Georgia Bulletin

Decatur

• Longtime, faithful parish faith leader celebrated

  

  Published December 21, 2017

  DECATUR—The RCIA Ministry of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur, honored Josie Mitchell Oct. 22 for more than three decades of service to the ministry. Because of her tireless witness, many have sought Christ in the sacraments and the parish community is larger and better due to her steadfast ministry, announced the church. The reception […] Full Story

• Celebrations continue at Decatur’s St. Thomas More School

  

  Published July 6, 2017

  DECATUR—To continue St. Thomas More School’s celebration of winning the 2016 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award, the parent-teacher organization purchased blue ribbon T-shirts for all the students and staff. While in the new matching shirts, the school community formed a human logo. Ian Labreck, the school’s band director and also St. Pius X High […] Full Story

• Airline worker brings trafficking victims’ faces into plain view

  

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published May 19, 2017

  DECATUR—The exploitation of girls and boys, women and men in human trafficking is not a remote problem but is occurring in front of people everywhere, said Donna Hubbard, who trains airline personnel to recognize trafficking victims. “Human trafficking is a $150 billion business, second only to drugs and weapons,” Hubbard said in a March 21 […] Full Story

• Catholic Emory graduate wins prestigious commencement award

  

  Published May 19, 2017

  DECATUR—Kaitlyn Posa is the 2017 Emory University undergraduate recipient of the Marion Luther Brittain Award, the university’s highest student honor. The Brittain Award is presented each year to two graduating students, one graduate and one undergraduate, under provisions of a gift by the late Dr. M. L. Brittain, former president of the Georgia Institute of […] Full Story

• Congolese priest completes study as neuropsychologist for homeland

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff writer
  Published April 20, 2017

  DECATUR—Religion and science have intertwined in Father Jean Ikanga’s life and it began with a fearful mother. The woman in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo desperately wanted help for her 9-year-old daughter, sick with “evil spirits.” Concerned by her story, he provided prayer and pastoral counseling but also asked the woman and her […] Full Story | En Español

• St. Thomas More 1959 alumna still keeps watchful eyes on its children

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published February 9, 2017

  DECATUR—Judy Chadwick stood in Mulhern Hall at St. Thomas More School and pointed across the courtyard to the windows on the top floor of the church building. “All eight grades were on one floor. It was small. It was great. It really was,” she reminisced. More than a half century ago, she was a student […] Full Story

• Project brings to light history of mob violence against African-Americans

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published January 12, 2017

  DECATUR—The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Court 313, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur, held their annual prayer breakfast, a scholarship fundraiser, at St. Peter Claver Regional School gym on Nov. 12. The theme was “Heeding God’s Call for Mercy.” The breakfast was held in November to coincide with Black Catholic History Month, […] Full Story

• At 75, St. Thomas More Church keeps evolving, discovering what it means to be a Jesuit parish

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff writer
  Published November 17, 2016

  DECATUR—With a 75-year history, some 4,000 believers, and a successful school, this Decatur community of faith is asking itself some basic questions about its future. Members of St. Thomas More Church are figuring out “whom will we serve” and “how will we serve.” Jesuit Father Mark Horak, the new pastor, is leading the parish to […] Full Story

• Voices raised in concern at Summit on Violence

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published October 20, 2016

  DECATUR—At a community gathering at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, African-American parents and grandparents voiced fears and frustrations about the shootings of unarmed black men by police officers. Michael Arceneaux, of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Atlanta, was distressed about what to say to youngsters about the violence that has dominated headlines. “I see all […] Full Story

• ‘No kinship, no peace,’ says Jesuit who started industries for ex-gang members

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 22, 2016

  DECATUR—Former gang member Michael Jenkins was serving his second prison sentence for robbery in California when he decided things had to change. Seven months into a training program at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, Jenkins’ life is on track. He is working as a firefighter, having gang tattoos removed, and striving to be a better […] Full Story

• Retiring priest called ‘skilled and generous pastor of souls’

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published March 3, 2016

  DECATUR—People from his first parish to the last where he’s been pastor crammed into St. Thomas More Church as Msgr. Paul Fogarty retired after more than 48 years of active priestly life in Georgia. An estimated 700 people came to the Friday night Mass Jan. 29, which was followed by a bountiful reception, affectionate roasts […] Full Story

• Failure teaches important lessons, champion swimmer-coach tells students

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 19, 2016

  DECATUR—During a visit to St. Thomas More School in Decatur Feb. 11, champion swimmer Mike Norment encouraged students to learn from mistakes and develop a relationship with God through prayer. Norment, a former world-ranked swimmer who had an outstanding career at the University of Georgia, spoke to third- through fifth-grade classes as part of a […] Full Story

• Next at St. Thomas More: ‘Empty Bowls’ dinner

  Published February 19, 2016

  DECATUR—The third annual St. Thomas More School Empty Bowls Project will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The dinner program will be in Mulhern Hall, located at 630 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. The Empty Bowls Project is a grassroots initiative to bring awareness to the fight against hunger […] Full Story

• Challenge to Christ-like love comes on morning after Paris attacks

  

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published January 1, 2016

  DECATUR—A long-planned prayer breakfast focused on the theme of God’s love had even more significance and import when it was held Saturday, Nov. 14, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. When the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Court 313, opened their annual prayer breakfast, Father Bryan Small, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, […] Full Story

• Black Catholics ‘talk as a family’ about Pastoral Plan priorities

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published October 29, 2015

  DECATUR—Caribbean beats mixed with African hymns and Negro spirituals when the crowd filled Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Softly repeating the prayer, “Be with us,” those gathered recalled the names of black saints and historical figures, from abolitionist Harriet Tubman and St. Benedict the Black to Father Cyprian Davis, OSB, the late black Catholic historian, […] Full Story

• St. Peter Claver School celebrates students’ heritages

  

  Published October 29, 2015

  DECATUR—On Wednesday, Oct. 21, St. Peter Claver Regional School hosted its first multicultural, multilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Luis R. Zarama, assisted by Deacon Peter Swan. Students and guests later participated in a cultural culinary experience by sampling foods from around the globe. Students at St. Peter Claver boast of family roots on the continents […] Full Story

• Newnan parish, Decatur school remember Sept. 11

  

  Published September 17, 2015

  DECATUR—St. Thomas More School commemorated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service Project as the school community honored the police, firefighters and emergency responders in Decatur. It was an out-of-uniform day for students and teachers who brought teddy bears or an appreciative card for DeKalb County firemen, policemen and EMTs. The toys play a […] Full Story

• Artist Jef Murray, illustrator for The Georgia Bulletin, dies

  Published August 20, 2015

  DECATUR—Jeffrey (Jef) Patrick Murray died suddenly Aug. 3. He was 55. He was born on March 17, 1960, in Melbourne, Florida, and graduated from Georgia Tech with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering. He was an engineer for many years before pursuing his life’s real calling, which was artwork, especially illustrating the works of […] Full Story

• Knights of Peter Claver have been go-to guys at Decatur parish for 25 years

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published May 29, 2015

  DECATUR—For 25 years, the members of Knights of Peter Claver Council 313 have been the go-to guys at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. With their time, fundraising skills, and often with household tools in hand, the Knights serve both the parish and those in need in the Decatur area. The Council and Court marked its […] Full Story

• ACE teacher’s memory honored with student scholarships

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published May 15, 2015

  DECATUR—St. Peter Claver Regional School students were eager to try out their new playground as Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory blessed the space April 22. The playground blessing followed the annual Timothy Williamson Memorial Scholarship Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur. Archbishop Gregory used oversized shears to cut a ribbon and prayed that […] Full Story