Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Msgr. Frank Giusta, archdiocesan pastor and hospital chaplain, died June 13

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 23, 2016

  ATLANTA—Msgr. Frank J. Giusta’s ministry took him from a classroom in Atlanta’s former St. Joseph High School to a parish church on the border of El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. A priest for 52 years, he served people with a focus on life’s practical needs. When hungry people showed up at his church door, […]

• More scholarships needed so young Christians stay in Holy Land, Franciscan says

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 23, 2016

  ATLANTA—The Franciscans have faced a host of challenges in the Holy Land as custodians of Christian shrines ever since St. Francis of Assisi traveled there in the 1200s during the Crusades and established a rapport with the ruling sultan. But in their sandals-on-the-ground view, today’s challenge is monumental with eternal relevance: to reverse the plummeting […] Full Story

• Deacons celebrate jubilee year in life-changing encounters in Rome

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 23, 2016

  ATLANTA—Five deacons from the Atlanta Archdiocese responded to a papal invitation to deacons worldwide to make a Holy Year of Mercy pilgrimage to Rome May 27-29. The five, who serve in parishes in Hartwell, Norcross, Atlanta and Marietta, participated in a conference for deacons and attended Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. […]

• Love of classics carries scholar from hybrid academy to Notre Dame

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 23, 2016

  CUMMING—Seeking a more intense learning experience, Jim Stewart entered the first freshman class of St. John Bosco Academy in Forsyth County, a parent-inspired hybrid school focusing on classical education. While he experienced the inevitable frustrations of a school in formation, he embraced the format, studying independently and also attending classes three days a week. The […]

• Sibling rivalry, hard work propel Clarkesville teen to salutatorian

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 23, 2016

  CLARKESVILLE—As he plowed through Habersham Central High School with his nose to the grindstone, John Paul Hamilton faced competition close to home that kept him on his toes as the ninth of 12 children of Dr. James and Pamela Hamilton. That healthy dose of sibling rivalry from his 10 brothers and one sister, strong parental […] Full Story

• Elberton valedictorian headed for West Point

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 23, 2016

  ELBERTON—Gino Saponari Jr.’s greatest high school challenge was finding the moxie to step up and reach his potential at Elbert County Comprehensive High School in the quiet northeast Georgia town of Elberton. But strengthened in leadership, fitness and spirit through the school’s JROTC program, cross country team and other endeavors, he graduated as valedictorian and […] Full Story

• Two Hearts honored in all-night vigil June 3-4

  Published June 23, 2016

  ATLANTA—There was great attendance by hundreds of lay faithful at a special all-night vigil held at Christ the King Cathedral June 3-4, sponsored by the Alliance of the Two Hearts—Georgia chapter. The vigil was held on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart and the feast of the Immaculate Heart, which coincided with the first Friday […]

• Together, Hapeville parish pays off long-standing debt

  Published June 23, 2016

  HAPEVILLE—St. John the Evangelist Church celebrated a recent milestone: “We are debt free!” The community worked together to erase a long-standing $350,000 debt, reported Phillis Baker, the parish operations manager. From holding Kermess (Mexican) festivals and harvest dances to sock hops and second collections, parishioners and visitors reduced the debt little by little, she said, […]

• Marist School has history of Habitat firsts

  Published June 23, 2016

  ATLANTA—Marist students began working on Habitat for Humanity houses in 1985 and three years later established the Marist School Habitat chapter, the first high school Habitat for Humanity chapter in the world. In 2001, Marist created the first Women Build chapter. Two years later, the women completed their first home for a family. To date, […] Full Story

• Pinecrest’s Wind Symphony excels at festival

  Published June 23, 2016

  CUMMING—Pinecrest Academy’s Wind Symphony brought home several top prizes from the Williamsburg Worldstrides OnStage Music Festival held this spring. The symphony earned straight superior ratings at the festival. While only 285 students attend the private Catholic high school, the Pinecrest group won second place overall. “Our group was one of only two high school bands […] Full Story

• Hispanics feel the presence of God at the Eucharistic Congress

  

  By DANIELA MORENO, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—It’s a beautiful Saturday morning. Blue skies and white clouds are the witnesses to this colorful event full of joy, worship and music. It is 8:30 a.m. June 4 and the crowd is getting ready to start the procession into the Georgia International Convention Center where, once again, Catholics in Georgia gather to celebrate […] Full Story

• English track speakers proffer revelations of God’s mercy

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—The speakers for the English track at the 2016 Eucharistic Congress wove stories and insights of mercy as they encouraged the thousands in attendance to follow a path of trusting God and service. The roster included a journalist, who spoke about Pope Francis; a woman, who joined the church despite her deeply held atheism; […] Full Story

• Healing prayers flow from presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—A healing service flowed from the opening Mass of the Eucharistic Congress as a monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament was placed on the altar. “The Holy Spirit has already begun the work of healing he intends to accomplish,” said Father Tim Hepburn, leading the bilingual service with Father Jorge Carranza. Encouraging the faith of […]

• Gospel of mercy is countercultural, bishop says, but ‘God is with us’

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—The opening Mass of the Eucharistic Congress took place this year on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and that was “providential,” said Bishop David P. Talley. “How better to fathom” the mercy of God—the theme of the congress—“than to look at the heart of Jesus, a heart filled with compassion.” Reflecting […]

• Theme of mercy is woven through messages of 2016 Eucharistic Congress

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—In celebration of the Holy Year of Mercy and the gift of the Eucharist, tens of thousands of people attended the 2016 Eucharistic Congress of the Archdiocese of Atlanta June 3-4 at the Georgia International Convention Center. “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful,” from the Gospel of St. Luke, was the theme […]

• Being with large cross-section of Catholics, ‘I’ve gotten to see all the faces of God’

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—In her black and white habit, Mother Mary Christina joyfully held a cardboard cutout of a sister that allowed girls to put their face where the sister’s would be. Much giggling ensued as young girls put their face through the cutout and their mothers took photos. Mother Mary Christina’s congregation, the Sisters of St. […]

• Father Klusman encourages mercy through eyes and hands of deaf

  

  By KATHRYN R. BYRNE, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—“Mercy is God’s blood type!” exclaimed Father Christopher Klusman, the presenter in this year’s American Sign Language track at the Eucharistic Congress. His excitement was contagious as he explained and exemplified the meaning of God’s beautiful gift of mercy to the rapt group, as they met in a ballroom at the Georgia International Convention […] Full Story

• At REVIVE, young adults urged to engage their faith

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 10, 2016

  ATLANTA—Doug Tooke may be a member of Generation X, but he’s also the father of five daughters. And he’s counting on the new generation of Catholic young adults to show his girls what it means to live lives of faith. Tooke was the featured speaker at REVIVE, the young adult track of the 2016 Eucharistic […] Full Story

• Children in the Adore! track have questions for archbishop

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—The Adore! track for children at the Eucharistic Congress meant it was time for 20 questions with Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. More than 400 children, between the ages of 5 and 11, visited with Archbishop Gregory, learned about mercy through the stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, and enjoyed coloring and […] Full Story

• Visiting Vietnamese bishop finds community ‘full of faith in Jesus’

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 10, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—With joyful song and clapping, the members of the Vietnamese community greeted Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as he visited the group’s program Saturday afternoon June 4 at the Eucharistic Congress. Deacon Joseph Phu Nguyen of Our Lady of Vietnam Church in Riverdale said that 1,000 people attended the track featuring keynote speaker Bishop Joseph […] Full Story