A former mission church, The Catholic Church of Saint Gabriel officially arrived in 1987.

On a blistering August day in 1987, Mass was said for the families of this church in the American Legion Post building in Fayetteville. As the congregation grew and began to fill the "log cabin," a larger space was needed and for some time they met at the Fayette Presbyterian Church.

Begun as a mission church of the St. Philip Benizi parish in Jonesboro, it was not long until The Archdiocese had purchased 7.2 acres of land at the intersection of Ga. Highway 92 and Antioch Road and several years later added 16 acres.

In September 1993, the official ground breaking and blessing of the land took place, and in 1995, the congregation entered its new home, a multi-purpose building.

The church enjoys approximately a 30 percent increase in membership each year.

Serving as its current priest is Father Tim M. Hepburn.

He was born into a military family in Heidelberg, Germany, but was primarily reared in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta.

He was majoring in Architecture at Auburn University when he first felt a call into the priesthood. After graduating in that subject, he attended St. Meinrod Seminary in Indiana, graduating with a Master of Arts in Divinity.

Father Hepburn has served churches in Buckhead, Athens and Fort Oglethorpe and has been with Saint Gabriel's for the past six months.

His goal is to reemphasize the core truths of the gospel and to help parishioners to experience those truths through a living faith.

He is very much a part of the pastoral care for the homebound and the social concerns of the church and the community.

Mass is currently held on Saturday afternoons at 5 p.m.; Sundays at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. These times will change slightly by the end of January, so call the office at 770-461-0492.