About St. Marguerite D'Youville · Lawrenceville, Georgia
St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Church is a Roman Rite parish of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, located in a quiet, scenic area on the north side of Lawrenceville, Georgia, at 85 Gloster Road NW. Founded as an independent parish on June 1, 1995, after beginning as a mission of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lilburn in 1992, the parish today counts more than 600 registered households, a sanctuary seating over 550, and a richly multicultural community with members from roughly 40 countries. Pastoral care is entrusted to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS / Fransalian Fathers), and the parish is also home to the Atlanta Archdiocese's Polish Apostolate and a French/Creole/Haitian Mass, giving it an unusually international character for a Gwinnett County parish.
- Established
- 1995
- Patron
- St. Marguerite d'Youville (Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais, d'Youville, 1701–1771), the 'Mother of Universal Charity' and founder of the Grey Nuns (Sisters of Charity of Montreal); the first native-born Canadian to be canonized.
- Rector
- Fr. Noble Dominic, MSFS
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Northeastern Denary)
Why belong here
St. Marguerite d'Youville is a self-described 'Second Home' for more than 600 households drawn from about 40 countries, making it one of the most intentionally multicultural Catholic parishes in the Atlanta archdiocese. The Fransalian (MSFS) priests and two deacons shepherd a community with over 50 active ministries, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in a dedicated chapel, weekday and Sunday Mass in English, a Polish Mass, and a French/Creole/Haitian Mass, all on a peaceful wooded campus with a Marian Garden and outdoor Stations of the Cross. It is also a hub for the Polish Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, so Catholic families in the Lawrenceville/Lilburn area looking for Polish-language liturgy or for an international, Eucharistic-centered community will find a ready home here.
Mass times at St. Marguerite D'Youville
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:15 am – 10:30 am
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the parish chapel (day and night)
- Wednesday 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (followed by Rosary, Benediction and Holy Mass)
- First Friday 9:00 am – 6:15 pm (Benediction at 6:15 pm)
About the Parish
St. Marguerite d'Youville is a Roman Rite parish in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, part of the Northeastern Denary. With more than 600 registered households drawn from roughly forty countries, the parish describes itself as a 'Living, Loving, Vibrant and Eucharistic Community' whose members call it their 'Second Home.' The main sanctuary seats over 550 people, and the campus includes a Marian Garden, an outdoor altar, the St. Edward Garden with the outdoor Stations of the Cross, a chapel for perpetual adoration, and a large social hall.
- Roman Rite parish, Archdiocese of Atlanta (Northeastern Denary)
- 600+ registered households from ~40 countries
- Main sanctuary seats 550+
- Pastoral care by Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS / Fransalians)
History
The community began on November 1, 1992 as a mission of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lilburn, originally meeting in a storefront on Huff Road. It was formally established as an independent parish on June 1, 1995 and grew rapidly through the 2000s and 2010s, becoming one of the anchor parishes of the archdiocese's Polish Apostolate and a home for a French/Creole/Haitian Catholic community. The 25th anniversary was marked in 2022 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer.
- 1992 – Mission of St. John Neumann begins, first Mass on November 1, 1992
- 1995 – Becomes independent parish on June 1, 1995
- 2006 – Fr. James L. Harrison serving as pastor (per Georgia Bulletin)
- 2017 – Fr. Tomy J. Puliyan, MSFS installed as pastor by Archbishop Wilton Gregory on October 1, 2017
- 2020 – 25th anniversary (delayed by COVID-19)
- 2022 – Anniversary Mass on October 16, 2022 with Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer
Clergy
The parish is pastored by Fr. Noble Dominic, MSFS of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, and is also served by Fr. Jacek Nowak, S.Chr. as Director of the Polish Apostolate. Two permanent deacons — Rev. Mr. Pete Ranft (also Director of Religious Education) and Rev. Mr. George Angelich — assist in ministry, sacraments and outreach.
- Fr. Noble Dominic, MSFS — Pastor ([email protected], 470-550-1087)
- Fr. Jacek Nowak, S.Chr. — Director, Polish Apostolate
- Rev. Mr. Pete Ranft — Deacon & Director of Religious Education
- Rev. Mr. George Angelich — Deacon
Parish Staff
Lay staff and religious sisters keep the parish office, finances, formation programs, music, youth ministry and facilities running week to week.
- Sr. Deena Martin Leena, SSS — Parish office ([email protected])
- Sr. Dipti Teresa, SSS — Youth Director ([email protected], 770-596-7532)
- Nancy Sarmiento — Finance Manager ([email protected], 470-550-1086)
- Maria Signorile — Choir Director
- Tomas Smolinski — Adult Faith Formation
- Omar Bravo — Facility Manager
- Maria Salazar — Maintenance
- Hayley Russell — Youth Minister
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Marguerite d'Youville spans cradle-to-adult, with K–5 Religious Education on Sunday mornings, a high-school and middle-school youth program, a youth-led youth ministry, OCIA for adults, Bible study, and adult faith formation led by a dedicated team and coordinated by Deacon Pete Ranft.
