Our Guest Columnists Columns
The Georgia Bulletin features guest columns and spiritual reflections from laypeople and clergy from the archdiocesan community.
Our Guest Columnists
“Will Easter Happen This Year?”
BY FATHER EUGENE BARRETTE, MS, CommentaryEnglish
Don’t be surprised if there is no Easter this year. The very idea scares me, but it’s not farfetched. In our world there are millions who have not had and will not have an Easter experience—that experience of journeying through a dying that leads us into new life, that experience of “yes” triumphing over “no” […] English
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
The Lord’s Day Is A Gift Overlooked
In America, we like to complain about how busy we are. We trade stories about our respective obligations, about how little free time we have, about the demands of our schedule. Sometimes, though, the complaints may bear an undertone of pride: See how important I am, how much I am in demand, how full and […] English
By FATHER THEODORE BOOK, CommentaryPublished: March 15, 2007
The Question Of Priestly Celibacy
I was recently asked to answer a number of questions on the practice of priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church, and I began to realize that this way of life, which is so dear to me, is often unknown and misunderstood, even by people who have practiced the Catholic faith all of their lives. It […] English
By FATHER THEODORE BOOK, CommentaryPublished: March 1, 2007
Let’s Be Catholic
Published: February 1, 2007 Let’s be Catholic. You and me. Let’s do what Catholics do. Or are supposed to do. Let’s see Jesus in other people—even that person who sometimes annoys the devil out of us. Let’s be joyful, and let’s fill others with joy, too. Let’s go to Mass every week. Let’s care for […] English
By BOB ZYSKOWSKI, CommentaryPublished: February 1, 2007
Diaconal Formation—Atlanta Style
I was once asked, “What was the greatest gift you have received?” My first inclination was to say my wife and family, but after some thought my answer came out, “Being ordained a deacon.” You may ask why? The answer is simple. Ordination has strengthened my love for my wife; it has strengthened my relationship […] English
By DEACON LORIS SINANIAN, CommentaryPublished: January 18, 2007
Considering The Eternal Value Of Life
I have always felt sympathy for those in the medical profession: they face an impossible task. We have charged doctors with preserving life, but every patient a doctor sees will invariably die—the best he or she can hope for is to extend the life of the patient, making it more pleasant or full of greater […] English
By FATHER THEODORE BOOK, CommentaryPublished: November 2, 2006
The Beauty Of Following The Lord
For the last few months, I have had the privilege of serving as the chaplain at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home, just south of Turner Field, in the Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta. I’ve found a great grace in serving here—it is beautiful to see the hope and joy brought to the terminal cancer […] English
By FATHER THEODORE BOOK, CommentaryPublished: October 5, 2006
Book Of Revelation Consoles In Time Of War
This sermon was delivered at the Mass of Remembrance, Sept. 11, 2006, at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell. My Dear Friends in Christ: We recall this evening one of those moments in our lives about which we can remember every detail: where we were, what we were doing, who was with us, what our reaction […] English
By MSGR. DANIEL O’CONNOR, CommentaryPublished: September 21, 2006
Immigration Field Hearings Elicit Strong Response
Georgia now has the seventh largest population of undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Gwinnett County, where I have lived for more than 10 years, has been dubbed “Georgia’s largest immigrant hub.” My neighbors are from Bosnia, China, India, Korea, Mexico and Vietnam (not to mention Ohio, Indiana, […] English
By Susan Stevenot SullivanPublished: September 7, 2006
‘Red Mass’ Offers Chance To Pray For Peace, Justice
Imagine the scene: a grand choir chanting the Veni Creator Spiritus and a great procession, including numerous dignitaries, magistrate judges, public officials—all garbed in their academic robes, with flowing red garments. The clergy, together with the archbishop, all dressed in scarlet red vestments. Together, they enter into the church to pray. It is a grand […] English
