About St. Mary · Toccoa, Georgia
St. Mary Catholic Church is a small but growing Roman Catholic parish in Toccoa, Georgia, in the foothills of the northeast Georgia mountains about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. The community began as a mission church in 1954, became a parish a decade later, and today serves roughly 170 families that include longtime retirees drawn to nearby Lake Hartwell and a growing population of young Vietnamese families, many working in regional agriculture. Worship is offered in both English and Vietnamese, and the parish falls under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta. Father Thắng 'Henry' Phạm serves as pastor.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Thắng 'Henry' Phạm
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a close-knit, bilingual Catholic family of about 170 households that mixes longtime locals, lake-area retirees, and a thriving community of young Vietnamese families. The parish offers Mass and a Vietnamese-language liturgy each Sunday, a daily Mass and Holy Hour schedule, the Sacraments and devotions, and a full slate of lay ministries — from Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul to PSR faith formation for its many children. Visitors are warmly welcomed by Father Henry and a parish that has just completed a new Parish Life Center and Religious Education Center to serve its growing community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Thursday and Saturday: After Mass, or by appointment
- Monday and Wednesday: 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM (or by appointment)
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM, except 1st Tuesday (or by appointment)
- By appointment at almost any time
Adoration times
- Holy Hour — Monday, Wednesday, 1st Friday: 4:30 PM
- Holy Hour — Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 7:30 AM
- Holy Hour — Saturday Evening: 4:00 PM
- Holy Hour — Sunday: 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM
Parish History & Building Project
St. Mary Catholic Church traces its roots back roughly 80 years in Stephens County. Before the parish was founded, Catholics in the Toccoa area celebrated Mass wherever they could — in private homes, hotels, and the American Legion Hall — with visiting mission priests. The community opened its doors as an official mission in 1954 and became a full parish about a decade later (GCatholic records an associated foundation date of October 8, 1956). For years the parish was small, starting with about 35 families, and was shaped in part by retirees who relocated to be near Lake Hartwell. In recent decades the parish has been transformed by the arrival of young Vietnamese families, many of them parents working in regional agriculture, swelling the community to about 170 households. That growth quickly outpaced the original buildings. Parishioners had the foresight in the late 1990s to begin raising funds for expansion, an initiative championed by Steven 'Steve' William Dessauer, but the project was sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of a contractor. When black mold was found in the priest quarters and offices, that building had to be condemned, forcing faith-formation classes for the parish's roughly 50 children to be held outdoors.
Honoring Mary's Legacy & The New Parish Life Center
Parishioners raised about $1 million and secured a $400,000 loan from the Archdiocese of Atlanta through a reserved fund that helps smaller parishes with capital improvements. Construction began in early 2024: the original 1940s church was remodeled into a Religious Education Center with six classrooms and ADA-compliant restrooms, and a new 3,800-square-foot Parish Life Center was built with a large kitchen, offices, and a gathering space. The architect preserved a stained-glass sunburst and three small windows from the original chapel doors so the parish's earliest heritage is woven into the new buildings.
- Original church remodeled into Religious Education Center (6 classrooms, ADA restrooms)
- New 3,800 sq ft Parish Life Center with kitchen, offices, and gathering space
- Stained-glass sunburst and three chapel-door windows preserved from the original 1940s church
- Funded by $1M in contributions plus a $400,000 Archdiocese of Atlanta loan
Debt-Free & The Prayer Garden
After completion, the parish still faced about $350,000 of remaining construction debt — a daunting figure for a parish of 170 families. The parish launched the 'Honoring Mary's Legacy' campaign and created a St. Mary Prayer Garden, with garden sponsorships providing both funding and a sacred outdoor space. The parish enlisted the Parish Center's architect to lay out the garden at no charge and added hand-crafted statues of St. Michael Defeating the Devil, Jesus the Good Shepherd, and the Holy Family. Thanks to archdiocesan support and generous donations, the debt was paid off in about 14 months. Steve Dessauer, the lay leader who had pushed the project forward for decades, passed away in early 2026 but lived to see the work finished.
