About Our Lady of the Mountains · Jasper, Georgia
Our Lady of the Mountains (OLM) is a Catholic parish serving the small community of Jasper in the North Georgia Mountains of Pickens County, within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish was established as a mission church on September 16, 1984 and grew into a thriving parish of around 550–650 registered families. OLM offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at least nine times a week in both English and Spanish, along with weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of ministries for youth, families, and the Hispanic community. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the parish's patroness, and the parish takes its identity seriously as a mountain-centered center of prayer and charity.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Bryan Kuhr
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
OLM is a small but thriving parish where Catholics of Pickens County and the surrounding North Georgia Mountains can live and express an authentically Catholic faith. With Mass offered in both English and Spanish, weekly Confession, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and a true 'center of prayer' identity, it is a place where the ancient Catholic tradition is taken seriously. There are ministries for nearly every age and stage — youth groups, family faith formation, Hispanic ministry, RCIA/OCIA, marriage prep, respect life, and outreach to the poor — and around 550–650 families call OLM home, so newcomers are easily welcomed into the life of the parish.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Mountains
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 – 3:45 PM
- Saturday: 5:30 – 5:45 PM
- Wednesday and Friday at the start of Adoration
Adoration times
- First Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 AM Saturday (First Saturday)
- Wednesday: after the 6:00 PM Mass
- Friday: after the 9:30 AM Mass
Parish History
Our Lady of the Mountains was established as a mission on September 16, 1984 by Archbishop Donellan, with Father Joseph Nolan, M.S., as administrator. The first Mass was offered in a farmhouse parlor on October 13, 1984 with just 26 people. After outgrowing the farmhouse, the congregation moved to the Thomas Quinton Memorial Arts Building, then built its first church in 1987. The church was expanded in 2003, OLM was designated a parish in 2004, and the Holy Name of Mary was declared the parish feast day by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. Father Bryan Kuhr became pastor in July 2026.
- Established as a mission: September 16, 1984
- First Mass: October 13, 1984 (26 people, in a farmhouse parlor)
- First church groundbreaking: April 1987
- Church expanded to seat 500: dedicated June 13, 2003
- Designated a parish: 2004 by Archbishop John Francis Donoghue
- Feast day (Holy Name of Mary) declared by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
Clergy & Staff
OLM is currently shepherded by Father Bryan Kuhr, who celebrated his first Masses as pastor the weekend of July 4–5, 2026. Father Tri John-Bosco Nguyen also serves at the parish. The parish is blessed with five permanent deacons who assist with liturgy, marriage preparation, OCIA/baptism, respect life, finance, and operations, along with a small lay staff and contractors handling faith formation, music, administration, and facility maintenance.
- Father Bryan Kuhr — Pastor
- Father Tri John-Bosco Nguyen
- Deacon David Beals — Liturgy, Respect Life
- Deacon Tom Ryan — Operations, Finance, Christ at Home
- Deacon James (Jim) Gibson — Marriage Management
- Deacon Gerard (Jerry) LaHatte — Marriage Preparation
- Deacon Ken Dawson — OCIA, Baptism
- Claire Evans — Administrative Assistant
- Michael Gagnon — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Eric Wiscovitch — Director of Sacred & Liturgical Music; Webmaster
- Eric Alexander — Facility Maintenance
- Jesus (Chuy) Rivera
- Cathy Tucker — Primary Accompanist/Organist
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith Formation at OLM runs from September through May on Sunday mornings between the Masses, with two-year sacramental preparation tracks for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish has adopted the 'Many Paths, One Journey' Family Faith Formation model, which equips parents as the primary teachers of their children's faith through the Seek, Root, Nourish, Mend, and Zeal pathways.
- Faith Formation Classes: 9:45–10:45 AM in the parish hall and the Barn
- First Communion: 2-year program beginning in 1st grade; received spring of 2nd grade
- Confirmation: 2-year program beginning in 7th grade; received end of 8th grade
- Family Faith Formation pathways: Seek, Root, Nourish (First Communion), Mend (First Reconciliation), Zeal (Confirmation)
- Contact: Michael Gagnon, [email protected]
Youth Ministry
OLM offers two ongoing opportunities for teens: the high school youth group 'Deus Vult' and a monthly Middle School Hang Out. Both mix faith, fellowship, food, and fun, with regular time in Eucharistic Adoration.
