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News: The Georgia Tech Community welcomes Father Tim Hepburn: Father Hepburn was raised in Atlanta, and in 1982 he began study for a degree in architecture at Auburn University in Alabama. In 1985 after some searching, he experienced a combination of God finding him and him finding God that set him on a course towards priesthood. With architecture degree in hand, he began studies for the priesthood in 1988 at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and was ordained in 1993 for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. After serving as pastor to two parishes, and then as chaplain at Blessed Trinity High School, he was named director of the University Catholic Center in Atlanta, where he serves the students of Emory University, Agnes Scott College and Emory at Oxford. Father Hepburn also serves as assistant vocations director for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. A gifted speaker, preacher, and musician, Father Hepburn has done work in evangelization to the youth including Steubenville conferences, and Firepower conferences in New Zealand, as well as the archdiocesan retreat, Sonfest, in Florida. He has also spoken at Marian conferences, charismatic conferences and retreats, Life in the Spirit Seminars, young adult retreats and many others. His heart’s desire is to preach and teach the Gospel of Christ so that all may have the opportunity to turn from sin, personally embrace Jesus Christ, live in the Spirit, and know their Heavenly Father’s will. Father Tim Hepburn joins us after being ordained 15 years ago and has been completing some continuing education at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, MI. Father Tim turns 44 this year one year older than when Father Mario began his long work at the Georgia Tech Catholic Center. Welcome Home Father Tim!!! Father Tim will arrive at the Catholic Center on May 14th and will give his first mass May 18th. Thank you from Father Mario: My Beloved Family, Really and truly there are no words with which I can adequately thank all of you for the super colossal and tremendously great turnout for the wonderful Farewell Party that our Kids so magnificently sneaked over on me. Thank you a million times a trillion for your many letters and emails. I had never, ever, expected anything like what happened to me on my last weekend at the Catholic Center, 26/27 April, 2008. Not only did we have the usual coffee and donuts social (which I announced at the Mass and later found out that that was just a "cover up" for the big event!), but they added a catered sandwich and fruit and vegetable finger food bar together with three very large cakes, coffee and soft drinks. I was overwhelmed when I learned that Coach George O'Leary sent us a huge check to cover all the expenses for the party. To him we are most grateful. At the party we had "at least 3,000 people!" What me exaggerate?! Anyhow, we did have a "ton" of many present and former students and their families, some of whom I had not seen in many years. Never did I expect Monsignor Joseph Corbett, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to concelebrate the 11:30 a.m. Mass. After Mass he read a touching and beautiful letter from Archbishop of Atlanta Wilton Gregory who could not be with us because of a prior Confirmation engagement. Among the things in that letter, the Archbishop stated that I am to return to the Catholic Center at Georgia Tech at a determined date in the Fall to witness the dedication of the "Father Mario Di Lella, O.F.M. Memorial Plaza" fronting the Catholic Center with a plaque which will remind people for all time of my ministry for 38 years to our students. That truly knocked me over and, yes, it brought many tears to my already moist eyes! We had the unique privilege of having Father Kevin Hargaden, now a Pastor in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to also concelebrate the Mass. Father Kevin is "one of my boys" who, as a student, was at one time the President of our Catholic Center Community. At the Mass and the post Mass ceremonies he was graciously helpful in bringing to me at the pulpit a box of tissues which I needed to wipe away the tears of joy so that I could see the text of the rest of what I wanted to say. Needless to say, he knew of my past history when things like this happen to me. In case you are wondering, he needed to make several trips to the pulpit from his chair at the altar. Again, as I said in my Retirement Announcement, I thank God for all the many graces and blessings and for giving me the joy and the happiness of serving our beautiful students for 38 years here at the Catholic Center at Georgia Tech. I also thank our Franciscan Provincials (our Superiors in New York) and the five Archbishops of Atlanta under whom I have had the privilege of working and who supported me over these many years. With that ancient anonymous sage who said: "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life," I can humbly and candidly say that after 55 years of Priesthood, I have never worked a day in my life! My new address will be: St. Anthony Friary, 357 - 2nd Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-2941, with new email address: ofmmario@gmail.com. God bless you. I love you all! Father Mario Finals Mass Schedual: During this week of FINALS we will have Mass at 6:00p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There will be no Mass on Friday nor on this coming weekend. After the semester break, our first WEEKEND Masses will be celebrated on SUNDAY only at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m, beginning on May 11. During the Summer Semester we have weekend Masses only on Sunday; no Mass on Saturdays. We would hope that you will pass this information on to any of our co-op students who might be returning for this new semester. If you have not been to a weekday Mass in a long time, Finals week is the time to come for spiritual refreshment of the Holy Spirit, God of wisdom and understanding. Special Bulletin from Father Mario Retirement Announcement Many of you might know that I am presently 81 years old. I have been the Campus Minister here at Georgia Tech for over thirty-seven and a half years. I arrived on campus on 10 September 1970. Never in my 55 years of Priestly Ordination have I enjoyed such a wonderful and fulfilling ministry. The time has now come for me to leave Georgia Tech. With the permission of my Franciscan Provincial (Superior) in New York, I shall retire to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Florida. At this retirement Community, God willing, I shall be engaged in part-time active ministry serving different parishes on weekends and at other times. The Archdiocese of Atlanta will select one of its own priests to take over the ministry here at the Catholic Center. The transition will take place at the end of this Spring Semester. The new priest will begin his ministry on Mother’s Day, 11 May 2008. I shall render my obedience to the Guardian (Superior) of St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Florida on Monday, 05 May 2008. With a heart full of gratitude, I thank God for having given me this unique privilege of serving our beautiful young people for all these years. What a great joy they all have been! I also extend my gratitude to the several Franciscan Provincials and Archbishops of Atlanta for permitting me to minister to this portion of the Lord’s Vineyard for these many wonderful years. I thank all my Kids who over the years have been such an inspiration to me. An unknown wise person once wrote: “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” Thomas Edison, the genius inventor, once said: “I never did a day’s work in my life, it was all fun.” In all humility and candor, I can truly say after 55 years of Priesthood, “I have never worked a day in my life!” May God bless you all! Father Mario! Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) Before Weekday Mass (5:00PM) or by appointment. St Francis Table (Soup Kitchen) Meet at the Catholic Center at 9:15AM Saturdays and help the Poor and Needy. We return around 12:30 PM. page by Brian Raspino |