A Parish at the Crossroads of Gwinnett
On Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville, the largest county seat in Gwinnett County, St. Lawrence Catholic Church serves one of the busiest Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The church's mission statement is direct: "We are building a Church of Missionary Disciples in the Heart of Gwinnett County by joyfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that all may Encounter Christ, Grow as Disciples, and Share the Gospel." That three-fold rhythm - Encounter, Grow, Share - shows up in everything from the schedule of Masses to the way ministries are organized.
St. Lawrence is known for being deeply bilingual. A 12:30 p.m. Sunday Mass features a contemporary ensemble with singers and instrumentalists, while Spanish-language Masses are celebrated at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. each Sunday. The parish also runs a weekday preschool, sustains daily Eucharistic adoration, and supports more than forty ministries that touch nearly every age, language, and stage of life.
From a Converted Appliance Store to a 3,000-Family Parish
St. Lawrence, the first Catholic mission in Gwinnett County, began in 1963 as a mission of Holy Cross parish in Chamblee. Within three years, the 30 founding families had converted a former appliance store into a sanctuary and classrooms, scraping and sanding the chairs themselves. In the years that followed, Masses were celebrated in a private basement, a Presbyterian church, the chapel of a funeral home, and, from 1968 to 1973, in a storefront on a Lawrenceville back street.
In 1972, the mission and its mother parish of St. Patrick's in Norcross were entrusted to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. By 1973, the mission had grown to 173 families and built Gwinnett County's first Catholic church building, a structure seating 300 with space for 250 in religious education. The mission was raised to parish status in 1974 under its first pastor, Father Gerard F. Gill, M.S.F.S.
The parish dedicated a wood-and-stucco church in Spanish Mission style in 1987, turned over pastoral care to priests of the Atlanta archdiocese in 1996, and opened a 24-classroom education building with a gym in 2000. A major church expansion and office renovation was completed in 2008. In 1998, the growing number of Spanish-speaking Catholics prompted the parish's first Hispanic ministry, which has since grown into twice-weekly Eucharistic celebrations and a flourishing cluster of Spanish-language ministries. In 1999, the parish twinned with St. Thomas d'Aquin in Thomassique, Haiti, a relationship of Catholic solidarity that has continued to enrich both communities.
By 2004, the parish numbered more than 3,000 households. In 2019, the 45th anniversary was marked with a focus on making disciples through Encounter, Growth, and Sharing the Gospel. In August 2024, the Georgia Bulletin profiled the parish on the eve of its 50th anniversary, noting plans for a renewed campus.
Mass, Confession, and Adoration Every Day
St. Lawrence keeps one of the more generous worship schedules in the archdiocese. The weekend begins with a Vigil Mass on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Sunday brings five Masses: 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. Contemporary Mass, and Spanish Masses at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Nursery care is offered for children ages 1 to 5 at the 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Masses.
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (English), with additional evening Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. On Holy Days of Obligation, a Vigil Mass is offered at 7:00 p.m., followed by Masses the next day at 9:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. (Spanish).
Confessions are heard on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and at other times by appointment with one of the priests. Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place daily between 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel (in DeSales Hall Monday through Friday), with parishioners invited to sign up as Eucharistic Guardians. There is no adoration when the parish office is closed. For Sacramental Emergencies, the parish office number - (770) 963-8992 - connects callers to a priest.
For those unable to attend in person, the parish multistreams its liturgical services to its website, Facebook, and YouTube, and has developed a custom Roku channel and an Apple TV app for at-home viewing.
A Bilingual Catholic Life: Hispanic Ministry
St. Lawrence's Spanish-language life, led by Cristina Corbin as Director of Hispanic Ministry, has become a defining feature of the parish. The two Sunday Masses in Spanish are supported by Spanish-language offerings in nearly every area of parish life.
Spanish-speaking ministries include Adoración del Santísimo Sacramento; Apóstoles de la Palabra, a Bible study and apologetics group; the San Vicente de Paúl conference, which provides rental, utility, and food assistance; Catholic Metro Sports for boys and girls in third through twelfth grades; Cursillo de Cristiandad with its monthly Ultreya gatherings; Encuentro Matrimonial, a marriage-renewal retreat with monthly follow-up gatherings; parking and photography ministries; the Marian Ministry, which leads the rosary after the 2:30 p.m. Sunday Mass; Escuela de la Cruz (School of the Cross); the Welcome Committee; and Seguridad y Protección, the parish safety and security team.