- Honoring Mary's Legacy Fund
- St. Mary Prayer Garden with hand-crafted statues
- Statue of St. Michael Defeating the Devil
- Statue of Jesus the Good Shepherd
- Statue of the Holy Family
- $350,000 construction debt retired in ~14 months
Clergy & Staff
St. Mary is led by Pastor Rev. Thắng 'Henry' Phạm, a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta ordained June 26, 2010. Deacon Rich Thibodeau assists at the parish. The staff team includes Richard Chalk as Liturgical Music Director and IT lead, Sister (Anna) Oanh Ng. Nguyen as Vietnamese Liturgy Coordinator, and Quyen Ha as the Vietnamese Community Connection. Mrs. Jessica Burger directs the Parish School of Religion. Paul Sobel chairs the Finance Council, and Nancy Williamson is the parish contact for Liturgical Ministries. Sacramental emergencies outside office hours are routed directly to Father Henry at 770-561-3918.
- Rev. Thắng 'Henry' Phạm — Pastor (ordained 06/26/2010, Archdiocese of Atlanta)
- Deacon Rich Thibodeau
- Richard Chalk — Liturgical Music Director / IT
- Sister (Anna) Oanh Ng. Nguyen — Vietnamese Liturgy Coordinator
- Quyen Ha — Vietnamese Community Connection
- Mrs. Jessica Burger — Parish School of Religion Director
- Paul Sobel — Finance Chairman
- Nancy Williamson — Liturgical Ministries contact
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Mary centers on the Parish School of Religion (PSR), directed by Mrs. Jessica Burger, which serves the parish's roughly 50 children. The PSR program now meets in the newly remodeled Religious Education Center with six classrooms. Sacramental Preparation is offered for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Reconciliation. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, and a parish Bible Study group meets regularly. The parish also operates a Safe Environment program to comply with archdiocesan child-protection standards.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Sacramental Preparation (First Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation)
- Bible Study
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA
- Catholic Resources
- Safe Environment
Parish Ministries & Get Involved
St. Mary's encourages parishioners to get involved across a wide range of ministries. The parish hosts a Knights of Columbus council, a St. Mary's Ladies Guild, a St. Vincent de Paul conference that serves neighbors in need, a Pro-Life Ministry dedicated to the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, a Bereavement Ministry, and a Youth Ministry. Parish leadership is shaped by the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Council, while liturgical life is supported by teams of lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, sacristans, ushers/greeters, music ministers (practice Tuesday evenings at 6 PM), and offertory counters.
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Mary's Ladies Guild
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (contact Ethan Owen, 706-599-6815)
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry is described on the parish site as 'the nourishment of the faith — both your own and that of others.' Lectors must be confirmed Catholics who attend Mass regularly and prepare the readings carefully. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be at least 18 and confirmed; married ministers are required to have been married in the Catholic Church. Sacristans prepare the books, vessels, vestments, and incense for Mass and coordinate special liturgies. Music Ministers meet to practice every Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the church. Ushers and greeters assist congregants as they arrive, help the disabled, and coordinate the Offertory procession.
- Altar Servers — contact Fr. Henry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (visit the sick and homebound)
- Offertory Tabulator / Counters — follow Atlanta Archdiocese best practices
- Music Ministers — practice Tuesdays at 6 PM in the church
- Sacristans
- Ushers / Greeters
- Lectors
Sacraments
The parish's 'Liturgy & Sacraments' page lists all seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation (Confession), Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Funerals are also coordinated through the parish office. Couples typically begin marriage preparation by contacting the parish, and those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life are encouraged to speak with the pastor. Confession is offered after daily Mass and by appointment, and Anointing of the Sick is available to those facing serious illness or surgery.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Holy Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
Contact, Location & Visiting
St. Mary Catholic Church is located at 231 Rothell Rd. Ext., Toccoa, Georgia 30577, in the foothills of northeast Georgia near Lake Hartwell and about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. The parish office phone is (706) 886-2819; callers can leave a message after office hours. The email address published on the parish site is [email protected]. Office hours are Monday 12:00–3:00 PM and Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, callers are directed to Father Henry at 770-561-3918. A 'Welcome from the Pastor' message on the website invites long-time parishioners, new residents, and visitors alike to join the faith family.
- Address: 231 Rothell Rd. Ext., Toccoa, GA 30577
- Office phone: (706) 886-2819
- Sacramental emergency line: 770-561-3918
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 12–3 PM; Tue–Fri 10 AM–3 PM
- Website: https://stmarystoccoa.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thắng 'Henry' Phạm2024–present (notable building campaign)
Current pastor; led the parish through the 2024 groundbreaking, the Parish Life Center and Religious Education Center construction, and the Honoring Mary's Legacy debt-retirement campaign.