About St. Peter Chanel · Roswell, Georgia
St. Peter Chanel is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Atlanta located on Woodstock Road in Roswell, Georgia, where it shares a campus with Queen of Angels Catholic School and the former Blessed Trinity High School. The parish was begun as a mission of St. Ann Church in Marietta in 1998, established as a parish on September 24, 2000, and is led today by Monsignor Peter Rau with two parochial vicars, five deacons, and a large lay staff. Since its founding by Father Frank McNamee, it has grown from six families to several thousand registered households, and is widely known in north Metro Atlanta for its Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel and a flourishing family faith formation program.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- St. Peter Chanel
- Rector
- Rev. Msignor Peter Rau
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Peter Chanel is a young, growing parish that takes seriously the rhythm of Catholic family life: it offers six Sunday Masses plus a fully streamed vigil Mass, daily Mass every weekday morning, and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a dedicated chapel — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Faith formation is built around the home, with a Family Faith Formation program (Little Saints, First Eucharist, Confirmation, RCIA), an on-site Catholic preschool, and youth ministry for middle- and high-schoolers. With more than 60 ministries, on-campus Queen of Angels School, and strong outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, it is a parish where newcomers can easily find both prayer and service.
Mass times at St. Peter Chanel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: after the 6:45 AM daily Mass
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the parish day chapel
Parish History
St. Peter Chanel began as a mission of St. Ann Parish in Marietta in 1998, the work of Father Frank McNamee under Archbishop John F. Donoghue. The mission celebrated its first Sunday Mass in the Roswell North Elementary cafeteria on the First Sunday of Advent 1998, moved in 1999 to the gymnasium of the new Queen of Angels School on Woodstock Road, and was established as a parish on September 24, 2000. Archbishop Donoghue installed Father McNamee as first Pastor on January 6, 2001 and dedicated the Archbishop Donoghue Pastoral Center and Perpetual Adoration chapel in 2001. The current church was dedicated November 29, 2008, and Msgr. Peter Rau succeeded Father McNamee as second pastor in January 2009. From six founding families, the parish now registers more than 3,000 households.
- Mission begun 1998 under Fr. Frank McNamee
- First Sunday Mass in elementary-school cafeteria, Advent 1998
- Established as a parish September 24, 2000
- Fr. McNamee installed as first Pastor, January 6, 2001
- Perpetual Adoration instituted December 1, 2001
- Current church dedicated November 29, 2008
- Msgr. Peter Rau installed as second Pastor, January 2009
Parish Leadership
St. Peter Chanel is pastored by Monsignor Peter Rau, with two parochial vicars — Father Tamiru Atraga and Father Evan Glowzinski — and a team of five permanent deacons. The staff is led by a Director of Worship who is also Executive Assistant to the Pastor, plus Directors of Operations, Mission, and Facilities, and a large team of Family Faith, Youth, Communications, Music, Preschool, and Engagement staff.
- Rev. Msgr. Peter Rau — Pastor
- Fr. Tamiru Atraga — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Evan Glowzinski — Parochial Vicar
- Deacons Mike Bickerstaff, Joe Crowley, Randy Ory, Claro Rodriguez, Dave Thomasberger
- Mary Ann Plachta — Director of Worship & Executive Assistant to the Pastor
- Dave Dahm — Director of Operations
- Rob Montepare — Director of Mission
- Jane Jackson — Music Director
- Dave Petit / Joe Dellorco / Joseph Floccari / Pete Thomasberger — facilities/AV
Family Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Peter Chanel is built around the family. The program partners with parents to prepare children for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, acknowledging that 'this life of faith is more often caught than taught.' Coordinators lead Little Saints, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Special Needs Religious Education, and family events that gather parents and children together around the Church year.
- Family Faith Formation (Little Saints through Confirmation prep)
- First Eucharist Coordinator — Ida Wilbanks, 678-832-1214
- Special Needs Religious Education — Jeanne Lyons, 678-832-1265
- Family Faith Coordinator — April Velez
- Team Leader — Shannon Civetta, 678-832-1229
- Annual family events with parish-wide calendar
St. Peter Chanel Preschool
Established in 2003, the parish preschool serves children 18 months through young five years of age and is supervised by the Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Catholic Schools. The program blends hands-on classroom learning with Catholic identity — a 'Catholic Seeds' monthly gathering in the church sanctuary, music and movement, enrichment programs, and community-service projects such as collecting for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. A Preschool Parent Council fosters fellowship through events like Family Fun Night, Trunk or Treat, Play Date at the Park, Daddy/Jack-and-Me, and Mom's Nights Out.
