Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Griffin, Georgia is a Roman Catholic parish whose people share an identity rooted in belief in God as Father and Jesus Christ as Lord, united by the Holy Spirit and called to live the Lord's presence in daily life. Located at 1323 MacArthur Drive, the parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, sacramental preparation at every stage of life, faith formation for children and adults, and a range of liturgical and social ministries that knit the community together.
A Parish Rooted in Griffin's Catholic History
Catholic life in Griffin traces back to 1879, when the first Mass in Griffin was celebrated with just five Catholics in attendance. Within a few years, a small group of Catholics obtained permission from Bishop Kelley of Savannah to build a chapel. The chapel was dedicated on May 2, 1910, as Sacred Heart Church. For its first sixteen years, the mission was served once a month by the Reverend Harry Clark, who traveled from Saint Joseph Church in Athens. Beginning in 1926, Mass was celebrated weekly. The Redemptorist Fathers assumed responsibility for the mission in May 1942, and on June 9, 1942, Sacred Heart became an official parish with more than 120 members, with the Reverend John Walsh as the first resident pastor.
The Sisters of Notre Dame opened Sacred Heart School in October 1946, serving grades one through eight. The school remained in operation until 1973, when the last Mass was held in the old church and worship moved to the school hall. Almost a century after the first Catholics arrived in Griffin, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan dedicated the present church building on December 18, 1982. The new church features a round stained-glass window with a biblical Sacred Heart design created by the Trappist monks of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. Sacred Heart now counts 317 registered households.
Mass in English and Spanish
The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish each week. On Saturdays, a Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:30 pm. Sunday Masses include a 9:00 am liturgy in English and an 11:30 am liturgy in Spanish. The Rosary is prayed at 8:30 am on Sundays. Weekday Mass is offered at 9:00 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, and Adoration beginning at 8:30 am before each weekday Mass.
Confessions are heard in the Day Chapel on Saturday at 4:30 pm, or by appointment with the Pastor. For sacramental emergencies, the parish office number is staffed around the clock. Father Dennis R. Juan serves as Pastor and Deacon Ken Bishop assists at Mass and throughout parish life. The parish office can be reached at (770) 227-2378 or shpriest@comcast.net.
The Liturgical Year: Lent, Holy Week, Advent, and Christmas
Beyond the regular weekly schedule, Sacred Heart observes the major rhythms of the Catholic year. Ash Wednesday opens Lent with a day of fasting and abstinence, celebrated with a 9:00 am Mass and ashes, a 5:30 pm Mass, and a 7:00 pm Mass in Spanish, each preceded by Adoration. During the Fridays of Lent, the Stations of the Cross are prayed at 5:30 pm in Spanish and at 7:00 pm in English, and a Parish Fish Fry is served from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, celebrated with the Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday Masses in English and Spanish. Holy Thursday includes Mass of the Last Supper with the Washing of Feet at 5:30 pm in English and at 7:00 pm in Spanish. Good Friday brings the Celebration of Christ's Passion, Adoration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion at 5:30 pm in English and at 7:00 pm in Spanish. The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday is celebrated in Spanish at 7:00 pm and in English at 9:00 pm, with OCIA candidates baptized and received into the Church, and Easter Sunday Mass follows at 9:00 am in English.
Advent and Christmas bring their own traditions. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is observed with Adoration and Mass. An Advent Penance Service offers Confessions with three priests available. Christmas Eve opens with a Children's Nativity Pageant at 5:00 pm, followed by the Christmas Vigil Mass at 5:30 pm and a Mass in Spanish at 7:00 pm. Christmas Day begins with the Midnight Mass at 12:00 am (music begins at 11:30 pm) and a 9:00 am Mass in English. Holy Days of Obligation through the year follow a similar pattern of Adoration and Mass.
The Sacraments
Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for each of the seven sacraments. Infant baptism requires parents to attend a preparation course beforehand. First Communion and First Reconciliation normally take place in the second grade, with older children and adults preparing through CCD or OCIA. Children preparing for Confirmation attend CCD Grades 9 and 10, while adults follow the OCIA path. The Pastor schedules Confirmation during the Easter season once classes are complete. Couples preparing for matrimony are asked to begin a six-month preparation course before their wedding. Anointing of the Sick is offered at two parish Masses each year, during Advent and Lent, and individuals may request the sacrament at any time by contacting the Pastor.
