Dahlonega’s history as one of North Georgia’s most colorful towns is along one. Once a “frontier” mining town, it was the center of the Georgia gold rush country. It was near here that the gold that now covers the dome of the state capital building was mined and, although the gold rush days are long over, Dahlonega is still a favorite spot for latter-day prospectors to visit on the chance that they may find a grain or two of gold dust in one of the nearby streams.

Dahlonega’s history as a Catholic center is of considerably shorter duration; it’s just a little over two years since St. Luke’s, Dahlonega’s parish church, was established.

Originally, the town was part of the Athens parish. Then, as the Catholic population extended northward, it came under Gainesville, where Father Manning was pastor of St. Michael’s, the only Catholic church northeast of Atlanta. Every Sunday Father Manning said Mass at Gainesville, then drove up through the mountains to Toccoa. During the summer months he said a third Mass at Lake Raburn for the vacationers.

In time it became apparent that there was need for a fourth service to be conducted in the Dahlonega area. A growing number of Catholics were attending the local college, North Georgia College; the U.S. Army had established a Mountain Ranger Camp nearby; and the number of visitors, especially during the summer and fall months, was increasing rapidly.

By this time Bishop Hyland had made arrangements with the Glenmary Fathers, a home mission society of secular priests and Religious based in Cincinnati, to staff the new parish and the location of a chapel and a priest’s residence was imperative.

A house was found about a block from Dahlonega’s town square. Soon afterward the Glenmary Fathers arrived and Father Leonard Spanjers was appointed pastor of the new parish of St. Luke. Father Augustus Guppenburger joined Father Spanjers about a year later. In addition, there are now two Glenmary Brothers stationed here, Brother Luke Raible and Brother Donald Springer.

The fathers used one room in the house as a chapel. Soon overflowing crowds filled the room and the pastor realized that larger quarters would have to be found. Fortunately, the Presbyterians next door were contemplating building a new church and the old one was offered to Father Spanjers. In the meanwhile, Archbishop Halliann had come to Georgia and he announced that, through contributions to Georgia Mission Sunday by the faithful of the archdiocese, the church would be purchased.

Immediately, the Glenmary Fathers and brothers got to work. Plans were drawn up for an altar, baptistery, confessional, sacristy etc., and a complete transformation of the building was accomplished. Finally, although the new church was not yet in official use, Archbishop Hallinan said the first Mass in the structure on September 1 of this year.

A vital part of the life of St. Luke’s parish is the role it plays in the life of nearby North Georgia College. The most recently formed religious foundation at the College, the Newman Club has quickly risen to the status of a major campus organization.

Like the parish itself, the Newman Club began in a small way. When St. Luke’s was first formed in 1960 there were only four Catholic students at the college. By the time Father Guppenberger came, the following year, however, there were enough Catholics to warrant starting a Newman Club (with Fr. Guppenberger as Chaplain).

A club constitution was drawn up which received preliminary approval from the National Foundation in the fall of 1962. The official charter was received from the executive committee of the Newman Club Federation in the spring of 1963.

At North Georgia College, the school administration provides a counseling office for the various denominational chaplains. In addition to his service in the office, Father Guppenberger, or “Father Gus” as he is known here, also makes himself available in the Canteen, making it possible for students to discuss their problems in an informal atmosphere without the obstacle of formal appointments. Spiritual penetration is also achieved by assisting the College in providing Catholic literature and the library now has a set of the Catholic Encyclopedia, obtained form the Mission Society of St. Pius X High School. Five Catholic periodicals are also available.

The Newman Club HAS sponsored several suppers and informal open-house gatherings for all students, regardless of their religious affiliations. Newmanites assist the parish as commentators and leaders at dialogue Masses and provided teams for the recent Archdiocesan census.

In the past, regular meetings have been held at St. Luke’s Rectory. Now, however, a Student Center is being incorporated into the new rectory-parish center building which is already under construction.

The club’s regular weekly meetings are held on Sunday evenings at 6:45 p.m. These meetings cover routine business affairs, but are principally devoted to discussion groups as part of an educational project. The text of the discussions has been the Liturorian pamphlet, “Practical Catholic Life Series.”

Total enrollment at North Georgia is 950, of which 26 students are Catholics. The club president, Jack Schneider, is from Macon, Suzanne Cameron, of Dahlonega, is secretary-treasurer.

“Father Gus” who came to Dahlonega after his ordination in 1961, is from Batavia, New York, and began his preparatory seminary in Buffalo, N.Y. He later studied at Mt. St. Mary’s, Cincinnati, at the Glenmary Novitiate, Aurora, Indiana and at the Glenmary Seminary, Glendale, Ohio.

Two other colleges, Truett-McConnell, Cleveland and Young Harris, at Young Harris, are within St. Luke’s parishes. So far, there are not enough Catholic students at these schools to warrant the formation of Newman Clubs, but visits are made regularly to assist the Catholics now attending. Parish borders include four counties, Lumpkin, White, Towns and Union. At the present time there are a total of 65 parishioners in these counties.