About St. George · Newnan, Georgia
St. George Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Newnan, Georgia, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. It is the oldest Catholic congregation in Coweta County, with roots that reach back to 1938, when Lebanese-American parishioners Ellis and Effie Mansour opened their home for the first Mass. The parish was formally established as a mission in 1969 with the dedication of its present church on Roscoe Road, was elevated to parish status in March 1974, and today serves more than 1,700 registered parishioners from many nations. Worship includes a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), weekday Masses Monday through Thursday, weekly Friday Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confessions, and a full program of faith formation, youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, and outreach to the wider Coweta community.
- Established
- 1938 (first Mass in Mansour home); 1969 (church dedicated as mission); 1974 (elevated to parish status)
- Patron
- St. George
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen J. Lyness
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta)
Why belong here
St. George is a warm, multicultural Catholic home in the heart of Coweta County, where longtime families and newcomers from many nations worship side by side. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily Mass in English, a Spanish-language Sunday Mass, weekend Confessions, weekly Friday Eucharistic Adoration, baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, marriage, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — alongside 28 active ministries including a 167-student Faith Formation program, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, El Sembrador, and a robust homebound ministry that brought Communion to over 1,285 visits in the past year. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, a returning parishioner, or a Spanish-speaking family, there is a place for you here.
Mass times at St. George
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (English)
- Sunday 11:30 AM (Spanish, before the 12:30 PM Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel)
Parish History
St. George is the oldest Catholic parish in Coweta County, with roots going back to 1938. The Mansour family's witness in opening their home, the Redemptorists' 42-year ministry, and the growth of the Hispanic community have all shaped the parish into the multicultural family it is today.
- 1938 — First Mass in the home of Ellis and Effie Mansour, Lebanese immigrants in Newnan
- 1947 — Worship moves to the Virginia Hotel dining room as the community outgrows the home
- 1950 — Redemptorist Fathers (CSSR) assigned to the community
- 1951 — First Catholic church in Coweta County built on Jackson Street
- 1968 — 10 acres purchased on Roscoe Road; Mansour family donates 25 adjoining acres
- April 1969 — First Mass in the new Roscoe Road church (celebrant: Fr. Luke Doheny, CSSR)
- June 22, 1969 — Archbishop Thomas Donnellan dedicates the church; mission of Sacred Heart, Griffin
- March 1974 — Mission elevated to full parish status
- 1992 — After 42 years of Redemptorist service, the parish is turned over to the Archdiocese; Fr. Leo Herbert becomes first diocesan pastor
- 1997 — Henderson Hall built (named for Sister Bridget Henderson, first DRE)
- 2003 — First Spanish-speaking priest joins as parochial vicar
- 2018–2019 — 'Year of Grace and Gratitude' celebrates the 50th anniversary of the church's dedication
- 2019 — New rectory completed
- June 2022 — Fr. Stephen Lyness returns to St. George as pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Stephen J. Lyness, an Irish priest first assigned to St. George in 1999, supported by three deacons and a bilingual staff team.
- Fr. Stephen J. Lyness — Pastor (ordained 1998, Lurgan, Ireland)
- Deacon Steve Beers — Senior Deacon, Retired
- Deacon Ed Buckley
- Deacon Danilo Salas
- Dr. Grace Charles — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected] · 770-683-8979)
- Kelly Riordan — Administrative Assistant ([email protected] · 770-686-8857)
- Teresa Nguyen — Business/Office Manager ([email protected] · 770-683-8972)
- Nancy Medrano — Coordinator of Faith Formation (770-683-8976)
- Libi Roberts — Bilingual Pastoral Secretary ([email protected] · 770-686-8992)
- Tim Camp — Facilities Maintenance ([email protected] · 770-686-8985)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a strong devotional life: weekly Holy Face devotions, the Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy and Stations of the Cross in Lent, and bilingual prayer groups such as Escuela de la Cruz and El Sembrador.
- Holy Face — Tuesdays 10:00 AM
- Legion of Mary — Wednesdays 10:00 AM
- Choir Practice — Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Fridays 3:00 PM (Lent)
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays 3:00 PM (English) and 7:00 PM (Spanish) in Lent
- Escuela de la Cruz — Fridays 8:00 PM (Spanish formation)
- El Sembrador — Fridays 7:00 PM (Spanish prayer meeting) with Saturday Lenten vigil
- Friday Adoration (9:00 AM – 9:00 PM) — centerpiece of weekly prayer
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The Faith Formation program serves 167 students from PreK through 12th grade and is supported by a Director of Faith Formation, a Coordinator, and many catechists. The parish also walks adults through the sacraments of initiation through OCIA (English) and RICA (Spanish).
