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The
Sou
Diocese of
Savannah
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(Dross
Vol. 81, No. 22
Thursday, May 31, 2001
$.50 PER ISSUE
Saint Mark’s, Eastman, gains parish status
Left: Bishop J. Kevin Boland and Father Michael H. Smith (right) stand with Amy Woodard, Linda Dokey (teacher and coordina*
tor), Virginia Lin, Tim Butler, Mariella Baker, Molly Schlenz and Tim Butler, Jr., after the celebration of Confirmation and the
announcement of Saint Mark’s elevation to the status of a parish on April 25. Right: The religious education program at Saint
Mark’s includes a Garden of Prayer. In March, seeds were planted outdoors in a garden designed to represent the rosary. The boi*
der is constructed of 50 bricks, the walk includes stepping stones for the Our Fathers, plus the introductory prayers. A small statue
of Mary is at the entrance to the walk.
S aint Mark Mission, Eastman, had a double rea- In 1985 Bishop Raymond W. Lessard requested
son to celebrate its patronal feast day on April that the Catholics of Dodge County join Holy
I aint Mark Mission, Eastman, had a double rea
son to celebrate its patronal feast day on April
25. Bishop J. Kevin Boland confirmed six youth
and one adult from Eastman and McRae. He also
officially proclaimed the Eastman congregation a
parish, with responsibility for Dodge, Bleckley and
Pulaski counties. The bishop made the announce
ment of the parish’s canonical erection at the end of
the Confirmation Mass.
By 1971, a small but dedicated group of
Catholics in the Eastman area were gathering for
Mass on Monday evenings in the Episcopal
Church (originally a Presbyterian church) located
on the comer of Anson Avenue and Clements
Street. The Trinitarian Fathers who staffed
Immaculate Conception Church in Dublin minis
tered to the small Eastman congregation. In 1973
the Episcopal Church was sold and Catholic serv
ices began to be held on Monday evenings in the
homes of various church members. Later, Mass
was celebrated on Monday evenings at the First
Presbyterian Church on Oak Street. Regularly
scheduled services were then interrupted for a peri
od of time, and practicing Catholics drove either to
Cochran or to Dublin each Sunday for Mass.
Danger off the coast
—page 3
Redeemer Parish in McRae. On September 1, 1989,
Glenmary Father Donald Tranel was assigned to
Holy Redeemer, and was commissioned by the bish
op to establish a formal community in Dodge
County. The bishop soon approved a plan for a
Catholic Church in Eastman. The plan called for a
commitment of 40 people before a permanent
Catholic community would be established. The
group found a former Episcopal Church on the
Dublin Road suitable for its needs. They promptly
began making repairs and renovations. Bishop
Lessard celebrated the opening Mass for the newly-
founded mission on Sunday, December 3, 1989.
From an initial group of 8 people, the congregation
grew to more than 75. It soon became obvious that a
larger, permanent facility was necessary to meet the
needs of the growing mission.
When Sister Elizabeth Ann Dudas, a Holy Spirit
Missionary Sister, arrived as pastoral associate in
the fall of 1991, there was already $ 18,000 in the
building fund. She soon increased that amount by
obtaining a major grant from the Catholic Church
Extension Society. Saint Mary on the Hill Parish,
Augusta donated doors, marble, the tabernacle and
light fixtures. On April 23, 1994 Bishop Lessard
dedicated Saint Mark Church, which he called “the
little Cathedral of middle Georgia.”
Father Michael H. Smith, pastor since 1997,
says, “As pastor here I sense a strong sense of
responsibility among our laity to be active and take
initiatives to keep the parish alive and growing,
reaching out to new people, and welcoming those
who come.” Saint Mark’s has been free of debt and
any need for outside subsidies since shortly after its
dedication. This combination of active lay leaders
and becoming self-supporting seemed to indicate the
mission was ready to stand on its own as full-fledged
parish. It continues to enjoy a sister parish relation
ship with Holy Redeemer, McRae, sharing the sup
port and services of the same pastor.
Saint Mark’s has always enjoyed a solid diversi
ty in its active members, but the past few years
have seen a growth in the Hispanic community, so
that this year over one half on those participating
_ in the religious education program were of Hispa
nic background. The first communion class includ
ed three “Anglos” and 9 Hispanics.
(Continued on page 11)
Habitat
—page 7
Memorial Day Mass
—page 12