Bev Darcy, one of the retreat organizers, said she felt the common thread applied to so many varied roles in the parish's ministry, each of them a "celebration of gifts," yet all connected by their faith.

Stewardship committee member Mary Miller added that the idea was to hold a special weekend of prayer and fellowship for those directly involved in ministries, based on the verse from 1 Peter, 4:10, " ... as each one has received a gift, use it to serve another as good stewards of God's varied graces."

The keynote speaker and director of the special weekend retreat was Kathy Kuczka, liturgy and music director of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Alpharetta.

A relatively new church, St. Mary Magdalene began as a mission of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City and was officially elevated to the status of parish last October by the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

The church presently is located on 40 acres on Lower Fayetteville Road in Coweta County, adjacent to Coke's Chapel United Methodist Church, near Ga. Hwy. 154 (McCollum-Sharpsburg Road). Some events are held in an old tin barn located on the property, which formerly was a farm. Parishioners presently are conducting a capital campaign to raise funds for their first church building.

Masses currently are celebrated at East Coweta High School on Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalene's first and present pastor is Father Daniel J. Fleming.