Saint Joseph Catholic Church stands at 87 Lacy Street NW in the historic square of Marietta, Georgia, serving almost 5,000 families from across Cobb County and beyond. The parish is the oldest Catholic community in Marietta and the mother church for several nearby parishes. Three priests and five deacons now minister to a congregation that gathers for six Sunday Masses in two languages, fills an Adoration Chapel that stays open most daylight hours, and supports a Catholic school, a youth ministry from preschool through high school, and a sister-parish relationship with a community of 60,000 in the highlands of western Guatemala.
From an Opera House on Atlanta Street to a 750-Seat Sanctuary
Saint Joseph began in 1906 as a mission of Sacred Heart in Atlanta, founded at a time when priests of the former Diocese of Savannah served North Georgia, often on horseback. The first Catholic building in Marietta was a small, white structure converted from an opera house on Atlanta Street. By 1929 the original was in disrepair, and the parish acquired property on Church Street and built a new church that the Catholic Extension Society asked be named St. James. When the Episcopal church dedicated to St. James turned out to be only a block away, the Episcopal Bishop requested a name change, and the Catholic church was renamed for Saint Joseph.
As the Catholic population of Cobb County grew, a brick church seating 450 was built in 1957 on the site of a former Sugar Hill plantation, intended as a temporary worship space. Thirty years passed before the fourth and present church, seating 750, was dedicated on February 10, 1991, by Archbishop James P. Luke, OFM. In that long history, Saint Joseph put off building its own sanctuary in order to mother new parishes: Saint Thomas the Apostle in Smyrna, Holy Family in Marietta, Saint Ann in Marietta, Transfiguration in Marietta, and Saint Catherine in Kennesaw. The Marist Fathers served the community from 1987 until 1996, when the parish began to be served by priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The present campus still bears traces of that plantation past, with buildings named Sugar Hill House and Campbell Hill House alongside the Rectory and the PMC Office Building. Visitors often remark on the collection of statues placed throughout the grounds.
Mass in Two Languages, Six Times a Weekend
The parish gathers for Mass seven times on a typical Saturday and Sunday. Saturday brings a 5:00 PM Vigil Mass in English and a 7:00 PM Vigilia in Spanish. Sunday mornings open with English Masses at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and 11:00 AM, followed by two Spanish Masses at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, and closing with a 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass that draws the parish's high schoolers and their families.
Daily Mass is offered at 8:00 AM Monday through Saturday and at 12:00 PM Monday through Friday. Wednesday evenings are bilingual: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and is followed by a 7:00 PM Spanish Mass. Confessions are heard Tuesday after the 8:00 AM Mass, Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in English and Spanish, and Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM and 3:00 to 4:00 PM, with appointments available on request.
The Adoration Chapel is open most hours of the day: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, and 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday. Parishioners can commit to a weekly hour or simply sign up to be called when substitute adorers are needed.
Weekend and daily Masses are livestreamed on Vimeo for those who cannot attend in person.
Three Priests, Five Deacons, and a Parish of Five Thousand Families
Father Michael Garcia became pastor of Saint Joseph in 2026 after Archbishop Hartmayer appointed him to lead the community. A native of Miami who grew up in Douglasville, Georgia, Father Garcia was ordained in 2015 for the Archdiocese of Miami and most recently served as pastor of St. Coleman in Pompano Beach before transferring to the Archdiocese of Atlanta to be near his family.
Father Carlos Bustamante serves as Parochial Vicar with a focus on Hispanic Ministry. Father Darragh Griffith also serves as Parochial Vicar. Sister Maria Pia works alongside Father Bustamante in the Hispanic Ministry office. Five deacons assist the priests: Deacon Bruce Reed, Deacon Frank Devereux, Deacon Norm Keller, and Deacon Greg Smilski are listed among the clergy. About thirty staff members support the parish's ministries and offices.
The parish offices at 87 Lacy Street are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For sacramental emergencies outside office hours, an answering service at 877-858-7305 reaches a priest.
Bilingual Music for Six Masses a Weekend
Music at Saint Joseph is coordinated by John Luegering and draws on choirs for every Mass in the weekend schedule. The Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil and the First Friday 7:00 PM Mass are led by Nancee McCraw, with Cora De Ruiter joining her on First Fridays, offering a mix of contemporary and traditional music.
Sundays bring a range of styles. The 7:00 AM group, Awaken!, and the 9:00 AM Circle of the Spirit choir present contemporary, traditional, and praise music. The 11:00 AM Mass is supported by the Celebration Choir, a blend of a traditional choir under Martha Trimbach and a contemporary band led by Butch Trimbach, drawing on choral, contemporary, praise and worship, and Latin chant repertoire. The Sunday 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass is led by the Life Teen Band under Mark Beno and Scott Todd.
