About St. Vincent De Paul · Dallas, Georgia
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Paulding County, Georgia, serving the Dallas and Hiram communities as part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta. The parish traces its origins to November 7, 1981, when the first Mass was celebrated for about 30 people at Martin's Funeral Home; for more than two decades it operated as a mission before being formally elevated to parish status on January 4, 2003. Today it ministers to more than 852 registered and active families with Mass in both English and Spanish, a robust K-12 religious education program centered at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Religious Education Center, and an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that runs a food pantry, thrift store, and family support center.
- Established
- 1981 (first Mass, November 7, 1981); elevated to parish status January 4, 2003
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul (also honoring the memory of founding priest Fr. Vincent Mulvin)
- Rector
- Reverend Father Adrian C.H. Pleus
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a thriving, growing Catholic community of more than 852 families with the warmth and intimacy of a parish that grew up from a small mission—many members have worshipped together for decades. Daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, robust K-12 religious education (including a post-Confirmation program), and a flourishing Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference running the parish's food pantry, thrift store, and family support center give every member concrete ways to live the faith. The parish is also known for its wide range of devotional and formation opportunities—from a Charismatic Prayer Group and Marian Movement of Priests cenacle to RCIA, ministry to the homebound, and a peaceful outdoor St. Mary's Prayer Garden with the Stations of the Cross.
Mass times at St. Vincent De Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- By appointment through the Parish Office (770-443-0566)
History & Founding
St. Vincent de Paul began in 1981 as a mission to the Catholic families of Dallas and Hiram in Paulding County, the first Mass being celebrated in Martin's Funeral Home by Fr. Vincent Mulvin on November 7, 1981. After Fr. Mulvin's sudden death in 1983 the mission was named for him (and the patron saint) and was cared for by a succession of diocesan and Conventual Franciscan priests. Following a 'desert wandering' period in borrowed facilities, the mission purchased a former Assembly of God church in 1993, was expanded with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Religious Education Center in 2010, and was formally elevated to parish status on January 4, 2003, with Fr. Adrian Pleus as its first pastor.
- First Mass: November 7, 1981 (Martin's Funeral Home, ~30 people)
- Renamed St. Vincent de Paul Mission in 1983 to honor Fr. Vincent Mulvin
- Purchased former Assembly of God building; first Mass there September 12, 1993
- St. Mary's Prayer Garden dedicated and Our Lady of Guadalupe Religious Education Center completed in 2010
- Elevated to parish status January 4, 2003
Clergy & Staff
St. Vincent de Paul is led by founding pastor Father Adrian C.H. Pleus and served by a priest in residence, three permanent deacons (one retired), and a small office and religious-education team. Father Adrian, a Sewanee and University of Georgia graduate who earned his M.Div. from St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has guided the parish continuously since its elevation in 2003. His day off is Thursday.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Adrian C.H. Pleus (ordained June 5, 1999; pastor since January 4, 2003)
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Fr. Omar Loggiodice (ordained June 27, 2009)
- Deacons: Rev. Mr. Jose Perez (ordained 1999), Rev. Mr. James 'Jimmy' Williams (ordained 2007), Rev. Mr. Jim McDermott (senior/retired)
- Business Manager: Debbie Chisholm
- Receptionist/Administrative Assistant: Lucy Nicholson
- Co-Directors of Religious Education: Nancy Chisholm and Mary Ware
- Religious Education Secretary: Kelly Von De Bur
Parish Ministries
The ministries of St. Vincent de Paul are organized into Liturgical Ministries, Education Ministries, the SVdP Society and Outreach, and Other Areas of Parish Life.
- Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers
- Music Ministries, Altar Art and Flowers Guild, Set-up Ministry
- Religious Education K–12, Post-Confirmation Class, RCIA, Adult Formation, Home School Support
- St. Vincent de Paul Society, Food Pantry, Thrift Store, Pro-Life / Respect Life Committee, Hospitality, Ministry to the Homebound, Prayer Line, Natural Family Planning
- Knights of Columbus (Fr. Vincent Mulvin Council 12287), Marian Movement of Priests Prayer Cenacle, Charismatic Prayer Group, Women's Altar Rosary Guild, Finance Council, Ave Maria Gifts and Sacramentals
Religious Education & Youth
The Religious Education Program at St. Vincent de Paul provides formal catechesis for children in grades 1 through 12 (with Pre-K and Kindergarten offered when possible), meeting once a week on Sundays. The ThreeSixTeen's Youth Activity Night for grades 7–12 meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays, beginning with Holy Mass at 6:15 p.m. followed by fellowship; an Elementary Youth Group also meets monthly after the 12 noon Sunday Mass.
