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PAGE 15 — The Georgia Bulletin, November 9, 1989 Father Bayer Takes Over As St. Patrick's Pastor PROUD MOM — Grace Bayer of St. Louis, Mo. is kissed by her hus band, Ken, and her son, Father Ken, after the Mass installing him as pastor of St. Patrick’s, Norcross. (Photo by Terry Thomas) BY JUDY TEMPKA Atlanta’s Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, celebrated Mass Nov. 1 at St. Patrick’s Church in Norcross, installing Father Ken W. Bayer, MSFS, as its pastor. Nearly 500 people were present at the evening ceremony. Joining in the celebration were Deacon Stan Barrows of St. Patrick’s parish; Father Joseph Fahy, CP, the Hispanic Apostolate for the St. Patrick’s community and Father John DeVore, MSFS, who, along with Father Bayer, was transferred in September from St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceville to St. Patrick’s. As part of the installation ceremony, several items were presented to Father Bayer symbolizing the responsibility one takes on when becoming pastor. Kathy Marchman, St. Patrick’s Church secretary and her son Michael, 18, brought up the keys: one to the door of the church, one to the rectory and the Tabernacle key, all of which symbolize the pastor’s responsibility to the church facility. Ms. Marchman represented both the church staff and a group entitled New Begin nings, for the separated, widowed and divorced of the parish. Michael served as the church’s teen and youth representative. The Book of Gospels, used at Mass for Scripture readings, was presented to the pastor by Bob and Rita Ridgard, who work as directors of the parish RCIA (Rite of Christian In itiation for Adults) pro gram. The Ridgards were representative of those who want to become Catholics. The stole, which signifies the priest’s role as pastor and his power to ad minister sacraments, was handed to Father Bayer by Rose and Ernie Milot. Rose comes to daily Mass and her husband is currently studying in the RCIA pro gram to become a Catholic. Lastly, three Holy Oils — the Oil of the Catechumens, the Holy Chrism and the Oil of the Sick — were brought forth by Tim and Rita Shields and their young children. The Shields fami ly represented the parish family. In remarks at the end of the Mass, Father Bayer thanked the other cele brants and all who partook in the service, noting that having Archbishop Marino as bishop "makes it a special joy to be a priest." He added he was “delighted to be here — and now its official!” Present at the installa tion Mass were Father Bayer’s parents, Ken and Grace Bayer of St. Louis, Mo., who bubbled with praise over their son’s new assignment. "We feel great about it,” said Grace Bayer, adding that “pastoring certainly requires some experience and some expertise.” The senior Bayer, who explained that his son only uses the initials MSFS after his name to differentiate between the two Ken’s, commented, "We’re very much in favor” of his son’s pastorate. “I do believe he has some very good ideas. I think he has a love of people. He wants to do what he can for them,” he said of Father Ken, who celebrated 14 years in the priesthood in September. Father Bayer, one of 10 children, served as assis tant pastor of St. Patrick’s from 1975 until 1979. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he attended Catholic University and began working toward a Doctor of Ministry degree. He has all but a project in ministry completed. In March 1981 he was assigned pastor of St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceville, a position he held until August of this year. He was officially ap pointed as pastor of St. Patrick’s on Sept. 1, 1989. Of his over 8 years at St. Lawrence, Father Bayer recalls, “I absolutely loved it. I’ll never forget it. And I won’t tell you much about it.” His desire to “keep my mouth shut about St. Lawrence” stems from a deep-seated philosophy to get on with life in the pre sent and not linger on about a life change, a past loss, a former “spouse.” Father Bayer looks at the installation ceremony as “a way of saying the bishop is affirming my presence here, that he understands the transitions here.” The two new priests coming in to St. Patrick’s replace three priests who were reassigned. An installation for a new pastor is not a required ceremony, Father Bayer explained, adding that, likewise, a party is not necessary to mark one’s birthday. “You don’t have to have a birthday cake with candles to clock another year,” he said. But, “hu man beings and churches need to mark passages...to celebrate passages.” The installation Mass, he went on, “is an opportunity to celebrate, to gather as family.” There are 1,800 regis tered families, an esti mated 6,000 people, in the parish on Beaver Ruin Road in Norcross. In sounding out his feel ings on the priesthood, in general, and pastoring, in specific, Father Bayer said, metaphorically, that “the purpose of the minister is to restore the image of the Master. One of his pastoral goals, he said, is “to strengthen this parish’s self image. I don’t see some of the parishioners as having a tremendous sense of iden tification with the parish ... a tremendous sense of pride.” There are those, he said, who don’t show up to do their tasks, those who come in late and leave early, and in general, “no sense of family.” Its strengths as a parish, he added, are the “ex ceedingly generous people, with their time, and the number of fine organiza tions” that exist. Too, St. Patrick’s is a “multi-ra cial, multi-socio-economic, multi-age ranged, very mixed parish. I love that!” k:k Atlanta Conference of Sisters Consultation and/or private retreat arrangements for women interested in religious life. Contact Sister Margarita. 636-5970 (evenings). D & A CONCRETE SPECIALIZING IN ALL KINDS OF RESIDENTIAL CONCRETE WORK • Repair & Replacement • Driveways • Sidewalks # Garage Slabs • Pool Decks • Patios 469-0093 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS To place classifieds, send check and write to: The Georgia Bulletin, 680 W. Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30308. Classifieds are 500 per word with phone number equaling 1 word. Deadline Fri day before publica tion. We publish on Thursdays. SERVICES AVAILABLE “PREGNANT?” Todiscuss abortion alternatives call BIRTHRIGHT 451-2273. Service is free and con fidential. HISPANIC SERVICES Of fers assistance to the His panic community in job placement, housing, orien tation, information and re ferral. Call Vicky Gonzalez for an appointment or infor mation at 888-7841. Catholic Social Services. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SER VICES has professional counseling services avail able on a fee basis for chil dren, adolescents, adults, couples and families at the Catholic Center downtown and in outlying parishes. In surance coverage avail able. Call 881-6571 for an ap pointment or information. FUND RAISING? Try Real Christmas Trees. Georgia Grown. High Return on In vestment. Delivered. Guaranteed quality by grower. 948-3396. CRISIS PREGNANCY SERVICES - Available through Catholic Social Ser vices. Call 881-6571 for help with medical care, living arrangements, discussion of options. Services Free and Confidential. BUSINESS SERVICES CHRISTIAN COUNSEL ING SERVICES: Individ uals, families, couples, slid ing fees, contact Tansie Walker, M.S. 956-7399. UPHOLSTERY - Refinish ing and made to order cushions. Call 344-2201 PAINTING - Interior & Ex terior and Restoration. Gabriel Bernal. 986-0828. 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