Adult faith formation in Spanish includes Talleres de Oración y Vida on Tuesday evenings and Apóstoles de la Palabra on Saturday evenings. There are parallel OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) tracks in English and Spanish, and sacramental preparation is offered in both languages.
Becoming Catholic and Growing in Faith
For those interested in Catholicism, the parish offers a structured path through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, coordinated by Diane Maguire for English and Cristina Corbin for Spanish. Inquiry is welcomed at any time, and the journey culminates in the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist - at the Easter Vigil.
Adult faith formation includes the Rescue Project, an eight-week parish-based experience of the Gospel offered in both English and Spanish, as well as Sunday Bible Study. The parish's stated expectation is that every member commits to at least one program of faith formation each year. For those returning to the practice of the faith, the Catholics Returning Home ministry offers hospitality, catechesis, and prayerful support.
For children and youth, Faith Formation gathers students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, with adult catechists serving in elementary, EDGE middle school, and Life Teen high school tracks. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is provided, and Vacation Bible School is offered each summer for rising first through fifth graders, with high school teens serving as volunteers.
A Network of Ministries for Every Season
The parish's life is sustained by more than forty ministries organized under four headings: Liturgical, Non-Liturgical (Spirituality, Pastoral Care, Outreach, and Fellowship), Faith Formation, and Hispanic.
At the Altar
Liturgical ministries include the Adult Choir, which rehearses on Thursday evenings and sings at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass; the Contemporary Choir, which leads the 12:30 p.m. Mass with singers and instrumentalists of all ages; the Resurrection Choir, which leads sung prayer at parish funerals; and a Children's Choir program with three ensembles - Cherub (K-2), Carol (3-5), and Cantare (6-8). Other liturgical roles include Altar Servers (open to young men and women who have received First Communion in fourth grade or older), Art and Environment, Audio/Visual Technicians, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Greeters, Homebound Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, and Ushers.
Pastoral Care and Outreach
St. Vincent de Paul provides emergency food, shelter, and clothing to parishioners and neighbors in need, with trained volunteer caseworkers evaluating requests. Family Promise Gwinnett partners the parish with other local congregations to help homeless families achieve self-sufficiency. The Stephen Ministry matches trained lay caregivers with parishioners facing grief, divorce, job loss, illness, spiritual crisis, or other life stressors, offering confidential one-to-one Christian care at no cost. The Lazarus Ministry supports bereaved families with food and hospitality after funeral liturgies.
Spirituality and Prayer
Beyond the chapel's daily adoration, the parish supports a Divine Mercy Prayer Group, an English Charismatic Prayer Group, a Haitian Charismatic Prayer Group that gathers Francophones weekly, a Rosary Ministry that prays Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. before the 9:00 a.m. Mass and again each evening at 7:00 p.m., and a Prayer Ministry that prays with parishioners after the Saturday Vigil Mass once a month. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls for those who are grieving, ill, or celebrating.
Fellowship and Service
The Ladies of St. Lawrence, the Men's Ministry (Men of Faith), the Young Adult Ministry for ages 21 to 39, the Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) for those over 55, and the Young Families of Faith group all provide community and spiritual companionship. The Dinner Club welcomes singles, couples, and newcomers to shared meals twice a year. Catholic Metro Sports fields basketball and volleyball teams for boys and girls, with a K-2 basketball division. The Knights of Columbus Council gathers Catholic men for charity, fraternity, and service. The Helping Hands Ministry supports needs both locally and abroad. The Care for Creation Ministry promotes the Laudato Si' Action Plan, and Care for the Troops offers prayer and support to military members and their families.
Pastoral Support
For those who cannot easily come to Mass, Homebound Extraordinary Ministers bring the Eucharist to the sick and housebound. The Wedding Coordinator team supports couples through rehearsal and the wedding day itself. The Funeral and Columbarium Ministry helps families navigate end-of-life arrangements, including the parish columbarium.
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Seven sacraments shape parish life at St. Lawrence.
Baptism: Infant baptisms are celebrated on the second Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. in English and on the fourth Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Spanish. Parents must be active registered parishioners and attend a preparation class. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
Eucharist: First Communion is prepared through the Faith Formation program.
Confirmation: High school sacramental preparation, including Confirmation, is offered through the Life Teen program.
Penance (Reconciliation): In addition to the scheduled Wednesday and Saturday confession times, the sacrament is available by appointment.
Anointing of the Sick: Available for those facing illness or surgery; parishioners may call the parish office to arrange a visit.
