About St. Joseph · Dalton, Georgia
St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Iglesia Católica de San José) in Dalton, Georgia is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving the carpet capital of the world and surrounding Northwest Georgia. Established in 1941 under the care of the Redemptorist Fathers, it sits today on a 17-acre campus at 968 Haig Mill Lake Road with a mission chapel, Capilla San Juan Diego, on East Morris Street. Long shaped by successive waves of Catholic immigrants — Irish railroad workers in the 1850s, carpet-industry families in the mid-twentieth century, and a predominantly Hispanic community today — the parish is celebrated for its cultural diversity, vibrant youth ministry, and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Paul Williams
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is the spiritual heart of Northwest Georgia's Catholics, offering robust bilingual (English/Spanish) ministry with up to seven weekend Masses and a daily Mass schedule that few parishes of its size can match. Its ministries — All Saints Youth Ministry for ages 14–17, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), children's catechesis for First Communion and Confirmation, and a dedicated Newman Connection for Dalton State College students — make it a true community for cradle Catholics, converts, and newcomers alike. The parish's historic connection to immigrant labor in the carpet industry gives it a deep culture of welcome that continues today through its largely Hispanic congregation and its mission chapel, Capilla San Juan Diego.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 8:00 p.m.
- Friday 9:30 a.m.
- Friday 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday 4:30–5:15 p.m.
- Saturday 6:30–7:15 p.m.
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Joseph's Catholic Church identifies as a community of faith rooted in Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, with a fourfold mission to teach the truth of the Catholic faith, sanctify through the sacraments, shepherd with pastoral care, and love neighbors as Christ does in Northwest Georgia. Founded in 1941, the parish now serves as the principal Catholic worship site for Whitfield and Murray counties and the entire Dalton area.
- Tagline: 'Teach, Sanctify, Shepherd, Love.'
- Bilingual identity: Saint Joseph's Catholic Church / Iglesia Católica de San José
- Deanery: Northwest (Archdiocese of Atlanta)
- County: Whitfield
Catholic History of Dalton
Catholic life in Dalton predates the parish by nearly ninety years. The account below, drawn from John Hanley's 'The Archdiocese of Atlanta: A History,' traces the community from its 1852 origins to the present Redemptorist-founded parish.
- 1852 — Irish railroad workers build the first Catholic church in Dalton.
- 1864 — Gen. Sherman's troops reportedly use it as a smallpox hospital and burn it.
- 1869 — Fr. Thomas O'Reilly rebuilds the church.
- 1874 — Fr. Samuel Mattingly named first resident pastor; Sisters of Mercy open a school.
- 1876 — Sisters' school closes; Jesuits from Selma serve a year.
- 1883 — Missions placed under the pastor of St. Mary, Rome, GA.
- 1901 — Mission has ~30 Catholics, attended monthly by Marists.
- 1902 — Dalton mission closed by the Marists.
- 1930 — Mission reinstated as new Catholic workers arrive.
- 1941 — Redemptorists establish St. Joseph's as a parish.
Redemptorist Era & Modern Campus
After the Redemptorists re-established the parish in 1941, the community built a new worship space in 1957 and lived in a rectory originally built by Civil War veterans. Following the Redemptorists' departure in 1967, the church was torn down and rebuilt in 1977. That second building was later sold and replaced by today's 600-seat church dedicated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue, sited on seventeen acres with an education building, conference room, parish hall, fourteen classrooms, four offices, and a kitchen.
- 1957 — Second church building erected.
- 1967 — Redemptorist residency ends.
- 1977 — Church rebuilt after old structure torn down.
- Turn of the millennium — 125 Hispanic households; larger church built.
- Present 17-acre campus dedicated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue.
Capilla San Juan Diego Mission
A second worship site under the parish's care, Capilla San Juan Diego operates as a Spanish-language mission chapel serving East Morris Street and the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Address: 1609 E. Morris St., Dalton, GA 30720
- Sunday Mass: 2:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers catechesis for every age: a children's program beginning in first grade for First Holy Communion (a two-year process), Confirmation preparation starting in seventh grade, OCIA for adults, Vacation Bible School each summer, and youth fellowship through All Saints Youth Ministry.
