ALPHARETTA—Father Joe Corbett was installed as the first pastor of St. Brigid Church in December, as the former mission of St. Benedict Church in Duluth celebrated its establishment as a parish.

At the same time, the parish focused upon the Christmas season as a time to build up the faith community of approximately 1,300 registered families through a variety of spiritual, social and service activities. The effort was coordinated around the theme, “Building Our Church, One Tree at a Time.”

And children at Holy Redeemer School in Alpharetta, where Father Corbett regularly celebrates Mass and other programs, gave the first-time pastor a list of their spiritual advice.

The mission of St. Brigid was established in 1998 at 3400 Old Alabama Road. Holy Redeemer, an archdiocesan elementary school, was built on the same property and opened in the fall of 1999. The parish was established Sept. 24, 2000.

Over 500 people attended the first Mass at the mission in November 1998, indicating a clear need in the area for a new parish both within the southern portion of the growing community being served by St. Benedict Church and also among new Catholics moving into the area.

Ordained in June 1995, Father Corbett, 29, is from County Waterford, Ireland, and completed his seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary, Waterford. He was assigned as a parochial vicar at All Saints Church, Dunwoody, before he became administrator of the mission and now its pastor.

In his homily for the installation of the pastor on Dec. 9, Archbishop John F. Donoghue said that the season of Advent, a season of waiting for the celebration of the birth of Christ, tied well into the story of the parish.

“Has (God) not already seen the longing of the people of this parish, and given you a church of your own? This is but one sign of His justice and mercy, one sign of the light by which He continues to lead His chosen people,” the archbishop said. “And by this light, He has also sent now, his servant Father Corbett, to be your guide and your help, and your friend, as your lives unfold, as your waiting passes, and as your hopes and dreams continue to grow.”

He asked that the blessing of God would be upon the parish as its members continued to work and plan and rejoice in the fulfillment of their dreams for the church community.

God has created human beings “with the desire and the ability to make plans, to work for their realization, and to rejoice and bless God when they come to fruition,” he said. “Such has been the case with the founding and the growing of this parish, and now, such must be the case as we look to its future ... We expect now that our spiritual lives will continue to unfold in this parish, that we will continue to live for one another as Christ has taught us, and that whatever we bring here—time, talent, treasure—will be turned by God, by His flowing grace, into a rich future for this parish we love and for all who will come to know it as their home in the Lord. May God grant that it will be so.”

Having celebrated Sunday Masses for a time in Centennial High School auditorium, the community now gathers on weekends for Mass in the auditorium of Holy Redeemer School.

St. Brigid’s is currently conducting a capital campaign to raise funds for permanent facilities on the site of the current rectory. Plans include a church, parish hall, administrative offices and classrooms. In order to raise funds, the Men’s Club, known as the Men of St. Brigid, made up of nearly 300 members, combined the sale of Christmas trees, wreaths and a Jubilee 2000 St. Brigid Christmas ornament with spiritual and service dimensions.

The celebration began with a tree blessing service by Father Corbett. The religious education office sponsored a living Nativity scene for reflection and prayer. Parishioners were also invited to donate an ornament for parish family Christmas trees. Some were used to decorate the church for Christmas, while others were donated to area nursing homes. The parish also sponsored a toy drive for the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program and a food drive for the Atlanta Food Bank. The service activities were held throughout the time that the tree lot was open.

The season also included caroling, Christmas concerts, stories for children, a Secret Santa shop and a visit from St. Nicholas.

In addition to the men’s group, the entire effort was supported by parish ministries including the Women’s Guild, Married Couples Group, Young Adults, Life Teen, Mom’s Group, Department of Religious Education, Boy Scouts, Nursery, and Coffee and Doughnuts Ministry.

The men’s group meets monthly and has made service commitments to the Central Presbyterian Men’s Shelter, the Red Cross and a home for battered women in Cumming. Socially the group has hosted a silent auction, golf tournament, Lenten fish fries and other dinners. The parish has also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a dinner dance and a Cinco de Mayo party and a ministry fair.

In their advice to the new pastor, Father Corbett, the children at Holy Redeemer encouraged him to smile a lot, have lively music at church, relate to all ages in the church, especially children, love everyone in the parish “even if you don’t like them,” and keep on telling jokes.

“Please be holy,” they summed up. “We need holy priests to look up to.”