Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Father Joseph M. Peek died March 14

  Published March 17, 2016

  ATLANTA—Father Joseph M. Peek passed away on Monday, March 14, surrounded by his parents and siblings in prayer. Father Peek was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in February 2002, the year of his ordination to the priesthood, and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2003. He suffered severe complications during the remaining years of his […]

• Sister says lonely work of building bridges affirmed by pope’s words

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 17, 2016

  ATLANTA—Although she doesn’t keep a daily journal, when it comes to important events Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, the Catholic social justice lobby, takes copious notes. Pope Francis’ address to America’s senators and representatives in Congress last September was one of those important occasions. Sister Simone, a member of the Sisters of Social […]

• Catholic Fest brings together 800 middle schoolers from 40 parishes

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 17, 2016

  LILBURN—More than 800 students spent a recent Saturday meeting new friends and learning ways to perform acts of mercy at the annual Middle School Catholic Fest at St. John Neumann Church in Lilburn. The festival-like event, held Feb. 27, included praise and worship, adoration, activities and carnival treats. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory was celebrant of […] Full Story

• Mass reveals ‘bigger picture’ of faith community to those with disabilities

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published March 17, 2016

  ROSWELL—As she said goodbye to her students, Maria Khote kissed each one on the head. “Adios, mi amor,” she said, as each child hugged her tightly. Khote brought 13 families from St. Joseph Church in Dalton to the biannual Faith and Sharing Mass, hosted by the archdiocesan Disabilities Ministry on Sunday, March 6, at St. […] Full Story

• St. Jude student to dance at World Irish Dance Championships

  Published March 17, 2016

  ATLANTA—Georgia Stephens, a sixth-grader at St. Jude the Apostle School, will compete as a soloist at the 2016 World Irish Dance Championships, in Glasgow, Scotland, March 21-27. She prepared for months for the international contest that combines strength, athleticism, musicality and artistry. Georgia qualified by placing in the top 10 percent of her age group […]

• Public school students lead Ash Wednesday services

  

  Published March 17, 2016

  ALPHARETTA—On Ash Wednesday, students at three public high schools attended by parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Church could receive blessed ashes at a student-led prayer service. Some 40 students and parents participated in the services at Cambridge, Alpharetta and Milton high schools. The day began the season of Lent when Catholics observe a period of […] Full Story

• Nancy Creek is centerpiece for new Marist campus trail

  Published March 17, 2016

  ATLANTA—Marist School received a donation of 200 tree saplings from Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to replacing trees and protecting green space in the Atlanta area. The saplings were planted along Nancy Creek, where Marist School has been doing extensive work to remove invasive species. “The trees we received will grow into the banks, helping […]

• ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ offers reconciliation March 4-5

  

  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—Following are some of the parishes in the archdiocese offering “24 Hours for the Lord” on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, as part of the Year of Mercy observances. Pope Francis, in announcing the jubilee year, requested that these two days preceding the Fourth Week of Lent should offer special opportunities for people, […]

• 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 […]

• Deacons from archdiocese view refugee crisis in Greece

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are arriving by the thousands daily in the nation of Greece, a country struggling with its own devastated economy. Deacons Steve Swope and Bill Hampton of the Archdiocese of Atlanta are spreading the word about the plight of refugees following a nine-day trip to Greece and Serbia for Catholic […]

• Medical center jobs are breakthrough for young adults with disabilities

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—Ryan Carroll’s favorite place to be is on the job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In his power wheelchair, Carroll navigates the hallways of the hospital’s Scottish Rite campus with ease and speed as he delivers lab specimens from the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center to various departments. Carroll, 26, has been a Children’s […] Full Story

• Catholic Foundation of North Georgia announces 2015 fall grant awards

  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—According to Nancy Coveny, executive director, The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia issued 36 grants totaling $85,500 for the 2015 fall grant cycle. These grants will support the Catholic community through a variety of causes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The Catholic Foundation attracts, professionally manages, and invests gifts to support the current and long-term […]

• Meals for Burkina Faso event at 2016 Eucharistic Congress

  Published March 3, 2016

  COLLEGE PARK—A Starve Wars meal-packing event will take place Friday, June 3, at the site of the 2016 Eucharistic Congress, the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. Starve Wars is a collaborative effort by the Office of Life, Dignity and Justice of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Catholic Relief Services, Helping Hands and the people […]

• Archdiocesan priest Father G. Philip Ryan shared the joyfulness of faith

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published March 3, 2016

  GREENSBORO—Father G. Philip Ryan left a career caring for people when he managed hotels to care for the community of Catholic believers in Georgia. He died on Wednesday, Feb. 17. He was 65. Father Ryan stepped down as pastor of Christ Our King and Savior Church in Greensboro in 2014 due to a medical condition […]

• Area Catholic athletes sign on to play college sports

  

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—This year’s National Signing Day took place on Wednesday, Feb. 3. Catholic seniors in public, private and Catholic high schools joined other athletes around the country by making it official when they signed binding national letters of intent to play sports at the college or university of their choice. The list below includes area Catholic […]

• St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital president named

  Published March 3, 2016

  LAVONIA—Jeff English, interim president of St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital, has been promoted to the office of president. “Jeff led a successful integration of St. Mary’s Health Care System into the newly acquired hospital,” said Don McKenna, president and CEO of St. Mary’s in announcing the appointment. “Jeff and his team of committed and competent […] Full Story

• Marist student’s doodle catches the eye of Google

  

  Published March 3, 2016

  ATLANTA—Ian Otten, a Marist School seventh-grader, earned the top prize as the Georgia winner of the Doodle 4 Google, a national competition. The competition challenged students from across the country to use Google’s homepage as a canvas to doodle and show what makes them unique. Ian’s doodle was titled “My Love for Sports.” He was […]

• ‘Stop Hunger Now’ inspires theme of St. Jude School project

  

  Published March 3, 2016

  SANDY SPRINGS—In another Catholic Schools Week event, St. Jude students participated in a project for the benefit of children—kids helping kids. The school community has been doing similar activities for nearly a dozen years. For the past five years, students worked with Stop Hunger Now to package meals for other children. They packed more than […]

• St. John Neumann School serves homeless men and women

  Published March 3, 2016

  LILBURN—On Sunday, Feb. 21, more than 100 members of the St. John Neumann Regional School community gathered in the school cafeteria to participate in a Stewardship Sunday event. Using lunchmeat, cheese and bread donated by the school families and local businesses, more than 2,500 sandwiches were prepared for the benefit of Clyde’s Kitchen in downtown […] Full Story

• Catholic high schooler attracts fans on Youtube girls channel

  Published March 3, 2016

  ROSWELL—Blessed Trinity High School freshman Mimi Drabik is one of seven girls to have been selected for a new media opportunity. With over 4 million viewers, the web video series titled SuperSevenGirls is creating a forum for high school girls to mentor younger girls. Mimi works with the YouTube channel, where she and other teenagers […]