Georgia Bulletin

Conyers

• 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

• AACCW honors women, high school seniors for service to others

  

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published May 3, 2018

  CONYERS—At the 41st annual Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW) Recognition Day, 60 women and 55 high school seniors were honored for their ministries and service to the church and their communities. Recognition Day was held this year on March 17 at St. Pius X Church, Conyers. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the Mass, […] Full Story

• ‘A life of great joy and gifts’: Father Matt celebrates six decades of priesthood

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published May 3, 2018

  CONYERS—Having graduated from college with a chemistry degree, Father Matt Torpey, OCSO, was enjoying a beach day back in 1950 when his girlfriend handed him Trappist monk Thomas Merton’s autobiography, “The Seven Storey Mountain,” which had just hit the market. To his own surprise, the book set the 22-year-old on the spiritual hike of a […] Full Story | En Español

• St. Pius X Church to host ‘Mercy & Mary’ retreat

  Published February 8, 2018

  CONYERS—Father Michael Gaitley, director of formation for the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy, will lead a Mercy & Mary Retreat, March 2-3, at St. Pius X Church in Conyers. Father Gaitley, MIC, is a past speaker in the English track program at the Atlanta Eucharistic Congress and the bestselling author of “33 Days to Morning […] Full Story

• St. Pius X Church to offer sex trafficking prevention program

  Published January 25, 2018

  CONYERS—The St. Pius X Women’s Jail and Prison Ministry will sponsor the community-wide event, “Teen Sex Trafficking: How to Spot It, How to Stop It” on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall at St. Pius X Church, 2621 Highway 20, Conyers. All are welcome to attend the program, which is free. […] Full Story