- High School Youth Group: Deus Vult — meets 2nd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of the month, 6:30–8:30 PM in the Barn
- Middle School Hang Out — first Friday of every month, 6:00–8:00 PM (games, pizza, Adoration)
- $5 per teen for Middle School Hang Out
- Volunteers: VIRTUS-cleared parents needed
- Contact: Michael Gagnon — [email protected]
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
The Hispanic Ministry at OLM serves the parish's Spanish-speaking community with its own Saturday Vigil Mass in Spanish, ongoing formation in Spanish, and vibrant Catholic-Hispanic cultural traditions. Coordinated by Celsa Valdovinos, the ministry includes liturgical roles (sacristans, readers, catechists, altar servers, ushers) and formation programs.
- Saturday 6:00 PM Spanish Vigil Mass
- Coordinator: Celsa Valdovinos — [email protected]
- Ministries: Sacristans, Readers, Catechists, Altar Servers, Ushers
- Spanish-language RCIA / RICA, Baptism and First Communion prep, catechesis
- Devotions: Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Posadas, Stations of the Cross / Viacrucis
- Annual Cristero Celebration honoring the Mexican martyrs
Liturgy & Music
The parish's liturgical life is supported by a Liturgy Committee that trains and organizes the many volunteers who make the parish's liturgies possible. The committee studies Vatican and USCCB liturgical directives so that parish worship is 'truly Catholic.' Sacred and liturgical music is led by Director Eric Wiscovitch, with Cathy Tucker serving as primary accompanist/organist.
- Liturgy Committee led by Deacon David Beals ([email protected])
- Director of Sacred & Liturgical Music: Eric Wiscovitch
- Primary Accompanist/Organist: Cathy Tucker
- Deacon Tom Ryan — Operations, Finance, Christ at Home
Sacraments
OLM prepares Catholics of all ages to receive the sacraments — including Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage — through its family-based formation programs. Adult-initiation sacramental preparation happens through OCIA.
- Baptism preparation (English and Spanish)
- First Reconciliation — Family Faith 'Mend' pathway
- First Communion — 2-year program (typically begins 1st grade)
- Confirmation — 2-year program (typically begins 7th grade)
- Marriage Preparation — Deacon Gerard LaHatte
- Marriage Management — Deacon James (Jim) Gibson
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Deacon Ken Dawson
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish offices occupy the original 1984 farmhouse that hosted OLM's very first Mass. Visitors can preview the church through a virtual tour on the website. Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Sundays 9:30 to 11:00 AM.
- Address: 1908 Waleska Highway 108, Jasper, GA 30143
- Phone: 706-253-3078
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM – 2 PM; Sun 9:30 – 11 AM
- Virtual tour of the church available on the parish website
Getting Involved & Outreach
OLM describes itself as 'a landmark of charity here in Pickens County,' with many opportunities for parishioners to volunteer across liturgical, catechetical, and service ministries. The parish feeds its Catholic-and-Hispanic culture through community prayer, devotions to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the annual Cristero celebration, and service to those in need — including the St. Vincent de Paul ministry.
- Respect Life ministry
- Christ at Home
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Vacation Bible School
- Liturgical volunteering (ushers, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, music)
- Family Faith Formation volunteer catechists
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Nolan, M.S.1984
LaSalette Missionary; first administrator when OLM was established as a mission. Also pastor of Our Lady of LaSalette in Canton.
- Father Neil Jones, M.S.
LaSalette Father who served the mission before 2004.
- Father Denis Kolumber, M.S.
LaSalette Father who served the mission before 2004.
- Father Frank Richardson2004–approx. 2008
First official pastor after OLM was designated a parish.
- Father Charles ByrdJanuary 2009–approx. 2025/2026
Second parish pastor; officially installed by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on March 29, 2009. Petitioned for the parish's feast day, the Holy Name of Mary.
- Father Bryan Kuhr2026–present
Current pastor; first Masses celebrated the weekend of July 4–5, 2026.