About Holy Family · Marietta, Georgia
Holy Family Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Atlanta located at 3401 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta, Georgia (East Cobb County). Established on June 1, 1973 by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, it was the first Catholic parish in the East Cobb area and has grown from about 60 founding families into a multicultural community of roughly 1,100 families. The parish celebrates Mass in English and Spanish, offers a robust faith formation program (PreK–12), runs a Catholic preschool founded in 2007, and serves the local poor through a St. Vincent de Paul conference. Holy Family is also the spiritual home of a large Knights of Columbus council and a community that has helped nurture many vocations to the priesthood.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Miguel Grave de Peralta
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
Holy Family is a parish where longtime East Cobb families sit alongside newcomers from across cultures, all sharing the same altar. Daily Mass and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish (with a live-streamed option for those unable to attend in person) make daily access to the Eucharist a real possibility. Children are served from toddlerhood through high school — through the Catholic preschool (founded 2007), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for 3- to 6-year-olds, Pflaum Gospel Weeklies for PreK–5, and a dedicated high school youth and Confirmation ministry. People in need locally are helped through a parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conference, a thriving Knights of Columbus council (9792), Habitat for Humanity builds, Walking with Moms in Need, and a Pro-Life team.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (English & Spanish)
- Saturday: 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM (English & Spanish)
Adoration times
- Monday: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
Parish History
Holy Family was established on June 1, 1973 by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, on a 16-acre site in what was then undeveloped east Cobb County. Founding pastor Father John Mulroy gathered about 60 people at St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, then moved the growing congregation through East Cobb Middle School and the gymnasium at Wheeler High School before moving into the parish's own church on Labor Day Weekend 1976 (dedicated November 21, 1976). By then the parish numbered about 866 families and roughly 3,700 parishioners. The parish has produced three spinoff parishes — St. Ann and Transfiguration in Marietta, and St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw. The first parish center was built in 1979, a new two-story parish center was completed in 2006, and the parish marked its 50th anniversary the weekend of October 7–8, 2023 with the theme 'Celebrating 50 Years, Preparing for the Future.'
- 1970 – Land purchased by the Archdiocese of Atlanta
- June 1, 1973 – Parish established by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan
- 1976 – Church building dedicated on November 21
- 1977 – 10-ft cross on front lawn built by parishioner Gary Garner
- 1979 – First parish center constructed
- 1982 – Death of founding pastor Father John Mulroy
- 1985 – Carrie Elfner, original secretary/bookkeeper, retires after 11 years
- 1986 – Weekly Spanish Mass begins
- 1998 – 25th anniversary celebrated with about 500 in attendance
- 2006 – New two-story parish center completed
- October 7–8, 2023 – 50th anniversary celebration
Clergy and Staff
Holy Family is led by Pastor Father Miguel Grave de Peralta (pastor since 2016). He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Joseph Mullakkara and Priest-in-Residence Father Bura Koroba, SSJ, along with three deacons: Deacon Jim Grebe, Deacon Dave Barron, and Deacon Jose 'Trini' Merlo-Quintero. For sacramental emergencies the parish provides a 24-hour line at 678-744-2600.
- Rev. Miguel Grave de Peralta — Pastor (Ext. 135)
- Rev. Joseph Mullakkara — Parochial Vicar (Ext. 114)
- Rev. Bura Koroba, SSJ — Priest-in-Residence
- Deacon Jim Grebe
- Deacon Dave Barron
- Deacon Jose 'Trini' Merlo-Quintero
- Kathleen Daigle — Business Manager
- Jennifer Joseph — Accountant
- Maria Gonzalez — Administrative Assistant (English/Spanish)
- Amy Drick — Elementary & Middle School Faith Director
- Julianna Rhodes — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Emily Allsteadt — High School Youth Minister
- Patrick Duffy — Facilities Manager
- Tim Neja — Livestream Technician
- Cecilia Flores — Liaison for the Hispanic Community (English/Spanish)
- Glendon Genty — Music Coordinator
- Carrie Sturniolo — Choir Director
- Kate Viets — Preschool Director
- Nalley Tabor — Preschool Assistant Director
- Anyce Craig — Stewardship Coordinator
- Theresa Rhodes — Records Coordinator
- Elias Benn — Communications Specialist
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Holy Family serves children from Pre-K through Grade 12, plus a High School Youth Ministry. The program uses the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, a liturgically-based catechetical series tied to the Sunday Gospels, available in complete bilingual editions. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation are coordinated for elementary students, and Confirmation preparation is offered through the high school ministry. Vacation Bible School is offered in the summer.
- Pre-K through 5th grade catechism
- Sunday 9:35–10:35 AM time track
- Sunday 11:35 AM–12:35 PM time track (Kindergarten–5th)
- HomeSchool option
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3½–6, Montessori style)
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation (Amy Drick, Ext. 121)
- Confirmation preparation / High School (Emily Allsteadt, Ext. 144)
- Family Faith Formation sessions (4 per year)
- Vacation Bible School
- FREE parish access to FORMED.org (use ZIP 30068 to register)
Holy Family Preschool
Holy Family Preschool has served children ages 18 months to 5 years since 2007, operating under the oversight of the Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Parish-Based Early Childhood Programs. The preschool is open 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM and follows Cobb County weather closings. Director Kate Viets was named the Archdiocese of Atlanta's 2023 Preschool Director of the Year and in 2022 joined a panel of fellow preschool directors on Atlanta's Catholic radio station AM 1160 The Quest.
