About Our Lady of the Assumption · Brookhaven, Georgia
Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) is a Roman Catholic parish in Brookhaven, Georgia, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, serving approximately 1,750 families. Founded in 1951 by Monsignor Joseph E. Moylan and named to honor Pope Pius XII's 1950 definition of the Assumption of Mary, OLA grew from Masses in an Army barracks and a hospital auditorium into a thriving parish with an elementary school, a preschool, and ministries in English, Spanish, and Indonesian. From 1965 until June 2025 the parish was staffed by the Marist Fathers and Brothers of the Society of Mary; on July 1, 2025 pastoral care returned to the Archdiocese of Atlanta under Father Daniel P. Ketter, JCL.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Assumption (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of her bodily Assumption into heaven)
- Rector
- Father Daniel P. Ketter, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
OLA is a home for a remarkable range of Catholics under one roof: English-speaking families, a thriving Spanish-speaking community since 2007, and the Komunitas Katolik Indonesia Atlanta weekly Mass. With over 70 active ministries — faith formation for children, youth and adults; OCIA and OCIC; Edge and Life Teen youth ministry; St. Vincent de Paul outreach; a daily 7:30am Mass; and weekly Wednesday Adoration — parishioners can find formation, service, and fellowship across the life of the Church. Returning to the direct pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in July 2025, the parish is now led by Father Daniel Ketter, a Marist School graduate, and is well-positioned to keep growing for the next generation.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM (also listed 4:00–5:00 PM in some sources)
- Sundays 2:15–3:15 PM (also listed 2:30–3:30 PM, English and Spanish)
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel of the Church
Parish History
OLA was born in early 1951 when Archbishop Gerald P. O'Hara proposed the name 'Our Lady of the Assumption' to honor the dogma Pope Pius XII had defined just weeks earlier in Munificentissimus Deus. Under founding pastor Monsignor Joseph E. Moylan, the first Catholics gathered in an Army barracks near today's DeKalb-Peachtree Airport while a school-chapel and Sisters of Mercy convent were built on Hearst Drive in the Oglethorpe Estates subdivision. The school chapel opened in May 1952, a permanent church (designed by parishioner Warren F. Penney, A.I.A.) was dedicated by Bishop Hyland on February 1, 1958, and the Marist Fathers and Brothers of the Society of Mary took over in 1965. After the current church was dedicated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on November 4, 2005, OLA welcomed Spanish-speaking (2007) and Indonesian KKI (permanently from the early 2000s) communities. In October 2024 the Marists announced they could no longer staff the parish, and on July 1, 2025, the Archdiocese of Atlanta resumed direct pastoral care under Father Daniel P. Ketter, JCL — the first archdiocesan pastor since the 1960s.
- Founded 1951; first Mass in parish chapel May 1952
- Original church dedicated February 1, 1958 by Bishop Hyland (Savannah Diocese)
- Marist Fathers and Brothers served 1965 – June 2025
- Current church dedicated November 4, 2005 by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
- First Spanish Mass celebrated February 2007 by Fr. Charles Girard, SM
- Pipe organ dedicated May 2025 by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Father Daniel Ketter, JCL (Pastor) and Father Nicholas Le (Parochial Vicar), both Marist School alumni. Father Peter Pitol, CS, serves the Indonesian Community, while Monsignor Richard Lopez (retired) and Father Robbie Cotta (Campus Minister at St. Pius X Catholic High School) reside at the rectory. A diocesan after-hours Sacramental Emergency line is maintained for hospital emergencies only.
- Father Daniel Ketter, JCL — Pastor — 404-978-0343
- Father Nicholas Le — Parochial Vicar — 404-978-0181
- Father Peter Pitol, CS — Indonesian Community
- Monsignor Richard Lopez — In Residence
- Father Robbie Cotta — In Residence (Campus Minister, St. Pius X Catholic High School)
- Deacons and lay staff (Director of Youth Ministry Nick Ables; Music & Liturgy Jake Mappes; Sacraments Secretary Karina Bryant; Bookkeeper Jenny Castro; Director of Facilities Jon Magiaracina; etc.) listed on the Clergy & Staff page
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at OLA is organized under Family & Youth Formation Ministries and Adult Formation & Spiritual Life Ministries. Families Forming Disciples (FFD) is the parish's faith formation and sacramental preparation program for children in PK through 5th grade. Older children and teens have their own age-appropriate communities (Kids Club, Edge, Life Teen), and adults can continue learning through OCIA, Bible studies, and other adult formation offerings.
