About St. Joseph · Macon, Georgia
St. Joseph Catholic Church is the historic mother parish of Middle Georgia, located in downtown Macon at 830 Poplar Street. Established in 1841 by Father James Graham and a small group of about 50 Catholics, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Macon and traces its broader heritage to the 1540 baptism of two Native American boys by Franciscan friars accompanying Hernando de Soto on the banks of the Ocmulgee River — the first known Christian baptism east of the Mississippi. The present Gothic Revival church, built between 1889 and 1903 under the direction of Brother Cornelius Otten, S.J., dominates the Macon skyline with its twin 200-foot spires and serves today as a thriving parish of the Diocese of Savannah with a parish school, Mount de Sales Academy nearby, and a vibrant liturgical and devotional life.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. John R. Johnson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Savannah
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a rare combination: the architectural gravitas of a 1903 landmark church in the heart of downtown Macon, a daily Mass and confession schedule that supports working Catholics, and a full Catholic school plus neighbor Mount de Sales Academy for families. Devotions such as the Monday-evening Miraculous Medal Novena and the monthly Latin Novus Ordo Mass give the parish a character that bridges traditional and post-conciliar Catholicism. With a wide range of parish-life ministries, faith formation from pre-K through Confirmation, and active community outreach through St. Vincent de Paul and partner charities, it is a stable, historic home for Middle Georgia Catholics.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- Saturday: 3:15–4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (per parish schedule — see stjosephmacon.org)
About the Parish
St. Joseph Catholic Church is the historic mother parish of the Diocese of Savannah in Middle Georgia, located at 830 Poplar Street in downtown Macon. Founded in 1841 by Father James Graham and a small group of about 50 Catholics, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Macon — a town incorporated as a city only 17 years earlier. Today the parish operates in the Romanesque / Gothic Revival building constructed between 1889 and 1903 to a design by Brother Cornelius Otten, S.J., whose 200-foot twin spires still define the Macon skyline.
- Parish name: St. Joseph Catholic Church
- Location: 830 Poplar Street, Macon, GA 31201
- Diocese of Savannah — Macon Deanery
- Year established: 1841
- Current church dedicated November 15, 1903
History
Catholic activity in Middle Georgia stretches back to 1540, when Franciscan friars accompanying the explorer Hernando de Soto baptized two Indian boys on the banks of the Ocmulgee River. The modern parish was founded in 1841 and grew through a succession of buildings, including the 1865 purchase of a former Presbyterian church on Fourth Street by Father James O'Neill. In 1887 the Bishop of Savannah invited Jesuits from New Orleans to staff the parish and its school, Pio Nono College (1876). Construction of the present church began in 1889 and was dedicated in 1903. A 2002 capital campaign under Msgr. John Cuddy restored the sanctuary, and the parish celebrated its heritage with a Georgia Historical Society marker in 2006.
- 1540 — first Christian baptism east of the Mississippi (Ocmulgee River)
- 1829 — visit by Bishop John England of Charleston
- 1830s — migration of Irish Catholic families to Macon
- 1841 — Father James Graham founds the parish with ~50 parishioners
- 1865 — Father James O'Neill acquires a larger former Presbyterian church
- 1876 — Diocese begins Pio Nono College (named for Pope Pius IX)
- 1887 — Jesuits invited from New Orleans
- 1889 — foundation of present church laid
- 1892 — basement blessed by Bishop Becker
- 1903 November 15 — current church dedicated
- 2002 — capital improvements campaign launched
- 2006 — new altar dedicated by Bishop J. Kevin Boland; Georgia Historical marker erected
Architecture & Sacred Art
Designed by Brother Cornelius Otten, S.J., the church is described as both Romanesque and Gothic Revival — a brick and stone structure in the German Jesuit tradition. Its twin 200-foot spires, domed cupola, flying buttresses, and Bavarian stained-glass windows are signature features. The high altar of Carrara marble remains in place; since Vatican II, Mass has been offered at forward altars, and a new altar designed by Rolf Rohn and Associates — modeled on the original — was dedicated in 2006. The original baptismal font has been relocated beside Our Lady's Chapel and elevated alongside the paschal candle; the chapel also houses an ambry for the holy oils.
- Style: Romanesque / Gothic Revival
- Architect: Brother Cornelius Otten, S.J.
- Towers: twin 200-foot cross-topped spires
- Windows: Bavarian stained glass
- Main altar: Carrara marble
- 2006 altar redesign: Rolf Rohn and Associates
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is staffed by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a permanent deacon, supported by a Director of Evangelization, Coordinator of Religious Education, Director of Advancement, Pastoral Assistant, Receptionist, Executive Assistant, Director of Music, Accounting Manager, and Facilities Manager. Fr. John R. Johnson was named Pastor on July 1, 2022 by Bishop Stephen Parkes; he also serves as Vicar Forane of the Macon Deanery and on the Diocese of Savannah's Priest Personnel Committee.
