The Mission of Our Lady of La Salette was begun in 1969 as a mission of
the newly established parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cartersville. Saint
Francis Parish itself had been opened by the Redemptorist Fathers and had
been for many years attached to Saint Joseph Parish in Dalton. Now in 1969
the new parish and Saint Clement Mission in Calhoun were entrusted to the
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, a religious order of men new to the
archdioceses. Father Joseph Loftus, M.S. was named as the first pastor with
Father Peter McKeown, M.S. as assistant pastor. The new Mission of Our
Lady of La Salette at Canton served the counties of Cherokee and Pickens.
Mrs. Victoria Cox, a dedicated Catholic, used her good offices to obtain
permission from the Georgia Power Company to use its premises for the
celebration of Mass. The Mission consisted of twelve families when the first
Mass was celebrated in the display kitchen of the Georgia Power Company
in Canton.
By 1976 the fledgling community had grown to 45 families. Children would
sit in a corridor for instructions, the women held their guild meetings outside
on the curb and the priest celebrated Mass on a makeshift alter facing the
sink and stove.
Land was purchased and in April 1977 a new church was dedicated on Sam
Nelson Road, then known as Shoal Creek Road. The Catholic Community
by God's grace continued to grow and in 1979 Father Joseph Nolan, M.S.
was sent from Cartersville to become administrator of the Canton Mission
and to establish his residence there. At first he rented quarters in Holly
Springs. Then in 1980 a house was purchased close by the church to
become the parish rectory. The number of the faithful had now increased to
140 families.
After consultation with the Presbyteral Council according to the prescription
of Cannon 515.2, the Pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville and the
Dean of the area, it seemed in the best interest of the faithful and the
Church at large to accord this Mission full parish status. Therefore, the
canonical consultation having been made, Most Reverend Thomas A.
Donnellan, Archbishop of Atlanta decreed the 16th day of September 1984,
the establishment of Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Canton, Georgia. The
first pastor assigned was Reverend James P. McGlone, M.S.
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