About St. Helena · Clayton, Georgia
Saint Helena Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the North Georgia mountains in Clayton, Georgia, the seat of Rabun County — the northeastern-most county in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish traces its origins to 1947, when the few Catholics in Rabun County began traveling to nearby towns for Mass; the first Mass in Clayton was celebrated on September 25, 1955. After decades as a mission served by the Verona Fathers and then the Glenmary Missions, St. Helena was formally dedicated as a mission church on November 1, 1961, elevated to parish status by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on June 24, 2015, and now serves approximately 250 registered families in a bilingual (English/Spanish) mountain community. The parish describes itself as 'a Catholic home in the heart of the North Georgia mountains.'
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- St. Helena
- Rector
- Fr. Roberto Suárez (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Helena Catholic Church offers a warm bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic home in the mountains of northeast Georgia, with daily and weekend Masses, a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule including nocturnal adoration on second Saturdays, and active faith formation for children, youth, and adults. The parish supports families through catechetical programs, sacramental preparation, RCIA, and a baptismal preparation ministry, and its Family Life Center — dedicated in 2013 — provides space for parish gatherings. With approximately 250 registered families serving all of Rabun County, St. Helena is small enough to know one another by name while offering the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church in both English and Spanish.
Mass times at St. Helena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 pm – 6:40 pm (Spanish)
- Friday: 8:15 am – 8:45 am (English)
- Saturday: 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
- Or by appointment: (706) 782-5152
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 pm – 6:50 pm (guided prayers in Spanish)
- First Friday: 9:30 am – 12:00 noon (Silent Adoration)
- Other Fridays: 9:30 am – 10:30 am (Silent Adoration)
- Second Saturday: 8:00 pm – 8:00 am Sunday (Nocturnal Adoration: English/Spanish, Divine Office — 8:00 pm, 1:00 am, and 7:00 am in English; other hourly watches in Spanish)
Parish History
Catholic life in Rabun County dates to 1947. The first Mass in Clayton was celebrated September 25, 1955, by Father Bob Healy, who had come from Franklin, North Carolina to serve the Hollywood film crew shooting 'The Great Locomotive Chase.' On November 1, 1961, St. Helena Catholic Mission was formally dedicated — financed almost entirely by the sister parish of St. Helena in Center Square / Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The parish was served by the Verona Fathers from Toccoa until 1964, when the Glenmary Missions established St. Mark Parish in Clarkesville with jurisdiction over St. Helena; both were turned over to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in June 1992. A new church was dedicated in August 2009 by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, the Family Life Center was dedicated in June 2013, and on June 24, 2015 Archbishop Gregory elevated St. Helena from mission to parish, appointing Father Pedro Poloche as its first pastor.
- 1947: Catholics in Rabun County begin traveling to nearby towns for Mass
- Sept. 25, 1955: First Mass celebrated in Clayton
- Nov. 1, 1961: St. Helena Catholic Mission formally dedicated
- 1962: Social and Religious Center added; 1963 breezeway enclosed
- May 1964: Glenmary Missions establishes St. Mark Parish, Clarkesville
- June 1992: St. Helena transferred to Archdiocese of Atlanta
- August 2009: New church dedicated by Archbishop Gregory
- June 2013: Family Life Center dedicated
- June 24, 2015: Elevated to parish status; Father Pedro Poloche named first pastor
Mission Statement & Identity
The parish describes itself as 'a Catholic home in the heart of the North Georgia mountains.' With 250 registered families at the time of its elevation to parish status in 2015, St. Helena serves all of Rabun County — the northeastern-most county in the Archdiocese of Atlanta — through bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgies and a full sacramental and formation life.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by a Parochial Administrator rather than a pastor. The contact-us page lists the priest, permanent deacon, Director of Religious Education, and Business Manager, with separate email addresses for the pastor's office, reception, religious education, and business.
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. Roberto Suárez — [email protected]
- Permanent Deacon: Dcn. Mike Byrne — [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Gabriela Pérez — [email protected]
- Business Manager: Laura Hernandez — [email protected]
- Reception: [email protected]
Mass & Liturgy
St. Helena offers a full weekly schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, including a Saturday Vigil, a Sunday morning Spanish Mass, and an English Sunday Mass. Weekday Masses are offered Monday, Thursday, and Friday mornings in English, with a Wednesday evening Mass in Spanish.
- Saturday Vigil — 5:00 pm (English)
- Sunday — 9:00 am (Spanish), 11:00 am (English)
- Monday — 9:00 am (English)
- Wednesday — 7:00 pm (Spanish)
- Thursday — 9:00 am (English)
- Friday — 9:00 am (English)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The Religious Education Office 'exists to guide and support the faith formation of every member of our community, from children preparing for their first sacraments to adults seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ,' providing catechetical programs, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and adult faith formation. The office also supports parents as 'the primary educators of their children in the faith.' Office hours are Monday 2:00–6:00 pm and Wednesday–Friday 1:00–6:00 pm, reachable at 706-212-2048.
- Children's catechetical programs
- Sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Youth ministry
- Adult faith formation
- Catechists and assistants — contact 706-212-2048
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or in completing their initiation into the Catholic Church are invited to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA / RCIA) program. Inquiries are directed to Anne Weingartz at 404-433-1840.
Baptism Preparation
Parents preparing for their child's Baptism are invited to contact the Religious Education Office for guidance and required preparation. Gabriela Pérez is the parish contact for baptismal preparation at 706-212-2048.
Facilities: The Church & Family Life Center
The current church was built and dedicated in August 2009, replacing the original 1961 mission building. In 2010 a parish-wide building campaign funded a Family Life Center, dedicated by Archbishop Gregory in June 2013, to serve the educational and social needs of the parish.
- 1961 church campus (original mission) with Social and Religious Center (1962) and enclosed breezeway (1963)
- New church dedicated August 2009 by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
- Family Life Center dedicated June 2013
Parish Life & Discipleship
Beyond the sacraments, the parish fosters an active lay life through the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey — offered parish-wide during Lent 2025 to help plan future programs — and through ongoing bulletins and announcements that keep parishioners informed of parish events and formation opportunities.
- Disciple Maker Index (DMI) parish survey
- Weekly bulletins and announcements
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bob Healy1955 (and following years)
Came from Franklin, NC to serve the film crew of 'The Great Locomotive Chase'; continued traveling to Clayton afterward.
- Verona Fathers (from Toccoa, GA)until 1964
Had canonical responsibility for St. Helena Mission before 1964.
- Glenmary Missions1964–1992
Established St. Mark Parish in Clarkesville, GA in May 1964 with jurisdiction over St. Helena Mission; turned over to Archdiocese of Atlanta in June 1992.
- Father Luis Rafael Zarama
Later consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
- Father Pedro Poloche2015–
Appointed first pastor when St. Helena Mission was elevated to parish status on June 24, 2015.
- Fr. Roberto Suárez
Current Parochial Administrator.