Our Guest Columnists Columns
The Georgia Bulletin features guest columns and spiritual reflections from laypeople and clergy from the archdiocesan community.
Our Guest Columnists
“Independence Day And Human Dignity”
BY FATHER WILLIAM J. BYRON,SJ; CNSEnglish
Some of us can remember dealing with the childhood challenge of distinguishing “independents” from “independence.” Having worked that issue through in homework assignments, we came each summer to the annual Fourth of July observance ready to celebrate our independence as independent citizens of “the greatest country in the world.” Being independent is the goal of […] English
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
‘It Takes A Community To Make A Priest’
“It takes a community to make a priest,” Archbishop Basil M. Schott of the Byzantine Archdiocese of Pittsburgh told more than 500 Serra club members from around the world gathered in Pittsburgh. He said that families, parishes, dioceses and eparchies as well as the universal church have a responsibility to raise men to become priests […] English
By VERONICA VARGA, CNSPublished: July 1, 2004
The 2003 Encyclical On The Eucharist
On April 17, 2003, Pope John Paul II addressed the whole church with his latest encyclical, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia.” Here are some of my favorite quotes. “The church draws its life from the Eucharist—this is the heart of the mystery of the church.” Jesus says: “Lo I am with you always, even to the close […] English
By FATHER JOHN CATOR, CNSPublished: June 3, 2004
Outpouring Of Love Touches Whole Family
My brother, Mike, has recently fallen in love with a woman who’s not his wife, and I have proof. He hates telephones (not the physical object itself but rather the concept of having an extended conversation with someone he can’t see via a plastic gadget), but yet last week, he spent over an hour and […] English
By ANN BLASICK, CommentaryPublished: June 3, 2004
Leaving Campus With A Diploma – And Integrity
In 1954, at the outdoor commencement on the Avenue of the Oaks on the beautiful Spring Hill College campus in Mobile, Ala., a public announcement was made that Spring Hill would enroll Negro students the following September. Racial integration came to the college the same year the U.S. Supreme Court announced its landmark “Brown vs. […] English
By FATHER WILLIAM J. BYRON, SJ, CNSPublished: May 20, 2004
What The Mass Is And What It Isn’t
“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him singing for joy” (Psalm 100:2). The liturgy of the church is the place where we all come together to admit to one another that we need God in our lives. Father James Moroney, a liturgist for the American Catholic bishops, wrote this interesting commentary: “It doesn’t matter […] English
By FATHER JOHN CATOIR, CNSPublished: May 13, 2004
Mother’s Day Brings Remembrances Of ‘Momma’
Mother’s Day always brings with it bittersweet thoughts of and comparisons of myself to my mother who passed away—or told God to move over, she was taking charge, as we like to think of it—five years ago. When we become parents, the kaleidoscope through which we view our parents’ lives and our own shifts. When […] English
By MISSY FECAS FILLION, Special ContributorPublished: May 6, 2004
Are We Losing Our ‘Memory’ Of Religion?
“Are people less religious today?” This question, posed by a TV interviewer, is on the minds of many people, especially worried parents who cherish the value of religion for their children. It’s a good question, but not the one to begin with. Rather, we need to ask: Are we losing our memory of how to […] English
By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK, CNSPublished: April 29, 2004
Jesus’ Fidelity Leads Him To Cross
Reviews of the spectacular and controversial film, “The Passion of the Christ,” report that many viewers will not understand “the why” or the reasons contributing to Jesus’ crucifixion. Separating the Passion of Jesus from his entire public life and ministry leads to misunderstanding of the crucifixion. Jesus’ Passion is the consequence of his public ministry. […] English
By FATHER JOSEPH A. FAHY, CP, Special ContributorPublished: April 8, 2004
Jogging the Rosary Transforms Body And Soul
I will lose weight. I will pray more. Little did I realize that these two separate millennium New Year’s resolutions would take me on a journey of self-awareness and discovery. Praying the rosary while jogging has transformed my life. I’ve never considered myself much of an athlete or a particularly prayerful individual. I had acquired […] English
By MARK MEREDITH, Special ContributorPublished: April 1, 2004
Lent: Invitation To Create An Ever-green World
When I was very young, it was clear to me that Lent had a specific meaning. It was the time to chalk up sacrifices, like grades on a report card, so I would not forget how flawed a person I was. Even as I got older I thought this was solely a time to think […] English
By ANTOINETTE BOSCO, CNSPublished: April 1, 2004
The Jobs And Vocations Young Adults Want
Terry Johnson, 30, graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an M.A. in theology and was eager to change the world. She worked for a large Midwestern parish for a few years, but became frustrated with rigidity among church staff: lack of open-mindedness to her new ideas and an absence of innovative ideas. She […] English
By THERESE J. BORCHARD, CNSPublished: April 1, 2004
Be Still In The Presence Of The Lord
I normally end my day around 11 p.m. I’m fortunate because I’m one of those people who fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow. But last night was different. When I was a sophomore in college, a dear friend who was a year older than me and a student at the same […] English
By ANN BLASICK, CommentaryPublished: April 1, 2004
Father Thomas O’Reilly: Atlanta’s Irish Cornerstone
Patriotism, remembrance, faith and community: these are the ideals by which Father Thomas O’Reilly is defined. But they are not only the measure of the man who saved Atlanta’s churches from Gen. Sherman’s torch. They are also the elements that have guided Atlanta as a city and its Irish residents as a group for generations. […] English
By KEVIN J. MARTINEZ, Special ContributorPublished: March 18, 2004
Live Your Life For Christ
Movies played a big role in the story of my vocation. When I was younger, my family and I went to see some film about Jesus on the big screen. It’s funny how I don’t remember too many details about the film, including the name! But something remained clear in my mind and my heart, […] English
By SISTER MARGARET MICHAEL GILLIS, FSP, Special ContributorPublished: March 18, 2004
Rite Of Election Can Be Traced Back To Early Church
Children, men and women throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta are preparing to be initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter. As they begin the final weeks of their preparation, these catechumens and candidates came together from every parish in our archdiocese and celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion with Archbishop John […] English
By FATHER VICTOR REYES, Special ContributorPublished: March 11, 2004
Honoring Saint Patrick Of Ireland
At this time of the year many native Irish are amused by the shenanigans that take place to supposedly “honor Saint Patrick.” The hoopla of the parades, the false myths propagated on greeting cards, and the extended hours for serving liquor often give the wrong message. To set the record straight, we should consider the […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERNAN, Special ContributorPublished: March 11, 2004
Two Zen Men And A Christian At ‘The Passion’
I went to see “The Passion of the Christ” on opening day with my friends Hamilton and Gene. Hamilton is a twenty-something barista at the local Starbuck’s. During his breaks from work we talk about literature and girls and culture and dating and Buddhism and courtship and Christianity too. Zen meditation is his main spiritual […] English
By DAVE SLOAN, Special ContributorPublished: March 4, 2004
The Faith Of C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis died Nov. 22, 1963. He was a Christian writer who had no peer when it came to challenging skeptics. Though he was a brilliant defender of the faith, it may come as a surprise to learn that Clive Staples Lewis was an atheist most of his adult life. His mysterious conversion from nonbelief […] English
By FATHER JOHN CATOIR, CNSPublished: March 4, 2004
It’s Time To Amend The Blaine Amendment – Commentary
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States declares, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of […] English
By FATHER DOUGLAS K. CLARKPublished: February 19, 2004