About St. James · Madison, Georgia
St. James Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in the historic town of Madison, Georgia, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta. Founded in 1967 by three local families and originally a mission served by visiting priests, the community has grown into a bilingual parish offering Masses in both English and Spanish. Since being formally established as a parish on May 3, 2018 (the Feast of Sts. James and Philip), St. James has been led by Father Randy Mattox as its first pastor and, since July 1, 2020, by Father Thanh Liem Nguyen. The parish sits on a 12-acre property on Vine Street and is described by parishioners as a welcoming, reverent community with traditional liturgy featuring chant, choir, and organ.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. James (the parish was canonically erected on the Feast of Sts. James and Philip, May 3, 2018)
- Rector
- Rev. Thanh Liem Nguyen (appointed July 1, 2020)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta (Southeast Deanery, Morgan County)
Why belong here
St. James offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in historic Madison, with Masses celebrated in both English and Spanish every weekend — a 5:00 PM Saturday vigil, 9:00 AM Sunday in English, and 11:30 AM Sunday in Spanish — along with weekday Masses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The parish is celebrated by its members for a reverent, beautifully sung liturgy that includes chant, choir, and organ, and for the personal pastoral care of its priests. Becoming a parishioner means joining a small but vibrant multicultural community that grew from three founding families in 1967 into a faith family now rooted on 12 acres of pecan grove on Vine Street.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (before 12:00 PM Mass)
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (before 6:00 PM Mass)
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (before 12:00 PM Mass)
History of St. James Parish
St. James was founded in 1967 by the Benkoski and Engle families in a kindergarten building on Main Street, then worshipped for sixteen years at the Episcopal Church of the Advent (1969–1985) before moving to a remodeled Butler house on South Main Street. A 12-acre site on Vine Street was purchased in 1992; Archbishop John F. Donoghue blessed the groundbreaking on January 29, 1995, and the new church, social hall, offices, and classrooms were dedicated on October 28, 1995. On May 3, 2018 — the Feast of Sts. James and Philip — the long-standing mission was canonically erected as a parish, with Father Randy Mattox as its first pastor. Father Thanh Liem Nguyen succeeded him on July 1, 2020.
- 1967: Founded by the John Benkoski, Stanley Benkoski, and Engle families
- 1969–1985: Worshipped at Episcopal Church of the Advent (ecumenical cooperation)
- October 1969: First Mass with about 50 attendees from Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist communities
- 1985: Purchased the Butler house on South Main Street as a chapel
- 1995: New Vine Street facilities dedicated October 28
- 2000: Monsignor Peter A. Dora assigned as first resident priest
- 2001: Saturday Vigil Mass begins
- 2002: Weekly Spanish Mass added
- May 3, 2018: Erected as a parish (Feast of Sts. James and Philip)
- July 1, 2020: Father Thanh Liem Nguyen appointed pastor
Sacramental Life
In addition to daily and Sunday Mass, St. James offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation before weekend Masses and by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration precedes each weekday Mass, and parishioners may arrange Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick through the parish office.
- Confession: Saturday 4:15–4:45 PM, Sunday 8:15–8:45 AM, or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: Mon 11:30 AM, Wed 5:30 PM, Fri 11:30 AM
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick: contact the parish office
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. James is led by its pastor, Father Thanh Liem Nguyen, who was appointed by Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., on July 1, 2020 and previously served as pastor of St. Peter the Rock Parish in Thomaston. The parish office is reachable at (706) 342-9661 and [email protected].
- Rev. Thanh Liem Nguyen — Pastor (since July 1, 2020)
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Parish office phone: (706) 342-9661
Community & Identity
St. James describes itself as a vibrant, welcoming, multicultural Catholic community in historic Madison, offering Masses in English and Spanish. The parish is especially noted for the musical quality of its liturgy, with chant, choir, and organ, and for the personal, caring pastoral presence of its priests and deacon as reflected in long-time member reviews. A 2024 #iGiveCatholic campaign raised funds to install a brick monument sign so that visitors to Madison can more easily find the church.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) parish community
- Reverent liturgy with chant, choir, and organ
- GAgives #iGiveCatholic project for a new brick monument sign
- Archdiocese of Atlanta — Southeast Deanery, Morgan County
Building, Grounds & Facilities
The current St. James church sits on 12 acres of land on Vine Street in Madison, with the sanctuary set within a pecan grove alongside a white, 100-year-old home. The 7,900-square-foot worship space seats 250 people, with an attached social hall, offices, and six classrooms dedicated together on October 28, 1995. When the property was acquired, future plans also envisioned a rectory and a school.
- 12-acre site on Vine Street, Madison
- Pecan grove with 100-year-old house
- 7,900 sq ft sanctuary seating 250
- Social hall, offices, and six classrooms
- Dedicated October 28, 1995
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. James at its office in Madison or via its online bulletin and giving platforms. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Southeast Deanery, serving Morgan County and surrounding areas.
- Address: 562 Vine Street, Madison, GA 30650
- Phone: (706) 342-9661
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjamesmadison.catholicparish.info
- Online giving: osvhub.com/sjccmadison
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Atlanta (archatl.com)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jarlath Burke1969–(approx. through 1985)
Pastor of St. Joseph's, Athens; served as Chaplain of the St. James mission.
- Father Michael Reddenapprox. 1995
Chaplain of the mission at the time of the 1995 groundbreaking and dedication of the new Vine Street facilities.
- Monsignor Peter A. Dora2000–
Assigned September 21, 2000 as the first resident priest of Saint James Church.
- Father Randy Mattox2015–2020
Named Administrator in July 2015; became the first Pastor when the mission was elevated to parish status on May 3, 2018; transferred to St. George Parish, Newnan in 2020.
- Father Thanh Liem Nguyen2020–present
Appointed by Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., effective July 1, 2020; previously pastor of St. Peter the Rock Parish, Thomaston.