- Families Forming Disciples (FFD) — PK through 5th Grade
- Kids Club (3rd–5th Grades)
- Edge (6th–8th Grades)
- Edge Missions Camp (6th–8th Grades)
- Life Teen (9th–12th Grades)
- Vacation Bible School
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
Youth Ministry
OLA's Youth Ministry welcomes young people in Grades 3–12 through age-appropriate communities that combine games, teaching, prayer, service, and friendship. Kids Club introduces younger students to faith and service; Edge gives middle schoolers a safe space to ask hard questions; Life Teen centers high schoolers on the Eucharist and small-group discipleship. Edge Missions Camp extends the middle-school program in the summer.
- Kids Club (Grades 3–5)
- Edge (Grades 6–8)
- Edge Missions Camp
- Life Teen (Grades 9–12)
- Director of Youth Ministry: Nick Ables — 470-777-3596
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) at OLA walks inquirers through Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy, with the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) typically received at the Easter Vigil. OCIA is also for those completing their Sacraments of Initiation, those marrying a Catholic, or anyone curious about the Catholic faith. A parallel Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) is offered for kids.
- Inquiry (summer into fall)
- Catechumenate (leading to Rite of Election)
- Purification & Enlightenment (Lent)
- Mystagogy (Easter season)
- OCIC for children
Schools & Preschool
OLA has long been associated with Catholic education. Our Lady of the Assumption School opened in September 1952 with 176 students in K–5 under the Sisters of Mercy, and the campus now includes Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School (elementary) and a Parish Preschool serving children from about 2 months through Pre-Kindergarten. The current church construction project in the early 2000s added the Parish Preschool, a Youth Room, and Moylan Hall.
- Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School (elementary)
- Parish Preschool (ages 2 months – 4 years / Pre-K)
- Originally staffed by Sisters of Mercy (Sister Mary Assumpta, RSM, Superior; Sister Mary Christine, RSM, first principal)
Multilingual Parish Communities
OLA is a home for three linguistic communities under one roof. The English-speaking community gathers around seven Sunday Masses plus daily Mass; the Hispanic community has worshipped at OLA since Father Charles Girard, SM, celebrated the first Spanish Mass on February 18, 2007; and the Indonesian community is served by the Komunitas Katolik Indonesia Atlanta (KKI), which formed in 2000 at St. Thomas More in Decatur before settling at OLA, where it now celebrates a weekly Sunday Mass at 1:30 PM.
- English Masses: Sat Vigil 5 PM; Sun 7:30, 9, 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM
- Spanish Mass: Sun 3:30 PM (Reconciliation in Spanish also available)
- Indonesian Mass: Sun 1:30 PM, with Father Peter Pitol, CS, coordinating
- KKI (Komunitas Katolik Indonesia Atlanta)
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul
OLA partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to provide confidential financial and food assistance to those in need in the community. Neighbors in need are invited to leave a message for a Vincentian to call them back.
- St. Vincent de Paul assistance line: 678-892-6163 (leave a message; a Vincentian will call back)
Hours, Directions & Contact
The Parish Office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed on Holy Days of Obligation and most national holidays; the office closes at 2:00 PM the day prior). The church and parish office share the same Brookhaven campus near the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, with the office at 1406 Hearst Drive NE and the church at 1350 Hearst Drive NE. After-hours Sacramental emergencies (hospital only) are handled through a dedicated line.
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM – 4 PM
- Church Address: 1350 Hearst Drive NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319
- Parish Office Address: 1406 Hearst Drive NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319
- Parish Phone: 404-261-7181
- Sacramental Emergency (After Hours): 404-594-1871
- Deliveries (non-flower): Parish Office; flowers for liturgies: to the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Joseph E. Moylan1951–1965
Founding pastor; built the school-chapel and the original 1957 church, designed by parishioner Warren F. Penney, A.I.A.
- Rev. Thomas J. Roshentko, SM1968–1971
First Marist pastor after the Society of Mary assumed pastoral care in 1965.
- Rev. Paul J. Burkort, SM1971–1972
- Rev. Thomas A. Stokes, SM1972–1976
- Rev. Vincent P. Brennan, SM1973–1976
- Rev. William F. Seli, SM1976–1982
- Rev. Edward J. Murray, SM1982–1988
- Rev. Joseph P. Caffrey, SM1988–1991
- Rev. Andrew G. McCormack, SM1991–1997
- Rev. James F. McGoldrick, SM1997–2006
Welcomed the Indonesian KKI community into OLA.
- Rev. James D. Duffy, SM2006–2025
Longest-tenured Marist pastor; oversaw the celebration of the first Spanish Mass (2007).
- Rev. Daniel P. Ketter, JCL2025–present
First archdiocesan pastor since the 1960s; installed July 27, 2025 by Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM.