Georgia Bulletin

Conyers

• 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 […]

• 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

• Hermit finds great joy in journey to perpetual vows

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published December 21, 2017

  CONYERS—After a spiritual journey filled with “beautiful challenges,” Sister Mary Beatrice Raphael made perpetual vows to live as a hermit, the first in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In the sacred ceremony, Sister Beatrice vowed to give herself to God “in silence and solitude, in preserving prayer and joyful penitence, in humble labor and holiness of […] Full Story

• Trappist Father Jerome Hickey dies Nov. 22

  Published December 7, 2017

  CONYERS—Father Jerome Hickey, OCSO, a Cistercian monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, died Wednesday, Nov. 22. He was 87. He endured a period of illness that confined him to the monastery’s infirmary for 13 years, the last seven of which he was bedridden. He was an example of long-suffering patience as […] Full Story

• Deacon Fernando Barrueta dies Nov. 21

  Published December 7, 2017

  CONYERS—Deacon Fernando Barrueta, who served at St. Pius X Church in Conyers, died Nov. 21. He was 77. Born May 30, 1940, in Havana, Cuba, Deacon Barrueta studied at a preparatory school there. He was a graduate of the Inter-American Aviation School as an air-conditioning mechanic. He was preceded in death by his wife, Raquel. […] Full Story

• Toolbox program a useful, timely business crash course for priests

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff writer
  Published November 22, 2017

  CONYERS—Between morning prayers and quiet time before the Eucharist, priests attended a business leaders boot camp, getting a crash course on budgeting, hiring and fundraising at the Toolbox for Pastoral Management program, held Nov. 13-17 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Nearly 30 priests from the Archdiocese of Atlanta and other dioceses spent a […] Full Story

• Architectural tours of Conyers monastery offered through October

  Published July 6, 2017

  CONYERS—See the beauty and history of the Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers during the monthly Highlights and Insights Tour, sponsored by the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance. Tour dates are Saturdays on July 22, Aug. 26, Sept. 16 and Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. The monastery is located at 2625 Highway […] Full Story

• Fifth Conyers abbot, Dom Bernard Johnson, OCSO, dies

  Published March 10, 2017

  CONYERS—Dom Bernard Johnson, fifth abbot of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, died Feb. 21 at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California. He was 91. Named Henry Albin Johnson, he was born on July 15, 1925 at Fort Lyon, a military facility in Las Animas, Colorado. His parents were in […] Full Story

• Brother Laurin Hartzog, OCSO, of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, dies

  Published December 22, 2016

  CONYERS—Brother Laurin Hartzog, a monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died in the monastery infirmary on Friday, Dec. 16, after a long illness. He was 86 and had been in monastic life for 38 years. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for him on Monday, Dec. 19, at Our Lady of the […] Full Story

• Eighth abbot formally blessed to lead Holy Spirit monastery in Conyers

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff writer
  Published August 18, 2016

  CONYERS—On the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Aug. 15, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory conferred the abbatial blessing on Dom Augustine Myslinski, OCSO, the eighth abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. Joining the 34 monks of the community for the Mass and rite of blessing at the abbey […]

• Rockdale Catholics remember beloved veterans

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published July 7, 2016

  CONYERS—A row of white crosses and American flags along the edge of St. Pius X Church property reminded passing drivers and parishioners of the sacrifices of veterans on July 4. Members of the parish commemorated the contributions of their late family members and friends who served this country by wearing a military uniform. Folks like […] Full Story

• The Monastery of the Holy Spirit elects eighth abbot May 29

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  CONYERS—On the feast of Corpus Christi, May 29, the monks of the Monastery of Holy Spirit elected Father Augustine Myslinski, OCSO, as their new abbot. The community elected Father Myslinski to serve as the eighth abbot of the monastery for a six-year term of office. Abbot Stanislaus Gumula, OCSO, of the sister monastery Mepkin Abbey […] Full Story