About St. Gerard · Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church is a small but active Catholic parish in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, situated on Lafayette Road in Catoosa County. Established as a mission in 1948 and formally erected on November 12, 1952, the parish worships in a building that was originally the chapel of the U.S. Army's Fort Oglethorpe. Now part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Northwest Deanery, St. Gerard offers daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, faith formation for all ages, and a range of parish ministries including a St. Vincent de Paul conference and homebound ministry.
- Established
- 1948 (mission); November 12, 1952 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Gerard Majella
- Rector
- Father Dung "Young" Nguyen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Northwest Deanery, Catoosa County)
Why belong here
St. Gerard Majella offers an unusually full devotional life for a parish of its size — daily Mass Monday through Friday, extended Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday (including until noon on Fridays), daily recitation of the Rosary, and a Saturday Vigil Mass. A genuine community of small-group faith sharing, faith formation from K–12, OCIA for adults, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, homebound ministry, bereavement support, and church beautification projects makes it easy to get involved.
Mass times at St. Gerard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm (also by appointment or walk-up)
Adoration times
- Monday – Thursday: 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Friday: 7:30 – 9:00 am; after 9:00 am Mass until noon
- Church open daily for personal prayer and quiet reflection
About St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church
St. Gerard Majella is a small, active Catholic parish in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in the Northwest Deanery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish website describes itself as 'a community of faith' that strives to create 'an environment where all can encounter Christ through worship, prayers and the sacraments,' inviting newcomers to join an 'enriching journey of faith, where encounter, love, and service are at the forefront of our mission.'
Parish History
Founded in 1948 by the Redemptorists (C.S.s.R.) and formally established as a parish on November 12, 1952, St. Gerard Majella grew on land that had been part of the U.S. Army's Fort Oglethorpe. The first Mass was celebrated in a Lakeview home; the church building itself is the former base chapel. The Redemptorists ran a renowned K–8 school (staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, ranked in the nation's top 3%) from the early 1950s until it closed in 1969, and they also sponsored mission churches that became Our Lady of the Mount and earlier missions in Griffith and LaFayette, Georgia. In 1996, the Archdiocese of Atlanta took over leadership from the Redemptorists, and a major church remodeling was completed in 2002.
- Established as a mission: 1948
- Parish erected: November 12, 1952
- School opened: early 1950s; closed 1969
- Redemptorist administration ends; Archdiocese of Atlanta assumes leadership: 1996
- Major church remodeling completed: 2002
Meet our Pastor and Staff
The current pastor is Father Dung "Young" Nguyen. His office number is 706-861-9410, his cell/emergency number is 770-289-3466, and he can be reached by email at [email protected] or [email protected].
- Father Dung "Young" Nguyen — Pastor (Office: 706-861-9410; Cell/Emer: 770-289-3466)
- Deacon Tim Schlueter — assists with parish life, including High School Faith Formation (grades 9–12)
- Parish office hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Other Devotions and Services
The Rosary is recited daily before weekday Mass at 8:30 am, and 30 minutes before each weekend Mass on every 5th Sunday of the month. The parish also publishes a Holy Week and Easter schedule each year.
- Daily Rosary: Monday – Friday at 8:30 am
- 5th Sunday Rosary: Saturday at 4:00 pm; Sunday at 8:30 am and 10:30 am
- Holy Thursday (Last Supper Service): 7:00 pm
- Good Friday Stations of the Cross: 3:00 pm
- Good Friday Communion Service: 7:00 pm
- Easter Vigil: 8:30 pm
- Easter Sunday: 9:00 am and 11:00 am (Easter Egg Hunt after the 11:00 am Mass)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Gerard Majella runs faith formation for every age — from a children's K–5 elementary program and middle and high school youth ministry, through OCIA for adults and ongoing adult enrichment opportunities. The Religious Education Coordinator is Teri Hughes.
Youth Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Gerard serves grades K–12 and meets on Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 am, between the two morning Masses. All classes are held in the Parish Life Center (PLC).
- K–5 Elementary Program — PLC classrooms (Coordinator: Teri Hughes, 423-322-9042)
- K & 1st Grade lead: Jennifer
- 2nd Grade / 1st Communion: Ruth Barhite
- 3rd Grade: Joe Kowalewski
- 4th Grade: Joy Velk
- 5th Grade: Sheri Fava
- Grades 6–8 Middle School — David Breedlove (256-443-7877); meets in PLC's St. Vincent Food Storage area
- Grades 9–12 High School — Deacon Tim Schlueter (423-443-6596); meets in main PLC room
- K–12 Sunday classes: 10:00 – 10:45 am
Adult Faith Formation
Adult faith formation at St. Gerard Majella includes OCIA for those exploring Catholicism, ongoing small-group faith sharing, topical discussion series, and targeted studies for young mothers.
- Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) — Thursdays 6:30–7:30 pm, Parish Life Center (Sept–Pentecost/May). Contact: John Fava (423-503-8768)
- We are One Body small-group — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 6:00 pm, PLC. Contact: Sheri Fava (423-443-6596)
- Catholic Morality vs. Society — 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Contact: John Fava (423-503-8768)
- Young Mothers Study 'Navigating Motherhood' — twice a month for 8 sessions. Contact: Amy Wigley (423-208-1261, [email protected])
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish's ministries page lists several ways parishioners can serve one another and the wider community — from practical church beautification to corporal works of mercy through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Bereavement Ministry — Julie Perry, 423-991-7403, [email protected]
- Church Beautification Ministry — mowing, weeding, painting, small fixes; contact Father Young (770-289-3466)
- Homebound Ministry — visits and brings Communion; Libby Simmons (423-834-4037)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society conference — Joseph & Stephanie Kowalewski (706-996-4140 / 706-508-7689, [email protected])
- Welcome Committee — greets newcomers and helps them join parish life
- Vacation Bible School — annual K–5 program
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation includes First Communion (typically in 2nd grade through the Religious Education program) and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for unbaptized adults or those returning to the faith, which meets Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Parish Life Center from September through Pentecost (May).
- Baptism — preparation through parish
- First Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:45–4:15 pm or by appointment
- OCIA for adults — Thursdays 6:30–7:30 pm, PLC
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Sacramental emergencies are handled by Father Young's emergency cell at (770) 289-3466. The church itself is unlocked during the day for personal prayer and quiet reflection.
- Address: 3049 Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
- Parish office phone: (706) 861-9410
- Sacramental emergency: (770) 289-3466
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintgerardmajella.net/
- Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Getting Involved
Newcomers are encouraged to register with the parish, sign up for a ministry that matches their gifts, and join the Welcome Committee. The parish lists direct contacts for each ministry on its website, so interested parishioners can simply reach out to the coordinator listed for any group.
- Register as a parishioner
- Join the Welcome Committee
- Volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, Bereavement, Homebound, or Beautification ministries
- Enroll children or teens in K–12 Faith Formation (Sunday 10:00–10:45 am)
- Attend OCIA or an adult small group
- Bring the family to Vacation Bible School
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Redemptorist (C.S.s.R.) priests1948–1996
The Redemptorist Order founded the parish and pastored it until 1996, when the Archdiocese of Atlanta assumed leadership.