The Archbishop and Archdiocese of Atlanta were part of a procession Monday afternoon that welcomed a new president at Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville.

Rev. Shawn Aaron, who has served in the capacity for the last few months, was officially installed as the college's second president in a formal ceremony at the college.

He replaced Jeremiah Ashcroft, who retired as president  of the college earlier this year.

A California native and the oldest of four children, Aaron made his decision to enter the priesthood during his college years in the midwest.

He told those in attendance Monday the priesthood was the greatest gift he had ever received.

“A gift I could never have dreamed could be so perfect,” he said, thanking God, his family and the church.

Ordained in 2002 in Rome, Italy Aaron has bachelor's degrees in theology and philosophy and has developed activities for the Legion of Christ, in which the college became a member earlier this year.

Following Aaron's profession of faith and oath of fidelity, Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Atlanta, presented him with a cross and welcomed him.