Georgia Bulletin

Conyers

• ‘The Farm’ aims to be a spiritual destination

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published December 13, 2024

  Our Loving Mother’s Children, a center in Rockdale County known as “The Farm,” has hopes to become a destination for believers, from families and individuals to parish communities seeking a quiet place for renewal.

• St. Pius X Church at 50: Celebrating its founders and future 

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Editor
  Published October 31, 2024

  At the golden jubilee Mass for St. Pius X Church, Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM, prayed that the parish would continue to be Christ’s “shining light.” 

• For 25 years Ukrainian Catholic Church provides comfort, community  

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published November 16, 2023

  In October 1998, Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church, east of Atlanta, was dedicated to serve the region’s Ukrainian immigrant community. There are about 200 members of the church, half of them with ties to Ukraine.

• Father Eduardo Rodriguez, OCSO, remembered

  

  Published October 26, 2023

  Father Eduardo Rodriguez, OCSO, a monk at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, died Oct. 24, at the monastery infirmary in the company of his brothers.

• Trappist Father Matthew Torpey remembered

  

  Published April 28, 2023

  Father Matthew Torpey, OCSO, a monk and priest of the Cistercian (Trappist) Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers died peacefully in the monastery infirmary on April 26.

• Trappist Monastery remembers Brother Elias Marechal 

  Published March 3, 2023

  Brother Elias Marechal, OCSO, a monk of the Cistercian (Trappist) Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, died Saturday, Feb. 25. Brother Elias, a monk of 30 years, was 86 years old. 

• Seven Sisters emphasizes power of prayer for priests 

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Special to the Bulletin 
  Published November 10, 2022

  The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed daily for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop. In the archdiocese, the apostolate first formed at St. Pius X Church.

• How to help the Monastery of the Holy Spirit fund drive

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Special to the Bulletin
  Published August 5, 2022

  The Abbey Church of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is undergoing needed renovation and restoration. A fund drive has a goal of $3.4 million with $800,000 raised so far.

• Monastery reopens renovated Abbey Church 

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Special to the Bulletin
  Published August 5, 2022

  After more than two years of closure, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit community of Cistercian monks is reopening the Abbey Church to the public for prayer and Mass. When visitors enter, they will find the soaring beauty of the white-arched church, shining with restoration and renovation.  

• Ukrainian Catholic Church collects aid, gathers in prayer for ‘heartbreaking’ conflict    

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published March 16, 2022

  As the Divine Liturgy concluded at Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Conyers, the priest standing before the altar led the faithful to pray for “mercy and compassions” for the people in his homeland.

• Trappist monk diving into virtual retreats

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 3, 2020

  Brother Michael Lautieri of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, is using technology to help others cultivate the monk within during this time of pandemic.

• Abate takes vows to the hermitic life

  

  Published March 19, 2020

  Bishop Joel M. Konzen, SM, was celebrant for the profession of vows and investiture for Nicholas Abate to the hermitic life.

• Bound by shared grief, staff assists families at natural burial grounds

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published November 14, 2019

  Honey Creek Woodlands in Conyers is a burial ground for those who wish to be buried in the simplicity of a wooden box or a shroud. Graves are marked with discreet sandstone markers. The grounds are owned by the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, which is across Highway 212.

• Trappist priest remembered for forming deep connections with others

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 5, 2019

  Father James Behrens, OCSO, died on Aug. 15. He was 71 and a monk for 25 years and priest for 45 years. He entered the Cistercian order at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Conyers in 1994. Before that he was a priest for 20 years in the Newark Archdiocese.

• Father James S. Behrens, OCSO, Trappist monk and author, dies August 15

  

  Published August 16, 2019

  Father James Stephen Behrens, OCSO, a monk at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit died on Thursday, Aug. 15. He was 71 years old. A monk of 25 years and a priest of 45 years, he served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark before entering the monastery.

• Trappist monks ordained to the priesthood June 28

  

  By SAMANTHA SMITH, Staff Writer
  Published July 15, 2019

  On a warm summer morning on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, family, friends and religious celebrated the ordinations of Brother Cassian Russell and Brother Peter Damian Spera to the priesthood on Friday, June 28, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers.

• Seminarians spruce up chapel, clear brush at Honey Creek Woodlands

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 13, 2019

  The Office of Vocations for the archdiocese sponsored a recent seminarian work day at Honey Creek Woodlands. Seminarians and volunteers joined forces to clear brush and work on the chapel at the natural burial grounds.

• Trappist monks ordained as transitional deacons amid joy of Advent

  By FATHER JAMES STEPHEN BEHRENS, OCSO, Special to the Bulletin
  Published January 10, 2019

  Editor’s note: Father James S. Behrens, OCSO, offers this reflection on the Dec. 8 ordination of two monks as transitional deacons by Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger. The two will be ordained priests this summer. CONYERS—Advent is the season during which we await the coming of the Lord. It is a time we are asked to […] Full Story

• A woman’s personal collection is catalyst for crèche exhibit

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Photographer
  Published December 20, 2018

  CONYERS—The Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers is showcasing a Christmas crèche exhibit thanks to Covington resident and St. Pius X Church parishioner, Marcy Borkowski-Glass. The exhibit, which opened Dec. 3 and runs until Dec. 29, showcases some 500 nativity scenes from Glass’ personal collection and a select few from the monastery. The nativity […] Full Story

• Father Tom Francis, Trappist and Trinitarian, celebrates 60 years as priest

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 21, 2018

  CONYERS—Celebrating his 60th jubilee of priesthood this year, Father Thomas Francis Smith, OCSO, cheerfully greets visitors on weekday mornings for two hours at the welcome center of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers after rising at 3:30 a.m. for the 4 a.m. morning vigil, followed by Mass at 7 a.m. Then in the […] Full Story