About Good Samaritan · Ellijay, Georgia
Good Samaritan Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Ellijay, Georgia, serving the rural mountain communities of Gilmer County in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. First established as a mission in October 1967 and elevated to parish status in February 2008, the community worships in a renovated former Methodist church at 55 Church Street, just off the town square. Today it offers daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation for children and adults, and an active network of ministries including St. Vincent de Paul and the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Good Samaritan (the Good Samaritan of the Gospel parable, from Luke 10)
- Rector
- Rev. Luis Alvarez (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
Good Samaritan Catholic Church is a small, welcoming bilingual parish where Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families worship side by side, with weekday and weekend Masses offered in both languages. Rooted in nearly six decades of Catholic life in Ellijay and supported by an unusually broad lay ministry — St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, a parish food/utility helpline, RCIA, CCD religious education, a youth group, eucharistic guardians, hospitality, and a funeral liturgy committee — it is a place where new arrivals, young families, and lifelong Catholics can find fellowship, formation, and practical help.
Mass times at Good Samaritan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Wednesday 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM (Bilingual)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM (Bilingual)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Silent Adoration: 1st and 3rd Fridays, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Silent Adoration: 2nd Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Adoration with vocal prayers in Spanish: Tuesdays 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
- Adoration with vocal prayers in Spanish: Saturdays 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Adoration with vocal prayers in Spanish: 2nd Saturdays 8:00 PM – midnight
Parish History
Good Samaritan began in October 1967 as a Catholic mission in temporary space in Ellijay. Its first recorded priest was Fr. Jorge Christiancho (8/4/87), and successive missionaries — Fr. Steve Yander, Fr. Foley, and Fr. Doyle — met in homes and a Sailors Drive site before the community purchased a former Methodist church at 55 Church Street on 2/27/1996. After service under Fr. Chris Williamson (Pastor of St. Anthony and the Good Samaritan Mission from 5/11/2006), Fr. Randy Mattox became Parish Administrator and then the parish's first Pastor when Archbishop Wilton Gregory declared Good Samaritan a parish on 2/1/2008 and installed Fr. Mattox on 2/24/2008. The church was renovated around 12/25/2010, a first-class relic of St. Thérèse of Lisieux was placed in the altar, and Fr. Carlos Vargas succeeded Fr. Mattox in 7/2014. Today Rev. Luis Alvarez serves as Parochial Administrator.
- 1967 — Mission founded in temporary space
- 1987 — Fr. Jorge Christiancho, first resident priest
- 2/27/1996 — Purchased former Methodist church, 55 Church St.
- 2/1/2008 — Archbishop Wilton Gregory establishes Good Samaritan as a parish
- 2/24/2008 — Fr. Randy Mattox installed as first Pastor; altar blessed
- ~12/25/2010 — Church renovation completed; St. Thérèse relic placed in altar
- 7/2014 — Fr. Carlos Vargas succeeds Fr. Mattox as Pastor
- Present — Rev. Luis Alvarez, Parochial Administrator
Faith Formation (RCIA / OCIA & CCD)
The parish offers both adult initiation through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA) and children's religious education through the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). The Faith Formation program focuses on supporting parents in raising children in the faith, presenting Catholic doctrine clearly, celebrating community liturgies, and imparting a love of Sacred Scripture and Christian values.
- RCIA / OCIA — Carole Fay, 706-889-0727
- CCD Religious Education — Ray Crock Jr., 770-334-3825
- Youth Group — Tabatha Benitez
- Preparation for Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation
- Adult and child/teen OCIA inquiry forms available via the parish website
Lay Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
Good Samaritan runs a wide network of lay-led ministries that parishioners can join to serve the church and the wider Ellijay community — including outreach to the homebound and bereaved, liturgical service at Mass, music, hospitality, family ministry, and the Knights of Columbus.
- Music Director
- Eucharistic Ministers / Lectors
- Eucharistic Guardians
- Ushers
- Hospitality
- Family Ministry
- Eucharist to the Homebound
- Funeral Committee (Liturgy) Ministry
Outreach & Charity
The parish takes seriously its call to serve neighbors in material need. A dedicated parish Helpline fields calls for rent assistance, utility help, and food, and the local St. Vincent de Paul conference is the primary arm of organized charity. The Knights of Columbus chapter also supports parish and community works.
- Parish Helpline (rent, utilities, food): 706-636-7837
- St. Vincent de Paul — Susan Shaw, 706-276-1692, [email protected]
- Knights of Columbus — contact: Jack
Sacraments
Good Samaritan prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments: Baptism (including adult baptism through OCIA at the Easter Vigil), Eucharist (First Communion), Reconciliation (Confession), Confirmation, Matrimony (Marriage), Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders (vocations support via the parish office). CCD prepares children for First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation; OCIA prepares adults for the sacraments of initiation.
- Baptism — infant & adult
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see schedule
- Confirmation — adult and teen tracks
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Eucharist to the Homebound
Staff & Contact
The parish is led by Rev. Luis Alvarez as Parochial Administrator, supported by a Parish Business Manager and a broad team of ministry coordinators listed on the parish staff page. Telephone contact goes through the parish office at (706) 636-2772, while the parish Helpline at 706-636-7837 connects neighbors in need with practical assistance.
- Rev. Luis Alvarez — Parochial Administrator — [email protected]
- Parish Business Manager
- Parish Office — [email protected] — (706) 636-2772
- Parish Helpline (rent, utilities, food) — 706-636-7837
Visit, Location & Office Hours
The parish sits in the heart of downtown Ellijay on Church Street, an easy walk from the town square. Parish office hours run Monday and Tuesday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Wednesday 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM, Thursday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and Friday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. From I-75 N, take Exit 268 to Hwy 515 and continue approximately 47 miles to Ellijay; at the 2nd red light turn left over the small bridge toward the town square, turn left at the square, and the church will be on your left.
- Address: 55 Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540
- Phone: (706) 636-2772
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 10–2, Tue 10–2, Wed 10–7:30, Thu 10–2, Fri 10–2
- Driving: I-75 N → Exit 268 → Hwy 515 → 47 miles to Ellijay → 2nd light left → bridge → town square → left → church on left
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jorge Christiancho1987–present in records
First resident priest of the Ellijay mission (8/4/87).
- Fr. Steve Yander1990
- Fr. FoleyFebruary 1996
Served while the community worshipped at the Sailors Drive location.
- Fr. Doyle2/27/1996
Continued ministry at the Sailors Drive mission site.
- Fr. Chris Williamson5/11/2006
Pastor of St. Anthony and the Good Samaritan Mission.
- Fr. Randy Mattox5/11/2006 (Parish Administrator); 2/1/2008–2/24/2008 (first Pastor, installed)
First Pastor when Good Samaritan was elevated from mission to parish by Archbishop Wilton Gregory. Blessed the altar and placed the St. Thérèse relic.
- Fr. Carlos Vargas7/2014
Succeeded Fr. Mattox as Pastor.
- Rev. Luis Alvarezcurrent
Current Parochial Administrator.