"When

Deacon Zaworski volunteered to assist in the work of the St. Vincent dePaul

Society in 1954, little did he know how much of a servant to God's people

he would become," a church spokesperson said. "Permanent deacons

were unheard of in the Archdiocese of Atlanta in those days."

In 1965, the

permanent diaconate was reestablished as an ordained minister in the church,

and Zaworski was in the first class to begin studies. Today there are

152 ordained deacons in the Archdiocese serving in various ministries

throughout more than 100 parishes and missions in north Georgia.

As a pioneer

deacon, Zaworski served in many ministries and in many parishes over the

years, starting out at St. Anthony's in West End. Later, he served at

St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro, at Our Lady of Lourdes in Atlanta, and

as chaplain at Ft. McPherson. He has been assigned to serve at St. Gabriel

twice: once, when it was a mission of St. Philip, and currently, where

he says he has seen the parish blossom into a vibrant parish of its own,

serving more than 650 families.

In civilian

life, Zaworski worked for Delta Air Lines for 37 years in various capacities,

until his retirement in 1992, when he left as a flight dispatcher. He

also had a commercial pilot's license and served in the hospital corps

of the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Zaworski says

that police work has always had a special place in his life. While at

St. Philip's he was chaplain of the Clayton County Sheriff's Department

and later was a chaplain with the Atlanta Police and Fayette County Sheriff's

Department. Currently, he is chaplain for the Fayette County Marshal's

office.

"A chaplain

must be a friend as well as an example," Zaworski said. "He

should be a partner the officer can depend on when he is confronted by

danger or stressful issues."

Among his most

memorable experiences, Zaworski listed witnessing the marriage of his

son, Chris, baptizing his grandchildren, preaching to the soldiers and

their families in Germany and at Ft. Mac, the spirited liturgies and music

at Our Lady of Lourdes parish, and the police ministry experiences.

Zaworski is

married to the former Helen Vessell, a native of Fayette County. They

have three children and five grandchildren.

The public

is invited to attend the ceremony. The church is at 152 Antioch Rd. just

south of the intersection with Ga., Hwy. 92 South.

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