About Mother of God [Ukrainian] · Conyers, Georgia
Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church is a small Byzantine-rite (Ukrainian Greek-Catholic) parish in Conyers, Georgia, about 25 miles east of Atlanta on Highway 138. The church was dedicated in October 1998 to serve the region's Ukrainian immigrant community and today numbers roughly 200 members, with more than half of Ukrainian heritage. It belongs to the Ukrainian Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio (Eparchy of St. Josaphat), one of the Byzantine Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome. Sunday Divine Liturgy is offered in both English and Ukrainian, and the parish is also beginning Spanish-language services and devotions such as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Established
- 1998
- Patron
- Mother of God (Theotokos)
- Rector
- Fr. Volodymyr Petrytsya
- Diocese
- Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (Ukrainian Catholic) — geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Why belong here
Mother of God offers the rare gift of a full Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic liturgical life just east of Atlanta — Divine Liturgy in both English and Ukrainian each Sunday, the ancient icon-centered worship of the Eastern Christian tradition, and a close-knit community of roughly 200 faithful from many backgrounds. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed into a family-style parish that celebrates the great feasts together (including Our Lady of Guadalupe), supports charitable causes for Ukraine, and is actively adding Spanish-language liturgy to reach the broader Conyers community.
Mass times at Mother of God [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available before or after Divine Liturgy
- Available by request — email [email protected], call (770) 760-1111, or book via Calendly (confirmation email required to confirm the time)
About Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church
Mother of God is a Byzantine-Ukrainian rite Catholic parish located in Conyers, Georgia, within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta but belonging canonically to the Ukrainian Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio. The parish's mission, as stated on its own website, is 'to be a living icon of Jesus Christ, providing for the spiritual development and religious well-being of not only the people of Ukrainian descent, but of all ethnic backgrounds and social conditions in Conyers, Georgia and within the greater Atlanta area.' The community worships in an Eastern Christian tradition, sharing communion with Rome under the Pope. About 200 members make up the parish, more than half of Ukrainian heritage.
- Byzantine-Ukrainian rite in full communion with Rome
- Part of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio
- Geographically within the Archdiocese of Atlanta's territory
- Roughly 200 members; majority Ukrainian heritage
- Welcomes people of all ethnic backgrounds
History and 25th Anniversary
The parish was dedicated in October 1998 to serve the Ukrainian immigrant community east of Atlanta, and it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. From those early roots the community has grown into a multigenerational family of faith, gathering for Divine Liturgy in both English and Ukrainian each Sunday. The anniversary was framed by the pastor not just as a milestone for the building, but as a sign that the Lord continues to bless the community and give it strength. The parish was especially active during the 2022 war in Ukraine, collecting aid and offering special prayers for peace.
- Church dedicated October 1998
- 25th anniversary celebrated in 2023
- Bilingual English/Ukrainian worship from the start
- Sister Ukrainian Catholic parish in Augusta, GA
Mission, Worship, and Languages
The parish seeks to bring the Word of God in English, Ukrainian, and Spanish to the communities it serves. Its primary objective is to draw members closer to God through spiritual development, evangelization, catechetical instruction, and social awareness of community needs. In addition to its regular English and Ukrainian Divine Liturgies, the parish has begun offering — or preparing to offer — Divine Liturgy in Spanish.
- Mission: a 'living icon of Jesus Christ' serving all ethnic backgrounds
- Liturgy in English, Ukrainian, and Spanish
- Emphasis on evangelization, catechesis, and community service
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by its pastor and a deacon, both listed on the parish contact page. The pastor is a Ukrainian-born priest who arrived in the United States in 2015 after ordination and a brief first assignment in Florida. The deacon assists with the liturgical life and outreach of the parish.
- Fr. Volodymyr Petrytsya — Pastor (since 2015)
- Deacon Michael Guerrucci — [email protected]
Pastoral History
Fr. Volodymyr Petrytsya has served as pastor of Mother of God since 2015. He was ordained in 2013, spent a short time in Florida, and then was assigned to lead this Conyers parish. No public list of his predecessors is published on the parish site.
