Atlanta Catholic Centennial

Many of the earliest settlers of Atlanta were railroad men. They comprised men of various religious beliefs. Many of them were Catholics. Missionary priests from Augusta and Macon followed the construction of the railroads from their beginning and administered to the spiritual needs of the Catholics. Father John Barry afterwards bishop, and Father Gregory Duggan working from Augusta, Georgia, and Father Francis Shannahan working from Macon, Georgia, are known to have done missionary work among the early Catholics and it was probably one of these who celebrated the first Mass in Atlanta. Some claim that Father Barry celebrated the first Mass in the house of Patrick Lynch or Michael McCullouch in 1845. Others claim that Father Shannahan celebrated the first Mass in the house of Patrick Lynch.

Other missionary priests who, it is believed, did work in the service of the Master in this new settlement were: Father Timothy Bermingham of Columbus, Father Peter Whelan of Locust Grove, Father John Graham of Columbus and Macon, Father J. J. O'Connell of Macon, Father J. F. O'Neill, Sr., and Father Edward Ouigley of Savannah. Their work and their parishes covered a vast amount of territory and the boundaries were not definitely outlined.

For a priest to offer Mass in a house or residence in a community where there is no church is nothing unusual, and to the pioneers who were undergoing the hardships and strain of the early days the need for recording the dates of the first services in any location were deemed unnecessary. To them the fact that they had the opportunity to attend divine services was enough. The zeal and nobility of the above mentioned missionary priests is reasonable proof that Mass was celebrated here before 1845.

Documentary history of Catholicity in Atlanta commenced with the record book Register of the Catholic Church of Atlanta and the counties which may be attached to that mission. The first date is August 9, 1846, which records the baptisms of George Washington Shipley, Sarah Lavinia Shipley and Mary Divers. The Rev. Father John Barry, V. G., administered the sacraments. Sacraments administered at the residence of Mr. Terence Doonan. His residence was on the east side of Whitehall Street between Alabama and Hunter Streets at about where the old Nunnally's Candy Store was located. An old square top piano was used as an altar. Later Mr. Doonan built a residence on the west side of Whitehall Street a little north of Garnett Street (now Trinity Avenue). An old book cabinet which now belongs to Miss Katherine Lovette was also used as an altar in these early days before the construction of a church. Mr. Terence Doonan was one of the civil engineers who built the Georgia Railroad from Augusta to Atlanta. Father Barry, V. G., left the book containing the early records of the church in his care.