Parish Clergy | st-peter-the-rock

CLERGY

We are called to serve not to be served

Pastor Rev. Thomas Zahuta

Father Zahuta was born in New Jersey, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in July 2010.

Since ordination, Father Zahuta has served at St. Monica's parish in Duluth, St. Peter Chanel in Atlanta, and St. John the Evangelist in Hapeville. He arrived at St. Peter the Rock in 2020 and has been pastor since 2021.

Deacon Tom Kretzmer

I was born in Teaneck NJ, the second son and third child born in a family of seven children. We were raised in the Catholic faith and attended parochial school in New Jersey and in Wisconsin.

After elementary school I explored a religious vocation at St. Lawrence Minor Seminary. At the advice of my spiritual director a vocation was not in my immediate future.

I graduated from the seminary and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1976. While in the service I became an Aviation Medical Technician, stationed on the USS Saratoga CV60; which inspired me to pursue a career in Optometry.

After my enlistment was completed I attended Kennesaw College in 1981, while working at Kennestone Hospital. In 1986 I was accepted at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis Tennessee. I graduated in 1990 with a Doctor of Optometry.

In 1991 I moved to Thomaston Georgia to purchase an existing Optometric Practice. I started to attend St. John the Baptist Mission run by the Redemptorists out of Griffin Georgia.

In 1992 I was elected Vice -President of the Parish Council and in the following year was Parish Council President a position I held until we broke ground for our new parish church in 2005. I was on the committee to over-see the combination of two missions into a parish, was on the capitol campaign to raise funds to start the new parish. I am the charter financial secretary for our Knights of Columbus council.

I have been at various times stewardship committee, finance committee, and building committee person. I have been a teacher of RCIA, confirmation class teacher, Adult education teacher, CCD teacher. I served for four years as a sacristan. Over the period of last 24 years served as a lector, Eucharistic minister, and Usher. I have been a trainer for the ministries mentioned above, as well a alter server trainer.

In 2009 I applied to enter the permanent deaconate and completed the formation process in December of 2015.

My Ordination of Diaconate is on Feb 6, 2016 by the Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory.