About Fort Eisenhower (Saint Michael) · Fort Gordon, Georgia
St. Michael's Catholic Community is the Roman Catholic parish serving the military community at Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), Georgia, in the Augusta area. It operates under the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and is housed in Good Shepherd Chapel (Building 29608, Barnes Avenue). The community worships daily — Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM and weekday Mass at 12:00 PM Monday through Friday — and is supported by a Parish Life Coordinator, an NCOIC, deacons, and a robust lay ministry structure including the Knights of Columbus and the Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW). Its mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and witness to soldiers, families, veterans, and civilians connected to the installation.
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Not publicly named on current website; chaplains and priests rotate under the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Why belong here
St. Michael's is the spiritual home of Catholic life on Fort Eisenhower, offering a daily Mass and frequent confession schedule for soldiers on shift, trainees in AIT, families, retirees, and civilians working on post. Ministries span the full Catholic life — Knights of Columbus, Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW), Religious Education, RCIA, Youth Ministry, choir, lectors, ushers, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, a Care Ministry for the sick, Welcome Sunday, and a Hospitality Team — making it easy to plug in. Because it is a military parish under the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, it is structured to be a stable, Christ-centered community wherever your service takes you.
Mass times at Fort Eisenhower (Saint Michael)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
- Monday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Or by appointment: (706) 791-4307
Adoration times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
About St. Michael's Catholic Community
St. Michael's Catholic Community is the Catholic parish serving Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), Georgia. It belongs to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and worships primarily at Good Shepherd Chapel (Building 29608, Barnes Avenue). The community serves active-duty soldiers, trainees, families, veterans, retirees, and civilians connected to the installation. Its published mission statement reads: 'Saint Michaels Catholic Community is a group of Catholic Christians associated with the Armed Forces under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Archdioceses for the Military Services, served by the pastoral leadership of our priest(s), deacon(s), and parish staff. The community is dedicated to exemplifying Christian community by proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, service, and witness to the people of Fort Gordon and surrounding communities.'
- Patron: St. Michael the Archangel (feast: September 29)
- Diocese: Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
- Rite: Roman-Latin
- Chapel: Good Shepherd Chapel, Building 29608, Barnes Avenue, Fort Gordon, GA 30905
Parish Staff and Clergy
Like all AMS parishes, St. Michael's is led by Catholic chaplains (active-duty and/or contract priests) supported by deacons, a Parish Life Coordinator (PLC), and an NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge). Published bulletins from prior years show a clear pattern of priestly and lay collaboration, with named deacons, ministry coordinators, and a Knights of Columbus Grand Knight all sharing pastoral responsibility.
- Fr. Damian Ilokaba — Pastor (ca. 2011)
- Fr. Samuel Aniekwe — Co-Pastor (ca. 2011)
- Fr. Michael Roverse — Contract Priest (ca. 2011)
- Fr. Joseph Lea — Pastor (ca. 2013; previously Capt. Joseph Lea)
- Rev. Mr. David Kriegel — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Kelley Culver — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. George Foster — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Mike Marchek — Deacon
- NCOIC — (current: see bulletin)
- Parish Life Coordinator (PLC) — (706) 791-4829, [email protected]
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares Catholics for the full sacramental life of the Church, including Baptism (infant and adult), First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist itself. Sacramental preparation for school-age children is held Sundays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the Religious Education Center on post.
- Baptism — by arrangement with the PLC
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — via Religious Education
- Confirmation — preparation through RE and RCIA
- Matrimony — Marriage preparation with priest/deacon
- Anointing of the Sick — request through Care Ministry or PLC
- Reconciliation (Confession) — daily before Mass and by appointment
- RCIA — for adults seeking initiation, coordinated by Deacon Kelley Culver
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation for children and youth take place Sundays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the Religious Education Center (call (706) 791-4703 for current information). Adult faith formation includes RCIA and an MCCW-sponsored Faith Study held Monday mornings from 9:30–11:00 AM, often followed by daily Mass.
- Children's Religious Education — Sundays 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for unbaptized adults and those completing initiation
- MCCW Faith Study — Mondays 9:30–11:00 AM (study of 'Catholicism' by Fr. Robert Barron cited in parish bulletins)
- Youth Ministry (CYM) — middle- and high-school youth activities, including periodic Youth Mass
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Michael's has a deep bench of lay ministries that mirror the life of a traditional parish — worship, formation, fellowship, and service. The Knights of Columbus and the Military Council of Catholic Women are anchor organizations; everything from the choir to the Welcome Sunday team flows through volunteer coordinators who are listed in the bulletin with their own email extensions.
- Knights of Columbus — St. Michael the Archangel Council 14773 (website: knightsfg.org)
- Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW)
- Music Ministry / Choir (with Wednesday 7:45 PM choir practice)
- Lectors
- Ushers / Greeters
- Altar Servers (youth and adult)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EME)
- Care Ministry (visits to the sick and homebound)
- Welcome Sunday
- Hospitality Team
- Flowers Ministry
- Evangelization Coordinator
- Bulletin Editor
Worship and Music
The principal worship site is Good Shepherd Chapel, with the secondary site the DDEAMC Hospital Chapel on the third floor. Music is led by a Music Director / Choir. The choir rehearses midweek and supports both regular Masses and special celebrations such as the periodic Youth Mass.
- Primary Chapel: Good Shepherd Chapel, Building 29608, Barnes Avenue
- Secondary Chapel: DDEAMC Hospital, 3rd Floor, Room 3D15
- Music Director role filled by named lay volunteer (e.g., Sonia Rivera ca. 2013)
- Choir practice — Wednesdays 7:45 PM in the chapel
Devotions and Seasonal Liturgies
The parish marks the Catholic year with extra-liturgical devotions. Eucharistic Adoration is offered Thursday evenings. During Lent, the various ministries take turns sponsoring the Stations of the Cross. Spanish-speaking Catholics are served by a periodic Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, introduced in December 2011.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Thursday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Stations of the Cross in Lent — sponsored by MCCW, Hospitality & RE, Youth, Knights of Columbus (rotating)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass (Spanish) — periodic; first held December 2011
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Outreach is led by the Care Ministry, which coordinates visits to parishioners who are sick at home or in the hospital, sharing prayer, the Word of God, and Holy Communion. The Knights of Columbus provides prayer-request support and the parish bulletin welcomes the broader military and civilian community of Fort Eisenhower.
- Care Ministry — visitations to the sick and homebound in consultation with the senior pastor and PLC
- Knights of Columbus — prayer requests and fraternal charity
- MCCW — faith study and women's fellowship
Visiting St. Michael's — Location and Access
St. Michael's is located inside Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), a U.S. Army installation in the Augusta, Georgia, area. Visitors should plan for installation access requirements. The chapel is wheelchair accessible and offers on-site parking. The Religious Education Center and the DDEAMC Hospital Chapel are other on-post Catholic sites served by the same parish community.
- Address: Good Shepherd Chapel, Building 29608, Barnes Avenue, Fort Gordon / Fort Eisenhower, GA 30905
- Phone: (706) 791-4829 (PLC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintmichaelparishfg.org/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/STMichaelsFG/
- Knights of Columbus Council 14773: https://www.knightsfg.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Damian Ilokabaca. 2011 and earlier
Listed as Pastor in a Fort Gordon Catholic bulletin; served alongside co-pastor Fr. Samuel Aniekwe and contract priest Fr. Michael Roverse.
- Fr. Joseph Leaca. 2012–2013 and later
Listed as Pastor in the 2013 Saint Michael's Lent bulletin; also identified as Capt. Joseph Lea, who celebrated the first Spanish Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December 2011.