Spanish-language music is woven through the weekend. The Hispanic Youth Choir, directed by Sister Maria Pia, sings at the Saturday 7:00 PM and Sunday 1:00 PM Masses and welcomes Spanish-speaking teens and young adults with musical talent. The Hispanic Adult Choir, led by Peque Esquer, sings at the Sunday 3:00 PM and Wednesday 7:00 PM Spanish Masses. The Children's Choir, under Nancee McCraw, sings once a month at the 11:00 AM Mass during the school year, with Wednesday evening rehearsals.
A Word Projection Ministry supports congregational singing at every Mass, with volunteers running the song slides.
Embark, EDGE, and Life Teen: Formation from Preschool Through High School
Faith formation at Saint Joseph is organized by age group under the umbrella of the Archdiocese of Atlanta's four-pillar initiative, with Family Table gatherings that bring parents and children together once a month and age-group sessions on the other weeks.
Embark serves children from age three through fifth grade. Preschoolers and kindergartners use storytelling, puppets, music, crafts, and food to explore the Catholic faith. First through fifth graders encounter Christ through the sacraments, prayer, and service, with two years of preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion. Sessions are offered on Sundays and Wednesdays, with a home-study track for families who prefer to work through the curriculum at home. Kendra Lockhart coordinates Embark.
EDGE is the middle school program for grades six through eight. More than 180 middle schoolers currently participate. Sessions meet Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:15 PM and on Sundays at three different times, with games, small groups, talks, and service projects. EDGE is required for eighth graders preparing for Confirmation. Summer Brown directs EDGE.
Life Teen is the high school program for grades nine through twelve, with more than two hundred teens currently enrolled. Life Teen meets around the Sunday 5:30 PM Mass, with sessions, fellowship, service projects, and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Joseph Carter directs Life Teen, and Paulina Rodriguez coordinates Confirmation and Life Teen in Spanish.
Confirmation preparation is a two-year process. Year 1 is the eighth-grade year of EDGE, focused on solidifying Church teaching, a life of prayer, and Catholic moral life. Year 2 is the ninth-grade year of Life Teen, where teens preparing for Confirmation join with already-confirmed peers for ongoing formation. Confirmation is received in the summer after tenth grade. Over time, the parish is moving Confirmation down a year at a time; by the 2027-2028 formation year, eighth graders will be the Year 1 Confirmation cohort.
Two newer programs extend youth ministry beyond weekly sessions. Impact offers middle schoolers additional service and social opportunities outside of EDGE. The Woodshop, open to all high school students regardless of Confirmation status, meets weekly after the 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass for conversation about living the faith and developing a personal prayer life, along with retreats and socials.
The Empower Leadership Program invites confirmed high schoolers to assist with the middle or high school programs on Wednesdays or Sundays.
Journey Adult Formation and Becoming Catholic at Any Age
Adults find formation through the Journey program directed by Laura Fenton. The curriculum shifts to meet the needs of the community and includes Christian Initiation and Adult Sacramental Preparation, Scripture Study, Church Study, Parenting, and a Catholic Book Club. Classes meet at age-group weeks during Faith Formation times. The parish also recommends Word on Fire Engage and Formed for online study.
For adults interested in becoming Catholic, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly known as RCIA) is offered through the parish. Children who are not yet baptized participate in OCIA Adapted for Children, a two-year process with rites that mark the stages of formation. Saint Joseph welcomes RCIA sponsors who journey alongside inquirers.
Small Church Communities, when active, are home-based groups of 8 to 15 people who gather weekly to study the Bible and the Lectionary readings and to share faith and service.
Sacraments for the Whole Life
The seven sacraments are at the center of parish life. Baptism preparation begins with infant baptism classes held on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon. Erika Keener coordinates infant baptism.
First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in second grade, after a two-year preparation that begins in first grade. The parish emphasizes parental involvement, with parents attending Sacramental Preparation classes alongside their children.
Confirmation is the sacrament that brings the spiritual gifts needed to mature in faith. Beyond the youth track, Confirmation is offered for adults through OCIA.
Marriage preparation begins with a meeting with a priest; weddings are scheduled on Saturdays at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Matrimony is coordinated by Erika Keener.
Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by contacting Ann Weaver. The sacrament is offered to those facing serious illness or the frailty of old age, not only those near death.
Holy Orders are presented in the parish's sacramental teaching as a call and gift from God; men discerning the church are encouraged to contact the parish office.
The Sister Parish in Tacana, Guatemala
Saint Joseph is twinned with Our Lady of the Assumption in Tacana, Guatemala, a parish that serves 60,000 Catholics across 137 villages and involves 4,000 pastoral workers. The parish is part of an international twinning program that encourages real personal connections between parishes across borders.
Each year, Saint Joseph sends two delegations to Tacana. A Building Team, led by Patrick O'Neill, and a Medical Team, led by Michael Browne, travel to Guatemala to support the parish. Dolores Lomeli coordinates the medical delegation through the Hispanic Ministry office.
The parish also supports Habitat for Humanity as part of a Catholic coalition building homes for low-income families at no profit with zero-interest mortgages.
Five Commissions, Fifty Ministries
Saint Joseph organizes its parish life around five commissions, each with a chair and dozens of ministries. The sign-up form for adult ministries lists dozens of options.
