A Bilingual Parish on Wellborn Road
Christ Our Hope Catholic Church sits along Wellborn Road in Lithonia, Georgia, where its brick campus has become a steady presence for Catholics across the southeastern corner of DeKalb County. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Atlanta and lives out a bilingual identity: weekend Mass is offered in English and Spanish, sacraments are prepared in both languages, and a Hispanic prayer group gathers weekly. The community describes its mission simply: to live the spirit of Christ through daily walk toward holiness by sharing Time, Talent, and Earnings with others, centered in Christ, embracing its many ethnicities, and serving its neighborhood.
Father Juan Nayvnelvy (known in the parish as Father Junot Nelvy) serves as pastor, with the assistance of Deacon Jerry Lett. The parish office, located at 1786 Wellborn Road, is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and can be reached at (770) 482-5017. A separate sacramental emergency line, (404) 913-5564, is available for Last Rites and urgent pastoral care.
Mass Times and Reconciliation
The parish worship schedule is built to give Catholics many opportunities to attend Mass during the day as well as on Sunday.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm
- Sundays: 8:00 am and 11:00 am in English; 1:00 pm in Spanish
- Monday: 12:00 noon
- Wednesday: 7:00 pm
- Friday: 12:00 noon (with First Friday observances)
Confessions are heard on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:45 pm and on Saturdays from 4:00 to 4:45 pm. The Saturday Vigil is followed on the first Saturday of each month by the Anointing of the Sick, celebrated by the pastor for those who are seriously ill, elderly, or preparing for surgery.
A Full Week of Adoration and Prayer
Beyond Mass and confession, Christ Our Hope keeps a strong rhythm of Eucharistic devotion. A Holy Hour is held every Wednesday at 6:00 pm, immediately before the 7:00 pm Mass. On the first Friday of each month, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament fills the morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, and the Alliance of the Two Hearts Vigil carries the prayer through the night from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am. The Rosary is prayed each Sunday at 10:15 am, between the 8:00 and 11:00 Masses, and a Hispanic prayer group gathers on Thursdays at 6:30 pm.
The Seven Sacraments
Christ Our Hope celebrates each of the seven Catholic sacraments, organized as the Church does into Sacraments of Initiation, Healing, and Service.
Baptism. English baptisms are held on the second Saturday of each month and Spanish baptisms on the third Saturday. English classes are scheduled by appointment through the parish office, and Spanish classes are arranged with Elena Rodriguez of the Hispanic Ministry.
Reconciliation. In addition to the regular Wednesday and Saturday times listed above, the sacrament is offered in conjunction with parish penance services during Advent and Lent.
Eucharist. Children preparing for First Communion do so through the parish Religious Education program; adults who have not yet received First Eucharist prepare through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
Confirmation. In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Confirmation is ordinarily celebrated in 10th grade. Youth preparing for Confirmation enroll through Religious Education; adults join the OCIA journey.
Matrimony. Couples meet with the pastor at least six months in advance of the wedding to begin preparation.
Holy Orders. Men discerning a call to the priesthood or diaconate are invited to speak with the pastor or contact the archdiocesan Office of Vocations.
Anointing of the Sick. In addition to the monthly first-Saturday celebration, the sacrament is available at any time through the Sacramental Emergency line.
Faith Formation for Every Age
The parish offers a structured path of catechesis from childhood through adulthood. The Religious Education program runs from September through May, with classes for students ages 6 to 17 every Sunday from 9:15 to 10:15 am. The program prepares young people for First Communion and Confirmation, and a dedicated corps of catechists walks with each family through the journey. Cynthia Simien serves as Director of Religious Education and coordinates registration.