- Founded 2003, ages 18 months – young 5s
- Located on the Woodstock Road parish campus
- Catholic Seeds monthly gathering in the church sanctuary
- Music and movement, monthly enrichment programs
- Community-service partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
- Director: Rebecca VanDeventer — 678-832-1231
- Operates under Archdiocese of Atlanta Charter (renewable every 5 years)
Queen of Angels Catholic School
Although not operated by the parish, Queen of Angels Catholic School shares the Woodstock Road campus and is closely tied to the parish community. It opened in August 1999 as the first building on what would become the St. Peter Chanel campus, hosted the parish's first weekend Masses in its gymnasium, and continues to serve as the parish's primary partner Catholic elementary school.
- Opened August 1999 as first campus building
- Hosted parish's first weekend Masses in its gymnasium (1999–2001)
- Archdiocese of Atlanta Catholic elementary school
- Located on Woodstock Road, Roswell
Youth & Family Outreach
The parish supports young Catholics at every stage, from early family ministry (First Steps, Next Steps) through middle school and high school youth ministry. An Engagement Coordinator and Next Steps Coordinator help newcomers plug into the parish, and family events keep the calendar full year-round.
- First Steps Coordinator — Paige Przybylek
- Next Steps Coordinator — Terri Zerbe
- Middle School Youth Minister — Ozzy Baez
- High School Youth Minister — Carlee Knuckles
- Early Family Coordinator — Mariah Tejada
- Engagement Coordinator — Francisco Tejada
Worship, Music & Liturgy
The Worship team coordinates liturgical ministries across the parish's six Sunday Masses and weekday schedule. The Music Director leads a parish choir whose home is the church's choir loft; the AV Director manages the live-stream of the Saturday Vigil Mass. The day chapel, seating roughly 100 and featuring stained-glass windows, hosts Perpetual Adoration and smaller liturgies.
- Mary Ann Plachta — Director of Worship
- Jane Jackson — Music Director / parish choir
- Pete Thomasberger — Director of Audio Visual Technology
- Live-stream of Saturday Vigil Mass (4:30 PM)
- Day chapel seating ~100, used for Perpetual Adoration
Service, Charity & Outreach
St. Peter Chanel organizes its lay apostolate around what it counts as more than 60 ministries. Outreach includes a strong partnership with the local St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — to which even the preschool contributes canned goods — and the parish's 'Director of Mission' leads missionary, charitable, and engagement initiatives.
- Over 60 ministries parish-wide
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry partnership (parish-wide and preschool)
- Director of Mission — Rob Montepare
- Engagement / Next Steps outreach to newcomers
Becoming a Parishioner
The parish welcomes new members through an onboarding process led by the Next Steps and Registration Coordinators, and pairs newcomers with paths into service, formation, and sacramental life. Monsignor Rau's welcome on the home page extends an explicit invitation: 'Whether you have been with us since our early beginnings, nearly 25 years ago, or you are simply searching for something more in life, I want you to know that you are welcomed here.'
- Next Steps Coordinator — Terri Zerbe, 678-832-1226
- Registration Coordinator — Cindy, 678-832-1230
- Office open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone 678-277-9424
Connect & Visit
In addition to its website, St. Peter Chanel maintains an active Facebook presence under the name 'St Peter Chanel Catholic Church | Roswell GA,' where the parish posts Mass times, event updates, and livestream links for the Saturday Vigil Mass.
- Website: stpeterchanel.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/StPeterChanelCatholicChurch/
- Campus: 11330 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075
- Phone: 678-277-9424
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frank McNamee1998 (mission founder) – c. December 2008
Founded the mission from St. Ann, Marietta in 1998; installed as first Pastor on January 6, 2001; oversaw the construction of the current church, which was dedicated November 29, 2008; later named to the Cathedral parish.
- Rev. (now Msgr.) Peter RauJanuary 2009 – present
Appointed by Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the second Pastor; welcomed early COVID-era growth and continues to shepherd the parish, which has grown from 6 founding families to more than 3,000 households.