Liturgy and Mass (Divine Liturgy) Schedule
The parish publishes a weekly Divine Liturgy schedule that includes daily weekday liturgies plus a Sunday bilingual schedule. A vigil Divine Liturgy is offered on Saturday evening. The parish also celebrates a monthly Pilgrim Divine Liturgy on the 13th of each month. The parish notes that holidays and Great Lent may bring schedule changes — visitors are asked to call the office or check the online bulletin for the current week.
- Tuesday & Thursday — Divine Liturgy 5:00 PM
- Wednesday & Friday — Divine Liturgy 8:00 AM
- Saturday — Divine Liturgy 5:00 PM (Vigil)
- Sunday — 9:00 AM English, 10:30 AM Ukrainian
- 13th of each month — Pilgrim Divine Liturgy 2:00 PM
- Special holiday/Lenten schedule — call (770) 760-1111 or check the online bulletin
Sacraments
Alongside the regular Divine Liturgy and Confession schedule, the parish prepares the faithful for the full range of Byzantine Eastern Catholic sacraments through its pastor. The site prominently directs visitors to contact the office for sacraments such as baptism, marriage, anointing, and first Communion preparation.
- Divine Liturgy (Eucharist)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Baptism, marriage, anointing, and other Byzantine sacraments by arrangement with the pastor
Devotions and Special Celebrations
The parish community marks important Marian and holy-day celebrations with special Divine Liturgies and blessings. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated with a 5:30 PM Divine Liturgy on December 12, followed by the blessing of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. During the 2022 war in Ukraine, the community gathered for special prayer services pleading for peace and the safety of the Ukrainian people.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12, 5:30 PM (Divine Liturgy + blessing of the image)
- Special prayer services for peace in Ukraine
- Great Lent and holiday adjustments posted to the online bulletin
Parish Life, Outreach, and Ministries
Beyond Sunday worship, the parish supports catechetical formation in the Byzantine Eastern Catholic tradition and organizes community fundraisers — including a festival held to support Ukraine in response to the 2022 invasion. The parish describes itself as 'a big family,' where members look forward to praying and spending time together around shared tables and at community meals. A monthly Pilgrim Divine Liturgy on the 13th draws worshippers from a wider area.
- Religious education / catechesis in the Byzantine Eastern Catholic tradition
- Fundraising festivals in support of Ukraine
- Monthly Pilgrim Divine Liturgy on the 13th of each month
- Our Lady of Guadalupe devotional celebration
- Parish family events and community meals
Visiting, Location, and Contact
Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church sits along Highway 138 northeast of I-20 in Conyers, GA. The easiest route from the Atlanta metro is I-20 east to Exit 82 (Conyers / Hwy 138/20), then northeast approximately 4.6 miles; the church is on the left where the road narrows from four lanes to two, about half a mile past the entrance to the Georgia International Horse Park. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the website hosts an online bulletin and weekly schedule page.
- Address: 2880 Highway 138 N.E., Conyers, GA 30013
- Phone: (770) 760-1111
- Email: [email protected]
- From I-20 east of Atlanta, take Exit 82 and head northeast ~4.6 miles
- Website includes online bulletin and weekly liturgy schedule
Online Resources and Social Media
The parish maintains an online presence through its website (mogchurch.com), a Facebook page, and a YouTube channel, all of which post news, the weekly liturgy schedule, and event announcements such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Spanish-language Divine Liturgy initiative, and the fundraiser for Ukraine.
- Official website: https://mogchurch.com/
- Facebook page linked from mogchurch.com Resources menu
- YouTube channel linked from mogchurch.com Resources menu
- Online weekly bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Volodymyr Petrytsya2015–present
A Ukrainian-born priest, ordained in 2013; arrived in the U.S. with a short first assignment in Florida before being assigned as pastor of Mother of God in 2015.