- Religious Ed K–5: Sundays 8:30 am – 10:45 am
- High School & Middle School Youth: Sundays 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Youth Ministry (6th–12th grades): Sundays 9:45 am – 10:45 am
- OCIA / RCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
- Adult Faith Formation with Tomas Smolinski
- Bible Study
- Confirmation Coordination: Sr. Dipti Teresa, SSS
OCIA / RCIA
The parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes prospective converts above the age of infant baptism, gradually introducing them to Catholic belief and practice and culminating at the Easter Vigil with the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Contact the Parish Office to enroll
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 770-381-7337 or 770-381-8062
Polish Apostolate & Multicultural Masses
St. Marguerite d'Youville is proud to be home to the Atlanta Archdiocese's Polish Apostolate, under the direction of Fr. Jacek Nowak, S.Chr., and offers a weekly Sunday Polish Mass. A separate French/Creole/Haitian Mass serves the local Francophone Haitian community. Together with English Masses, this makes the parish one of the most intentionally multilingual in the archdiocese.
- Sunday Polish Mass: 1:00 pm (Atlanta Archdiocese Polish Apostolate, based at the parish)
- Sunday French/Creole/Haitian Mass: 4:30 pm
- Director: Fr. Jacek Nowak, S.Chr.
- Members from approximately 40 countries
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish organizes 55 active ministries in seven categories — Family Life, Parish Life, Spiritual Life, Social Life, Evangelization, Education, and Communication — each led by a Parish Council member and an individual ministry coordinator. They cover everything from altar serving and choir to the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Respect Life, and the Wedding Guild.
- Family Life: Home visits, House Blessings, Counseling, Spiritual Direction
- Parish Life: Altar Linens, Church Cleaning, Church Decoration, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Respect Life, Sacristans, Wedding Guild
- Spiritual Life: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Adoration, EMs (Mass & Sick), First Friday Devotion, Greeters, Lectors, Liturgy Committee, Music/Choir, Ushers, Wednesday Devotion
- Social Life: Church Picnic, Garden Ministry, Hospitality, Martha's Ministry, Senior Friendship Club, Social Justice, Young Parents Guild
- Evangelization: Cancer Care, Evangelization Outreach, Fransalian Associates, Lighthouse Media, Ministry of Mary's Beads, Neighborhood Catholic Communities, Prayer Shawl, St. Vincent de Paul, Welcome Home Catholics
- Education: Adult Formation, Bible Study, Youth Ministry, Nursery, OCIA, Religious Ed Catechists, K–5 Sunday program
- Communication: Bulletin, Newsletter, Website, App, Facebook, IT, Media, WhatsApp
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music ministry is led by Choir Director Maria Signorile, with longtime director Mary Lou Schwaner — a founding member who directed music from the parish's storefront days — still actively involved.
- Choir Director: Maria Signorile
- Founding Music Director (and current leader): Mary Lou Schwaner
- Music/Choir is one of the parish's 55 ministries (Spiritual Life category)
Parish Leadership & Councils
Three councils share governance of the parish alongside the pastor: the Parish Council (organized around seven ministry categories), the Finance Council, and the Stewardship Council. Each council has a chairperson and lay members, with a Parish Council member assigned to each of the seven ministry areas.
- Parish Council — David King (Chairperson); members Rita Carlson, Diane Rutledge, Liz Gouge, Dragana Zulfic, Mark Wirt, and category leads (Cindy Morrill – Family Life; Elizabeth Nkereuwem – Parish Life; Carlton Hollis – Spiritual Life; Gaby Calero – Social Life; Alex Fuentes – Evangelization; Kathleen Brown – Education; Bill Bruton – Communication)
- Finance Council
- Stewardship Council — Liz Payne (Chair); Laura Calley, Mary Ann Kurian, Barry Pierce, Tomasz Smolinski
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at the parish, supported by the OCIA process for adult initiation, the Wedding Guild for marriages, the Respect Life and Sick & Homebound ministries, and regular visits by priests and Extraordinary Ministers to the homebound and hospitalized.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see confession times
- Marriage (Wedding Guild)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- OCIA for adult converts
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish offices are open 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Friday. The site sits in a quiet, scenic pocket on the north side of Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, and visitors are warmly welcomed by the pastor and staff.
- Address: 85 Gloster Road NW, Lawrenceville, GA 30044
- Phone: (770) 381-7337 — also (770) 381-8062
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmdy.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James L. Harrisonserved as pastor
Veteran Archdiocese of Atlanta priest (ordained out of the Marist tradition, first graduate of the University of Georgia to be ordained in the diocese, founding principal of St. Pius X High School in 1958). Identified by the Georgia Bulletin in 2006 as pastor of St. Marguerite d'Youville.
- Fr. Tomy J. Puliyan, MSFSJuly 1, 2017 – present era
Fransalian (MSFS) missionary from Kerala, India; ordained December 27, 1994; holds M.A.s in Education, Political Science and Counseling Psychology. Served in the Diocese of Nashville (Our Lady of the Lake, Hendersonville; Sacred Heart, Loretto; St. Joseph, St. Joseph; St. Joseph, Nashville) and as Mission Director of the St. Teresa of Calcutta Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission in Nashville. Elected Provincial Superior of the MSFS USA Vice Province on July 3, 2016; installed as pastor of St. Marguerite d'Youville by Archbishop Wilton Gregory on October 1, 2017.
- Fr. Noble Dominic, MSFScurrent
Current pastor; succeeds Fr. Tomy in leading the parish.