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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1987)
PAGE 6 — The Georgia Bulletin, April 23, 1987 ■\ Bostonian Touch Has Influenced Cathedral's History BY RITA McINERNEY Monsignor John F. McDonough, vicar general of the archdiocese and administrator of the Cathedral of Christ the King, has been identified with the parish — off and on — since 1947 when he arrived from the archdiocese of Monsignor John F. McDonough Boston with the hope of serving in the missions of the South. He said he arrived in Atlanta as a “lend - lease” priest who was soon told by Monsignor Joseph Moylan of the need for priests in Atlanta. He was named assistant pastor at Christ the King, and was incardinated into the diocese of Savannah - Atlanta in 1949. The lively sounds — the shouts, calls and laughter — of school children at recess came through the large window of his corner office in the rectory as he talked about his years at the Cathedral parish. His first assignment lasted from 1947 until 1956 when he was sent to LaGrange and later Rome. He came back to Buckhead in 1964 as administrator. Two years later, Bishop Joseph Bernardin became auxiliary bishop to the ailing Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan. “When he came, I resigned,” Monsignor McDonough said, “so he could take over this place." He was named monsignor while serving as pastor at Holy Spirit from 1966 until 1972. During these years he built the new church and forged a bond between the parish and the Episcopal congregation of St. Dunstan’s which shared the sanctuary on Sunday morning for five or six years. Monsignor McDonough returned to Christ the King as g administrator in 1972 after the death of his close friend, g Father John Stapleton. He said he sees his tenure as “con- g tinuing in the footsteps of John Stapleton,” who is z remembered for fostering the growth of the parish, for *< building a new rectory to replace the aging Durant man sion, and for encouraging Hamilton Smith, director of music, in his fund-raising efforts for the magnificent Ruf- fati organ which has enhanced the Gothic-style cathedral since its installation in 1972. “Just about all I have done is keep it on a steady keel,” he said modestly of his years as administrator of a parish which today has about 2,200 families. But according to the history of the parish written to mark this 50th anniver sary year, he introduced tithing, has been instrumental in the continued growth of the school, and has encouraged the development of the choir under Smith to where it has become one of the foremost singing groups in the city. Development has changed Peachtree Road from the main street of an affluent, peaceful suburb into a crowded patchwork of luxury apartments, townhouses and office towers. Almost all the substantial houses which sheltered first families of the parish have been leveled in the name of progress. As the neighborhood changed, so must the parish. While the area still is home to the wealthy, both old families and successful corporate executives, it also counts among its population elderly men and women sur viving on Social Security, young families, and singles who find the ambience of the neighborhood to their liking. Many of the newcomers have found a welcome at Christ the King. His parish has always had continuity. Mon signor McDonough said. “People know each other. Right now we have a good many children and grandchildren of original parishioners — still worshiping, still involved.” For him, one of the pleasures of the anniversary celebra tions on May 3 and 4 will be seeing the oldtimers returning for the events. He is delighted with the hundreds of parishioners who have worked for over a year to make the anniversary a memorable occasion. They're “good people, loyal, devoted to the parish and the archdiocese financially and every other way.” Christ The King (Continued from page 1) columned mansion on the four-acre property purchased by Bishop O’Hara when the parish was established. The man sion also served as first worship space for the congregation after a section of the first floor was converted into a chapel accommodating 220 people. Now known as Sister Rose O’Donoghue, Sister Mary Evangeline was one of the five Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart who came south from Philadelphia to teach in the new school in Buckhead, a prosperous residential area just north of the city limits of Atlanta along Peachtree Road. There was Sister Mary Clement, first superior and prin cipal; Sister Mary Martha, who taught seventh and eighth grades; Sister Rosella, fifth and sixth; Sister Mary Christine, third and fourth, and Sister Mary Evangeline, first and second. Those early days were recalled by Sister Rose O’Donoghue in a telephone conversation recently. They went down in the summer of 1937 at the request of Bishop O’Hara, she said. “We taught CCD that summer;” there were 45 students enrolled. The Grey Nuns had agreed to teach the