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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
NOVEMBER 9, 1957.
Bishop Hyland Marks First Anniversary
FIRST BISHOP OF ATLANTA
INSTALLED LAST NOV. 8TH
ATLANTA — On November!
8th, His Excellency the Most Rev. j
Francis E. Hyland, D.D., J.C.D.,;
observed the first anniversary of j
his installation as Bishop of the
Diocese of Atlanta.
On that day, one year ago. His
Excellency was installed before
at rapt congregation at the Ca
thedral of Christ the King. In
stalling the Bishop was His Ex
cellency the Most Rev. Amleto
Giovanni Cicog'nani, Apostolic
Delegate to the United States. De
livering the sermon on this, oc
casion was the Most Rev. Gerald
P. O’Hara, Bishop of Savannah
and Apostolic Delegate to Great
Britain.
It was on November 8th of last
year that the Executory Decree
put into full effect the Division
of the' former Diocese of Savan-
nah-Atlanta. It was on July 2nd.
1956 that the Holy See divided
the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta
into two dioceses, establishing the
Diocese of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Diocese embraces
22,137 square miles and has a
total Catholic population of 23,-
695. There are 23 parishes, 19
chapels, 17 missions and 12 sta
tions.
There are 26 Diocesan priests
and 72 Religious priests in resi
dence in the diocese. There are-
25 Brothers and 12 Religious Or
der of Women whose members
number 146.
In the diocese there are three
high schools, 14 elementary
schools and one Orphanage for
boys. There are three General
Hospitals with a bed-capacity of
440.
The history of Atlanta’s Ca
thedral of Christ the King dates
back many years. Although the
Diocese of Atlanta was only er-
rected last year, the history of its
Cathedral parish dates back more
than twenty years.
Shortly after his installation as
Bishop of Savannah, the Most
Reverend Gerald P. O'Hara, D.D.,
investigated the needs of the
Catholics residing in the northern
sections of Fulton and DeKalb
counties, and as a result, deter
mined to establish a separate par
ish in that neighborhood for their
convenience.
At a meeting of the Diocesan
Consultors, held in Savannah on
Thursday, May 28th. the Bishop
announced the proximate erec
tion of the new parish, and made
known that it would receive the
title of “Christ the King.” On
June 15th, 1936, the Parish of
Christ the King, Atlanta, was es
tablished, and the Rev. Joseph E.
Moylan, then in charge of the Im
maculate Conception parish, At
lanta, was appointed its first pas
tor.
A plot of ground was acquired,
about four acres in extent, situat
ed along the most beautiful part
of Peachtree Road, between
Peachtree Way and Wesley Road.
Already on this site there stood a
fine old mansion, originally
THE MOST REV. FRANCIS E. HYLAND,
BISHOP OF ATLANTA
D.D., J.C.D.
known as the Durant home. In
more recent times it had become
the property of the Ku Klux Klan
and had been used by that organ
ization as its national headquar
ters. At the time of its purchase
by the new parish the property
was in other hands, and was
known as the “Wesley Apart
ments,” the name being derived
from its location.
The summer of 1936 was well
advanced when, all. legal require
ments and technicalities having
been complied with, the Church
secured possession of the proper
ty. The first Mass in the new par
ish was celebrated - by Father
Moylan on the porch of the old
mansion, from now on to be
known as the Rectory. It was the
feast of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
For three Sundays thereafter,
Mass continued to be said on the
rectory porch. In the meantime,
however, the north side of the
first floor was being converted
into a temporary chapel. When
completed, this chapel accommo
dated two hundred and twenty
people. Here all the Masses were
said until Sept. 12, 1937, when
upon the completion of the base
ment of the school, the Sunday
Masses were celebrated in the
latter place. The week day serv
ices continued to be held in the
temporary chapel in the rectory.
As soon as possible work was
started on the new church and
school buildings. The school was
finished first, and was solemnly
blessed by the Bishop on Oct. 31,
1937. Classes were conducted in
the new building for the first
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