About St. Augustine · Thomasville, Georgia
St. Augustine Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish at 211 North Pinetree Boulevard in Thomasville, Georgia, in the Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery). Founded in 1882 as the first Catholic sanctuary in Thomasville and elevated to parish status in 1936, the parish has been served since June 2017 by Father Godfred Boachie-Yiadom, originally from Ghana. In addition to its main church, St. Augustine pastors the mission church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Cairo, Georgia, and offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish — daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Faith Formation for grades K–8, youth ministry, RCIA, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and a parish columbarium built in 2022.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- St. Augustine
- Rector
- Father Godfred Boachie-Yiadom
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Augustine is a welcoming, bilingual Catholic family that serves both Thomasville and the surrounding southwest Georgia region through its mission church in Cairo. Parishioners find a full sacramental life here — daily Mass, two Sunday liturgies (English at 9:00 AM and Spanish at 5:00 PM), frequent confession times, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays — supported by active programs for every age: Faith Formation for K–8, a vibrant youth ministry, RCIA for those entering the Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Mystic Rose Chapter of the Council of Catholic Women. The presence of a flourishing Hispanic community, a Columbarium for inurnment, and ongoing building projects under the current pastor signal a parish that is both rooted in 19th-century missionary history and still actively growing.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 11:00–11:45 AM (Thomasville)
- Friday 12:30–1:00 PM (Thomasville, per official schedule page)
- Saturday 3:45–4:45 PM (Thomasville)
- Sunday 11:00–11:30 AM (Cairo mission)
- Sunday 1:15–1:45 PM (Cairo mission)
- By appointment — call (229) 226-3624
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month — 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction)
History of St. Augustine Parish
St. Augustine Catholic Church was founded in 1882 as the first Catholic sanctuary in Thomasville, Georgia, growing out of a mission that began in the early 1870s in the parlor of Mrs. Cora Dufour Barrett. After decades as a mission church served from Savannah and Albany, it was elevated to parish status with its first resident pastor, Father Thomas I. Sheehan, on July 1, 1936. In 1952, the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province took over pastoral care, and the present church, social hall, and rectory were built in 1966–67. Subsequent pastors — diocesan priests, Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, and since 2017 Father Godfred Boachie-Yiadom from Ghana — have continued to grow this bilingual, mission-minded congregation.
- Origin as a mission (1870s) celebrated in the parlor of Mrs. Cora Dufour Barrett
- Lot purchased Oct. 12, 1877 at Jefferson & Crawford Streets
- Wooden structure built Nov. 12, 1881; dedicated as St. Augustine Catholic Church in February 1882
- First resident pastor: Rev. Thomas I. Sheehan (July 1, 1936)
- Franciscans of Holy Name Province arrive December 1952; first Franciscan pastor Father Peter C. Sheridan, O.F.M.
- Present church campus built 1966; dedicated April 23, 1967
- Religious-education building added 1979 under Father Vernard J. Murphy, O.F.M.
- Stained-glass windows installed 2002 (campaign begun by Father Victor Seidel, S.T., completed by Father Thomas J. Murphy)
- Adoration chapel, columbarium (2022), and mission-church re-roofing under Father Godfred Boachie-Yiadom (2017–present)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Augustine's Faith Formation Program serves children in grades K–8 with classes held twice a month following the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, beginning in late September. The bilingual team of Deacon Miguel Gutierrez and Andrea Gutierrez (352-553-7811) directs Religious Education, and First Communion is celebrated in the parish each year on the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28).
- Family Catechesis / Faith Formation for Grades K–8
- Classes twice monthly after the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- First Communion celebrated on the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28)
- Director: Deacon Miguel & Andrea Gutierrez (352-553-7811)
Becoming Catholic — RCIA
Adults interested in entering the Catholic Church are asked to first meet personally with Father Godfred. RCIA classes typically begin on a Sunday in mid-October at 6:30 PM and run through the Easter Vigil. The parish also welcomes returning Catholics.
- Initial meeting with Father Godfred required
- Classes begin Sunday, October 19 at 6:30 PM (most recent cycle)
- Year-round inquiry — call the parish office at 229-226-3624 to register
Youth Ministry
St. Augustine has an active youth ministry that complements the parish Faith Formation program and welcomes teens into the wider life of the parish alongside the Knights of Columbus and Council of Catholic Women.