- Director of Religious Education: Cathy Blevins (extension 109)
- First Communion: two-year program starting 1st grade
- Confirmation: 7th grade and high school
- Vacation Bible School (annual summer)
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic — contact Sonia at [email protected]
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program welcomes inquirers, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics preparing for Eucharist and Confirmation. The four-stage outline is Inquiry, Growth, Preparation/Purification & Enlightenment, and reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
- Inquiry — initial exploration of Catholic faith.
- Growth — study of Catholic teaching and sacraments.
- Purification & Enlightenment — spiritual preparation for Easter Vigil.
- Easter Vigil — reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.
All Saints Youth Ministry
All Saints Youth Ministry serves young people aged 14–17 with weekly Bible study, prayer, Catholic teaching, socials, retreats, service projects, and encouragement toward a sacramental life. Meetings are held in the Parish Hall most Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.; one Sunday a month is set aside for social fellowship. Coordinator: Andres Vega. Contact: 706-229-6100.
- Weekly Bible study & talks: Sundays 5:00–7:00 p.m.
- Monthly social evening
- Service / Works of Mercy projects
- Contact: Andres Vega or Sonia Mata, 706-229-6100
Newman Connection — Dalton State College
St. Joseph's parish serves as the Catholic faith community for students, faculty, and staff of Dalton State College, welcoming them to grow in faith through the sacramental life, community activities, and parish family.
- Partners with Newman Connection.
- Welcomes all Dalton State students, faculty, and staff.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, Father Paul Williams, who is assisted by two parochial vicars and a lay staff that includes a Director of Religious Education, a Youth Ministry Coordinator, a bookkeeper, a secretary, a receptionist, and maintenance personnel.
- Father Paul Williams — Pastor
- Father Paul Moreau — Parochial Vicar
- Father Duvan Gonzales — Parochial Vicar
- Cathy Blevins — Director of Religious Education
- Andres Vega — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Sonia Mata — Youth Ministry
- Sarah Campione — Bookkeeper
- Edy Brown — Secretary
- Mirella Villafuerte — Receptionist
- Alejandro Castellon — Church Maintenance
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. A 24-hour sacramental emergency line is maintained for Anointing of the Sick and last rites.
- Office phone: (706) 278-3107
- Fax: (706) 278-6902
- Email: [email protected]
- Sacramental Emergency: (706) 508-7219
- Website: https://stjosephdalton.org/
- Blog: Fr. Paul's Homily Blog (frpaulhomilies.blogspot.com)
Community Outreach & Heritage
From its Irish railroad-worker roots in 1852 to its modern role welcoming immigrants working in Dalton's carpet industry, St. Joseph's has long been a parish defined by migration and the call to welcome the newcomer. The Georgia Bulletin has profiled its immigration outreach and bilingual Mass life.
- Heritage shaped by successive Catholic immigrant waves.
- 90%+ non-English-speaking residents in catchment area.
- Carpet-capital-of-the-world identity.
- Documented immigration outreach ministry.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Jeremiah O'Neill Jr.pre-1864
Served the original Dalton Catholic mission built by Irish railroad workers in 1852.
- Reverend Patrick Kirby1860s
Succeeded O'Neill before the Civil War destruction of the church.
- Reverend Thomas O'Reilly1869
Rebuilt the church after Sherman's troops burned the original.
- Reverend Samuel Mattingly1874
Named first resident pastor of Dalton; oversaw the Sisters of Mercy school (1874–1876).
- Jesuits from Selma, Alabama1882–1883
Served the North Georgia missions for about a year.
- Marist Fathersuntil 1902
Attended the mission once a month; closed it in 1902.
- Redemptorist Fathers (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer)1941–1967
Re-established St. Joseph's as a parish in 1941; built the 1957 church; resided in the Civil War-veteran-built rectory until 1967.
- Archdiocese of Atlanta clergy1967–present
Diocesan clergy assumed pastoral care after the Redemptorists departed; current pastor is Father Paul Williams, assisted by parochial vicars Father Paul Moreau and Father Duvan Gonzales.