By FATHER TIMOTHY A. GADZIALA, J.C.L., CommentaryPublished: September 7, 2006
Church’s Concern Over Misrepresentations Is Pastoral
Causing people to see something they never saw before in a 500-year-old work of art which is among the most famous and reproduced of all time is an accomplishment of genius, if that “something” is a valid new insight. If it is not, then this kind of achievement usually goes by other names. “The Da […] English
By MSGR. FRANCIS J. MANISCALCO, CommentaryPublished: May 18, 2006
Making A Pilgrimage Of Peace To Taizé
In looking back at the 20th century, we remember a century of much bloodshed: not one but two world wars, not to mention the countless conflicts throughout the world. In looking to the future, our beloved Holy Father Pope John Paul the Great made an earnest plea to humanity, “No more war!” We have now […] English
By FATHER PAUL A. BURKE, CommentaryPublished: April 6, 2006
Sacred Images A Shared Blessing Between Churches
Some weeks before beginning the holy season of Lent, we put away the tender Nativity scenes, centered on the lovely images of the Holy Family, the newborn Infant, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, and the Magi. As the beautiful preface of the Christmas Mass marvelously proclaims, “In the wonder of the Incarnation … a new and […] English
By FATHER JOSEPH A. FAHY, CP, CommentaryPublished: March 23, 2006
Movie Programs Provide Eye-Opening Look At Life
It’s been two years since we at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Smyrna began our film series, “Holy Hollywood.” I believe some thought that the movies in the series would be explicitly about “religious” subjects—stories dealing with biblical events or personages, saints or holy people or films with “Catholic” issues or settings like the Vatican, popes […] English
By FATHER EUGENE BARRETTE, MS-CommentaryPublished: January 19, 2006
MLK’s Flame Of Hope Shines Beyond America
Published: January 19, 2006 I had heard of and read about, in a limited way, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but had not stopped for a moment to reflect what he signifies in my personal life, until this past weekend as America celebrated Martin Luther King day. This was my first time to celebrate this […] English
By EUNICE MAFUNDIKWA-CommentaryPublished: January 19, 2006
Nativity Pieces Stir Awareness Of God’s Coming
At the age of 17, I was not thrilled with the gift. My mother had been going on for over a month that my sister and I were getting expensive Christmas presents, and in my delusional mind that meant a car, so imagine my disappointment when I woke on Christmas morning to a large cardboard […] English
By DELORES SCHWEITZER, CommentaryPublished: December 22, 2005
Youth Make Many Sacrifices To Attend NCYC
ATLANTA—“Lean into it.” There were a number of inspiring sound bites from the 2005 National Catholic Youth Conference held in Atlanta from Oct. 27-29, but one that resonated repeatedly with those gathered was this phrase passed on by charismatic speaker and performer Steve Angrisano, who served as the event’s emcee. Angrisano recalled his experience attending […] English
By SUZANNE HAUGH, Special ContributorPublished: November 3, 2005
Remembering Our Dead On All Souls Day
November 2, All Souls Day, has a new relevance given the recent global disasters. This time when we contemplate our deceased loved ones we will surely remember also those lost recently by way of storms and earthquake. All Souls Day is observed universally but in different ways. In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERAN, CommentaryPublished: October 27, 2005
Hurricane’s Distress Touches Seniors, Who Respond
Voices are a funny thing. Sometimes it’s not what is said, but rather what is felt, that sends up an immediate alarm. The quiet tones of my mom’s quivering words echoed loudly to me that something was wrong. “Are you all right?” I asked. Her response was slow and deliberate. “I’m OK, but have you […] English
By DENISE HAINS, Special ContributorPublished: October 20, 2005
Spiritual Direction Helps Relationship With God Grow
One of the ways that a person can grow in one’s relationship with God is through a process that has become more common among people seeking a way to improve that relationship. This process is known as “spiritual direction” and is a major apostolate, in addition to weekend retreats, at Ignatius Retreat House. What is […] English
By FATHER ALBERT LOUAPRE, SJ, CommentaryPublished: July 21, 2005