St. Luke the Evangelist

Welcome to St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church

St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church is a parish family in Dahlonega, Georgia, nestled in the scenic beauty of the North Georgia Mountains within the state's wine/vineyard corridor. The parish offers Holy Mass every day Monday through Thursday, a Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, and two Masses on Sunday morning. Parish ministries are spiritually and socially fruitful for all ages, from young people to its golden agers, with Bible studies, adult faith formation programs, a PSR religious education program, a thriving St. Vincent de Paul Society, and an active Catholic Campus Ministry reaching University of North Georgia students.

Our History

St. Luke's Catholic Church is housed in a historic building over 100 years old that has always been used as a place of worship. Originally built by Dahlonega's Presbyterian community in 1899–1900, the clapboard-sided structure was briefly used by the Church of God in 1909. The Presbyterians eventually outgrew the building and relocated to a new facility nearby. By the late 1950s a small Catholic community had begun to grow in the area, and the Bishop of Atlanta established a Catholic Chapel in Dahlonega in 1960 with outreach to Lumpkin, White, Union, and Towns counties. The Glenmary Home Missioners assumed leadership of the fledgling mission, and the first Mass was celebrated in the front room of a little white frame house next door to the church in the fall of 1960.

• 1899–1900: Original building constructed by Dahlonega's Presbyterian community
• 1909: Building briefly used by the Church of God
• 1960: Catholic Chapel established in Dahlonega by the Bishop of Atlanta
• Fall 1960: First mission Mass celebrated in a small white frame house next door
• 1962: Diocese of Atlanta purchases the building from the Presbyterians
• August 18, 1963: Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan celebrates the first Mass in the new Catholic church
• Recent years: New rectory purchased for clergy and a parish center built for gathering and classroom space

Mission Statement

We, the faithful of St. Luke the Evangelist parish, are committed to living out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to 'make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you' (Matt. 28:19-20). The parish strives to carry out this mission more effectively by seeking to be formed into true disciples through sanctification by prayer and the sacraments, ongoing religious education, and generous service to the poor and vulnerable.

Clergy & Staff

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Matthew Dalrymple and supported by Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Bill Donohue. A team of lay staff directs religious education, youth and campus ministry, sacred music, accounting, communications, and facilities, all of whom can be reached through the parish office.

• Rev. Matthew Dalrymple — Pastor ([email protected])
• Rev. Mr. Bill Donohue — Permanent Deacon ([email protected])
• Kelley Peffer — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
• Victoria Thompson — Campus Minister / Youth Minister ([email protected])
• Marina Moffett — Director of Sacred Music ([email protected])
• Jill Chacon — Accounting Coordinator ([email protected])
• Amy Schmalen — Communications ([email protected])
• Pete Chacon — Facilities ([email protected])

Religious Education for Youth, Teens, and Adults

The Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets Sunday mornings from 9:15–10:30 AM and incorporates Vacation Bible School; registration in PSR is required for First Holy Communion in 2nd grade. A Middle School Youth Group provides middle-schoolers an opportunity for service, fellowship, and fun with their Catholic peers. High School Youth Ministry meets Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings with retreats, mission trips, and socials, with registration for Sunday classes required for Confirmation in 10th grade.

• Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Kelley Peffer
• Middle School Youth Group — Victoria Thompson
• High School Youth Ministry — Victoria Thompson
• First Holy Communion preparation in 2nd grade
• Confirmation preparation in 10th grade

Adult Faith Formation

Adults at St. Luke's have many opportunities to grow in their faith through ongoing formation programs, including Sunday morning Adult Ed with breakfast, a weekly Scripture Study on the Sunday Mass readings, a monthly Book Study, Dinner & Doctrine on first Wednesday evenings, and the seasonal Abiding Together Prayer Group that reads Catholic books during Advent, Lent, and Pentecost.