The Community Life Commission, chaired by Susan Droege, oversees African Parishioners of Saint Joseph (APOSJ), which hosts the parish's Pentecost celebration; a Basketball League for grades three to eight that plays in the Catholic Metro League of Atlanta; a Volleyball League for grades five to eight; Boy Scout Troop 287 and Cub Scout Pack 287, both chartered by the parish; the Girl Scouts and Brownies program; Care for Creation, which works to reduce energy and water consumption and implement recycling; the Church Cleaning team that meets Thursday mornings; Grounds Keeping, which meets Saturday mornings; the Hospitality team that supports families at funerals and parish projects; Parishwide Events; a developing Youth Soccer program; the Welcoming Ministry at the Welcome Desk in the rear of the Narthex; and Women of Saint Joseph (WOSJ).
The Faith Enrichment Commission, chaired by Laura Fenton, includes Adult Formation, Confirmation preparation, EDGE Core, Infant Baptism Program Facilitators, Life Teen Core, Embark Children's Ministry, Living Our Faith (Catholic Social Teaching), Becoming Catholic sponsors for both adults and children, Small Church Community facilitators, St. Joseph Catholic School volunteers, and Vacation Bible School. VBS is described as a high-energy week of faith and fun in June.
The Liturgy Commission, chaired by Pat DeJarnett, coordinates the Altar Guild, Altar Servers and St. Peter's Nets, Church Flowers and Environment, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass, Lectors, the Music Ministries, Sacristans, and Ushers. Ushers greet and seat parishioners at weekend Masses.
The Outreach Commission, chaired by Wanda Brown, leads the Disability Ministry and FUN NIGHT! evenings for children and adults with disabilities; Extraordinary Ministries of Holy Communion to the homebound; Habitat for Humanity; the Knights of Columbus Council 4599; the Mission Team to Guatemala; the MUST Breakfast Ministry, which cooks and serves breakfast at MUST Ministries on the first three Wednesdays and second Tuesday of each month; Prison Ministry at the Cobb County Jail under Deacon Norm Keller; Refugee Family Connections; the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which operates a Food Pantry and staffs the SVdP Thrift Store in Marietta; the Senior Social, which meets on the third Friday of each month after the noon Mass; the Separated/Divorced Support Group, meeting on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM; the Society of Martha and Mary, which provides short-term meals and companionship; Walking With Moms in Need; and the Widows/Widowers Social Group.
The Spiritual Life Commission, chaired by Arminio Mendez, oversees Adoration, Prayer Warriors (who receive a weekly prayer list by email), the Rosary prayed virtually on Zoom with Deacon Frank Devereux, and Seasons of Hope, a grief support ministry that meets on the first and third Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the Scout Room.
St. Joseph Catholic School on Campus
St. Joseph Catholic School shares the parish campus and serves students in the elementary and middle school years under Principal Jenny Rittgers. The school partners with the parish on sacramental preparation for its students, with the Faith Formation office providing two years of catechesis before First Reconciliation and First Communion. The school gym hosts practices for the parish basketball and volleyball leagues.
Parish volunteers contribute more than 6,000 hours each year to the school, supporting two annual landscaping days and summer painting projects.
Capital Campaign and Parish Stewardship
The parish is in the midst of a capital campaign themed Honoring Our Past, Envisioning Our Future. Funds raised support improvements to parish facilities, with both pledge cards and electronic giving available. Contributions can be pledged over three years and given weekly, monthly, or annually, with stocks and IRA gifts also accepted through Finance Coordinator Mackenzie Zorrilla.
The parish also participates in the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Archbishop's Annual Appeal; a portion of any funds raised above the parish goal is returned to Saint Joseph. Regular offertory giving is available online through a secure giving portal.
Safe Environment and VIRTUS
Saint Joseph follows the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Safe Environment program. All adult volunteers who work with children, youth, or vulnerable adults must complete VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training and a background screening before serving. Teen volunteers ages 13 and older complete a Volunteer Application for Minors with parental permission and a school or homeschool reference. VIRTUS classes are hosted at Saint Joseph regularly. Yvonne Waits coordinates Safe Environment compliance.
Prayer, Hallow, and Formed
Parishioners can submit prayer requests through the parish office or join the Prayer Warriors email list. The parish is partnered with Hallow, the Catholic prayer app, and offers a parish page where parishioners can take part in prayer challenges like Pray40 during Lent and the Advent Pray25 challenge. A free trial and discount on a premium subscription are available through the parish partnership. The parish also subscribes to Formed, with access to Catholic films, audiobooks, and study programs available to all parishioners.
Getting Connected
Parishioners can register through a form available on the parish website. Visitors and newcomers are invited to stop by the Welcome Desk in the rear of the Narthex before or after any weekend Mass. Ministry sign-ups for adults and for the Hispanic Ministry are available online. Upcoming events are on the parish calendar, and a weekly Flocknote email newsletter shares news, formation reminders, and seasonal opportunities.