St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Dahlonega and its mission, the Catholic Chapel of Cleveland, held anniversary celebrations Sunday, October 27, commemorating a decade of service by both to the Church in North Georgia.

The parishioners of St. Luke marked the tenth anniversary of their present church and Catholic Center at a 10 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a breakfast at the Dahlonega Community Center.

Among the special guests for the celebration were Father Leonard Spanjers, first pastor of St. Luke’s who delivered the homily at the anniversary Mass, and Father Francis Ruff, former assistant pastor. Both of the priests are stationed at the headquarters of the Glenmary Missioners in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Catholic Church has the distinction of being the oldest church structure in Dahlonega, dating back to 1898. In 1962, the Archdiocese of Atlanta purchased the building for $7,000 from the Presbyterian Church.

A team of Glenmary Brothers, parishioners and college volunteers completely remodeled the interior of the church at a cost of $8,000.

The dedication of the renovated building, a new Catholic Center and rectory took place on August 23, 1964. At that time, there were only 15 families on the Catholic Church roll. The present membership consists of 40 families and numerous students at North Georgia College.

Four years before the Church was renovated and new facilities built, Father Spanjers came to Dahlonega as the first pastor of the newly formed St. Luke the Evangelist parish. He remained in Lumpkin County until June 15, 1966 when Father Gerald Peterson was appointed pastor, a position Father Peterson has held for eight years.

The Catholic Church of Cleveland marked its tenth anniversary at a Mass of Thanksgiving and covered dish supper at the Cleveland United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. October 27.

The first Mass in Cleveland was celebrated by Father Ruff on July 5, 1964. For several years thereafter, services were held in a rented house.

As the Church membership grew, larger facilities were required and for the past four years Mass has been celebrated in the Cleveland United Methodist Church.

When Catholic services were first held in White County there were only five residents of the area known to be Catholic. Today Sunday services are attended by an average of 40 persons.

Father Ruff served as pastor in Cleveland for five years. When he became involved in Baptist-Catholic ecumenical relations on a full-time basis, Father Lou McNeil was assigned to Cleveland. Today Father Peterson serves Cleveland, as well as Dahlonega.