- Coordinators: Carolyn Treadon (850-445-9293) and Roslyn Moore (229-200-0707)
- Works in tandem with Faith Formation K–8 program
Parish Organizations & Lay Ministries
The parish supports a robust ecosystem of lay-led ministries and organizations. Liturgical roles — Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and Altar Servers — serve each Mass, while outreach groups like the Knights of Columbus and the Mystic Rose Chapter of the Council of Catholic Women provide fellowship, service, and formation. All volunteers and employees in the Diocese of Savannah must complete Virtus 'Protecting God's Children' training.
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Monday; contact Wes Sowell 229-200-7818 or Jim Ladner 904-214-4440
- Council of Catholic Women (Mystic Rose Chapter) — 2nd Monday, Sept.–May; contact Christine Baker 229-236-1105
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers
- Homebound Ministry — Beth Crawford 229-221-8934
- Prayer Line
- Virtus 'Protecting God's Children' Training (required diocesan-wide)
- Deacon Howard Scholarship (parish-managed)
- Spanish-language ministry, coordinated by María Barragán (229-413-2289)
Music & Liturgy
Music is led by parish Music Director Sandy Ladner for the English-language liturgies and by Mayra Lara for the Spanish Mass, supporting a Eucharistic celebration enriched by stained-glass windows and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays. Following weekday Mass, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed Tuesday through Friday.
- Music Director: Sandy Ladner (904-214-4534)
- Director de Música: Mayra Lara (229-224-9141)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet after each Tuesday–Friday Mass
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish sustains a varied devotional life — Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction on First Fridays, weekly women's and men's prayer groups, and the ongoing Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction — First Friday of the month, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Rosary Women's Group — Wednesdays at 12:00 noon
- Men's Prayer Group — Fridays 6:45–7:30 AM in the Education building
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Tuesday through Friday after Mass
- Holy Hour Sundays 11:00–11:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Cairo)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mission (Cairo, GA)
St. Augustine pastors a mission church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, at 1500 11th Avenue NW, Cairo, GA 39828. The mission holds a Spanish Mass on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM, and on Sundays an English Mass at 11:30 AM and a Spanish Mass at 2:00 PM, with Reconciliation offered before each Sunday liturgy.
- Address: 1500 11th Ave NW, Cairo, GA 39828
- Thursday — 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday — 11:30 AM (English); 2:00 PM (Spanish)
- Confessions — Sunday 11:00–11:30 AM and 1:15–1:45 PM
Get Involved — Virtus & Volunteer Training
The Diocese of Savannah requires all parish volunteers and employees to attend Virtus 'Protecting God's Children for Adults' training before serving in ministry. The parish maintains its own Virtus coordination email for questions and registration.
- Virtus email: [email protected]
- Online registration via Virtus Online
- Hospital-visit notifications: please call the parish office (HIPAA limits automatic reporting)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles C. Prendergast1870s–1896
Mission priest from Savannah who celebrated Mass monthly in the parlor of Mrs. Cora Dufour Barrett and then led the parish after its 1882 dedication; died in 1896.
- Rev. Thomas I. SheehanJuly 1, 1936 –
First resident pastor of the Thomasville parish, appointed by Bishop Gerald P. O'Hara.
- Father Peter C. Sheridan, O.F.M.December 1952 – c. 1955
First Franciscan Friar of the Holy Name Province to pastor St. Augustine.
- Father Mario DiLelia, O.F.M.c. 1964 – c. 1971
Led the construction of the present church, social hall and rectory (dedicated April 23, 1967).
- Father Frederick Kirchner, O.F.M.1971 –
Franciscan pastor who succeeded Father DiLelia.
- Father Vernard J. Murphy, O.F.M.1976 – 1985
Franciscan pastor for nine years; oversaw the 1979 religious-education building.
- Father Victor Seidel, S.T.January 15, 1993 – c. 2000
Member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity; launched the stained-glass campaign.
- Father Thomas J. MurphyJuly 2000 – c. 2004
Completed the stained-glass-window campaign (windows installed 2002).
- Father Jacek SzusterJuly 2004 – June 30, 2011
Priest from Poland known for his hands-on maintenance of the parish grounds; transferred to Most Holy Trinity, Augusta.
- Father Mark Van Alstine2011 – 2012
Ordained 2005; had served as Assistant Vocation Director for seminarians.
- Father Ray Levreault2012 – 2013
Short tenure of one year.
- Father David Kotter2013 – June 2016
Served three years before transfer to Holy Spirit, Macon.
- Father Dawid Kwiatkowski2016 – 2017
Polish priest, ordained 2011 in Savannah; previously served the Hispanic community at St. Teresa of Avila, Augusta.
- Father Godfred Boachie-YiadomJune 2017 – present
From Ghana; current pastor; has led the Adoration-chapel addition, the 2022 columbarium, and the re-roofing of the Cairo mission.