PAGE 6 — The Georgia Bulletin, April 23, 1987
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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.
