Georgia Bulletin

Conyers

• Archbishop, local scientists release ‘Laudato Si’’ Action Plan, urge ‘care for our common home’

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published November 26, 2015

  CONYERS—Mimi Soileau goes nearly weekly to see what vegetables are ripe to be plucked from garden beds beside her parish church, St. Pius X. Time spent with her hands in the dirt is nothing new for this 85-year-old master gardener. She’s currently harvesting hearty kale, eggplant and broccoli from the raised beds, a new initiative […] Full Story

• Title meant to shake off clichés about audacious women saints

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published November 26, 2015

  CONYERS—The title of Maria Morera Johnson’s new book is meant to give a bit of a jolt. “My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live,” published by Ave Maria Press, is no ordinary profile of the saints. Right off the bat, Johnson addresses the book’s title in its forward. We […] Full Story

• Behind-the-scenes tour of architectural landmark

  Published October 29, 2015

  CONYERS—Visitors will see special areas of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit usually reserved for monks as they open its grounds for an architectural tour on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 2-5 p.m. Starting outside the Monastic Heritage Center, visitors will learn the history of the farmland and visit the historic barn where the monks lived […] Full Story

• “Jeopardy!” Clue Crew films at monastery

  Published July 23, 2015

  CONYERS—“At the Monastery: Understanding the quieter way of life among the Trappists” was the category. And the Conyers Monastery of the Holy Spirit had a starring role as the game show “Jeopardy!” challenged its contestants with questions about the monastic community. The broadcast was Monday, July 20, but the behind-the-scenes work took place in April. […] Full Story

• Conyers monks host celebration of those in consecrated life across archdiocese

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 19, 2015

  CONYERS—Men and women called to consecrated life in the Archdiocese of Atlanta marked the feast of the Presentation of the Lord Feb. 2 with prayer and joyful fellowship. Priests, monks, nuns and others gathered to celebrate the gift of consecrated life at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, which is an annual tradition […] Full Story

• St. Pius X Church unveils new environment at Christmas

  

  Published January 8, 2015

  CONYERS—The words of a saint and pope were there to inspire and edify parishioners at St. Pius X Church as renovations in the church’s sanctuary were revealed this Christmas. Construction for the sanctuary project began Sept. 15, 2014, and the first phase of renovations was unveiled on Dec. 19 at the Conyers parish, led by […] Full Story

• Devout doctor chooses hermitage ‘to focus just on’ Jesus

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published October 2, 2014

  CONYERS—Sister Mary Beatrice Raphael wakes before dawn and walks down a narrow hall to begin hours of prayer. She lights the beeswax candles. Opening the hand-carved wooden tabernacle with angels adorning its front to see the Eucharist, she kneels as she prays in this bedroom converted to a private chapel. Later, she’ll spend time with […] Full Story

• Conyers parish to host death penalty conference

  Published October 2, 2014

  CONYERS—Attorney Dale Recinella will headline a daylong death penalty conference at St. Pius X Church on Saturday, Nov. 1. The event, sponsored by the St. Pius Chapter of the Order of St. Luke the Physician, will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The conference will take place in the parish hall at St. […] Full Story

• Drunk driving victim, offender, tell stories of how separate accidents intersected their lives

  

  By LINDSAY WOOD, Special to the Bulletin
  Published April 3, 2014

  CONYERS—An unlikely pair of brothers-in-law shared the story of their meeting with over 100 people at St. Pius X Church in Conyers on March 2. But it wasn’t a happy story. It was one about enduring regret and the ripple effect of drunk driving. On the night of his 21st birthday, April 11, 1997, Eric […] Full Story

• Monastery’s last living founder, Father Luke Kot, dies at 102

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published January 23, 2014

  CONYERS—Shovels of red dirt were dropped in the sign of the cross onto the shroud-wrapped body of Father Luke Kot as the community of Trappist monks buried their beloved brother. The joyful, ancient Psalm 118 accompanied him on his final journey from the nearby abbey church. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, […] Full Story

• Trappist Brother Ken Sullivan, 85, dies

  Published December 19, 2013

  CONYERS—Brother Kenneth (Ken) Sullivan, 85, monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, died peacefully in the monastery’s infirmary on Monday, Dec. 2. The celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, Dec. 6, in the Abbey church. Brother Ken was born in February 1928 in Newport, R. I., the son of […] Full Story

• ‘Play of Herod’ bowing out after this season’s performances

  Published December 5, 2013

  CONYERS—“The Play of Herod,” a 39-year tradition, is staging its grand finale performance at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. The production, performed by Atlanta Camerata Theater, is among the earliest dramatic works in the Christian era. The manuscript for the play was compiled around 1200. The […] Full Story

• Brother Alphonse, 89, who served at monastery for 63 years, dies

  Published October 11, 2013

  CONYERS—Brother Alphonse Insalaco, 89, monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, died on Tuesday, Sept. 24, after a few months of illness. Brother Alphonse died peacefully in the monastery infirmary in the arms of his brother infirmarian after suffering from heart complications during the past year. The Mass of Christian Burial was […] Full Story

• Remembering Brother Alphonse

  By FATHER JAMES S. BEHRENS, OCSO, Commentary
  Published October 11, 2013

  There is a saying that good things come in small packages. And so it is that a small package, say, a gift, can contain something of no great size but of immense value. People can be the same kind of gift. Such was Brother Alphonse. He passed away recently, and we rejoiced in his going […] Full Story

• Monastery to hold fall festival, health fair Oct. 5

  Published September 12, 2013

  CONYERS—The community is invited to a fall festival and health fair at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, on Saturday, Oct. 5. Admission is free, although some fees may apply for children’s activities. Pets are prohibited. Doors open at 10 a.m. for the daylong activities and concessions. The event wraps up at 5 p.m. […] Full Story

• On Labor Day, considering the fruits of our labor

  By FATHER JAMES S. BEHRENS, OCSO, Commentary
  Published August 30, 2013

  Earlier in the week I roused myself from my desk and went for a walk. Going down to the rear of the retreat house, I followed the path down the hill to the heavy equipment garage. I had my camera with me and took pictures of the tractors, trucks, large mowers and other pieces of […] Full Story

• The blooming of youth

  By FATHER JAMES S. BEHRENS, OCSO, Commentary
  Published August 1, 2013

  I recently baptized my new grandniece, Mary Margaret Michalak. My sister Mary had everyone over to her house after the ceremony. Mary and Brian now have eight grandchildren and they all live in the Atlanta area. And they are all young—there are several toddlers among them. And they all came to the party. And they […] Full Story

• Family Day to benefit Rockdale, Newton program

  Published July 18, 2013

  A family day planned in Conyers for Saturday, July 27, will benefit the Family Promise of New Rock program. The event is free and will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson, 900 Dogwood Drive, Conyers. Among the planned activities are inflatables and water slides for children, food and drinks, […] Full Story

• Father Patrick Duffy, a former monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, dies

  Published July 4, 2013

  CONYERS–Father Patrick Duffy, 78, a former monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, and a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on Sunday, June 23, after a long illness. He died with his family at his side. The burial service at the celebration of the Mass […] Full Story

• A monk of 19 years dies

  Published July 4, 2013

  CONYERS–Brother Eutropius Bollinger, 66, a monk of the Cistercian (Trappist) Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers died peacefully on Wednesday, June 19, after a brief illness. Brother Eutropius was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 1, 1946. He entered the monastery on April 1, 1994, and professed solemn vows as a Cistercian on Oct. […] Full Story