About St. Mary, Mother of God · Jackson, Georgia
St. Mary, Mother of God is a Roman Catholic parish in Jackson, Georgia, in the Southeast Deanery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Originally a mission of St. James in McDonough, it became a standalone parish in 2004 and continues to grow, now serving over 250 registered families in Butts County and the surrounding area. The parish celebrates Mass daily Wednesday through Friday, Saturday evenings, and Sunday mornings, and is supported by an active Faith Formation program, Music Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, and an outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Its mission, drawn from Christ's command to preach the Gospel to all people, is reflected in devotions, adoration, and a strong tradition of Catholic worship rooted in the history of the Deraney and Land families who first hosted Mass in their homes in the 1940s.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- St. Mary, Mother of God (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose M. Kochuparampil
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (Southeast Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary, Mother of God is a small but growing parish family in Jackson where parishioners know one another by name. Daily Mass Wednesday through Friday, daily Rosary, weekly Adoration, and a first-Friday Holy Hour give the week a strong devotional rhythm, while ministries for children, youth, music, liturgy, and outreach (including the St. Vincent de Paul financial assistance line) give every household a way to participate. The parish roots itself in Blessed Virgin Mary devotion and warmly invites newcomers to join its mission of preaching the Gospel in Butts County and beyond.
Mass times at St. Mary, Mother of God
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 11:00–11:45am
- Friday 11:00–11:45am
- 2nd & 4th Saturday 4:00–4:45pm
- Anytime by appointment (call 770-775-4162)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00–11:45am (Eucharistic Adoration before daily Mass)
Our History & Heritage
St. Mary, Mother of God traces its roots to April 11, 1943, when Rev. John Walsh, C.S.S.R., offered the first Mass in Jackson at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Deraney. After years of Mass in private homes (including those of the Land and David Deraney families), Bishop Francis E. Hyland helped the community build "the little church" at Covington and Lyons Streets, with the first Mass there on March 16, 1960. The present church on Old Griffin Road was dedicated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue in August 1999 and completed in 2004 with the addition of a steeple in memory of Larry Deraney and chimes in memory of the Dahlin family. The mission became a parish on January 1, 2008, with Msgr. Terry Young as first pastor. Today the parish serves over 250 registered families from a 1943 mission-church base and continues to grow.
- First Mass in Jackson: April 11, 1943 (Deraney home)
- "The little church" first Mass: March 16, 1960
- New church dedicated: August 1999
- Parish status granted: January 1, 2008
Clergy & Staff
Rev. Jose M. Kochuparampil serves as pastor, assigned as Administrator in July 2016 and appointed Pastor on July 1, 2017. The parish is supported by Lisa Berg (Director of Religious Education), Shannon Zieg (Administrative Assistant), JoAnn King (Accountant), Chris Smith (Director of Music), Mickie Hofmann (Liturgical Ministry contact), and Youth Ministers Sonny Bonner and Jayne Holloway. Parishioners can reach the office at 770-775-4162, with a sacramental emergency line on extension 401.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose M. Kochuparampil — [email protected]
- DRE: Lisa Berg — [email protected]
- Director of Music: Chris Smith — 678-206-8384
- Office: 770-775-4162; Fax 770-775-4174
Devotions Throughout the Week
The parish keeps a steady rhythm of prayer: the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is recited daily at 3:00pm, and the Rosary is prayed before nearly every Mass (Wed 11:15am, Thu 11:30am, Fri 10:45am with Holy Hour, 1st Fri 10:30am with Holy Hour, Sat 4:30pm, Sun 8:30am). A weekly Novena is held Wednesdays at 11:30am. The parish also marks St. Blaise (Blessing of the Throats), World Marriage Day, Divine Mercy Sunday, the Visitation (crowning of Mary), the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the centenary of Fatima with special liturgies and gatherings.
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy — daily 3:00pm
- Rosary — before each Mass and 1st Friday with Holy Hour
- Novena — Wed 11:30am
- First Friday Holy Hour
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program, led by DRE Lisa Berg with Youth Ministers Sonny Bonner and Jayne Holloway, welcomes children age four through high school into the life of the Catholic faith. Parents are recognized as the first teachers of the faith, and the parish supports them with catechists (described as 'the backbone of our catechetical ministry'), prayer, study, and service. Programs span the very young through teens and aim to nurture a lifelong relationship with the living God.
- Programs for ages 4 through high school
- Lisa Berg, Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Sonny Bonner & Jayne Holloway, Youth Ministers
- Volunteer catechists support every program
Music Ministry
Director of Music Chris Smith leads the parish Choir and is always looking for additional talent. Anyone interested in joining the Choir is invited to contact Chris directly at 678-206-8384 or through the parish email.
- Director of Music: Chris Smith
- Phone: 678-206-8384
Liturgical Ministry
The Liturgical Committee, led by Mickie Hofmann (770-504-0557), helps parishioners enter more deeply into the liturgy by enhancing public worship, encouraging participation, and preparing the church's seasonal celebrations. The committee uses the ORDO to mark feast days and special events, especially Marian solemnities tied to the parish's patron — including the Visitation (with a procession and crowning of Mary), the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Liturgical Committee contact: Mickie Hofmann — 770-504-0557
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (must be 18+, Confirmed, certified)
- Altar Servers (typically after First Communion; teen & adult encouraged)
- Lectors (must be Confirmed)
Outreach & Charity
The parish carries out Christ's command to preach the Gospel by serving neighbors in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Parishioners seeking financial assistance or wanting to volunteer may use the dedicated St. Vincent de Paul line (404-868-4701). The parish also gathers the community around social events like the spaghetti dinner following the Assumption Mass, Advent-tree lighting with hot dogs and chili, and a Blue Mass honoring first responders and EMS.
- St. Vincent de Paul Financial Assistance: 404-868-4701
- Blue Mass for first responders and EMS
- Community meals tied to the liturgical year
Visit Us & Contact
St. Mary, Mother of God is located at 359 Old Griffin Road, Jackson, GA 30233, with office hours 9:00am–3:00pm Monday through Friday. From I-75, take exit 205 onto GA Hwy 16 and travel about 6.3 miles, then turn right onto Old Griffin Road; the church is on the immediate right. Travelers coming from the Griffin area can also use GA Hwy 16 eastbound over the I-75 bridge for the same 6.3-mile run to Old Griffin Road.
- Address: 359 Old Griffin Road, Jackson, GA 30233
- Phone: 770-775-4162 (Sacramental Emergency Ext. 401)
- Fax: 770-775-4174
- Office Hours: 9am–3pm, Monday–Friday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Walsh, C.S.S.R.1943
Offered the first Mass in Jackson at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Deraney on April 11, 1943.
- Rev. W. Hlavac, C.S.S.R.1960
Celebrated the first Mass at "the little church" on March 16, 1960.
- Msgr. Henry Gracz1995–2001
Appointed pastor of St. James, McDonough; led the building of the new St. Mary's church on Old Griffin Road, dedicated in 1999.
- Msgr. Terry Young2001–2010
Resigned as pastor of St. James in 2005 and was appointed full-time resident Administrator of St. Mary's by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. Became St. Mary's first pastor when it achieved parish status on January 1, 2008.
- Father Mark FischerJuly 2010 – October 2013
- Father Diosmar NatadDecember 2013 – June 2016
- Rev. Jose M. KochuparampilJuly 2016 – present
Assigned as Administrator in July 2016; appointed Pastor of St. Mary, Mother of God on July 1, 2017.