- Faith Formation PreK–8th grade — Sundays 10:30–11:15 AM
- Faith Formation 9th–12th grade / Youth Ministry
- OCIA / RICA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (37 received into full communion in 2024–25)
- Baptism classes (English and Spanish) — 27 baptisms in 2024–25
- First Communion preparation — 37 First Communions in 2024–25
- Confirmation preparation — 39 confirmed in 2024–25
Parish Ministries & Community Life
The parish lists 28 active ministries, ranging from fraternal and devotional groups to service and outreach. Liturgical ministries alone involve 133 parishioners, and the homebound ministry is one of the largest in the Archdiocese by visit count.
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 PM; Pancake Breakfast 2nd Sunday
- Legion of Mary
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — joint conference with St. Mary Magdalene
- Escuela de la Cruz (Spanish)
- El Sembrador (Spanish)
- Parish Choir
- Eucharistic Adoration team
- Eucharist to the Homebound (1,285 visits in 2024–25)
- Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Ushers, Hospitality
- Prayer Candle Ministry
Outreach & Service
St. Vincent de Paul is the parish's flagship outreach, raising more than $193,000 in donations last year and assisting nearly 200 individuals in Coweta County. The parish also runs holiday and community programs in partnership with local agencies.
- St. Vincent de Paul — joint St. George / St. Mary Magdalene conference
- Thanksgiving Baskets — 11 families / 90 individuals helped in 2024
- Angel Tree — 18 boxes, 376 gifts donated
- Red Cross Blood Drive — 60+ donations
- Coats for Kids ($1,598)
- Coweta Food Bank / One Roof
- Coweta Pregnancy Center
- Coweta Samaritan Clinic (ecumenical service)
- Coweta County Special Olympics
- John Bosco Scholarship
- Donations to Atlanta Archdiocese Clergy & Seminarians
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the office for preparation programs in English or Spanish.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion and ongoing)
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations support)
- Matrimony / Marriage
Parish Life & Membership
St. George is a growing, multicultural parish. The 2024–25 annual report (Father Stephen's first full year ending June 30, 2025) reports steady growth and active engagement across every area of parish life.
- 704 registered households
- 1,718 total parishioners
- 28 active ministries
- 133 parishioners serving in liturgical ministries
- 580 hours of Eucharistic Adoration
- 1,285 homebound Communion visits
- Total parish revenue 2024–25: $988,663; net positive $193,915
Campus, Facilities & Location
The parish campus sits on Roscoe Road, west of Newnan's historic downtown, with easy access from I-85. Recent facility improvements have focused on accessibility, safety, and the worship environment.
- Address: 771 Roscoe Road, Newnan, GA 30263
- Phone: (770) 251-5353 · Fax: (770) 251-2053
- New rectory completed in 2019
- Henderson Hall — classrooms and offices (built 1997, named for Sister Bridget Henderson)
- Updated parking-lot pathways and two crosswalks for mobility access
- Six original doors replaced with safety glass
- Wireless sound system upgraded in the church; chapel sound system reconnected
- Painted and repaired restrooms in Henderson Hall
- Ongoing campaign to fund a new monstrance for Eucharistic Adoration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Leo Herbert1992 (first diocesan priest, after 42 years of Redemptorist service)
First archdiocesan pastor after the Redemptorists (CSSR) turned the parish over to the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
- Fr. Henry Atemapproximately 2008–2022
Native of Cameroon; celebrated his 10th anniversary of ordination in 2018; led the parish through its 50th anniversary Year of Grace and Gratitude.
- Fr. Stephen J. LynessJune 2022–present
Born May 23, 1968 in Lurgan, Ireland; ordained June 26, 1998; previously served at St. George as parochial vicar (June 1999 – November 2002). Also served at St. Thomas Aquinas (Alpharetta), St. Lawrence (Lawrenceville), St. Catherine of Siena (Kennesaw), Cathedral of Christ the King (Atlanta), St. Benedict (Johns Creek), and as pastor of St. Joseph (Washington) and Queen of Angels (Thomson).