- Ages 18 months to 5 years
- Hours 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM
- Director: Kate Viets (678-744-2597)
- Assistant Director: Kelly Moorthy
- Operating under the Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Parish-Based Early Childhood Programs
- Kate Viets — 2023 Archdiocese of Atlanta Preschool Director of the Year
Service and Outreach Ministries
Holy Family runs an unusually full set of outreach and service ministries for a parish its size, anchored by a local St. Vincent de Paul conference and a Knights of Columbus council (Council 9792). The parish also partners ecumenically with other Cobb County Catholic parishes on Habitat for Humanity builds and walks with pregnant and parenting mothers through Walking with Moms in Need.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — person-to-person visits, financial assistance, food pantry (contact Mark Meredith, 770-973-7400)
- Knights of Columbus Council 9792 — business meetings 1st and 3rd Mondays (contact Ariel Medrano)
- Habitat for Humanity — Cobb County Catholic coalition builds after Labor Day
- Pro-Life Team — prayer vigils, National Novenas for Life, letter writing
- Walking with Moms in Need — contact Dave Snyder, 678-641-8694
- Prison Pen Pal Program (Knights of Malta) — contact Michael McNamara
- Hospitality Ministry — contact Jim Nee or Nora Wintrow
- Sanctuary Decor Team — contact Peter Badolato, 404-217-1147
- Creation Care Team
- General Office Volunteers
Spiritual Ministries and Devotions
Beyond Mass and Adoration, the parish sustains several spiritual and devotional groups that meet weekly or monthly. The morning Rosary is prayed together Monday through Saturday at 8:15 AM in the Church, and First Saturday Devotions (9:00 AM Mass followed by Rosary) are led by a parish contact. Stewardship and sanctuary décor volunteers help transform the church throughout the liturgical year.
- Morning Rosary — Mon–Sat at 8:15 AM
- First Saturday Devotions — 9:00 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration (Mon–Fri, see Adoration schedule)
- Stewardship (contact Anyce Craig, Ext. 112)
- Sanctuary Decor Team (contact Peter Badolato)
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by Music Coordinator Glendon Genty and Choir Director Carrie Sturniolo. The parish live-streams Masses on Sunday mornings in English (10:30 AM) and Spanish (1:00 PM), with archived recordings going back to March 20, 2020 — first on Facebook, then Vimeo from June 2020 to February 2021, and on YouTube from February 17, 2021 onward. By attending any Mass or event at Holy Family, parishioners and visitors consent to being photographed or filmed.
- Music Coordinator — Glendon Genty
- Choir Director — Carrie Sturniolo
- Livestream Technician — Tim Neja
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses: 10:30 AM (English), 1:00 PM (Spanish)
Parish Governance and Getting Involved
The Pastoral Council serves as an advisory board to the pastor, representing all parishioners and assisting in carrying out the parish's mission. The Council typically meets one hour on the second Monday of every month; any registered parishioner age 18 or older is eligible to serve a three-year term. Liturgical seasons are supported by a dedicated Sanctuary Decor Team, and communications are managed by a Communications Specialist.
- Pastoral Council members: Mary Burns (Chair), K.C. Smith (Co-Chair), Sandy Farrell (Secretary), Nathan and Liza Wallace, Gonzalo D. Tenas Valenzuela, Beth Warren
- Contact any Council member through the Parish Office at 770-973-0038
- Stewardship Coordinator: Anyce Craig (Ext. 112)
- Communications Specialist: Elias Benn (Ext. 134)
Architecture and Notable Features
Set well back from Lower Roswell Road on a 16-acre site, the original 1976 church was intentionally designed, at Father John Mulroy's request, to 'make the building disappear' so that the real church — the people of God — would be the focus. The most distinctive interior feature is the floor-to-ceiling wall of glass behind the altar, framing the wooded landscape outside as a kind of living stained glass. Outdoors, two pieces of sacred art are visible from the road and grounds.
- Original church dedicated November 21, 1976
- Low-rise building designed to blend into the landscape
- Floor-to-ceiling glass wall behind the altar — Father Mulroy's 'living stained glass'
- 10-foot cross facing Lower Roswell Road (1977), designed and built by parishioner Gary Garner
- Holy Family statue sculpted by Georgia artist William Thompson, in memory of Father John Mulroy
- Two-story parish center completed in 2006
Contact and Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and visitors are encouraged to call or email ahead to set up an appointment. The St. Vincent de Paul ministry is located inside the parish office; ring the bell at the front desk for assistance during the week. Sacramental emergencies are handled through a dedicated after-hours line.
- Address: 3401 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068
- Parish office phone: 770-973-0038
- Sacramental Emergencies: 678-744-2600
- St. Vincent de Paul assistance: 770-973-7400
- Preschool (Kate Viets): 678-744-2597
- Hispanic Community Liaison: Cecilia Flores — [email protected] or 404-735-5764
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Mulroy1973–1982
Founding pastor; gathered about 60 people at St. Catherine's Episcopal; oversaw building of the church (dedicated Nov. 21, 1976); died in office in 1982. The Holy Family statue on the parish grounds is dedicated to his memory.
- Msgr. Paul Fogarty
Former pastor (dates not specified on the parish site); later noted for his deep ties to Holy Family.
- Msgr. Ed Thein
Former pastor; also served the archdiocese as vocations director.
- Rev. Darragh Griffith
Pastor during the 40th anniversary in 2013; researched parish history and spoke about the founding pastor's vision for the building.
- Rev. Miguel Grave de Peralta2016–present
Current pastor; led the parish's 50th anniversary celebration in October 2023.