Print Issue: November 14, 2002

'Promised Land' - Grant Park Mission Fulfills One Search And Begins Another

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

Attendees carry a statue of San Felipe during a procession before the first Mass held at San Felípe Mission's new home in Forest Park. The service Oct. 19 drew over 1,000 people and began with a massive car procession from their old building in Grant Park. Philip Quinn, who volunteers teaching English, chats with a Sister of Charity at the first Mass at San Felipe Mission's new home in Forest Park. The new building has 10 classrooms to better teach its over 1,100 members and 130 children in religious education. Father Jose Duvan, priest in charge of San Felipe Mission, greets an attendee at the first Mass at San Felipe Mission's new church building. The Hispanic congregation had been looking for a permanent site for over 15 years, having been forced to hold Masses outside for lack of space in their old building. A huge car procession of Hispanic Catholics approaches San Felipe's new home, located at 925 Conley Road, Forest Park. Girls dressed as angels participated in San Felipe's celebration Mass Oct. 19. Archbishop John F. Donoghue will dedicate the building Nov. 30.

FOREST PARK - San Felipe de Jesús Mission has found their Tierra Prometida (Promised Land), after a long search.

After worshipping in Grant Park, first under a tree and eventually under a metal shelter outside for over 15 years, the mission moved into their new home in Forest Park Oct. 19 amid great celebration. The church will be dedicated and the altar annointed by Archbishop John F. Donoghue on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Priest administrator Father Jose Duvan is already excited and eager to expand outreach in the new facility for the Spanish-speaking mission - plus build an additional building on the new site.

"The new name that I've given to the mission (is) the Promised Land, because they waited so, so long. And as the people of Israel wandered in the desert enduring the geographic challenges, thirst and hunger, the community of Grant Park always waited even though they didn't see any hope. And for that today they are so happy to enjoy after 15 years a dignified place to celebrate and live the faith and encounter God."

Parishioners celebrated their new home by creating a huge caravan, driving from the Grant Park site to the new church four miles away. Hundreds of people, including a few little boys in suits or dressed like mariachi men, crowded into the tiny parking lot of the old building before departing in a procession of cars, many decorated with balloons and bows and Latin American flags. One truck had a model of the new church, while others carried a large crucifix and statues of San Felipe and Our Lady of Guadalupe. One young man rode the distance on his bike decorated with mini Mexican and American flags.

Over 1,000 mostly Hispanic people - predominately Mexican - attended the first Forest Park Mass preceded by mariachi music underneath a tent in the yard of the new church. The mood was of joy and optimism.

At a pot-luck celebration after the Mass, Maria Rivera, a member who lives 15 minutes from the church, the same distance as from the old one, said, "It's better. Although it's small, it's not outside. It's an opportunity to have a dignified place to attend Mass."

Rivera's relief is borne of a long history of waiting.

Over the past decade the archdiocese had looked at various buildings and land in Grant Park, but was unable to find a suitable location for the mission.

In March 2002, Father Duvan, serving the mission since 2000, decided to enlarge the geographic area, and he began looking at three sites in Forest Park. The chosen site is a 12,300 square feet, former Baptist church located on 4.6 acres at 925 Conley Road in a heavily Hispanic area. The building cost $785,000. The immigrant congregation raised $134,000 through taco and drink sales after Masses, raffles and donations from their communities. The remainder of the building costs was covered by the archdiocese. With limited financial resources many members also helped with carpentry and repair work prior to moving into their new home.

Even with the new building, Father Duvan is planning to expand. The church, which is a mission of Sacred Heart Church downtown, has grown at least 200 percent in the last two years. Father Duvan has begun a major fund-raising campaign to build a new church building to seat 750 on the site connected to the current one, which only seats 250. George Barrie, executive director of Catholic Construction Services, said the archbishop gave the mission permission to start phase one and raise more money for a new building. He said the new church proposal "is entirely feasible." For now, Sunday Mases will be added, said Father Duvan. As with the old site in Grant Park, the morning Masses attract more than 1,000 people.

As he kicks off a new fund-raiser for the mission, Father Duvan is asking churches, groups, and individuals to consider providing financial support to realize the mission's next project, and is eager to make presentations for interested persons about it, or have them visit the church to learn more. They're already beginning phase one of construction which involves members volunteering to lay cement to add 100 more parking spaces and a driveway and the acquisition of a house nearby for a rectory.

This fiscal year the archdiocese is also subsidizing a portion of their $125,000 operating budget, said Barbara Henderson, assistant finance director for the archdiocese.

"Now we have to go and look for more and seek the help of other churches," said Father Duvan. "Our community gives what it can on Sundays and now that we have a place I'm leading a campaign."

Father Duvan emphasized that one doesn't always have to go on foreign missions but can also help the faithful poor in south Atlanta. "Tend well the people we have here-and San Felipe Mission is the opportunity," he continued. Many of the members are single men without family here and for them "the church becomes the only place of gathering, celebrating the faith and experiencing family," he explained. "Without the support of the Anglo community it's hard to bring this project to a happy ending."

Father Duvan now has renewed enthusiasm to reach phase two. "I am very happy and very encouraged and every day I ask God to give me the wisdom and health to do what's best for these people who've waited so long for a church."

For information or to have a presentation on the mission project call (404) 675-0540 or to make a donation send checks payable to San Felipe de Jésus Mission to Father Duvan, Sacred Heart Church, 353 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta 30308.