Faith Formation for Children and Adults
Religious education is a cornerstone of parish life. CCD classes meet after the 9:00 am Sunday Mass, beginning at 10:15 am and running for one hour. Classes cover Kindergarten through Grade 10 and prepare students for the sacraments. Registration is open, and teachers and assistants are always needed.
For adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church, OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The program welcomes non-Catholics exploring the faith, adults baptized Catholic who have not yet received Confirmation or First Communion, and those seeking full Communion with the Church through Baptism or a Profession of Faith. OCIA concludes at the Easter Vigil with the Sacraments of Initiation. No commitment to Catholicism is required to attend the inquiry sessions, and questions are welcomed.
Rediscover My Faith Studies
For Catholics who want to engage in meaningful discussion and deepen their understanding of the faith, Sacred Heart offers "Rediscover My Faith," a small-group study program. Two schedule options are available: Wednesday mornings at 9:45 am on the first and third weeks of the month, or Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm on the first Wednesday of the month. The evening session covers different material from the morning class, so participants can attend both if they wish.
Each session opens with the prayers of the Church, moves into a discussion of "why does the Church do that?" (covering topics like the Mass, sacraments, prayers, obligations, and beliefs), and closes with a passage from the Bible. The format includes a one-hour formal teaching followed by an open question-and-answer period. Three books serve as core references: the Catholic Bible, Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Classes meet in the Parish Hall adjacent to the school.
Daily Prayer and Online Resources
The parish points members to a wide range of faith resources, many of them free and several available in Spanish. Audio resources include the Bible in a Year, Catechism in a Year, and Rosary in a Year podcasts from Ascension Press, alongside Sunday Sermons with Bishop Barron and weekly reflections on the Sunday liturgy from Saint Louis University. Daily online prayer tools include Pray as You Go and iBreviary, which offers daily readings, prayers, and a Missal in Spanish as well as English.
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners take on many roles in the celebration of Mass. Altar Servers must be in fourth grade or older, have received First Communion, and attend Mass regularly. The Altar Ministry Guild maintains the Altar and sacred vessels and launders the linens used in the liturgy. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at parish liturgies, and Greeters offer the first welcome to visitors and members alike. Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers assist the Pastor and Deacon with distributing Holy Communion, while Ushers help seat parishioners, take up the collection, and keep the reverence of the liturgy. Ministers to the Homebound bring Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass, including visits to area nursing homes. The Church Cleaning Guild vacuums the church carpet and dusts the pews to keep the worship space in good order for weekend Masses.
Parish Life and Social Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, Sacred Heart is a community that gathers around food and fellowship. Sunday Socials are held every Sunday after the 9:00 am Mass, offering coffee and breakfast breads. The 50+ Club, an informal group for parishioners age 50 and older, meets on the second Friday of each month at 11:00 am from September through May, sharing a meal, a visiting speaker or spiritual program, and projects that support the parish. A Men's Group gathers the men of the parish around faith and fellowship topics that touch on social, religious, and parish life.
A Parish Social Events committee organizes food and snacks for many gatherings throughout the year. Another committee coordinates funeral luncheons, with parishioners contributing covered dishes and helping to serve. Volunteers are needed across all of these social ministries and can inquire through the parish office.
Generosity Recognized by the Archbishop
Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., of the Archdiocese of Atlanta commended the parish for its success in the Archbishop's Annual Appeal, recognizing Sacred Heart and 34 other parishes for a particularly effective campaign. Sacred Heart ranked second among all parishes in the archdiocese for the highest percentage of household participation in the appeal, a reflection of the widespread commitment of many Sacred Heart households to giving in support of their parish and the wider mission of the archdiocese.
Visiting Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart is located at 1323 MacArthur Drive in Griffin, Georgia. From Interstate 75, travelers take Exit 205 west on Highway 16 for about ten miles, then turn left on 6th Street to College Street, left on College to Grandview, right on Grandview to MacArthur Drive, and left on MacArthur Drive. The church is on the right. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 am to noon.