Marriage: Couples meet with a priest and wedding coordinator to plan the liturgy, with rehearsal the evening before. The MORE Marriage Ministry and the WEDS/Marriage Encounter community offer ongoing fellowship for married couples.
Holy Orders: The parish supports discernment for the priesthood and the permanent diaconate.
Mass Intentions may be scheduled through the parish office; one intention is offered per Mass, with a suggested stipend of $25, and requests may be made up to six months in advance.
St. Lawrence Preschool
St. Lawrence Preschool, a church-affiliated preschool and Pre-K, serves children ages two through five on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The play-based, centers-based curriculum supports language and literacy, math, fine and gross motor development, and science exploration, with a weekly religion lesson in the Good Shepherd Room taught by a dedicated religion teacher. Class options include two-day, three-day, four-day, and five-day programs, with a 2:10 to 2:16 teacher-to-student ratio depending on the age. Monthly tuition ranges from $310 to $340, and a $180 annual registration fee reserves a spot. The preschool is directed by Jessica Lemieux, who can be reached at jlemieux@saintlaw.org or 770-962-1676.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by Father Henry Atem as Pastor and Father Carlos Vargas as Parochial Vicar. Five deacons assist: Deacon Alex Hounlede, Deacon Rick Hogan, Deacon Terry Millinger, Deacon José Ortiz, and Deacon Bob Riddett. Seminarian Solomon Azenda is in formation. The parish staff includes Christopher Mullen (Organist/Music Director), Elizabeth Chinery (Director of Faith Formation), Cristina Corbin (Director of Hispanic Ministry), Lori Crocker (Pastoral Associate), Bryan Doker (Stewardship Coordinator), Andrea Drath (Contemporary Choir Director), Barbara Estes (Business Manager), Juan Gonzalez (Coordinator of Youth and Young Adults), Tarcy Hernandez (Faith Formation Assistant and Safe Environment Coordinator), Jessica Lemieux (Director of Preschool), Diane Maguire (Adult Faith Formation and OCIA), Kathi McKenna (Music and Liturgy Associate), Terry Millinger (Facilities Director), Lindsey Sniffen (Nursery Coordinator), Geraldine Suarez (Communications and Engagement Coordinator), and Salvatore Talluto (Middle School Coordinator).
Safe Environment
All clergy, employees, and volunteers who work with children or vulnerable individuals participate in the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Safe Environment program, which includes a background screening and a live three-hour VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training session, with renewal every five years. St. Lawrence hosts training sessions in both English and Spanish throughout the year. Tarcy Hernandez serves as the parish Safe Environment Coordinator.
Giving, the Capital Campaign, and the Endowment
Online giving is available through ParishSoft Giving, allowing one-time and recurring donations, contribution history, and year-end tax statements. The G.I.F.T. Capital Campaign (Growing in Faith Together) supports the parish's renewed campus and continued mission; recurring gifts may be set up through ParishSoft, and offertory envelopes are available. The St. Lawrence Endowment Fund, managed in partnership with the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, accepts planned gifts and bequests that provide an annual distribution to the parish in perpetuity. The parish also participates annually in the Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Annual reports, second-collection schedules, and donor pledge cards are available online.
Becoming a Parishioner
Newcomers are invited to register online or by stopping by the parish office. According to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, an active parishioner is one who has been registered for at least three months, attends Mass weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation, contributes financially in a trackable way, and serves in at least one ministry. Catholic schools typically require six months of active participation for verification. The parish community is open to all - visitors, newcomers, returning Catholics, and those exploring the Catholic faith for the first time - and reads itself as "a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints."
What Catholics Believe at St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence describes the Catholic faith as a tradition passed down for 2,000 years, beginning with Christ and the Twelve Apostles, encompassing prayer, the seven sacraments, the liturgical calendar, the papacy, the Catechism, the Code of Canon Law, and the New American Bible. The parish's "Essentials" of belief include prayer as communion with God, the seven sacraments as the ordinary means of grace, the universal liturgical year with its seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time, and the Pope as chief pastor of the whole Church. Resources for further study include the documents of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the New American Bible.
Staying Connected
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, an online Narthex News email, and a calendar of events, and offers a FlockNote subscription for ongoing communications. The parish app is available on Roku and Apple TV, livestreams are available on the website, Facebook, and YouTube, and a chapel livestream is offered for those who wish to pray before the Blessed Sacrament remotely. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be reached at (770) 963-8992 or info@saintlaw.org.