Last week we mentioned a human trafficking discussion at Mt. Bethel UMC that featured Mary Frances Bowley, who leads a local organization fighting childhood sexual abuse and exploitation.
She’s going to be back in the community again next Thursday at a forum on the topic at the Catholic Church of St. Ann.
It’s called “Get the F.A.C.T.S.,” and the acronym stands for Fighting to Abolish Child Trafficking for Sex. The forum is from 6:30-8 in Nolan Hall at the church (4905 Roswell Road).
Bowley started Wellspring Living, which was started in Atlanta in 2011. She is a member of the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, and will be joined at the St. Ann forum by representatives from the Cobb District Attorney’s Office and the Cobb County Police Department.
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A Catholic Church of St. Ann priest has responded to his parish’s membership this week after the Archdiocese of Atlanta published a list priests, deacons, seminarians and other religious workers it says have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors over many decade.
Two of those named in the report were a pastoral aide who was convicted of molesting two boys while working at St. Ann in 1999-2000, and a priest at a Canton parish who may have been at the East Cobb church on occasion in the early 1990s.
Rev. Wilton Gregory, the Atlanta Archbishop, said he was publicly identifying those on the list “in a spirit of transparency and the hope of continued healing for the survivors of abuse.”
On Friday, the Rev. Raymond Cadran, the St. Ann pastor, sent a letter to members of the Roswell Road parish, expressing “my deepest sorrow and anger and hurt over the actions of any LaSalette or anyone associated with our name who has caused hurt and pain to any of God’s precious children, young people and their families.”
He said that “all credible claims were handled in an appropriate and timely manner.”
The names on the Atlanta list go back to the founding of the archdiocese in 1956 and were compiled from “the best information available to us at this time,” according to the Archdiocese.
Another name on the Archdiocese list is Father Raymond Horan, who was the founding pastor of Transfiguration Catholic Church in East Cobb. He was there from 1977-1981.
Kenneth Cassity was a pastoral aide who lived at the St. Ann rectory from Aug. 1999-July 2000. He had been considering becoming a priest with Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette (of which St. Ann is a part) but was dismissed in 2000. In 2002, Cadran wrote, a “credible accusation” was made against Cassity while he was working at a Catholic church in Florida.
In June 2003, he pleaded guilty to two counts of molestation stemming from the St. Ann charges. He was sentenced to three years in prison and seven more on probation.
In December 2003, the Atlanta archdiocese and the Missionaries of LaSalette settled a $10 million lawsuit filed by the parents of Cassity’s molestation victims at St. Ann.
Rev. Ray Cadran
In August, the Catholic Archdiocese of Arlington, Va., acknowledged that it was told of an allegation of abuse by a minor against Cassity when he was a youth pastor at a parish there in 1992, and that law enforcement was notified.
That was the same year Richard Boucher, a priest at Our Lady of La Salette Church in Canton and who visited St. Ann on occasion, was accused of abusing a minor.
According to Cadran, Boucher “was immediately removed from all priestly and pastoral ministry by the La Salette Missionaries, as is still the case to this day. He may have had reason to be on our campus occasionally while he was in Canton for events such as a penance service.”
Cadran, who has been at St. Ann since 1996 and was at the Canton parish before that, also urged church members to contact the Atlanta archdiocese hotline 1-888-437-0764 with about a credible allegation of sexual abuse against a minor by a priest or religious worker.
“With you, I pray that the bishops gathered may find the strength and wisdom to create the way forward with their decisions and truly take the bold action necessary to heal the Church,” Cadran wrote in his letter.
UPDATED, SUNDAY, 1:15 P.M. Earlier today Father Fernando Molina-Restrepo, the pastor at Transfiguration, also posted a letter to his congregation regarding Horan, who later served at other churches in metro Atlanta and Georgia.
According to the Atlanta Archdiocese, Horan was removed from the ministry in 1992. He died last year at the age of 74.
“It’s obviously painful to see this news and recognize that enough evidence had been shown” for Horan’s removal, Molina-Restrepo wrote:
“Important now is that we, as a parish family, continue to pray for all victims of child sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of Atlanta is seeking to be transparent and giving assistance to anyone who may have been harmed. The Archdiocese of Atlanta, as the Archbishop has said numerous times, is always ready to assist victims with professional help and with whatever is needed for their healing.
“Here at Transfiguration, please know that we, as your parish clergy, are always willing to find a time to sit down and visit with any of you who may be struggling with this information or need advice, counsel or referral.”
