Print Issue: April 18, 2002

Tin Barn In Sharpsburg Serves As Church At Easter Vigil

By Maria Mulvenna, Special To The Bulletin

SHARPSBURG-Tucked among the numerous sprawling horse farms, rolling hills and State Road 154 in rural Coweta County is the Mission of St. Mary Magdalene. Here, on a 40-plus acre site, the mission observed unique Triduum celebrations in a large barn made completely of tin. It was a setting filled with joy and wonder and sheer simplicity.

Father Dan Fleming lights the Easter candle as the vigil Mass begins. Assisting is Deacon Don Kelsey who has served the mission of St. Mary Magdalene since its founding.

Father Dan Fleming, administrator, joined the mission family in late January and described the Triduum as "an extraordinary experience in the most simplistic setting. Our Triduum was a marvelous event for the entire community and gave each of us such a unique memory we will always cherish."

Members of St. Mary Magdalene, an offshoot of Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City, began early readying the barn for its role as "temporary Cathedral," raking the dirt floor and arranging an old bathtub that was to serve as a baptistry for the newly welcomed Catholic Christians. This year St. Mary Magdalene welcomed 12 new members; last year, the first year the mission held its own Triduum, the number was eight.

Father Dan Fleming lights the Easter candle as the vigil Mass begins. Assisting is Deacon Don Kelsey who has served the mission of St. Mary Magdalene since its founding.

Other parishioners busily prepared the liturgical celebrations as musicians tuned guitars and rehearsed music. Luminaries lighted the way from the rectory carport to the large barn. Preparations took on an especially vivid sense of anticipation as members prepared to celebrate the holiest of celebrations.

All the planning bore fruit as the Holy Thursday liturgy began. Lights worked in the barn, musicians were in place, people brought their own lawn chairs-the mission community's chairs were reserved for those coming into the church during the Easter Vigil. Liturgical ministers were well rehearsed and the evening Mass of the Last Supper became a beautiful panorama of people gathered around the altar in their tin barn. The altar, large wooden cross and ambo had all been made by a parishioner for last year's first Triduum.

The waters of baptism are poured out by Father Dan Fleming on one of the twelve candidates that entered the Church in the barn.

The Good Friday liturgy was a second memorable event as parishioners arrived in the fields with their cars, walking toward the barn with enthusiasm and reverence to participate. Saturday evening's Easter Vigil began with the lighting of the fire outside the barn and continued within the barn as the dozen new members eagerly took part in the very special rites. The scene was one of awe and great meaning as the Easter liturgy unfolded. In spite of intermittent rain throughout the two-and-a-half-hour Easter Vigil, not one of the luminary lights was extinguished.

St. Mary Magdalene's home is on Lower Fayetteville Road, complete with a lake, a small ranch house that serves as both rectory and parish office, and two barns. The rest is fields and trees and fond hopes. Since his arrival, Father Fleming happily has walked the mission property, visualizing what could go where.

Normally Masses are celebrated on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the East Coweta High School cafeteria, a short distance from the property. It is always a packed house. On Saturday evening, a 5 p.m. Mass is celebrated in the historic and tiny Coke's United Methodist Chapel which adjoins St. Mary Magdalene's property. Masses and Communion services are held daily in the small day chapel in the rectory.

The first Mass for the mission was celebrated on Sept. 16, 1999, at Thomas Crossroads Elementary School with Father John Walsh, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, as celebrant and Deacons Don Kelsey and Ben Gross assisting. That day the cafeteria held 218 people, a number that would climb so rapidly a new location was essential.

Officially designated as the Mission of St. Mary Magdalene on Christmas Day 2000, the ever-growing band of worshippers maintains a distinctly active and dedicated role in the life of the mission. Deacon Kelsey has served the mission family from day one. New organizations continue to emerge, new programs develop, a Web site was born (www.maryofmagdala.org) and the presence of the Catholic community continues to grow in presence and commitment on Atlanta's south side.

An old bathtub found on the property draped in white fabric served as the baptistry at the Catholic Mission of St. Mary Magdalene in Sharpsburg.

The mission's favorite prayer is contained in its first cookbook, aptly titled "A Taste of Heaven." The prayer seems to explain the enthusiasm and fervor of the Coweta community.

"Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and mind, and called her to be a witness of His Resurrection, mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know you in the power of His endless life, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen."