Print Issue: October 10, 2002

Traveling Forward, Backward 'In Transfiguration Time,' Parish Celebrates Joyful Spirit

Msgr. Patrick Bishop censes the bread and wine on the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In 1989 Msgr. Bishop (then Father Bishop) became the third and present pastor of Church of the Transfiguration. Father Ray Horan was the first pastor and Msgr. Henry Gracz (then Father Gracz) became the second pastor in 1981. (Photos by Michael Alexander) (L-r) As they hold banners bearing the respective years they joined the Church of the Transfiguration, Marietta, Mitch Rabil, Karen Dudley and Mike Caldwell join a procession into the church, Sept. 29, to celebrate the parish's silver anniversary.

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

MARIETTA - The halls of Transfiguration Church in Marietta told the story of its 25-year history. Parishioners traveled back through Transfiguration time as they viewed a wall of photos and newspaper clippings highlighting those years. The historical wall record included the 1996 run of pastor Msgr. Pat Bishop with an Olympic torch, to a picture of a circus being held in the former "Tin Tent" worship space. Newspaper clips included the story of the parish's medical team that got stranded in Haiti during Hurricane George in 1998. There was even an article chronicling how former pastor Msgr. Henry Gracz wrecked his bright orange Volkswagen "bug", after which parishioners made a flurry of fund-raising phone calls to buy him a black Nissan with a sun roof. When he was presented with his new wheels, "there wasn't a dry eye at the picnic, including Father Henry's," the article stated.

Andrea Feltmann, Sherrie McQueen and others put together the images of Transfiguration's past by collecting old photos and newspaper articles about the parish from parishioners.

The scanned images from four scrapbooks they made were used in the celebratory time line - and will remain a permanent record of the parish.

"Now we'll keep a better record because it's easy to keep going," said parish administrator Marilyn MacInnis. "We didn't have a good collection and they (contributors) were anxious to share their memories."

That history, and those memories, were celebrated at six Masses starting at 7 a.m. on Sept. 29. To rapid drum beats, parishioners pro- cession shook banners representing every year in parish history and the years they joined, as they wove through the aisles of the congregation, who surrounded the altar on three sides. An enthusiastic Msgr. Bishop then entered the scene, giving high-fives to worshippers young and old, hugging one young man, and saying "welcome" to newcomers. He then started clapping, making sweeping hand motions, and declared "Happy 25th Birthday, Transfiguration." Sister Celeste Schoppy, IHM, broke from the procession and with a big smile swayed back and forth before the altar holding a bowl of burning incense.

In his homily Msgr. Bishop affirmed the roots of the church's vibrant, welcoming spirit in Vatican II, an "intense rediscovery of who she was in the world." That "sacred Roman council" revitalized and modernized the church as it affirmed the essential role of the laity and rid itself of all that detracted from its beauty. It involved reevaluation, experimentation, dialogue, contrition and celebration while challenging the laity to study the church doctors and theologians of the past and "to read and prayerfully ponder the word of God in a new, more intimate experience of the living God," he said.

"Into that joy and excitement came the little community nestled in the sticks of Cobb County . . . A gifted and very human pastor Father Ray Horan shared a loving personality with the talents, love, enthusiasm, youthful exuberance, down-home friendliness and strong commitment to the principles of the Vatican II held by those first founders of this remarkable community." Yet, Msgr. Bishop said, the people made the church as they "took their rightful place, male and female, at the altar and in the ministries, work, and prayer of the church."

The parish was founded on Sept. 29, 1977, when the first Mass was celebrated by Father Horan in a banquet room of the Save Inn Motel on U.S. 41. Msgr. Bishop described the parish's enthusiasm when, after worshipping in different storefronts, a middle school and a Presbyterian church, the congregation moved in 1980 into a metal building - that reached up to 100 degrees in the summer - called the "Tin Tent." Father Horan and the next pastor Msgr. Henry Gracz stayed committed to those Vatican II principles, as renewal groups sprang up in areas of prayer, education and service. The congregation sang contemporary songs, shared the eucharistic cup and developed a warm, welcoming spirit. Msgr. Gracz had a love of ministry and "human warmth and vulnerability" and assembled a staff that "could continue to offer the people of the parish a challenge to explore even deeper the new spirit of renewal mandated by that sacred council" and further reveal the mysteries of the Mass, Msgr. Bishop continued.

"The church was alive, vibrant, growing, young, beautiful and solidly Catholic, and the joyful noise began to permeate the church of Atlanta."

Under the leadership of Msgr. Gracz, the church also built a new building, moving in 1984. The famed "Tin Tent" was converted to a family center.

As Lela Long, far left, holds a bowl of burning incense, banners bearing each year of the church's existence year are processed into and around Church of the Transfiguration. Judi Burke led the procession of banners during the 9 a.m. Mass with the 1977 banner as the choir sang "O Happy Day."

Traditions of the past mix with the present here. Buried under the current altar is soil from Mount Tabor in the Holy Land, the site of Jesus' transfiguration.

In 1989 Msgr. Bishop became pastor and in 1997 a new parish center was dedicated, to accommodate religious education, social functions and parish administration.

Yet the pastor noted how it's harder today to catch that spirit and enthusiasm as the Catholic Church undergoes scrutiny. "We are committed to a church firmly rooted in the holiness and beauty of our traditions, faithful to the Gospel and to Rome - a church that celebrates and recalls the beauty of our music, art, theology and customs, while determined to share those with a skeptical and modern world used to other types of media and educational experiences. We remain committed to a church that calls forth the very best of all its members . . . a church where Eucharist is a verb and the body of Christ is not only a sacrament placed in our hands but the life we live when we leave here."

Alan Berthiaume, maintenance supervisor for Church of the Transfiguration, Marietta, unloads 33 of the 91 sheet cakes picked up on Sept. 29 from the Costco Wholesale Grocery, Kennesaw. (L-r) Muriel Crerand, Maria Finnegan and Jackie and Byron Peterson hold proportional slices from the 91 full sheet cakes ordered by Finnegan for the weekend parish anniversary celebration. The cakes were provided in flavors of vanilla, chocolate and carrot.

He affirmed the church continues to be committed to serving the poor, protecting all life and supporting parents in raising families; in reaching out to youth; welcoming both the happy and sad, believers and seekers, the connected as well as the estranged; and celebrating successes while helping people face failures.

"Once you have seen the face of the transfigured Christ, you can never look upon him again the same way. We have seen him transfigured - for 25 years in this wonderful community," he said. "He is risen and so are you. You must never be counted among the dead again. For all that you've been over the last 25 years, God bless you. Maybe the real test of that commitment to the parish you've built here will come in the next 25 years. Don't miss out, not after bringing us this far. I love you!"

A prayer of petition was made that "the spirit of renewal and enthusiasm for liturgy that gave birth to this parish might renew the church of Atlanta."

Eucharistic ministers gathered at the altar and attendees knelt on the tile floor for the liturgy of the Eucharist.

The choir, with instruments ranging from saxophone and violin to maracas and flute, led the congregation in a typically diverse mix of songs including a jazz version of "Lamb of God," Latin chant, Gospel Alleluia, a song by John Michael Talbot and the "parish anthem" entitled "We Are Called." Their version of "Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo" (We Are the Body of Christ) made one feel like jumping on a dance train.

Msgr. Patrick Bishop extends the sign of peace to a parishioner during the 9 a.m. Mass. The Cobb County parish celebrated its 25th anniversary at one Mass on Sept. 28 and six Masses on Sept. 29

Continuing the celebration, after Masses parishioners walked through the picture-lined halls to the parish hall for a reception, for which 91 sheet cakes were ordered.

Since its beginnings, the church has grown from 45 to 4,200 families, and now has over 60 ministries. They include Rainbows child support group, pre-school, career ministry (new this year), deaf ministry, Haiti Parish Twinning Program, and health/wellness ministry. The first Spanish Mass was held in 1998, and now draws over 500 to each service. Perpetual adoration has been held since 1996. The school of religion has about 2,400 students including the ChrisTeen program for junior and senior high which has 600, and there are plans to revive college and young adult groups this fall.

Bruce Kile, a member since 1979, said after the service that he is proud to be part of the only four generation family at the parish, where he has "served just about every capacity."

Father Eric Hill, left, and Myra West-Allen stand in the gathering area of Church of the Transfiguration, Marietta, prior to Sunday morning Mass, Sept. 29.

"There is something going on all the time, every day," he said. Among his ministries, he is a guardian at the perpetual adoration chapel. "It has really brought even more spirituality to the church. Getting people to attend or sign up it's no problem," he said. "Even people who aren't participating or for whatever reason can't, I think they're pleased to know that it's there for adoration 24-7."

He knows firsthand the power of Transfiguration prayers. He recalled how the day his oldest son was getting married his bride-to-be had a stroke, forcing them to hold the wedding at a hospital chapel while the ceremony to be held at the church was turned into a healing Mass for his daughter-in-law. The following year the family received an outpouring of love and support from the parish. "The entire parish rallied around us during a tough time."

Jenny McComb, who joined the church in 1978, said she receives spiritual nourishment through the Transfiguration liturgy, and especially likes Msgr. Bishop's homilies, known to speak personally to members in their daily lives. "The music is outstanding and monsignor's homilies are the best, very moving. The parish is family. I come from a family of 10 and they're not here and this replaces them."

Judy Goddard also loves the liturgy. "People are not afraid to express themselves as part of the liturgy. They don't sit back and watch - you participate," she said. "It's a wonderful mixture of young and old, grandparents and children. It's a very warm, very accepting parish."

Other celebratory activities included a semi-formal dinner and dance, where annual awards were given to members for service. Sherrie McQueen received the Lumen Gentium award for bringing the Gospel to the larger community; Don Gale received the Christian Living award; and Carla Snyder received the Pastor's Award for outstanding service in the past year.