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The first weekend of October feels all too summery, with high temperatures expected to remain at least in the high 80s into early next week. In the mean time, the fall spirit is in the air with these East Cobb Weekend Events from our calendar listings:
The 10th anniversary of Oktoberfest is Saturday from 10-4:30 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2922 Sandy Plains Road), with the usual festive lineup of food, drink, oompah-music, crafts, games, a horse shoe contest and a petting zoo. Admission is $5 for adults (or 6 food cans) and $2 for children (or 2 cans) and food/drink tickets are extra; cans will be donated for MUST Ministries. Additional free parking is at Addison ES or the adjacent post office after 1 p.m.;
Right up the road, and shortly after Oktoberfest is over, is the Transfiguration Catholic Fall Fair, from 5-8 on the church grounds (1815 Blackwell Road). Food, games, crafts and other activities can be enjoyed by the whole family; event tickets are $1 each;
Another big church event takes place on Sunday, as the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road) is holding a 40th anniversary festival from 1:30-4:30;
One more church-related item, also on Saturday: Bring your pets from 10-10:45 a.m. to St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road), for a free Blessing of the Animalsthat’s becoming a parish tradition. Please keep animals leashed or caged as appropriate;
On Saturday, the Lassiter Bands Recycling Day is from 9-4 as they continue fundraising for its Tournament of Roses trip in January. Come to the front parking lot of the school (2601 Shallowford Road) and bring items from the following approved list. Cost is $10 per vehicle;
Not on the calendar, but starting on Sunday: Regular Sunday opening hours at the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road), from 1-5, as part of expanded Sunday hours at selected Cobb branches.
Did we miss anything? Do you have a calendar item you’d like to share with the community? Send it to us, and we’ll spread the word! E-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com, and you can include a photo or flyer if you like.
Whatever you’re doing this weekend, make it a great one! Enjoy!
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The 37th Apple Annie Arts & Craft Show takes place Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road), and on Thursday, we swung by the volunteer and VIP event to get a glimpse of what’s on store for the weekend.
It’s part of a big holiday weekend of events in East Cobb. See our earlier post here, as well as our full Holiday Guide for more.
More than 120 artisanal artists and craftsmakers are selling their wares at Apple Annie—some, but not all of it—with a Christmas theme. This is one of the bigger juried arts and crafts shows in the area, and vendors are lined up not only in the fellowship area but downstairs and in classroom and meeting room space.
In addition to the arts and crafts sales, a bake sale will be available and the Apple Annie Cafe will serve soups, sandwiches and beverages, with the proceeds going to the St. Ann’s preschool.
There also will be continuous raffle prizes every 15 minutes from show artisans and there will be a separate raffle for a handmade 98″ x 98″ quilt.
Admission is $3 (no strollers), and proceeds go to church parish and local charities. Free parking is in the church lot, with overflow space and shuttle service available at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).
To see more East Cobb holiday events, please consult our Holiday Guide. Send your holiday news (including photos) to: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
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Thanks to the Cobb County School District for submitting the info and photos about a continuing program involving volunteers from East Cobb’s Catholic Church of St. Ann, who’ve been raising money for and delivering food for students at LaBelle Elementary School since 2015.
It’s part of the “Sharing Our Blessings” program with the church’s St. Paul de Vincent Society, and the items the volunteers also deliver include school supplies, board games, uniforms and books.
LaBelle is located southwest of Marietta, not far from Osborne High School, and a majority of the students are on a free or reduced-price lunch program.
When the volunteer effort began, around 150 bags of food were delivered each week by St. Ann volunteers. Now it’s grown to more than 400, more than enough to provide a bag for every student.
That’s around 5,000 bags since the school year began, according to Karen Miller, the “Sharing Our Blessings” coordinator at St. Ann. Around 20 volunteers prepare the food bags every Friday at the church before they are delivered to the school.
“They feel very special when they get the bag, even if it is only five items,” LaBelle art teacher Jerrilyn Price said. “They look forward to Fridays. They say, ‘Oh it is Friday! We get the bags today!’”
The St. Ann volunteer effort is gearing up for the upcoming holidays with another food collection drive, filling a truck with nine days’ worth of food for the students during their break.
Some of the money raised for the food collection comes via the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Hunger Walk.
“There are a lot ways a community can support a school,” Miller said.
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A very cold, wet and wintry weekend for Halloween events has passed, and temperatures are already rising to an autumn feel as November approaches.
To start the week off is tonight’s Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition (7 p.m. at McEachern High School), including the bands from Lassiter, Sprayberry and Wheeler. This part of the extravaganza has been delayed twice before by rain, but it’s clear today, and it should be in the low 50s tonight. Admission is $5.
