Our Guest Columnists Columns
The Georgia Bulletin features guest columns and spiritual reflections from laypeople and clergy from the archdiocesan community.
Our Guest Columnists
“The danger of selective outrage”
BY MSGR. RICHARD LOPEZ, CommentaryEnglish
I believe it was T.S. Eliot who said: “Humankind cannot bear very much reality.” We also seem to be highly selective in the reality we seek to bear.
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
A familia comfort from Our Lady of Guadalupe
It wasn’t until I married into a Catholic family, eventually becoming Catholic myself, did I begin to understand the significance; the mother of Our Lord cared so much for the people of Mexico she appeared as one of their own.
By SHEMAIAH GONZALEZ Catholic News ServicePublished: December 11, 2020
The Advent hope that springs eternal
Our hope in Advent must spring eternal beyond the temporal. The saints have witnessed to this eternal hope in the midst of temporal trials while facing persecution or death.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER, CommentaryGratitude for those sustaining the life of the church
It has been heartening to see first-hand the adaptations that parishes have made in order to continue serving their members, as well as the extra efforts being made by our priests and deacons to minister to their flocks.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMThe necessity of Black Catholic History Month: A reflection
More than a 30-day recounting or retelling of a series of little-known church facts, Black Catholic History Month is the perfect opportunity to reflect upon and uplift God’s movement within communities regularly overlooked in our narratives.
By ASHLEY MORRIS, Th.M.Published: November 26, 2020
Why grace is revealed in gratitude
Sometimes we treat saying “thank you” as just a social norm, but it’s so much more. Recently, there has been an explosion of gratitude apps and journals—ways to help people be more intentionally aware of the blessedness in their lives. This is tapping into something Christianity has always had at its heart.
By ANDY OTTO, CommentaryPublished: November 13, 2020
A bridge to the unborn
Pope Francis is a man dedicated to dialogue and building bridges between people no matter the issue. His consistent reference to building bridges rather than walls resonates with me as a pastoral style that is needed today.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER III, CommentaryReturning to the harbor of truth and unity
Not long ago I was speaking to a prominent bishop, who remarked, “More and more I hear the statements, ‘I don’t agree with the pope’ or ‘I don’t agree with the church,’ and these people are not overly bothered by the fact that they are in disagreement with the church they call their own.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMMaking room for silence
Nothing intimidated me more than silence. You might think I would crave it coming from the chaotic but wonderful “noise” of an Italian American household; however, the extrovert in me was totally intimidated by silence and solitude.
By MARIA CRESSLER, CommentaryPublished: October 20, 2020
Called to be missionaries of mercy
Sadly, many people today want to punish, belittle or condemn others with never a thought of love towards them. Winning is not the only thing; merciful love is everything.
By BISHOP BERNARD E. SHLESINGER III, CommentaryCan we disagree less disagreeably?
These days, “bearing with one another through love” is not our strong suit. We Catholics have a tendency to disagree in a disagreeable way.
By GREG ERLANDSON, Catholic News ServicePublished: September 4, 2020
God is deeper than the darkness
You might have heard the term “redemptive suffering” and wondered what it meant. Perhaps the best answer is in St. Luke’s Gospel, in a section of the 21st chapter where Jesus describes the coming persecution and tribulation.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SM, CommentaryA new lens for viewing the world and its interruptions
We’ve all made self-promises that begin with “Someday when X happens, I’ll do Y…” Insert any aspiration into this axis of life: “When life slows down, I’ll write that book…” or “When (child’s name here) is older, we’ll take that trip…”
By SARAH OTTO, CommentaryPublished: August 12, 2020
The meaning and importance of retreat
In recent years, I have been interested in the origin of words—their etymology. As a result, I have learned and come to appreciate so much about language and the meaning of words.
By FATHER JOSEPH LINGAN, SJPublished: July 15, 2020
Thanks be to God for freedom
My 96-year-old father lives at the family home in northern Virginia with my sister, Anne. On most days, they venture out of the home in the car to pray the rosary, parking at a spot looking out over the Potomac River.
By Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger IIIThe companionship of Mary
It was at our baptism that Mary became our Mother. From that time on, she urged us, moved us toward her son, until we were ready to receive him in the gift of the Holy Eucharist.
By BISHOP JOEL M. KONZEN, SMChoose your hero
During this pandemic, I challenge the Catholics of Georgia to do something for the almost 300 million brothers and sisters worldwide who suffer for their Christian faith.
By MSGR. RICHARD LOPEZ, CommentaryPublished: May 28, 2020
The gift of the ‘Spiritual Exercises’ of St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), left to the church fruit of his own spiritual journey as the “Spiritual Exercises.”
By Father Peter E. Fink, SJ, CommentaryPublished: May 28, 2020
New challenges require new solutions
Living in a retirement home adds an extra challenge in the battle against COVID-19. Many sequestered seniors say, “I don’t know what to do with myself; I have so much time on my hands!”
By FATHER JOHN KIERANPublished: April 16, 2020
The road and the rainbow
As I neared Los Angeles and my gaze alternated between the road and the colorful glory in the sky, a prayer of gratitude welled up in me.
By Maureen Pratt, Catholic News ServicePublished: April 16, 2020