Georgia
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Holy Spirit Prep School teacher earns physics’ doctorate
Published December 10, 2015
ATLANTA—Holy Spirit Upper School physics teacher Bianca Hall successfully defended her dissertation and earned her doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Central Florida. Now Dr. Hall, she studied for the degree over nearly five years, progressing through two years of classwork, picking up her master’s degree, and dedicating two and a half additional […]
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Visit to native Cuba, meeting Pope Francis there was ‘trip of a lifetime’
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015CONYERS—The opportunity to return to Cuba in September to reunite with family and meet Pope Francis was a pilgrimage nearly 50 years in the making for Maria Morera Johnson. A parishioner of St. Pius X Church in Conyers, Johnson traveled to her native Cuba with her mother, Begoña Morera, and her aunts. “It was a […] Full Story
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Bishop celebrates Mass to pray for end to death penalty
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015ATLANTA—On the Nov. 12 feast day of St. Josaphat, the faithful gathered at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to pray for abolition of the death penalty in Georgia. Bishop David P. Talley celebrated the special Mass upon his return from the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Bishop Talley had celebrated […]
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Orthodox-Catholic Gathering to focus on prayers for Middle East Christians
Published November 26, 2015
ATLANTA—The Orthodox-Catholic Ecumenical Gathering, to be held Monday, Dec. 7, will have a focus of prayers for Christians persecuted in the Middle East. The service begins at 7 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, NE, Atlanta. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox […]
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Masses to be celebrated for World AIDS Day
Published November 26, 2015
ATLANTA—Each year at the beginning of December, the Archdiocese of Atlanta joins the world in marking World AIDS Day. The archdiocese holds an annual Mass as a chance for people to gather as a community, remembering and praying for those who died due to HIV/AIDS and those currently living with HIV/AIDS; their families, friends and […]
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Year of Mercy begins Dec. 8 as archbishop opens Holy Door
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015ATLANTA—Catholics in the archdiocese will have the opportunity to start the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy by participating in the rites of the opening of Holy Doors. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will lead the first celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Cathedral of Christ the King, as Pope Francis and bishops across the globe […] Full Story
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Choir member’s kidney donation helps music director regain health
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015MARIETTA—John Brandt, music director of St. Joseph Church in Marietta, didn’t have to look far for a kidney donor. Ann Burkly, a member of his choir, readily volunteered. “I feel great. I haven’t felt this good in years,” said Brandt, who received the kidney March 6. “I’m diabetic, and that’s what caused the kidney issues.” […] Full Story
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Helping his uncle with kidney donation a ‘no-brainer’ for teacher
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015ATLANTA—Being healthy is not something that Kevin Rogers and Ann Burkly take for granted. Rogers, a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Atlanta, and Burkly, a member of St. Joseph Church in Marietta, each gave extraordinary gifts in recent months by donating a kidney to another person with failing organs. Rogers gave one […]
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Archbishop, local scientists release ‘Laudato Si’’ Action Plan, urge ‘care for our common home’
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015CONYERS—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
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Title meant to shake off clichés about audacious women saints
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015CONYERS—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 […]
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Teen from Prince of Peace Church gets wish to meet pope
By ANDREW NELSON Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015FLOWERY BRANCH—Pope Francis made his way down the short row of people. These VIP guests all had special reasons for being in St. Peter’s Square, including teen Gino Vizzi. “He shook my hand and said pray for me,” Gino said. The remarkable moment with Pope Francis was a gift for a teen whose life has […] Full Story
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Bill Bolling, Myrtle Davis, Russ Spencer receive SVdP ‘Hope in Action’ awards
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2015ATLANTA—The 2015 Hope in Action honorees of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia have used their hearts, minds and hands to serve the poor and support the organization’s work. The Evening for Hope gala, held Oct. 17 at the Renaissance Waverly Atlanta hotel, began with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. A festive evening of […]
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Transfiguration 5K raises $15,000 for youth mission trip
Published November 26, 2015
MARIETTA—The fifth annual 5K “All Saints Mission Run” and 3K walk were held on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Transfiguration Church to raise money for a mission trip focused on providing drinking water in a Nicaraguan village. Each year Transfiguration high school juniors and seniors, enrolled in the parish youth ministry program, are invited to go […] Full Story
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International award given to Knights’ Assembly at St. Brigid Church
Published November 26, 2015
JOHNS CREEK—The Fourth Degree Father Joseph T. O’Callahan Assembly of the Knights of Columbus St. Brigid Council won the international “To Be A Patriot” award for its contributions to the Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk. It was one of only three groups out of 3,000 assemblies worldwide to win for the 2014-2015 fraternal year. The […]
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BT students inspired to set up home for refugee family
Published November 26, 2015
ROSWELL—Blessed Trinity High School students weren’t satisfied collecting donations for a new refugee family. They wanted to decorate and make the new home for the family welcoming, theology teacher Toni Vilardi said. Students had studied the Old Testament, with its theme of sojourners and Catholic social teaching, and contacted Catholic Charities Atlanta to ask about […]
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Richard J. Reynolds III honored by Marist School
Published November 26, 2015
ATLANTA—Marist School’s historian, Richard J. Reynolds III, was recognized as the 2014-2015 recipient of Marist School’s highest honor, the St. Peter Chanel Award. He was a member of the class of 1952. The award, named for the saint who sacrificed his life to his missionary work, is given in recognition of individuals whose selflessness, exceptional […]
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CKS students keep up 29-year food drive tradition
Published November 26, 2015
ATLANTA—Christ the King School celebrated its 29th year of service to the Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) through the annual seventh-grade food drive this November. Students at the Atlanta Catholic school collect food and work at MAC for the day and then visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. MAC is an interfaith organization that provides […] Full Story
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Advent parish mission to prepare for the Year of Mercy
Published November 12, 2015
JOHNS CREEK—“The Door of Mercy: Crossing the Threshold” is an Advent parish mission that will be held nightly from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at St. Benedict Church, 11045 Parsons Road, Johns Creek. Speaker Stephen J. Binz will lead the mission each evening at 7:30 p.m. to help people prepare for the opening of the […] Full Story
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From the Pastoral Plan, a new office to build links between Catholics takes shape
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published November 12, 2015ATLANTA—There are few Catholic churches in metro Atlanta that do not have a multicultural, multilingual congregation. Mass is celebrated in English, Creole, Vietnamese, Igbo, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and more around the 69 counties of the Atlanta Archdiocese. A new Office of Intercultural and Ethnic Diversity has been organized to serve these many ethnic, language […]
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Church’s youngest saint inspires repentance, forgiveness as relics are venerated
By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
Published November 12, 2015ATLANTA—In preparation for the Year of Mercy, Atlanta area Catholics received an unexpected gift—the opportunity to venerate the major relics of St. Maria Goretti. A “pilgrimage of mercy,” bringing the relics of the child saint to the United States for the first time, made stops on Oct. 26 at Holy Spirit Church in Atlanta and […]