• Adult Education — Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM in the Parish Hall, breakfast provided (Mark Peffer)
• Scripture Study — Thursdays at 10:30 AM in the Administration Building (Mary Ann Clagett)
• Book Study — 2nd Thursday of the month (Ronnie Dew)
• Dinner & Doctrine — 1st Wednesdays, 6:45–8:15 PM, begins with potluck (Kelley Peffer)
• Abiding Together Prayer Group — Mondays 3:00–4:00 PM in the Parish Hall (Amy Schmalen)

OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

OCIA (formerly known as RCIA) is the process by which a non-Catholic is received into the Catholic Church, or a Catholic completes the sacraments of initiation. The parish welcomes both those interested in becoming Catholic and those who feel called to serve as sponsors.

• OCIA process for adults entering or completing sacraments of initiation
• Sponsor opportunities for current parishioners
• Contact: John Clagett ([email protected])

Catholic Campus Ministry

St. Luke's Catholic Campus Ministry is an outreach to the many college students who attend the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. The ministry helps to stabilize the faith of students while at the same time interacting with their academic life, offering spiritual, social, and service activities throughout the year.

• Meets every Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall
• Spiritual, social, and service activities throughout the year
• Contact: Victoria Thompson ([email protected])

Hispanic Ministry

The Hispanic Ministry at St. Luke's offers prayer groups, Bible studies, and many activities to grow in faith. A Spanish-language Bible study and prayer meeting is held on Wednesday nights in the Parish Hall.

• Wednesday night Bible study and prayer in the Parish Hall
• Contact: Javier Martinez, 706-973-2148

Sacred Music

The parish Music Ministry offers opportunities for both adults and children, including an adult choir, children's choir, and cantor vocal training, preparing musicians to lead music at Mass.

• Adult choir
• Children's choir
• Cantor vocal training
• Director of Sacred Music: Marina Moffett ([email protected])

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners of all ages assist at the altar and in supporting the sacred liturgy at St. Luke's. Boys and girls in at least the 4th grade may serve at Mass as Altar Servers, while adults serve as Lectors (Readers), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including bringing Communion to the hospital and homebound), and Ushers who welcome and seat parishioners and take up the collections.

• Altar Servers Guild (4th grade and up) — Mark Peffer
• Lectors / Readers
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Ushers
• Altar Guild (care of church and sacred items) — Fr. Matt
• Altar Linen Ministry (laundering and ironing)
• St. Matthew Ministry (collection counters) — Jill Chacon

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Society at St. Luke's serves the needy of Lumpkin County regardless of background through spiritual support, life management, and financial aid as needed. All financial assistance from the parish is directed through SVdP, and a volunteer returns hotline calls within 24 hours.

• Financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other immediate needs
• Spiritual support and life management for the needy of Lumpkin County
• SVdP Hotline: 706-835-8033
• Contact: Tim Patton

Parish Life & Fellowship

St. Luke's has a rich tradition of parish life through the Women's Guild, Men of St. Luke, Mother's Group, and other fellowship gatherings. Cookies & Coffee is provided each Sunday after the 10:45 AM Mass, with volunteers providing refreshments in the parish hall on a monthly rotation.

• Women's Guild — Mary Ann Clagett
• Men of St. Luke — Bob Andriakos
• Mother's Group — Tuesdays 10:00–11:30 AM in the Parish Hall (Sarah Martin, 678-710-5466)
• Cookies & Coffee after the 10:45 AM Sunday Mass — Christine Nunez
• Prayer Blanket Ministry — Melody Lemoine
• Totus Tuus Rosary Group
• Landscaping Committee — first Saturday of the month (Pete Chacon)

Parish Councils

Two councils assist the Pastor in the pastoral and material stewardship of the parish. The Pastoral Council assists with the pastoral care of the parish and meets quarterly (by-laws amended January 24, 2023). The Finance Council assists the Pastor with the stewardship of the parish's material resources and meets monthly.

• Pastoral Council — meets quarterly
• Finance Council — meets monthly (Stan Kunka)