- Pastor: Very Rev. John R. Johnson (since July 1, 2022)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Christopher Awiliba
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Robert Phillips
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Don Coates
- Coordinator of Religious Education: June Marie Kountz
- Director of Evangelization: Deborah McMahon
- Director of Advancement: Todd Wilson
- Director of Music: Faith Fabian
- Facilities Manager: Gregory Hamilton
Schools & Faith Formation
Catholic education has been part of the parish since the 1876 founding of Pio Nono College. Today the parish operates St. Joseph's Catholic School (pre-K2 through 5th grade), fully accredited by Cognia as a school of the Diocese of Savannah, and partners with Mount de Sales Academy (middle and high school) which lies adjacent to Mercer University about a quarter-mile from the church. School students attend weekly Mass, participate in sacramental preparation, lectoring, cantoring, and the Prayer Buddies cross-grade mentoring program, and serve as altar servers in grades 4–6.
- St. Joseph's Catholic School — pre-K2 through 5th grade, Cognia-accredited
- Mount de Sales Academy — middle and high school, adjacent to Mercer University
- Faith Formation program: K3 through Confirmation
- Sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Christian Initiation for Children
- Adult faith enrichment via Symbolon / Augustine Institute (on FORMED)
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
Beyond liturgy, the parish offers a busy calendar of formation, fellowship, and service. Weekly Wednesdays (begun August 27) combine food, fun, and family formation in morning (9:30–10:30 AM, Social Hall) and evening (5:30–7:00 PM, SJS Cuddy Hall) sessions. Through the school and parish organizations, parishioners support Loaves and Fishes, Family Advancement Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, the Mentor Program, and Hearts for Heroes. VIRTUS safe-environment training is required for all school volunteers.
- Weekly Wednesdays — Faith & Fellowship
- K- Kids / Student Council food drives
- Outreach partners: Loaves and Fishes, Family Advancement Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Mentor Program, Hearts for Heroes
- VIRTUS safe-environment training
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infants and children are welcomed through Baptism (with Christian Initiation for Children available); first Reconciliation and first Communion are prepared in 2nd grade; Confirmation has its own preparation track. Adults who need sacraments — including those seeking a civil marriage blessing, annulments, baptism, first Communion, or confirmation — are welcomed. Confessions are heard Monday–Friday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Anointing of the Sick and arrangements for Holy Matrimony are made through the parish office.
- Baptism (infant & adult)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (incl. civil marriage blessing and annulment assistance)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Confession: Mon–Fri 7:30–7:50 AM; Sat 3:15–4:15 PM
Visit, Contact & Connect
Worshippers and visitors are welcomed at 830 Poplar Street. The parish office has moved to the St. Joseph Center at 538 High Place; the main number is 478-745-1631 (email [email protected]). Mass is livestreamed on the parish Facebook page, and the parish's active WordPress site — stjosephmacon.wordpress.com — redirects to the current site at stjosephmacon.org, which publishes the bulletin, staff directory, Faith Formation Parent Handbook, and event calendars. The parish is identified on the Macon skyline by its twin spires and on the historical record by a Georgia Historical Society marker erected in 2006.
- Address: 830 Poplar Street, Macon, GA 31201
- Parish office: St. Joseph Center, 538 High Place
- Phone: 478-745-1631
- Email: [email protected]
- Current website: stjosephmacon.org
- Legacy site (redirects): stjosephmacon.wordpress.com
- Livestream via the parish Facebook page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Graham1841–
First Catholic pastor of Macon; arrived in 1841 with about 50 parishioners and bought a Presbyterian church to found the parish.
- (12 successive pastors)1841–1865
Twelve pastors followed Father Graham before another church was acquired.
- Father James O'Neill1865–
Found the original church too small for the growing congregation and purchased another former Presbyterian church on Fourth Street between Walnut and Ocmulgee (now Riverside Drive).
- Father Joseph Winkelried, S.J.1887–c.1892
Jesuit pastor under whom the site of the present church was selected and negotiations completed; the foundation was laid in August 1889.
- Monsignor John Cuddyearly 2000s–
Led the major 2002 capital improvements program: renovation of the 1950s school building and the church's sanctuary restoration, culminating in the 2006 dedication of the new altar by Bishop J. Kevin Boland.
- Very Rev. John R. Johnson2022–present
Named Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church on July 1, 2022 by Bishop Stephen Parkes. Also serves as Vicar Forane for the Macon Deanery and on the Priest Personnel Committee for the Diocese of Savannah; Associate Vocation Director.