summer school and then return in September to staff the new parish school. There were 101 children registered when classes began in the new school building in November, 1937. Sister O’Donoghue said she taught there from 1937 until 1945. and again from 1957 until 1960. She later taught at D’Youville Academy in Atlanta. After serving as teacher and principal for more than 50 years she is now at the motherhouse of the Grey Nuns in Yardley, Pa. The memories of the years she spent at Christ the King are good ones and she is looking forward to the reunion. She remembers both the children and their parents fondly. The parents, she said, were active from the beginning. “They were very good to us, very interested in their children. They gave them lots of opportunities.” She recalled Father Thomas Finn, curate serving with the first pastor, Father Joseph P. Moylan, and Mrs. William Manning as being chiefly responsible for organiz- Special Musical : A highlight of the 50th anniversary celebration events for Christ the King School will be the school’s annual Spring Musical, performed by students in grades six through eight. “50th Anniversary Musical Celebration” will consist of music of the past 50 years with special acts from the era and a narration of events during this time period. There will be two performances on Wednesday, April 29 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the school gym nasium, 46 Peachtree Way. Admission is free. All parents and friends are invited to attend. ing the Parent Teacher Association at the school. She credited Sister Mary Clement as being an excellent choice for first principal. “She set the school on solid ground,’! which later contributed to its phenomenal growth in both enrollment and scholastic reputation. A strong link connecting the Grey Nuns to the school they served 50 years ago has been Sister Betty Donohue, who came to Christ the King first in 1958. “Sister Betty kept us informed,” said Sister O’Donoghue. about the school and its many achievements including the national School of Ex cellence award gained in 1986 under the leadership of Sister Jean Liston. Sister Donohue is now parish librarian at the parish and was school principal and superior from 1958 to 1964. At the request of Monsignor McDonough, several years ago she began compiling scrapbooks of parish history from the newspaper clippings, photographs and other memorabilia of the first years. These carefully preserved scrapbooks were invaluable resource material for the many committee members working since last year to properly cele brate the half-century of the parish. One of the committee members. Mary Ellen Howley, co-chairman with Linda Lehner Holman of the school reunion, said she spent 13 happy years in both grade and high school. (The high school for girls at Christ the King graduated its last class in 1958. That same year St. Pius X High School was dedicated by Bishop Francis E. Hyland, the first bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta which was established in 1956.) Mrs. Howley remembers Sister Mary Evangeline well and is looking forward to seeing her on May 3. She spent three years in her first and second grades. Since she entered Christ the King school when just five years of age, parents Eddie and Lucille Rich Howley thought it best that she repeat the first grade. “She was a marvelous teacher,” she recalled. “She was French Canadian and taught us French songs. We sang them all the time.” The principal, Sister Mary Clement, she remembered as being outgoing and exuberant, in contrast to the “usually rather reserved” image the Grey Nuns had. From the earliest years, Mrs. Howley said, her life revolved around school and church. Her friendships, her parents’ social activities, all were shared with other parishioners. There were church suppers and First Friday breakfasts which the mothers prepared for the school children. Some of the mothers met regularly to sew for the Cancer Home. These happy years will be recalled on Sunday, May 3. in the Hyland Center and school following the 9 a.m. liturgical celebration for the school children in the cathedral. During a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. open house, memorabilia and a slide show will stir the returnees' memories. They will step back from the pressures of today and reach out with nostalgia for those childhood years when catechism and grammar were books to live by, and concerts and carnivals the highlights of seasons that slipped by much too quickly. CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL STUDENTS: 2nd grade class - 1941-42, Front row: Peter McEvoy, Connie DeKouff, Neal Gunn, Kathryn Rich, Jack Mitchum, Dixie Brandt, Helen Garceau, Helen Willis, Michael Black. Row 2: John Brennan, Susan Kahn, Collette Rosseau, John Hiles, Josie Lucchese, John Sinclair, Leila Montford, Bubba Seitz, Marilyn Fye. Row 3: Luke Glancy, Sissy Long, Unknown, Stanley Arkwright, Jane Canty, Teenie Haverty, Barbara Ann Edge and Jim my Brawner.
