catechists presented the offertory gifts. The Mass concluded with a blessing, congratulations and a reception in the parish hall.

It was fitting that both celebrations were held in conjunction with Pentecost. The gifts of many parishioners contributed to the planning, building and upkeep of the church. The outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost reminds all of what St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians of the “immeasurable scope of (God’s) power within those who believe.”