Here’s what else is coming up in East Cobb through Thursday:
Most Halloween-related events were over the weekend, but at Powers Ferry UMC (245 Powers Ferry Road), they’re having a Trunk or Treat event on Halloween night, Tuesday, Oct. 31. It lasts from 6-7:30 p.m., and little trick or treaters are asked to wear their customes; in addition to candy, they’ll also be serving hot dogs;
Wednesday is Nov. 1, which for Roman Catholics is more than just the start of the month. It’s All Saints Day, a solemn Christian festival also known as All Hallows Day, and all three East Cobb parishes will be having special services. At Holy Family Catholic Church (3401 Lower Roswell Road), there’s a Tuesday vigil at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday masses at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., the latter two are bilingual and a Spanish Holy Hour respectively; at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road), the services Wednesday are at 6:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., with an All Souls mass Thursday at 7 p.m.; at Transfiguration Catholic Church (1815 Blackwell Road), a Spanish-language mass on Tuesday starts at 7 p.m., with Wednesday services at 12 p.m., 4 p.m. (children’s mass) and 7 p.m.;
The Page-Turners Book Discussion Group meets on Wednesday at the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road), and the book this month is “Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. If you’d like to read up for the December session, the club is giving you some latitude: Choose a biography of Abigail Adams and prepare to talk about it on Dec. 6;
Stretch into November with Yoga for Seniors, Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Road); registration is required for this event that’s part of the library’s continuing wellness program series;
Later on Wednesday, the East Cobb Library will hold another Family Fun Time event from 3:30-4:15, and is for children of all ages. Wednesday’s topic will a celebration of American Indian Heritage Month. The event is free, but all children must be accompanied by an adult;
After school on Wednesday is another installment of the Gritters STEAM Team series at the Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Road). From 3:30-4:30 students from K-5 can learn about geodosic domes. Experts deliver the lessons and the kids engage in hands-on activity;
The Gritters Drama Club is newly formed and is working toward a performance on Nov. 18 at the Mountain View Regional Library. The group meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 3:30-4:30, and is aimed at students for 4th and 5th graders. The club leader is theater connoisseur and Gritters staff member Olivia McCurley. Registration is required.
Did we miss something. Do you have a calendar item to share? Let us know? Send us your listings to calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it.
As hurricane season season continues (and with the looming possibility of Hurricane Irma taking an inland path into Georgia and metro Atlanta), the Cobb Emergency Management Agency is reminding citizens of upcoming Cobb emergency preparedness training sessions.
The latest round of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training was slated as part of National Preparedness Month in September, and one of those three-week sessions starts Saturday at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road).
The all-day training sessions last from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, 16 and 23, and covers all aspects of basic disaster preparation and response skills to emergencies at home, work or elsewhere. The sessions are free and open to the public, but registration is required.
“Being prepared for emergencies can literally mean the difference between life and death for many people,” Cobb Emergency Management Agency Director Cassie Mazloom said. “If nothing else, planning ahead can help reduce the problems that arise with a crisis and can make the event more bearable.”
Those completing the full course will receive certificate be issued by the Cobb Emergency Management Agency.
Fall is just about here, and not just because of the dropping (and very pleasant!) temperatures we’ve enjoyed in East Cobb this weekend. That in-between summer and fall feeling is also evident in this weekend’s local events calendar:
The finale of the 2017 Summer Stars Concert Series takes place Saturday at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road), featuring local musician Kip Rogers. “In Season” will feature some of his mellow, lyrical tunes, perfect for-season changing relaxation. Doors open at 7; the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Lawn seating is free, and tables of 8 cost $40;
If you prefer mellow relaxation of another kind, the East Cobb-based Atlanta Parrot Head Club is throwing a Jimmy Buffett tailgate party from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday at Red Hare Brewing (1880 Delk Industrial Blvd.), in part to celebrate the enactment of a new Georgia craft beer law. Admission is free, and there will be live music (albeit not Buffett, brew and BBQ for purchase;
Visit our events calendar for more live music options, including regularly scheduled sessions at selected East Cobb restaurants and taverns;
With hurricane season upon us (and coastal Georgia under evacuation orders), the Cobb Emergency Management Agency is offering certified emergency training for citizens around the county, including at East Cobb’s Catholic Church of St. Ann on Saturday. It’s an all-day commitment, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and continues Sept. 16 and Sept. 23. Call the church at 770-552-6400 ext. 6019 for more information;
Another weekend-ish event that actually takes place on Monday is an author event at The Book Exchange (2932 Canton Road), and featuring Amber Brock, author of “A Fine Imitation.” It begins at 6 p.m. and refreshments follow;
There’s a light schedule on the high school football front, with Lassiter, Walton and Wheeler all enjoying a bye week. Two teams have home games: Sprayberry vs. Campbell and Pope vs. Johns Creek. Kell visits Rome, and all three East Cobb teams in action Friday are trying to bounce back from losses.
