Dear Saint Michael family,
I really miss you all, even as I treasure the time we had together for eight years. During
my time in Gainesville, several days each week, I would walk past the first beautiful
gothic building where St. Michael worshipped beginning in 1933. I would pray every
day in thanksgiving for the graces bestowed on so many in that place. Knowing that it is
now a storage facility, I prayed often that the chapel would be restored to a place where
the Trinity is worshipped.
Amazingly, at the funeral of our parishioner Austin Edmondson, I mentioned my desire
to see the church, where Austin was baptized, restored to the worship of God. A
professional of Norton Real Estate was at the funeral and contacted me to say that
Frank Norton Jr. had acquired the property, including the church, and that the church
was not needed for their future property plans.
It is absolutely providential and nearly unbelievable that the church is now available for
our use. Moving it will require dismantling and reconstructing it on our current property.
God moves in mysterious ways especially when you understand and believe with a
strong faith in the power of prayer. The opportunity now for us to preserve the Catholic
history in Gainesville when our little church was part of the diocese of Savannah, before
the Archdiocese of Atlanta ever existed, is a gift of God to us.
St. Michael is blessed now with your new pastor Father Nestor Yulfo who is very
supportive of this all becoming a reality. With God’s blessing and your support this can
become a new Adoration chapel at St. Michael where children can be baptized again,
couples can be united in matrimony, and the Lord Adored.
The parish is in need of expansion so our parishioners can worship in the Nave and not
have to watch the Mass from the social hall, while adding more space for our children in
the School of Religion and adult bible studies downstairs.
I’m still praying for this initiative, and I won’t stop until the dedication.
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Tim
