About St. Andrew Kim · Duluth, Georgia
St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church of Atlanta (애틀랜타 김대건 한인 천주교회) is a Korean-heritage Roman Catholic parish in Duluth, Georgia, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Northeast Metro Deanery. It began in August 2011 as a mission church planted by Korean Martyrs Catholic Church of Doraville to serve the rapidly growing Korean-American community in Gwinnett County, and was officially elevated to parish status by Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., in late June 2021 on the eve of its 10th anniversary. Today the parish serves roughly 600 registered families, celebrating Mass primarily in Korean with an English children's liturgy, and houses a first-class relic of its patron, St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native-born Korean priest, martyred in 1846.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- St. Andrew Kim Taegon (성 김대건), the first native-born Korean Catholic priest, martyred in 1846 at age 25, and one of the 103 Korean Martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II
- Rector
- Rev. Lorenzo (Yong-sop) Yom, S.J.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (Deanery: Northeast Metro; County: Gwinnett)
Why belong here
St. Andrew Kim is the spiritual home for Korean-American Catholics across Gwinnett County and the wider northeast Metro Atlanta area, offering all Masses in Korean (with an English children's liturgy) so that language need never be a barrier to full sacramental life. The parish combines traditional Catholic devotions — Legion of Mary, Ultreya, Darakbang and Holy Spirit prayer groups, CLC, and a relics room honoring St. Andrew Kim — with distinctly Korean cultural celebrations such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest festival), and it houses an actual first-class relic of its patron saint. With active ministries for children, youth, English-speaking young adults (Zeteo), Korean-speaking young adults (CUNA), seniors, and newcomers (the Canaan Society welcomes immigrants relocating from other parts of the U.S. or Korea), it is a place where immigrant families can find spiritual care, cultural belonging, and a path into the wider Archdiocese of Atlanta Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Andrew Kim
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass (미사전)
Parish History
St. Andrew Kim was planted in August 2011 by Korean Martyrs Catholic Church of Doraville to serve the rapidly expanding Korean-American population of Gwinnett County. Under founding pastor Jesuit Father Hyong-Nyol Ryu, the community worshipped in a former Baptist sanctuary on 10 acres of land purchased by the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Membership more than doubled in its first 18 months and reached roughly 600 families by the time Archbishop Hartmayer elevated the mission to a parish in June 2021.
- Mission founded August 2011 as a Korean Martyrs Catholic Church plant
- Named for St. Andrew Kim Taegon, first native-born Korean priest (martyred 1846)
- Officially elevated to parish in late June 2021
- 10th anniversary and relic blessing: September 19–20, 2021
Patron Saint: St. Andrew Kim Taegon
The parish is named after St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), Korea's first native-born Catholic priest. After attending seminary in China and being ordained in Shanghai, he returned to a Korea in the midst of fierce anti-Catholic persecution. He was martyred in 1846 at age 25 and is venerated as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II. A bone relic of St. Andrew Kim, gifted by the Ahn family of Charlotte, NC, is enshrined in a golden cross-shaped reliquary at the foot of the parish altar, and an outdoor shrine of the saint stands on the campus.
- Canonized by Pope John Paul II among the 103 Korean Martyrs (1839–1867 persecutions)
- Feast day observed September 20 with companion Korean Martyrs
- Parish houses a relic of the saint blessed by Archbishop Hartmayer in 2021
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is staffed by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Father Lorenzo (Yong-sop) Yom, S.J., was confirmed as pastor in December 2021 after the parish elevation, and Father John Lee Huen-kwan, S.J., joined as associate priest in June 2023. Parish council and committee chairs are organized through the four commissions (사목회): Education, Youth, Young Adult, Mission and Liturgy.
- Rev. Lorenzo Yong-sop Yom, S.J. — Pastor (since Dec 2021); ordained 1997, former Sogang University professor and VP for international affairs, former director of Joy of Sharing Foundation (Seoul) and Campion Institute (Myanmar)
- Rev. John Lee Huen-kwan, S.J. — Associate Pastor (since June 2023); former director of the Jesuit Youth Center 2020–2023
- Rev. Hyong-Nyol Ryu, S.J. — founding mission pastor (2011–c.2021)
- Rev. Park Soo-young Theodore — former associate priest (c.2022–June 2023)
Office & Visiting Hours
Parish office hours are posted on sakc.org: closed Mondays; Tuesday and Saturday 9:00 AM–7:30 PM; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sunday 7:00 AM–4:00 PM. Phone 770-622-2577, fax 770-622-8077, email [email protected].
