How Do I…

To baptize your child, please contact the Parish Office: secretary@stjosephathens.com

Parents and godparents/Christian witnesses must complete all forms and attend a baptism preparation class. Classes are offered monthly and you must register in advance to attend. Only after all requirements are complete, may the date/time of the baptism be scheduled.

It is customary to give the celebrant of the baptism a stipend at your discretion. Typically, they give anywhere from $20-$100.

English Baptisms are held on the 3rd Saturday of the month and on Sundays.

Spanish Baptisms are held the 1st and 4th Saturday of the month or on Sundays.

The Parish Office is the first point of contact for your wedding preparation. We recommend allowing 6 months or more for all preparation.

• You will schedule an appointment with a priest to being the process.
• Your paperwork will be reviewed with the priest and you will receive information on Pre-Cana preparation. At that time, a date is set. He is also responsible for helping you plan the ceremony itself, including choosing the Scripture readings and will offer guidance on video/photo requirements, flowers and instructions for rehearsal and day of the ceremony.  Suggested stipend for the priest is $100.

Ill health should never separate a person from the Sacraments or the St. Joseph community. If you or a member of your family is home bound, please contact the Parish Office to ensure that the homebound person has regular visits to bring Communion. 

You may also request a visit from a priest to hear Confession. 

If you are scheduled for surgery, you should contact the Parish Office to receive the Anointing of the Sick before you go into the hospital. 

In an emergency, where someone has not received an anointing of the sick, and has a critical accident or imminent death, please text or call our Sacramental Emergency phone at 470-377-2153. These messages go directly to the phones of all our priests. A priest will respond to your request as soon as we are able. Please give as much information about your request as possible including the name of the person and their location. 

The Parish Office will be your first point of contact in the event of a death. They will coordinate your needs with a priest, funeral home and secure a date and time. Our Funeral Committee will then meet with you to make decisions on type of service, liturgical and music selections and reception needs. If requested, we provide a printed program and can assist with reception food. 

Mass intentions may be requested in person through the Parish Office or online. We make every effort to give you the requested date, but this is done on a first come, first served basis. The suggested stipend for a Mass is $10. As many people request Masses, it is best to try to schedule several months in advance if you are seeking a specific date. 

To request a Mass online, complete the Online Giving form as indicated.

—Be sure to include the name of the person and whether they are living or deceased in the special intentions box. You may request a date, but it cannot be guaranteed.

–Leave a contact email (preferred) or phone number and we will contact you to notify you of the date assigned.

Mass Intentions will be announced at each Mass and will be posted in the Sunday Bulletin.

A prayer list is published weekly in the bulletin and includes name of those ill or needing special prayers. We also have an In Memoriam section for those recently deceased. 

If you would like a name added just notify the Bulletin Editor with the name and indicate deceased or living. Names are usually included in the list for a month before removal.

You may register in the Parish via our online registration form or by completing a paper form at the Parish Office. Once processed, you will receive an information packet with an assigned Parish Number. You may indicate at that time whether you would like to receive Offertory envelopes.

Depending on the age of the child and the sacraments they have previously received; children are assigned to a specific RE class. Classes typically run September-May, with summer programs for those making their first Confession and first Holy Communion. Registration forms are available at the Parish Office or RE Office at the start of the school season.  Fees are expected at time of registration. For more information, contact the RE Office 

In order to serve as a Godparent or sponsor for Confirmation, most parishes require a letter of Good Standing from your home parish. This is determined by the Pastor of the church and typically a week to 10 days to receive. To request one for yourself, contact the Parish Office.

If the sacrament was received at St. Joseph, contact the Parish Office with approximate date. Once verified in our Records, a certificate will be mailed to you. This may take a week to receive.  There is no charge for this service. For sacraments that took place elsewhere, you will need to contact those Parishes directly.  

We offer an inquiry program called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) for anyone wanting to learn more about the Catholic faith. Classes are usually held once a week. Those wishing to continue beyond the inquiry stage go through a 3-step process which culminates in their Baptism, Communion and Confirmation, usually held during the Easter Vigil. 

All announcements should be submitted via email to the Bulletin Editor. Weekly deadline is end of day Thursdays. Once they are approved, they will be scheduled to be published in the next available space, usually 10 days from submission. Announcements may also be posted under Parish News on our website. A reminder post will also be posted on our Facebook page. Plan ahead to ensure timely announcements!

 If you are interested in joining a choir, contact the specific Choir Director of the Mass time in which you would like to participate. Each choir has a distinct style based on their music selections and has a director who will evaluate your range and review all schedules and responsibilities. 

An annulment is a declaration by a Church Tribunal (a Catholic Church court) that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. Formally called a Degree of Invalidity, you must first meet with an advocate who will explain the process and help you complete the necessary paperwork. Your petition is sent to the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s Tribunal for evaluation.