About St. Bernadette · Cedartown, Georgia
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish in Cedartown, Georgia, located in the rolling hills of northwest Georgia near the Alabama border. Established on October 15, 1957, it is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta and serves the Southwest Deanery across Polk County. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, reflecting its multilingual community, and gathers at 100 Evergreen Lane.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Bernadette (of Lourdes)
- Rector
- Father Miller Gómez-Ruiz
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Bernadette welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics into a single, unified bilingual community in the heart of Polk County. Sunday liturgies in English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, and ministries such as RCIA/OCIA, religious education, and the Young Adult Ministry make it a place for cradle Catholics, newcomers, and those seeking the Lord alike. The parish's mission is to celebrate a beautiful Sunday liturgy, teach the Catholic faith to children and inquirers, and reach out to those in need through works of charity.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. — Main Sanctuary
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Main Sanctuary
- By appointment — call (770) 748-1517 or email [email protected]
Adoration times
- Every Friday 3:00 p.m. until Saturday 7:00 a.m. — Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is a bilingual Catholic parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, located in Cedartown in the Southwest Deanery of Polk County, Georgia. Its mission is 'United in Faith' to celebrate a beautiful Sunday liturgy so the faithful may receive our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist, to teach the Catholic Faith to children and those who seek the Lord, and to reach out to those in need through works of charity.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
- Deanery: Southwest
- County: Polk
- Established: October 15, 1957
- Mailing/physical address: 100 Evergreen Lane, Cedartown, GA 30125
History of the Parish
The Catholic community in Cedartown began meeting in 1935 in the Najjar home, with Mass first celebrated by Monsignor Joseph Cassidy and then offered twice a week by Father James R. Grady of Rome. In 1941 the first church was built at East Avenue and College Street under Father Grady's guidance, with dedication by Bishop Gerald O'Hara. After periods served by diocesan priests and the Redemptorist Fathers of Dalton, the community was formally established as St. Bernadette Parish in July 1957.
- 1935 — first Masses in the Najjar home
- 1941 — original church built at East Avenue & College Street
- 1943–1946 — Redemptorist and then diocesan pastoral care
- July 1957 — St. Bernadette becomes an official parish of the Diocese of Atlanta
- June 1956 — Monsignor Donald Kiernan named first pastor
The New Parish Center (2017–2018)
On May 7, 2017 (Good Shepherd Sunday), Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the groundbreaking for the new St. Bernadette Parish Center on Evergreen Lane. On June 24, 2018, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Archbishop Gregory returned for the Mass of blessing and dedication of the completed center. The building provides worship space, faith formation classrooms, parish offices, an adoration chapel, and community meeting rooms for the growing bilingual parish.
- Groundbreaking: May 7, 2017
- Dedication: June 24, 2018
- Includes Main Sanctuary and Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Miller Gómez-Ruiz as pastor. Pastoral and ministry staff include a Director of Religious Education (Angela Cropley), a Director of Initiation Ministry (Linda Flosi), and a Music Director and Organist (John Henderson). The parish has also been served by permanent deacons over the years, including Deacon Ron Comeau (1991–1995) and the parish's first permanent deacon, Deacon Richard E. Machan.
- Father Miller Gómez-Ruiz — Pastor
- Angela Cropley — Director of Religious Education
- Linda Flosi — Director of Initiation Ministry
- John Henderson — Music Director and Organist
Devotions & Other Services
Beyond Mass and Reconciliation, the parish sustains a rhythm of Marian devotion through weekly Rosary gatherings before weekday and Sunday Masses.
- Rosary — Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Rosary — Saturdays 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Rosary — 30 minutes before each Sunday Mass
Faith Formation & Sacraments
St. Bernadette's faith formation program is led by the Director of Religious Education and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking families. The parish also runs an Initiation Ministry for adults preparing to become Catholic or complete their sacraments.
- Religious Education for children
- RCIA / OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Initiation Ministry (Director: Linda Flosi)
- Baptism, Marriage, and other sacraments by arrangement with the parish office
Young Adult Ministry
The Young Adult Ministry was prayerfully begun at St. Bernadette when Father Timothy brought the idea to a young adult in the parish. Through prayer, core leaders were gathered and brainstormed together. The ministry serves married and single young adults ages 19–39 and meets to connect with Jesus Christ, with the Church, with the Church's mission in the world, and with a peer community through faith-based discussions, social events, and volunteer opportunities.
- Ages 19–39
- Faith-based discussions, social events, volunteer opportunities
- Contact: [email protected]
- Find them on Instagram and Facebook as 'St. Bernadette Young Adults'
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music at St. Bernadette is led by Music Director and Organist John Henderson, who supports the parish's bilingual liturgy with music for both English and Spanish Masses.
- Music Director and Organist: John Henderson
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is one of the three pillars of the parish's stated mission. The community is known for supporting the poor, the sick, and those who have suffered loss, and bears Catholic witness to the people of Polk County from its location near the county courthouse.
- Works of charity to those in need
- Pastoral care for the sick and bereaved
- Bilingual outreach across Polk County
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners are invited to register during office hours, and visitors are always welcome at weekend Masses. The parish office can be reached by phone, email, or in person at the address below.
- Address: 100 Evergreen Lane, Cedartown, GA 30125
- Phone: (770) 748-1517
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stbernadettecc.org/
- Register during office hours
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Donald KiernanJune 1956 –
First pastor when St. Bernadette became an official parish in July 1957
- Father John Stapleton
- Father Richard B. Morrow
- Father Jarlath Burke
- Father Daniel McCormick
- Father Henry Gracz
- Father James Maciejewski
- Father John O'Shea
- Father Pat Mulhern
- Father James Fennessy
- Father Leo Herbert
- Father Vincent M. Mulvin1981 – March 1983
First priest to celebrate Mass in Spanish; died in the rectory kitchen
- Father Patrick A. BishopJune 1983 – October 1989
Father Juan de la Cruz came to celebrate Spanish Mass during this time
- Father Daniel StackOctober 1989 – June 1995
First bilingual pastor; Spanish-speaking community grew significantly
- Father Patrick J. Kingery
- Father Richard Young
- Father Jaime Barona
- Father Rafael CastañoJanuary 2002 – June 2012
Acquired the Evergreen Lane property for the parish
- Father Timothy GallagherJuly 2012 – June 2025
Called St. Bernadette his 'dream parish'; oversaw groundbreaking and 2018 dedication of new Parish Center
- Father Miller Gómez-Ruiz2025 – present
Current pastor