About St. Lawrence · Lawrenceville, Georgia
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a large, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Lawrenceville, Georgia, serving more than 4,000 registered households in Gwinnett County. Located on Grayson Highway, it belongs to the Archdiocese of Atlanta and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults. Founded in 1963 as the first Catholic mission in Gwinnett County, St. Lawrence was raised to parish status on June 17, 1974, and today is one of the most diverse parishes in the archdiocese, reflecting the cultural variety of Gwinnett County itself.
- Established
- 1974 (parish status; mission begun 1963)
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Father Henry Atem
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Northeast Metro Deanery, Gwinnett County)
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is one of the most culturally diverse parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, with households speaking English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Vietnamese and other languages, and with regular Masses in both English and Spanish each week. Daily Mass, daily Eucharistic Adoration (in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel), and a robust sacramental and faith-formation program for every age — from elementary through EDGE middle school, Life Teen high school, Confirmation prep, and adult RCIA — make it a place where an entire family can grow in faith. Add active outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, Family Promise Gwinnett, Helping Hands, and a twinned parish in Thomassique, Haiti, and St. Lawrence offers both rich worship and a real commitment to the wider community.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- By appointment (call 770-963-8992)
Adoration times
- Daily (in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel) between 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (no Adoration when the parish office is closed)
- Tuesday & Thursday: 6:30 p.m. (English) — Eucharistic Adoration listed alongside the 6:30 p.m. daily Mass
Our History
St. Lawrence began in 1963 as a mission of Holy Cross Parish in Chamblee — the first Catholic mission in Gwinnett County. Its 30 founding families worshiped in a converted appliance storefront, then in a private home's basement, a Presbyterian church, a funeral-home chapel, and a Lawrenceville back-street storefront (1968–1973). Entrusted in 1972 to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, the community grew to 173 families and built Gwinnett County's first Catholic church in 1973. On June 17, 1974, the mission was raised to parish status under Father Gerard F. Gill, M.S.F.S.
- 1973: First Catholic church building in Gwinnett County constructed (seating 300).
- 1974: Established as a parish; Father Gerard F. Gill, M.S.F.S., first pastor.
- 1987: New Spanish Mission-style church dedicated; old church becomes offices/classrooms.
- 1996: Pastoral care returned to the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
- 1998: First Hispanic ministry launched.
- 1999: Twinned with St. Thomas d'Aquin, Thomassique, Haiti.
- 2000: New 24-classroom education building and gym dedicated.
- October 29, 2008: Major church expansion and office renovation dedicated.
- June 2024: 50th Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Hartmayer; $10 million campus renewal groundbreaking.
Faith Formation (K–12) & Religious Education
Every person — child or adult — is on their own journey toward Christ. St. Lawrence's formation processes serve individuals at all levels of discipleship, from seekers to saints, providing an opportunity to encounter Jesus, be captivated by Christ, and live in dynamic freedom.
- Elementary program (K–5): Sundays after the 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Masses.
- First Confession & First Holy Communion (2nd-grade eligible; 2 prior years of Faith Formation and 80% attendance required).
- Middle School EDGE program (grades 6–8): Sunday evenings 6:15–7:30 p.m. in the gym.
- High School / Life Teen (grades 9–12): Wednesday nights 6:15–7:30 p.m. in the gym.
- Confirmation (grades 10–12): Wednesday nights, every other week, concurrent with Life Teen.
- Steubenville Atlanta Life Teen Youth Conference and Camp Hidden Lake summer opportunities.
- Director of Faith Formation: Elizabeth Chinery.
Adult Faith Formation & RCIA
Adults seeking sacramental preparation, returning Catholics, and adults with disabilities are all served by dedicated formation programs. The Christian Initiation Team walks with those preparing to enter the Catholic Church, while Bridge Catechists serve adult parishioners with specific special needs.
- Christian Initiation Team & Sponsors (RCIA) — contact Eleanor Lashley.
- Catholics Returning Home — for Catholics returning to the practice of the faith.
- Adult Formation Catechists.
- Bridge Catechists — faith formation for children and adults with specific special needs (contact Marianne Van Name).