Becoming Catholic (RCIA / 예비자 교리반)
St. Andrew Kim runs an annual catechumenate program (예비자 교리반) for those preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation. New inquirers are recruited each August, and formation typically runs 6–7 months combining classroom instruction, Mass participation, an outdoor session, and a parish interview with the pastor, culminating in the Easter Vigil. Weekday, Sunday, and correspondence tracks are offered, and the rite of election is held jointly with other parishes under the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
- Enrollment each August
- Three tracks: weekday, weekend, and correspondence
- Rite of Election with the Archdiocese; Easter Vigil Baptism
- First Confession approximately one month after Baptism
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Education Commission (교육분과) coordinates catechesis for children, adults, and seekers, including Bible study groups, a Faith School, and a Korean Catholic History class. The parish has run an Infant Baptism preparation program since 2013, through which roughly 150 infants have been baptized, and offers marriage preparation for engaged couples.
- 유아세례반 — Infant Baptism prep (begun 2013)
- 성서공부반 — Bible study circles
- 신앙학교 — Faith School
- 한국 천주교회사반 — Korean Catholic History class
- 혼인예약/혼인준비 — Marriage preparation
Youth Ministry (주일학교)
The Youth Commission (청소년 분과) runs the parish Sunday School for elementary, middle, and high school students, along with a parent council, youth choir, and youth orchestra. Children's Mass in English supports the younger members of the community.
- Elementary / Middle / High School Sunday School
- 주일학교 자모회 — Sunday School Parent Council
- 청소년 성가대 — Youth Choir
- 청소년 오케스트라 — Youth Orchestra
Young Adults: CUNA & Zeteo
Two parallel young-adult communities meet at the parish. CUNA serves Korean-speaking young adults, while Zeteo (from the Greek "to seek in order to find") is the English-speaking young adult group, designed for transitional-age Catholics seeking belonging and growth through peer community and the Church. Both groups staff the Saturday 6 PM Youth Mass as lectors, liturgy servers, choir, and greeters.
- CUNA — Korean-speaking young adults (president: 김민영 엘리사벳)
- Zeteo — English-speaking young adults
- Youth Mass team — lectors, liturgy, choir, greeters
- Youth Choir and Youth Legion of Mary
Mission Commission & Devotional Groups (선교분과)
The Mission Commission coordinates the parish's evangelization outreach, follow-up of inactive Catholics, and the Holy Family Movement, while supporting a rich network of small devotional communities.
- 레지오 마리애 — Legion of Mary
- 울뜨레아 — Ultreya (Cursillo movement)
- 다락방 기도회 — Darakbang Prayer Meeting
- 성령 기도회 — Holy Spirit Prayer Meeting
- CLC — Christian Life Community
- ME — Marriage Encounter
- 가나안회 — Canaan Society (founded April 2018; welcomes and integrates new immigrant families)
- 아브라함회 — Abraham Society
- 성물방 — Relics Room
Korean Cultural Life
Beyond the liturgical calendar, the community observes Korean cultural celebrations such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (the harvest festival), combining them with special prayers during Mass. The parish website is primarily in Korean and the parish has offered a Korean-language school for English speakers. Senior ministry has been a particular focus, including practical classes like smartphone navigation for older members.
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) celebration with Mass
- Chuseok (harvest festival) observance
- Korean-language school for English speakers
- Senior programs and smartphone-training classes
Campus & Growth Plans
The parish sits on 10 acres in a red-brick former Baptist church purchased by the Archdiocese of Atlanta, with an outdoor shrine of St. Andrew Kim and interior statues of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Parish leaders had hoped to unveil a five-year campus and sanctuary expansion plan by the end of 2022 to address the fact that the sanctuary felt full with around 300 worshippers even before the pandemic.
- 10-acre campus on Duluth Highway
- Former Baptist sanctuary (red brick)
- Outdoor shrine of St. Andrew Kim
- Five-year campus expansion plan in development
Contact & Location
St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church of Atlanta is located at 2249 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097, on a corridor of Korean churches in Gwinnett County that locals call the "Seoul of the South." Telephone 770-622-2577, fax 770-622-8077, office email [email protected], and the parish website is http://www.sakc.org/.
- Address: 2249 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097
- Phone: 770-622-2577
- Fax: 770-622-8077
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://www.sakc.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Hyong-Nyol Ryu, S.J.2011–c.2021
Jesuit founding pastor of the mission, arrived from South Korea, oversaw the first decade of growth from 98 to ~600 families.
- Rev. Lorenzo (Yong-sop) Yom, S.J.December 2021–present
Jesuit priest; ordained 1997 at Myung-dong Cathedral, Seoul; former professor and VP of international affairs at Sogang University; previously directed the Joy of Sharing Foundation in Seoul and the Campion Institute in Yangon, Myanmar.
- Rev. Park Soo-young Theodore (박수영 테오도로 신부)2022–2023
Associate priest who served about one year before his June 2023 transfer.
- Rev. John Lee Huen-kwan, S.J. (이흔관 사도요한 신부)June 2023–present
Jesuit associate priest; former director of the Jesuit Youth Center (2020–2023); previously parochial vicar at Gwangjang-dong parish in Seoul (2018–19).