In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Catholic population in Greene and Putnam counties was approaching 100 and growing. In early 1992, George and Mildred Stiffler and Bill and Pat Frain, independently, contacted Glenmary headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, regarding setting up a Catholic mission in the area.
The first pastor, Father Chet Artysiewicz, arrived in August 1992. The first mass in the Greensboro Community, "Christ Our King", was celebrated at George and Mildred Stiffler's home in October 1992. The first public mass was held on November 1, 1992, at the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Greensboro, GA with approximately 90 people in attendance. The first mass celebrated in Eatonton, "Christ Our Savior", was held at the Eatonton Presbyterian Church on January 3, 1993, with 71 people in attendance. To encourage Hispanic involvement, one reading at each mass was read in Spanish. The first Spanish-speaking mass was celebrated in Greensboro on March 22, 1993.
Archbishop John Donoghue officially recognized the Mission of Christ Our King as a parish on June 20, 1996. Christ Our King parish was to serve the Catholic population of Greene County. Christ Our Savior was to remain a mission serving Putnam County.
Our Pastors…
In September 1996 Father Serge Ward was appointed pastor. Father Ward's first duty was to create one parish from the two communities. Thus the parish Christ Our King and Savior was born. The first mass in the new church was celebrated on September 13, 1997.
In December 1999, Father Bill Williams was appointed pastor followed by Father Patrick Kingery. Father Fernando Molina Restrepo became pastor June 19, 2003, Father G. Philip Ryan, June 15, 2005 and Father Roberto Herrera in July 2014.
The Campus…
In February 2001 approval was given by the Archdiocese of Atlanta to begin planning for the new church. A building committee was formed and the process began. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 21, 2003 with the Most Reverend Archbishop Donoghue presiding. The new sanctuary was dedicated on October 22, 2004.
To accommodate our many parish ministries’ growing need for space, planning began in 2008 for a new Parish Life Center. Approval to build the PLC was granted by the Most Reverend Archbishop Wilton Gregory on August 11, 2010.
The pavilion on the side of the Parish Life Center was built at the same time as the Parish Life Center, and it is used for parish functions throughout the year. The beautiful picnic tables which sit under the pavilion were built and donated by the Knights of Columbus in 2011.
Today we have a thriving parish with over 600 families.
Our Parish HIstorical Timeline: