By Gretchen Keiser, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-Sheila Bissonnette, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Atlanta since June 1988, has decided to step down from her position effective March 31.

Surprising her colleagues with the announcement, Bissonnette said she made a spiritual decision, believing that she is now being called by God to leave the post and be open to new directions in her life.

"When I came here, I really felt called by God to be here," she said. "Six months ago, God said, 'It's time to go.'"

While she wrestled with that, ultimately "it was obvious to me."

Saying she is now in "in-between space," she added, "a successful trapeze artist needs to let go before grabbing the next bar. That's where I am."

Bissonnette hopes whatever comes next will be in the Atlanta area. Working for the St. Vincent de Paul Society has "been an absolutely wonderful love affair."

"I do love my job. I think I've communicated that," she said, which makes "people wonder" why she would leave. Since she had an illness several years ago, she made a point of saying she is healthy and ready to do whatever comes next. "It's not a health issue. It's a God issue," she said.

The Society is in the process of electing its next board president to a six-year term through a mail ballot due back March 15. The next president's term will begin Oct. 1. Atlanta is hosting the national SVDP convention in 2003. That year is also the 100th anniversary celebration of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Atlanta, which started in 1903 with a conference at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

A search committee headed by Richard Kessler, executive committee vice president, is being formed to seek a new executive director.

A native of Millinocket, Maine, Bissonnette previously worked in Barbour County, W. Va., for the United Methodist Mission Project, an ecumenical social ministry program in Appalachia, and holds a master's degree in pastoral ministry with an emphasis on social ministry from Boston College.

SVDP has both a Particular Council, which serves the city of Atlanta, and parish conferences, which provide service to the poor within parish boundaries. SVDP is an international lay Catholic association, founded by Blessed Frederic Ozanam, devoted to personal service to the poor through works of mercy.

Growth and diversification of services characterize the last 13 years. In 1988, when Bissonnette took over the position, there were 30 active parish SVDP conferences in the archdiocese and there are now 67. At the time the Particular Council had just moved into 1,800 square feet of office space on W. Third Street. During her tenure, they relocated and have created a 20,000-square-foot SVDP center on Chamblee-Tucker Road.

In addition to direct aid, providing funds, clothing and food to those in need, the Society now has four SVDP temporary housing facilities and a learning center where clients can take free classes taught by volunteers in life skills, ESOL, GED, and computers, and access a computer to search for jobs and work on resumes. SVDP also manages the "Clothes Line," which provides new clothing donated by Sears to about 140 charitable agencies, and the "Wearhouse," a clothing give-away ministry. There are eight SVDP thrift stores and a ninth will open shortly at the Chamblee-Tucker Road center. They also operate a special works program, going out into the community on the second Saturday of each month with volunteers who give direct help to the poor and elderly in the metropolitan area.

In the last fiscal year, just over $5 million went to client services.

The executive committee is made up of the 67 conference presidents, plus eight or nine executive committee members.

"We have been very blessed having Sheila as our executive director for the past 13 years," said Alan Urech, executive committee president. "During her leadership the society has grown significantly to where we currently have 67 conferences in the archdiocese. Our expansion into programs which 'teach a person how to fish' has helped many people change their own lives. We wish Sheila the very best in her life journey. God's got a lot more plans for her."