Georgia Bulletin

Conyers

• Father Francis Xavier, Monastery Founder, Dies

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published May 18, 2006

  Father Francis Xavier Kavanagh, OCSO, a founder of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit and the senior monk of the nine Trappist monasteries for men in the United States, died late in the evening on May 9. He was nearly 94 years old and would have celebrated 75 years as a monk […] Full Story

• Father Damian Turk, 48 Years A Trappist Monk, Dies

  Published May 4, 2006

  Father Damian Turk, OCSO, a monk priest at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died just before midnight on Tuesday, April 25. He was 80 years old. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 15, 1925, he was born the eighth of nine children and baptized Lawrence Christ Turk at the Church of St. Lawrence in […] Full Story

• Archdiocese Celebrates Those In Consecrated Life

  By GRETCHEN KEISER,Staff Writer
  Published February 23, 2006

  The archdiocese celebrated the gift of consecrated life at a gathering Feb. 6 for vespers and dinner of men and women who are members of religious orders or other expressions of consecrated life. The event was sponsored by the archdiocesan Office for the Vicar for Consecrated Life, Sister Mary-beth Beres, OP, and hosted by the […] Full Story

• Deacon Jack Jansen Left Legacy In Family, Parish

  By GRETCHEN KEISER,Staff Writer
  Published February 2, 2006

  After Deacon Jack Jansen raised his own family of nine, he was encouraged by his spiritual director to turn some of his exuberant attention to his parish family. Taking the advice of Father Tom Francis, OCSO, he entered formation to become a permanent deacon serving his parish of St. Pius X in Conyers. He was […] Full Story

• Conyers Parish To Host Healing Mission In January

  Published December 15, 2005

  St. Pius X Church will host a healing mission, “Be Not Afraid: Facing and Healing our Fears,” led by Father Matthew Linn, SJ, on Jan. 6-7, 2006. The mission is sponsored by The Order of St. Luke chapter at St. Pius. The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is a body of Christians who […] Full Story

• Sweet Treats Available Year-Round At Monastery

  By JANE WILSON, Special Contributor
  Published November 24, 2005

  At the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, on the basement floor of the monastery proper, is a room marked by a sign reading “The Fudgery.” Inside this room, the monks create a variety of smooth and creamy fudge designed to tempt the sweet tooth of every candy lover. The fudgery is the brainchild […] Full Story

• Monastery To Host Annual Concert With Atlanta Boy Choir

  Published November 17, 2005

  The Atlanta Boy Choir will continue a 25-year local Christmas tradition when the group performs again in December at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Hailed as one of the world’s finest boy choirs, the Atlanta Boy Choir has performed […] Full Story

• Devoted Monk And Author, Brother Bill Reams Dies

  Published November 3, 2005

  Brother William Reams, OCSO, a monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, died peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 30, in the monastery infirmary. He persevered faithfully in the monastic life for 49 years and died of complications of leukemia. Later known as Brother Bill, he was born George William Reams on June 2, […] Full Story

• DeKalb Choral Guild To Perform At Monastery

  Published November 3, 2005

  On Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3:30 p.m., the DeKalb Choral Guild will present “Toward the Light,” a musical manifestation of inspiration and inner vision, featuring an encore performance of “A Celebration Mass” by Atlantan Sharon J. Willis, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The director of the DeKalb Choral Guild, Bryan F. Black, noted […] Full Story

• Father Lawrence Swartz, 79 Years A Trappist, Dies

  Published September 29, 2005

  Father Lawrence Swartz, OCSO, who spent 60 years of monastic life at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died Sept. 26. He was 98. Father Lawrence, a native of Falls City, Texas, was known for his keen sense of humor and joke-telling abilities. Born Thomas Swierc on April 30, 1907, he changed his name to […] Full Story

• Deacons To Lead Parish Mission For St. Pius X

  Published September 22, 2005

  St. Pius X Church will present a parish mission Oct. 3-5 featuring two permanent deacons from the Diocese of Savannah. The mission will be held each night at 7 p.m. Deacons Robert Herrmann and Eddie Ensley will lead the mission, which will take participants on a contemplative journey, helping them to learn to pray as […] Full Story

• One Man’s Passion For Rosary Launches New Ministry

  

  Published September 15, 2005

  Greg Willits is 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a shaved head and a goatee. He’s hardly the type of guy one would imagine doing arts and crafts. But love for his faith has inspired Willits and in turn, hundreds of others, to become rosary-making soldiers. The Willits’ home sits in a cul-de-sac in a […] Full Story

• Monastery Pioneer Father Charles Zell Dies

  Published June 23, 2005

  Father Charles Zell, OCSO, one of the pioneers of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, died in the monastery infirmary June 16. He was 92. The body of Father Charles was received in the monastery church on Friday, June 17, and the Mass of Resurrection and burial were held June 18 with […] Full Story

• Local Artists Converge On Monastery For ‘Paint Out’

  Published June 16, 2005

  Plein Air Painters of Georgia, Inc., some of the state’s most talented and well-known outdoor painters, with their invited guest artists, will bring their paint boxes and easels to the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit June 18-26 to draw on its beauty for creative inspiration and to delight those interested in the […] Full Story

• Monks Offer Retreat For Those Past ‘Halfway Mark’

  Published April 28, 2005

  Have you ever wondered whether your spiritual life could improve with age? Have you always postponed doing something just for your own relationship with God because you were so busy working and taking care of others? Did a retreat once seem like a luxury for saints, while now it sounds like a restful chance to […] Full Story

• Brother Placid Scheiding, OCSO, Dies April 6

  Published April 14, 2005

  Brother Placid Scheiding, 80, of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappist) at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died Wednesday, April 6. He entered into the monastic life on June 26, 1946, and made his solemn profession on Jan. 1, 1952. As customary, the body of a deceased brother is received by the […] Full Story

• Fire Destroys Wooden Monastery, Stained-Glass Studio

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published April 14, 2005

  The original monastery building constructed of pine in 1944 by monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit burned to the ground March 31 in a fire believed started by lightning. While there were no serious injuries, valuable goods and an irreplaceable part of the monastery’s history were lost in the fire, which began just […] Full Story

• Retreat Offers Yoga As Preparation For Prayer

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Staff Writer
  Published March 10, 2005

  At the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and at churches throughout the archdiocese, Catholics are drawing upon the practice of yoga as the new year begins, in a holistic approach to physical fitness and flexibility, stress management and spiritual growth. When the monastery in Conyers held its first retreat on yoga and Christianity last fall, […] Full Story

• Dom Francis Michael Receives Abbatial Blessing

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published July 15, 2004

  Dom Francis Michael Stiteler, OCSO, received the abbatial blessing as the seventh abbot of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery on the feast of St. Benedict July 11 with 600 to 700 people witnessing the celebration. The Mass of blessing came 30 years after the abbot, a native of Philadelphia, entered the Conyers monastery […] Full Story

• Decatur Choirs To Perform At Monastery May 23

  Published May 20, 2004

  As part of the continuing concert series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, the choirs from the Decatur-based Cathedral at Chapel Hill will perform on Sunday, May 23, at 3 p.m. The concert, which will feature Clariece Paulk and the arts department of the Cathedral at Chapel Hill, will be […] Full Story