About St. Mary on the Hill · Augusta, Georgia
St. Mary on the Hill is a Roman Catholic parish in the historic Summerville/Monte Sano 'Hill' neighborhood of Augusta, Georgia, in the Diocese of Savannah. Established in 1917 to serve Catholics who had relocated after the 1916 downtown Augusta fire, the parish is built around the Eucharist, Catholic education (St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School, K-8), Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a stewardship way of life. It offers 16 Masses a week, a full reconciliation schedule, a robust CCD program, youth ministry, and a wide range of outreach to the Augusta community.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name 'St. Mary on the Hill')
- Rector
- Rev. Mark J. Ross (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Deanery: Augusta)
Why belong here
St. Mary on the Hill is a large, vibrant stewardship parish where the Eucharist is at the center of everything. Worshippers can choose from 16 weekly Masses, including a livestreamed 10:30am Sunday Mass; pray in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel adjacent to the school (continuous since 1997); and bring their children to one of the region's largest parish schools, St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School (K-8, ~400+ students). The parish reaches out through Catholic Social Services, Family Promise, Master's Table Soup Kitchen and Habitat for Humanity, and it forms disciples of every age through CCD, RCIA, youth ministry (grades 6-12), and small faith-sharing groups.
Mass times at St. Mary on the Hill
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (and by appointment)
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel adjacent to the school (continuous since November 1, 1997)
- Wednesday Pro-Life Holy Hour: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
Founded in 1917 to serve Catholics who moved to 'The Hill' after the 1916 downtown Augusta fire, St. Mary on the Hill has grown from a house chapel on Monte Sano and McDowell streets into one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Savannah. The 1919 church still serves as the Parish Hall, the 1955 present church has been enhanced with Rosary stained glass (1969), a Wicks organ (1980) and a finished interior and day chapel (1992), and Perpetual Adoration has been kept in the school chapel since 1997.
- Founded 1917 under Bishop Benjamin Keiley and founding pastor Fr. Patrick H. McMahon
- Original church dedicated November 30, 1919 (now Parish Hall)
- Present church first used December 8, 1955 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
- Stained-glass windows (Rosary Mysteries) installed 1969; Wicks pipe organ blessed 1980
- Church interior completed and day chapel added, 1992
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration begun November 1, 1997
Clergy & Staff
Parish leadership includes the pastor and parochial vicars supported by retired priests in residence, six permanent deacons, and a full lay staff for parish administration, music, faith formation, youth ministry, finance and facilities. The school has its own principal, assistant principal, and faculty (under a separate website).
- Pastor: Fr. Mark Ross
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Andrew Emenike, Fr. Nate Swann; Fr. Jared Miller (effective July 1, 2026)
- Retired in residence: Fr. Thomas Healy, Fr. John Markham
- Permanent Deacons: Jason Lanham, John Leonard, Ken Maleck, Don McArdle, Jesse Murga, Al Sullivan
- Music: Andrew Barnick (Director), John Rose (Contemporary)
- Faith Formation: Joan Purucker (CCD / Catechesis of the Good Shepherd / Bulletin)
- Youth Ministry: Michael Lammers
- Finance & Operations: Rich Peritore (Director of Finance), Mary Bowles, Karen Brooks, Cris Edge (Facilities), Gina Craw (Mothers' Day Out/Nursery), Leigh McCormack (Senior Center), Martha Kearns (Administrative Assistant)
St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School (K-8)
St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School is a parish-supported, Cognia-accredited K-8 elementary school serving about 400+ students from Richmond and Columbia Counties in Georgia and Aiken County, South Carolina. Originally founded in 1913 as Mount St. Joseph by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the school has been operated by the parish since 1960 and has been funded entirely from the Sunday Offertory since 1995. A 2001 renovation added a gymnasium, cafeteria and additional classrooms; the campus today has 24 classrooms with Promethean boards, three computer labs, a media center, music/art/Spanish rooms, a gymnasium, cafeteria and staffed health room.
- Grades K-8; about 491 students; 16:1 student-teacher ratio
- 1:1 technology, Cognia (AdvancED) accredited
- Athletics for grades 6-8 (10 sports, 80%+ participation)
- Faith life: daily religion class, weekly Mass, student-led prayers, community service
- Principal: Todd Shafer; Assistant Principal: Steven Kolodizieizyck
- School office: 1220 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 — (706) 733-6193
- Website: https://stmaryssaints.org
Faith Formation
Beyond the parish school, St. Mary on the Hill offers religious education for parish children who attend non-Catholic schools through the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program Sunday mornings, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, and a full RCIA process for adults each year from September through Easter.
- CCD Sunday morning religious formation (8:45–10:30 AM)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — weekly sessions Sept through Easter
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Youth Ministry
The parish youth ministry brings middle and high school students together for prayer, fellowship, retreats, mission trips and works of mercy. High school students meet Wednesdays during the school year, with trips such as Ski for Life, a mission trip to Charlotte, NC, and a summer youth conference.
- High School Youth (grades 9-12): Wednesdays during the school year
- Middle School Youth (grades 6-8): 6:45 PM on Sundays, monthly, in the school gym
- Annual Ski for Life trip, Charlotte NC mission trip, summer youth conference
- Director: Michael Lammers
Outreach & Stewardship
St. Mary on the Hill is a stewardship parish: parishioners share their time, talent and treasure to support the parish school and a network of charitable works in Augusta and across the Diocese of Savannah. The parish contributes part of its weekly Offertory to charitable causes in addition to hands-on volunteering.
- Catholic Social Services (Diocese of Savannah)
- Family Promise
- Master's Table Soup Kitchen
- Habitat for Humanity
- Stewardship of Time, Talent & Treasure (parish-wide program begun 1995)
Music Ministry
Music at St. Mary on the Hill is led by Director of Music Andrew Barnick and Contemporary Music director John Rose. The parish's Wicks pipe organ was blessed on June 1, 1980 and continues to support the parish's traditional and contemporary liturgical worship.
- Director of Music: Andrew Barnick
- Contemporary Music Ministry: John Rose
Parish Campus & Facilities
The parish campus on Monte Sano Avenue includes the present church (1955, refurbished 1992), the original 1919 church (now Parish Hall), the priests' rectory (the original 1917 house), the school (1220 Monte Sano), and a separate Senior Center and Mothers' Day Out building on the same street. Perpetual Adoration is housed in the chapel adjacent to the school.
- Church: 1420 Monte Sano Avenue
- School: 1220 Monte Sano Avenue
- Senior Center: 1210 Monte Sano Avenue
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Visit, Contact & Newcomer Info
Newcomers and visitors are welcomed on the parish's 'I'm New' page. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and can be reached at (706) 733-6627.
- Address: 1420 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904-5360
- Phone: (706) 733-6627; Fax: (706) 733-4887
- Office hours: M–Th 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; F 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Website: https://www.stmaryonthehill.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick H. McMahon1917–
Founding pastor; instructed by Bishop Benjamin Keiley to acquire the original property on Monte Sano & McDowell and to build the parish.