"Draw

together at one table, all the human family; Shape a circle ever wider,

and a people ever free. Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid

varied ways; Sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise."

Text: Delores Dufner

The people

of St. Matthew Catholic Church, founded in Fairburn, gathered with the

Most Rev. John F. Donoghue, archbishop of Atlanta, the Rev. Leo C. Holleran,

pastor, former pastors and priests of the diocese Sunday to dedicate their

new church building in Tyrone, off Kirkley Road.

The church

primarily serves South Fulton, Fayette and Coweta counties.

A procession

led by the Knights of Columbus from St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro

walked from the auditorium of Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, next

to the church building, to the door of St. Matthew where Donoghue gave

a blessing and Holleran ceremonially unlocked the entry.

"Go within

his gates giving thanks, enter his courts with all of you in His holy

church," said the archbishop.

The rite of

dedication in the Catholic Church is a solemn ceremony conducted within

the celebration of the Mass. Following the blessing of the baptismal font,

the procession entered the sanctuary for Mass and a series of rituals

that transformed the building into the house of God.

Donoghue anointed

the altar with holy oil, while Holleran, assisted by his fellow priests,

anointed the walls of the church, which can accommodate 700 parishioners.

Founding members of the parish, which was originally in Fairburn, processed

to the altar with the candlesticks and altar linens which were blessed

before placement on and around the altar.

Before dismissal,

the sacred hosts were placed in the open tabernacle and the sanctuary

lamp was lit. From beginning to end the ceremony took approximately three

hours, but the solemnity of the occasion punctuated with the joyous music

of the choir made it seem much more brief, reported those in attendance.

Holleran, who

has served as pastor of St. Matthew parish for five years, was asked when

he was appointed to help the 22-year-old congregation find a new home.

Its original home was in Fairburn at the Bishop and Poe Funeral Home.

The new church

building, according to Holleran, uses "new building materials that

are authentic and beautiful, from the Italian corpus of the crucifix,

to the limestone altar that adorns our sanctuary, the pews, to the baptismal

font."

One of most

notable accoutrements in the church's gathering space and baptistery is

the painting of St. Matthew the Evangelist. It was painted by Bro. Donald

Wininski. Holleran commissioned the painting in memory of his father and

sister.

"The painting

is an eclectic original by Brother Donald," said Holleran. "The

original painting of St. Matthew the Evangelist, by the Renaissance artist

Guido Reni, is on display in the museum of art at Bob Jones University

in Greenville, S.C. The university received the painting from the Vatican

museum," he added.

Just to the

right of the baptistery is a day chapel called the LaSalette Chapel in

honor of the Missionaries of La Salette for their service to the parish

over the past 22 years. A sculptural relief of Our Lady of La Salette

appearing to the two children in La Salette, France is mounted on the

interior wall.

Ground was

broken for the new building in July 1999, with construction completed

in October 2000.

Holleran described

his parish as a "diverse, dynamic and growing community. We have

great hopes and ambitions for our parish family. No matter what facilities

we build, it is the people who are the church."