For adults, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) meets on Saturday mornings at 9:30 am in the Sr. Thea Bowman Parish Hall, beginning in September and culminating at the Easter Vigil. The program welcomes anyone unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or Catholic seeking the rest of the sacraments of initiation. Brenda Chee Wah leads the parish OCIA team.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music at Christ Our Hope is shaped by choirs that lead the English and Spanish congregations. The Thea Bowman Ensemble, under choirmaster Jack Tilson, sings at the 8:00 am Sunday Mass and rehearses primarily on the second and fourth Sundays after that Mass. The Thea Bowman Visionary Choir, also directed by Mr. Tilson, leads the 10:30 am Mass on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month and rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Both ensembles are open to adults eighteen and older, with young adults welcomed. The Spanish Choir sings at the 1:00 pm Sunday Mass and rehearses on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.
The wider liturgical life of the parish is sustained by several lay ministries. Altar Care keeps the sanctuary linens, vestments, and overall tidiness of the worship space on a rotating schedule. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound. The Flower Ministry arranges altar flowers for memorials, anniversaries, thanksgivings, and birthdays, with donations starting at $50 for arrangements at the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph statues. Ushers arrive early to greet parishioners, assist with seating, take up the collection, distribute bulletins, and secure the church.
Hispanic Ministry
Alonso and Elena Rodriguez lead the parish Hispanic Ministry, which serves as the anchor for Spanish-speaking Catholics across Lithonia and the surrounding neighborhoods. The ministry coordinates the 1:00 pm Sunday Mass, the Thursday evening Hispanic Prayer Group, Spanish-language sacramental preparation, and the parish's catechetical work in Spanish. Elena Rodriguez can be reached at 470-737-0363 for information about Spanish baptism classes and other parish needs.
Service to Those in Need
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is the parish's primary outreach arm. The conference meets every other Wednesday at 7:30 pm and provides both spiritual and financial assistance to neighbors who reach out to the parish. Donations from parishioners fund help with food, utility bills, prescriptions, rent, and mortgages. Members visit the homes of those in need to assess the full situation, and every case is handled in confidence. The Security Committee complements this work by promoting safety policies and procedures across the campus, sponsoring fundraisers, and meeting every other Thursday at 7:15 pm.
Community Life
Christ Our Hope nurtures community through several ongoing groups. The Men of Christ Our Hope form a brotherhood of Catholic men from across the parish's many cultures. They meet on the third Saturday of each month at 9:30 am in Thea Bowman Hall and support the clergy, the youth, and the elderly of the parish.
Young at Heart gathers the parish's seniors for Mass, usually on the first Friday of each month, followed by a luncheon or another planned activity in the parish hall. Members come from diverse backgrounds and find friendship and spiritual support in the group.
Generation Hope is the parish's teen ministry, providing an atmosphere where high schoolers can grow in faith through group discussions, service projects, concerts, conferences, and other events.
The Parish Pastoral Council advises the pastor in planning and administering the parish life, meeting August through June on the second Monday of the month after the 7:00 pm Mass. Meetings are open to the congregation. The current council is led by President Tiffany Hinds, Vice President Victor Mbaba, Secretary Jamala Penton, and members representing the Hispanic community, youth, and the parish at large.
Becoming a Parishioner
In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, every member is asked to register with a home parish. The Archdiocese defines an active parishioner as someone who has been registered for at least six months, attends Mass weekly and on holy days of obligation, contributes financially in a trackable way, and shares time and talent in at least one ministry. A parish registration form is available through the parish office and online. Newcomers are invited to contact any of the parish staff to begin the process and find a ministry that matches their gifts.
Supporting the Mission
The parish sustains its mission through weekly collections, online giving, and the annual Archbishop's Appeal that supports the wider ministries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including outreach to the poor, formation of clergy, care for the sick and elderly, and Catholic schools. The parish also maintains an endowment fund managed by the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, which provides annual income for the long-term strength of the parish. Gifts to the endowment can be made online or by contacting the Foundation directly.
Communications and Connection
Parishioners and visitors stay connected through a weekly email newsletter, an active Facebook and Instagram presence, and a YouTube channel that broadcasts the livestream of Mass and other parish activities. The parish calendar is published online and updated regularly with upcoming events and faith formation milestones. Office hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday.