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La Salette statue in Narthex  of St. Ann Church, Marietta, GAThree parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, GA., staffed by the Missionaries of La Salette – St. Ann in Marietta, St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna and St. Oliver Plunkett in Snellville – collaborated to host the first La Salette Lay Ministry Summit from Wednesday evening through Saturday, July 20-23, 2011. It involved nearly 2,000 people: Staff Members, Lay Associates, Pastoral Assistants, Volunteers and?Parishioners who minister alongside the Missionaries of La Salette across North America. 
 
La Salette Missionaries and their lay co-workers came from California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and North Carolina for this celebration of faith and prayer, an opportunity to learn about crucial topics and simply get to know one another.
 
Fr. Thomas Reilly, M.S., Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Marietta, GA., welcomes everyoneThe La Salette Missionaries have ministered in North America since 1892 and have shrines and parishes across the country. They came to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in the summer of 1969 and have served in several parishes. Their community charism of reconciliation was a recurring topic during the Lay Ministry Summit.
 
Very Rev. Joseph Bachand, M.S., Provincial Superior of the North American Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas, explained the main content of the summit: “The three keynote speakers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings were challenging and encouraging in their messages on lay ministry, the Church’s social teaching and catechesis.” 
 
“Dr. Marti Jewell, Jack Jezreel and Mike Patin, all nationally (if not internationally) known, were well-versed in their respective topics anddynamic in their presentations. They had an obvious love for the Church and the Gospel, and hit just the right note for this gathering. All three were very encouraging in our providing such an opportunity. Workshops and experiences centered around the topics of liturgy and worship, social outreach and hospitality, lay ministry, as well as parish ministry and catechesis.”
 
Fr. Jim Kuczynski, M.S., thanks Jack Jezreel for his keynote presentationEach parish’s day was unique. St. Ann in Marietta began Wednesday evening with Fr. Bachand’s keynote and a reception. Thursday they concluded with a Concert led by Ed Bolduc and Graham Kuhn. Nearly 1,000 people attended. 
 
St. Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna offered a Prayer Service which included members from the Smyrna First Baptist Church, who, during a Christian Song, proceeded to quickly paint, on the spot, an eight-foot high, twenty-foot wide five-panel figure of the Crucified Lord, which served as the backdrop for the second half of the service. The evening’s meal concluded with ethnic dances from Mexico, India and Ireland. 
 
St. Oliver Plunkett offered many workshops during the day and concluded with a Mass presided by Most Rev. Luis Rafael Zarama, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese. His homily touched upon his own efforts in the area of reconciliation.
 
Fr. Jim Henault, M.S., thanks everyone at the closing MassFr. Bachand was very enthusiastic in his praise of this first La Salette Lay Summit: “Our praying together in every venue, the concert, the dance presentation, and the Mass with Bishop Zarama allowed us to grow in our awareness of our connection to God and to one another. Such variety! Such richness! Let us all give thanks to God for this graced opportunity and rejoice that God continues to use us to promote the message and work of reconciliation.”

Of those who participated, one mentioned: “This was great! This didn’t feel like any other convention I’ve been to. I am amazed that La Salette is so present and active in so many places.” Another added: “I’m from California. It’s so nice to get to know other people who benefit, as we do, from the ministry of the La Salette Missionaries.”

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BISHOP LUIS RAFAEL ZARAMA, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF ATLANTA, GREETS A CHILD AND HIS PARENTS AFTER MASS