By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@TheCitizenNews.com

"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."