- K-12 Religious Education with Pre-K and Kindergarten when possible
- ThreeSixTeen's Youth Activity Night: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, Mass at 6:15 p.m.
- Elementary Youth Group: once monthly, Sundays after 12 noon Mass (1–3 p.m.)
- Post-Confirmation Class (free, not required)
- RCIA for adults preparing to enter the Church or learn more about it
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference runs a Family Support Center providing food, utility, prescription, and home-visit assistance, as well as a thrift store at 651 West Memorial Drive. Linked by the common mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, more than 60 conferences operate throughout North Georgia; the Dallas conference is one of them and operates with lay caseworkers, intake workers, home visitors, and program coordinators. Assistance is generally temporary and aimed at helping neighbors over a particular hardship, though a longer 'Uplift' program commits to extended cases such as helping a single mother complete a technical degree.
- Family Support Center assistance line: 770-443-1533 (appointments made Mondays 9:00 a.m.–12 noon)
- Thrift Store: Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (678-388-0855)
- Food pantry accepts non-perishable and now perishable items (refrigerator/freezer available)
- 501(c)(3) charitable organization; contributions tax-deductible
Sacraments
Information about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick is available through the Parish Office at 770-443-0566. Adults who are not Catholic but who wish to learn about the faith or become Catholic participate in the parish's RCIA program.
- Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation arrangements through the Religious Education Office
- Matrimony preparation arranged through the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick available through the Sacramental Emergency line
- RCIA sponsors needed each year to accompany catechumens and candidates
St. Mary's Prayer Garden & Campus
Adjacent to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Religious Education Center, St. Mary's Prayer Garden offers an outdoor space for devotion, with a paved pathway lined by the fourteen Stations of the Cross, a statue of Jesus in the Agony in the Garden, and a statue of the Holy Family. Originally dedicated in 2010, the garden is a quiet place for private prayer on the parish campus.
- St. Mary's Prayer Garden dedicated in 2010
- Fourteen Stations of the Cross along a paved pathway
- Statue of Jesus in the Agony in the Garden
- Statue of the Holy Family
Visiting & Location
St. Vincent de Paul is located at 680 West Memorial Drive in Dallas, Georgia, adjacent to its SVdP thrift store at 651 West Memorial Drive. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Friday).
- Address: 680 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, Georgia 30132
- Parish Office: 770-443-0566 (Fax 770-443-1612)
- SVdP Society Assistance: 770-443-1533
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vincent Mulvin1981–1983
Celebrant of the very first Mass on November 7, 1981 at Martin's Funeral Home; died suddenly of a heart attack on March 20, 1983 at age 39. The mission's name honors him.
- Fr. Patrick Bishop
Next priest assigned after Fr. Mulvin; serious illness forced the Archdiocese to transfer care of the mission to St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw.
- Fr. Luzerne Schunuppuntil 1987
Cared for the community from St. Catherine of Siena until the Conventual Franciscan Friars arrived in 1987.
- Fr. Eugene Kwapisz, OFM Conv.1987–1988
First Conventual Franciscan friar assigned; died suddenly on January 27, 1988, only seven months into his assignment.
- Fr. David Stachurski, OFM Conv.1988–1993+
Assumed pastoral responsibilities after Fr. Kwapisz; celebrated the first Mass in the permanent (former Assembly of God) building on September 12, 1993.
- Fr. Albert Scherer, OFM Conv.1988–1993+
Assisted Fr. David Stachurski during the 'desert wandering' years, including time at St. Stephen's Orthodox in Hiram and the old Dallas gymnasium.
- Fr. James HarrisonFall 2001–2002
Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw, to which care of the mission was transferred; oversaw transition until a full-time administrator arrived.
- Fr. Adrian C.H. PleusJuly 2002 – present
Assigned as Administrator in July 2002; named first Pastor on January 4, 2003 when the mission was elevated to parish status. Celebrated 25 years of priesthood in 2024.