- Elementary Adult Catechists (K–5) and Middle School Adult Catechists — contact Michelle Sander.
- High School Adult Catechists — contact Diane Maguire.
- Vacation Bible School — rising 1st–5th graders each summer (contact Michelle Sander).
Hispanic Ministry
Begun in 1998 in response to the growing Spanish-speaking Catholic community in Gwinnett County, the parish's Hispanic ministry has flourished into two weekly celebrations of the Eucharist (Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) along with a 7:00 p.m. Spanish Mass on Holy Days. Spanish-language sacramental preparation, faith formation, and outreach ministries accompany the worship schedule.
- Sunday Masses in Spanish: 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Holy Day Mass in Spanish: 7:00 p.m.
- Spanish-language sacramental preparation and family ministries.
- Hispanic Outreach — contact Nelson Rivera.
Outreach & Charity
St. Lawrence's non-liturgical ministries are organized under the umbrella of Spirituality, Pastoral Care, Outreach, and Fellowship — reaching both the local community and the wider Church worldwide.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) — emergency food, shelter, clothing; volunteer caseworkers (contact Judy Varley).
- Helping Hands of St. Lawrence — needs-based parish outreach (contact Pam Kramer).
- Family Promise Gwinnett — interfaith non-profit working to end family homelessness.
- Haiti Twinning Ministry — ongoing solidarity with St. Thomas d'Aquin parish in Thomassique, Haiti, since 1999.
- Welcoming Ministry for new parishioners.
- Young Families of Faith.
Clergy & Staff
St. Lawrence is led by Pastor Father Henry Atem, a native of Cameroon, who has emphasized building a unified and diverse community that reflects the multicultural character of Gwinnett County. Following the May 2025 Archdiocesan assignment announcements, Father Carlos Vargas was appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Lawrence, effective July 1, 2025. The parish office is staffed Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sacramental Emergencies are handled by calling the parish office.
- Father Henry Atem — Pastor (as of 2024).
- Father Carlos Vargas — Parochial Vicar (effective July 1, 2025).
- Elizabeth Chinery — Director of Faith Formation.
- Michelle Sander — Middle School/Elementary/VBS ministries contact.
- Diane Maguire — High School Life Teen contact.
- Juan Gonzalez — High School Youth Ministry contact.
- Eleanor Lashley — Christian Initiation (RCIA) contact.
- Marianne Van Name — Bridge Catechists contact.
- Judy Varley — St. Vincent de Paul contact.
- Pam Kramer — Helping Hands contact.
- Nelson Rivera — Hispanic Outreach contact.
Facilities & Campus Renewal
The Grayson Highway campus includes the 1987 Spanish Mission-style church (expanded and dedicated in 2008), a 24-classroom education building with a gym (dedicated in 2000), the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (site of daily Eucharistic Adoration), and parish offices. In June 2024 the parish broke ground on a $10 million campus renewal campaign, the most significant campus project since the 2008 expansion.
- 1987 church (wood and stucco, Spanish Mission style).
- 2000 education building: 24 classrooms plus gym.
- 2008 church expansion and office renovation, dedicated October 29, 2008.
- 2024 $10 million campaign: new eucharistic adoration chapel, replacement rectory, conversion of existing gym into a parish hall, and a new gym.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Address: 319 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
Get Involved / Stay Connected
Parishioners are invited to join Faith Formation or non-liturgical ministries, become a Eucharistic Guardian (Adorer), sign up for Flocknote email communications, or simply attend a weekday Mass and meet the priests and staff. The parish serves more than 4,000 registered households from many backgrounds and welcomes new members at every level of faith.
- Sign up to be a Eucharistic Guardian (Adoration).
- Volunteer as a catechist, sponsor, or Hospitality minister.
- Join St. Vincent de Paul, Helping Hands, Family Promise, or the Haiti Twinning Ministry.
- Subscribe to the parish Flocknote newsletter (stlawrencecatholic.flocknote.com).
- Sacramental Emergencies: call (770) 963-8992.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gerard F. Gill, M.S.F.S.1974 – first pastor
First pastor when mission was raised to parish status on June 17, 1974; served during the era of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.